Shannon: This week Tyndale House/B & H author, Kimberley Woodhouse shares her real life romance, along with her characters’ first meeting. And she’s giving away not one, but two books! Leave a comment on any post this week by 8:00 PM Central time on Friday for a chance to win: Welcome Home: Our Family’s Journey to Extreme Joy or No Safe Haven. Here’s Kimberley’s how we met story:
I actually met my newborn, would-be niece before I met my husband…
Now, before you turn your brain inside-out trying to work through that puzzle, let me ‘splain. I met my husband the very first day of Bible College (for me) – he actually carried in a few of my boxes. So romantic, yes, I know. But see, behind the scenes there was a greater power at work. (Yes, God was definitely at work, but I’m actually talking about my mother and her constant-prayer-matchmaker line to God.)
My mom, being the hopeless romantic that she is, was determined to send me off to college to get married, since my older brother and sister were not married yet. Me, in my teenage stubbornness, decided that I wouldn’t date—because I definitely wasn’t going to Bible College to get married! Ha! Following me so far?
I can hear your chuckles already… You know how this ends J
Well, it was a small Bible College. Everyone knew everyone. And Jeremy and I became fast friends. Then best friends. Then? Well, I was too stubborn to admit how much I liked him, because I was determined to prove my match-making mother wrong – and he was too afraid to admit how much he liked me because we were best friends and he didn’t want to mess that up.
Love won out. (Don’t tell my mom she was right!) LOL
Four months later we were engaged. And almost nineteen years ago, we were married.
Now you might be wondering how my niece figures into all this? Well, I met my sister-in-law and her newborn baby in our church months before I ever met Jeremy, and we didn’t put all the pieces together until we were planning the wedding. He showed me a picture of all his family and I pointed at her and said, “I know her! And I’ve already held my niece! How cool is that?”
About Kimberly: Kimberley Woodhouse is a wife, mother, author, and musician with a quick wit and positive outlook despite difficult circumstances. A popular speaker, she’s shared at more than 650 venues across the country. Kimberley and her family’s story have garnered national media attention for many years, but most recently her family was chosen for ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, The Montel Williams Show, and Discovery Health channel’s Mystery ER which premiered in 2008.
An avid reader and writer, she’s had dozens of articles and short stories published in nationally recognized magazines and books. Her non-fiction book about their amazing story, Welcome Home: Our Family’s Journey to Extreme Joy released in September of 2009 from Tyndale House Publishers, and a new three book suspense series, written with daughter Kayla, begins with No Safe Haven and releases in March 2011 from B&H Publishers. Kimberley lives, writes, and homeschools in Colorado with her husband and two children in their truly “extreme” home. Learn more at her website: http://www.kimberleywoodhouse.com.
The best romances are the ones that really happen. I met my husband when I had a history class with him and wound up tutoring him.
Shirley, you are SO right! So you tutored him, huh? Did he learn anything? 😉
What a wonderful story, Kimberley! I can’t wait to read parts 2 & 3. God truly does work in amazing ways, sometimes with the aid of mothers! I had the pleasure of winning “Welcome Home: Our Family’s Journey to Extreme Joy” and it gave me such joy as I read it. I can’t wait for “No Safe Haven” to come out. I really like the trailer that is on YouTube.
Blessings!
Beverly
I have enjoyed reading the story of how you and your husband met. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the story. My husband and I met at church. I had brought some goodies to youth group and had my plate from the goodies with me. He loves to eat and he was intrigued by a girl that brings her own plate to church. We were introduced by a mutual friend, dated for six years and then have been married for 22 years. We also found out that his cousins grew up across the street from me when we were younger and we probably played together when he visited. Small world . 🙂
I would love to be entered in the giveaway for the new book that you and your daughter wrote – No Safe Haven. Thanks!
Shirley and Sheri,
The Inkslinger real life romance stories don’t have to be from authors. Check out my submissions page. If you’d like to write your story and send it to me, I’d post it and give away one of my books. Come on, send me your story!
Can’t wait to hear the rest of the story!
I would love to read Welcome Home. Religious fiction are my favorite,My daughter introduced them to me.I also like Suspense very much I have a hard time putting those down.I`m guessing all through those books.I am reading white Roses right now and I know I am going to really enjoy this book. I just received it today and started reading it right away.I am anxious to share it with my daughter.I liked reading about how you met your husband and look forward to reading your books and sharrng them.I have beenj married 57 years.I wear 2 hearing aids and still have a hard time hearing tv so I really do a lot of reading.All the comments you received have been very interesting.
Shannon,
This is a lot of fun! Thank you for having me here.
And to the rest of you – I look forward to hearing more from you as the week goes on!
Make sure you check out Wed. post for a little about our hero/heroine from No Safe Haven, and then on Friday is a post another post about romance between hubby and me.
Kim
Kimberley,
I’m glad you could share your story with us, real life and fictional.
Kim & Jeremy are AWESOME people. So glad Kim didn’t let her stubbornness win out–never would’ve met them then. LOL
What a great real-life romance story! I’m looking forward to reading more about you and FROM you, Kimberley!
Sounds like a wonderful love story. I’d love to read it.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
I can’t wait to hear parts 2 and 3.
I guess I was a little stubborn with my husband-to-be. I worked with his cousin and he had been trying to set us up. (We had never met before) After a year, I finally agreed, and it was love at first sight! 🙂 We married less than a year later.
I’m glad I decided to check out Carman’s blog and was led here.
God works never fail to amaze and its great to read your story because as a testimony it is really encouraging.
Hope I find love like yours soon :))
i would love to win a copy of your book .
estherym@yahoo.com
What an awesome group of people – it’s so fun to hear from all of you!
Esther – keep that chin up!
what a fabulous story, kimberly…god is awesome 🙂
Carman sent me. Please enter me in this giveaway – Thanks!
seizethebookblog(at)gmail(dot)com