Shannon here: Kelly Irvin shares insight into her real life romance plus a chance to win her latest Amish Romance, Beneath the Summer Sun. Comment or answer the question at the end of the post to enter the drawing. Deadline: March 10th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Kelly:
A recipe for lasting romance by Kelly Irvin:
On February 14, my husband Tim and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary. It still amazes and confounds me. How can it be that we’ve been married 30 years? The years have flown by. So much has happened in a blink of eye. It hasn’t been all roses and chocolates, it’s true, but I see the way Tim continues to show his love and affection in a multitude of ways that bless me and keep our union strong.
Take for example our anniversary. We updated our passports and agreed we would take a trip some place where we would need them. Then reality set it. With my health and mobility issues traveling is difficult. I can’t walk a long distance. I can no longer enjoy the beach the way I once did, lounging on the sand and body surfing in the ocean. Accessibility can be a formidable challenge. We looked at many different options, but it soon became apparent this wasn’t the time for a trip overseas. One day, I mentioned that rock icon Bon Jovi had a concert date in San Antonio and I’ve always wanted to see them in concert.
Tim has always wanted to go to Las Vegas—a destination that has never interested me. So for my birthday in January, he presented me with two tickets to see Bon Jovi in concert—in Las Vegas. It’s the art of compromise that makes our marriage work. We’re staying at the swanky MGM Grand. It’s become a combination Kelly’s birthday, Tim’s birthday (Feb. 18), and anniversary present.
That wasn’t all. He then presented me with two tickets to see Brooks and Dunn with Reba McIntyre that same weekend—in Las Vegas. Tim hates country music. He really despises it. In fact, he’ll probably wear his ear buds during the concert. But he loves me and he knows I love country music. So he’s willing to spend an evening attending this concert because he knows it will make me happy.
Truly, though, it’s the small, thoughtful gestures that keep the romantic flame burning in a marriage of 30 years. When he comes home from Costco with flowers just because. When he buys two packages of Brownie Brittle because he knows how much I like it and he wants to make sure I have a good supply for the week. When he makes chicken and cheese green enchiladas and puts onion only on “his” side because he knows onion makes my stomach hurt. Building a fire in the fireplace when I’m cold, even though he thinks it’s too warm. When he slips upstairs and turns on the mattress heating pad so when I slip under the covers to sleep, I’m in a warm bed.
Sometimes you have to pay attention and interpret the love language, but it’s all the sweeter because, after 30 years, he’s still trying. We both are. Putting your spouse first is one of the main ingredients in a romance that lasts. Here’s to 30 more years!
About Kelly: Two-time ACFW Carol Award finalist Kelly Irvin is the author of the critically acclaimed Amish of Bee County, Bliss Creek Amish, and New Hope Amish series. Her newest release is Beneath the Summer Sun, the second novel in the four-book series Every Amish Season from Zondervan Publishing. Her work has also appeared in four Amish anthologies, An Amish Market, An Amish Summer, An Amish Christmas Love, and An Amish Christmas. She is also the author of two romantic suspense novels with a third scheduled for publication in 2019. Kelly is a retired newspaper reporter and public relations professional who lives with her husband in Texas. They have two children, two grandchildren, and two ornery cats.
About the book – Beneath the Summer Sun:
Jennie Troyer knows it’s time to remarry. Can she overcome a painful secret and open her heart to love?
It’s been four years since Jennie’s husband died in a farming accident. Long enough that the elders in her Amish community think it’s time to marry again for the sake of her seven children. What they don’t know is that grief isn’t holding her back from a new relationship. Fear is. A terrible secret in her past keeps her from moving forward.
Mennonite book salesman Nathan Walker stops by Jennie’s farm whenever he’s in the area. Despite years of conversation and dinners together, she never seems to relax around him. He knows he should move on, but something about her keeps drawing him back.
Meanwhile, Leo Graber nurtures a decades-long love for Jennie, but guilt plagues him—guilt for letting Jennie marry someone else and guilt for his father’s death on a hunting trip many years ago. How could anyone love him again—and how could he ever take a chance to love in return?
In this second book in the Every Amish Season series, three hearts try to discern God’s plan for the future—and find peace beneath the summer sun.
Can’t wait for the drawing? Get your copy now! Amazon BarnesandNoble
Question for Readers: If you could travel anywhere for a romantic vacation and money was no object, where would you go?
Come back March 2nd for Lorna Seilstad!
Kelly, I just love your story. You are such a sweet and caring person I am not surprised by your words. You have a great time with those babies and share pictures, they are always so precious. Hug Connie
to Ireland
Kelly, enjoyed reading your story about your trip to Las Vegas.If I go anywhere on a romantic vacation it would be Ireland. It’s so beautiful and green there. Thanks
That’s a difficult question for me, since I travel all the time with my husband for his work (I’m currently in Japan!). People often ask me, ‘what’s your favorite place you e been? My answer is always the same: “That’s like saying, which is your favorite child? I love them all, each for different reasons.” Paris has beautiful history & architecture! Italy has SO much history (I would like to return to Italy, because I felt like we didn’t get to see enough!). Germany is where my heritage is from & felt like home. Ireland—so much beautiful nature. Japan—always something new to see & I get to visit with former Exchange students. Australia—beautiful country, but the best part of Australia was the wonderful friendships I made with some of the ladies I met there. South Africa—going on an African Safari was awesome, and I get to visit my friend who lives there, and going to an authentic African Braai (a BBQ) where they barbecued an entire lamb was a delicious experience. Yes, there are many more & I could keep going (we’ve now been to over 30 different countries—and that is in the past 10 years).
But as glamorous as all this sounds, I think my most favorite romantic place to go with my husband still has to be Hawaii. Beautiful sandy beaches & palm trees, sunsets, luau’s and the glorious scents of plumeria & tuberose everywhere. Mmm! I LOVE the smells of Hawaiian flowers! And lucky for me, my hubby agrees with me.
I would love to travel on the Orient Express.
Now that is the “lap of luxury”.
Thanks for entering me in your giveaway.
Loved reading your story and if I could go anywhere, it would be a return trip to Israel!
Since I was a young girl, I have wished I could go to Switzerland. Love the mountains. Thanks for the chance to win. I love your books.
What a wonderful post! And WOW, Bon Jovi — in San Antonio or Vegas — sounds perfect!
I’d love to take my husband to Italy. We’ve both always wanted to see the beautiful art we studied in college!
Norway or Australia would be wonderful. Thank you for the chance to win a copy of this book, I really enjoyed the first book in the series and am looking forward to reading this one.
wfnren at aol dot com
My husband and I are seriously considering taking a trip to Hawaii! just need to save a few dollars first=) I think it will be very romantic!
I loved reading Kelly’s interview. Your Tim is a gem! I would love to go to Hawaii for romantic vacation.
I enjoyed reading this post. I would love to go to Scotland and maybe, if I have time drive down, take a ferry to Ireland and then, on over to UK. But, I would prefer Scotland.
I have a winner! Rose Blackard won the drawing. I appreciate Kelly for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.