JoAnn Durgin – Real Life Romantic Interview – Part 2 of 2

Shannon here: Contemporary romance author, JoAnn Durgin shares more insight into her real life romance, plus a chance to win a copy of her latest release: Second Time Around. Comment on any post dated Sept 26th – Oct 1st to get your name in the drawing. Deadline: Oct. 1st, midnight central time. Here’s JoAnn:

Do you and your spouse have a favorite song?
I have to say our musical tastes are quite different except when it comes to hymns. Although they’re not romantic, there’s a lot to be said for the bonding and unifying power of hymns. Since my husband has led music in our various churches throughout our married life, we rarely stand side-by-side except when we’re actually singing together in front of the congregation. Blessed Assurance, Great Is Thy Faithfulness and It Is Well With My Soul are among our most treasured hymns. It Is Well With My Soul was Jim’s dad’s favorite, and Jim sang it in tribute to his dad (and played his trombone) at his funeral service (his dad was the high school band teacher in Newport, RI for many years). So, even though that particular hymn has a bittersweet memory attached to it, Jim and I look at each other and smile as we sing it in church now. Same with In The Garden, which was my dad’s favorite hymn, and Jim sang it at his funeral service. These hymns are more special and have more meaning to us as a couple than any other “song” ever could.
What simple gesture does your spouse do that melts you every time?
Jim spoils me royally by brewing and bringing coffee to me each morning, with sweetener and creamer added. He knows to leave the coffee by the computer, and sometimes he draws a heart on the napkin or leaves a scripture verse. It’s a highlight of my morning, and starts each day off right.
How soon after meeting your spouse did you know he/she was the one?
Oh, I kept Jim at arms-length for a long time. I knew I wasn’t his ideal version of wife material, and wasn’t sure I was cut out to be a pastor’s wife. Could I handle the demands of life in a fishbowl? Would I be allowed to wear makeup and paint my nails? Would I be expected to be in church every time the doors were open? Would our kids be scrutinized and held up to unattainable standards of perfection? As they say, timing is everything. It wasn’t until Jim was ready to graduate from Dallas Seminary and I had no plans to leave Dallas that we made the mutual decision, “Okay, let’s try to make a long-distance relationship work.” I shared in one of my previous blogs here that Jim (and they called this man “Magnum” at our wedding!) never kissed a girl before me. He told me once that he knew the first girl he kissed would be his future wife. So, I waited on him to do the kissing and the proclaiming of love first. And I finally understood he was the one. But how could it work when I was in Dallas and he’d just accepted his first ministry job in California? Ah, that’s where the Lord – in His infinite wisdom – stepped in and took over. And how He worked it out all the many details…in only the way He can!
What is the most caring thing your spouse has ever done for you?
One of the things Jim doesn’t even think about is share with others about my books. My daughter told me he sat in the whirlpool at the YMCA recently and was telling another man, and then the lifeguard, about Awakening and Second Time Around. The man is doing PR for me in a hot tub!  I’ve heard he also does it in the grocery line at Kroger. He can’t know how special that is to me. His support, love and willingness to tell others about my writing is precious, and such a blessing. He’s a keeper, and the Lord knew what He was doing in bringing us together.
Thank you so much for hosting me on your blog, Shannon! I had such a great time, as always.
 About JoAnn: Second Time Around is JoAnn Durgin’s second published novel, the follow-up to the popular Awakening featuring the adventures of Sam Lewis and Lexa Clarke and the lively TeamWork crew. A winner and finalist of several writing contests, JoAnn is a full-time estate administration /wealth transfer paralegal and lives in southern Indiana with her husband and three children. She is an active member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and its Indiana chapter as well as the Romance Writers of America. JoAnn’s passion is writing contemporary Christian romance, and it’s her desire to touch hearts with the redeeming love of Jesus Christ. 
About the book: Second Time Around (Book Two in The Lewis Legacy Series)
God’s Time is the Right Time
A fateful misstep steals a newlywed bride’s memories and becomes her groom’s fall from grace. Join their journey as Marc and Natalie Thompson discover that surrendering all isn’t failure, it’s faith. And it might be the only way back to one another . . . the second time around.
Come back Oct 1st for readers’ pick #1 from the 1st year of my blog.