Shannon here: Laura V. Hilton shares how she met her husband plus winner’s choice of her latest Amish Romance, The Amish Firefighter or any of her titles in e-book or U.S. only for print. Link to title list at the end of the post. Deadline: April 30th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Laura:
On August 11, 1987, I had just arrived home from a three-day weekend with my mom and sister in Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas. I was tired after the three and a half hour trip back to Springfield, and my plans were to stay home that evening instead of running around Springfield. Especially since I had to work the next day.
And so I did. Not. Instead, I’d barely gotten home when a friend, Greg, called me and asked if I wanted to join him and some others for a backyard Bible study.
Um, no. But instead of saying a firm no, I asked who was going to be there. And he started listing names. One of the names he mentioned was Steve. I knew a lot of men named Steve, but for some reason I asked, Steve who?
Steve Hilton, Greg told me. Steve had just gotten out of the military, and was in church on Sunday. He shared a few other tidbits, too. Okay… tired or not, I’d go check out the new guy.
When I arrived, Greg and Steve were the only two there. They were playing a board game, Bible Opoly, I think, inside, but they quickly put it up. I don’t remember who else joined us that evening or what we talked about. I remember Steve, thinking he was going to be the guy I married… and going with him to McDonald’s afterwards to talk for awhile. A few others joined us at McDonald’s, too, but I can’t tell you who. Steve was the important one. I can tell you that I wasn’t the only one interested in “the new guy,” but for reasons known only to God he seemed oblivious to anyone else. I know it sounds cliché, but it was as if we were the only two in the restaurant . . . even though this other girl had managed to score a seat between the two of us.
When Steve asked me out for a date a few days later, he asked me if I wanted to go out for a piece of strawberry pie at Shoney’s. I thought it was a bit odd to ask me out for dessert only, but whatever. I accepted and made sure I had my supper eaten before he arrived. Steve was embarrassed to get to the restaurant and discover I’d already ate and wasn’t hungry and he had to eat alone – with his date watching. He did order strawberry pie for dessert, and it was good. Steve was careful to specify “meals” when he invited me out after that!
Less than four months later we were married and we are celebrating our 29th anniversary this December.
About Laura: Award winning author, Laura Hilton, her husband, Steve, and their five children make their home in Arkansas. She is a pastor’s wife, a stay-at-home mom and home-schools. Laura is also a breast cancer survivor.
Her publishing credits include three books in the Amish of Seymour series from Whitaker House: Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts (winner of the 2012 Clash of the Titles Award in two categories), and Promised to Another. The Amish of Webster County series, Healing Love (finalist for the 2013 Christian Retail Awards). Surrendered Love and Awakened Love followed by her first Christmas novel, A White Christmas in Webster County, as well as the Amish of Jamesport series, The Snow Globe, The Postcard, and The Birdhouse. Other credits include Swept Away from Abingdon Press’ Quilts of Love series. Laura is contracted for another three book Amish series set in the Jamesport area, with the first book, The Amish Firefighter releasing in May 2016, followed by two more Amish books and a Christmas story releasing in Fall 2016, Spring 2017 and Fall 2017 respectively. She has self-published a Christmas novella, Christmas Mittens.
Laura is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a professional book reviewer and blogs for Putting on the New and Seriously Write. Learn more and connect:
Laura’s Lighthouse Acaademy Blog Laura’s Blog
Laura’s Twitter Laura’s Facebook Laura’s Pinterest
About the book – The Amish Firefighter:
Can they overcome their past?
Abigail Stutzman’s life is about to change – whether she wants it to or not. Her mamm is getting remarried to a widower with a large family. Abigail is sent to live with her aenti and onkle in Jamesport because she and her new step-brother had dated and their parents anticipate problems. (Her step-brother is needed on the farm.) Abigail launches a full-scale plan to return home to her family—and Mark—when she finds herself in over her head…and heart.
When Abigail and her new “wrong crowd” get into significant trouble, her punishment includes helping a collection of crazy old maids with housekeeping. In the midst of her atonement, Abigail uncovers family secrets that run deep, and realizes she’s not the only one with a pain-filled past. Abigail must decide if she’ll continue her messed-up legacy or embrace a new beginning with the man who’s stolen her heart.
Sam Miller has trouble of his own. When Sam and his close friend Ezra Weiss are in a drug/alcohol-related car accident in Pennsylvania, Ezra is killed. Though Sam survives, he is deeply affected by the tragedy and vows to help other victims. Now a new Christian, Sam is a volunteer firefighter and a college student working to earn his EMT and paramedic license. But Sam has a past. When it comes time to confess his crimes, he finds that the truth may set him free—but it might also land him in some uncomfortably hot water. Will Sam and Abigail be able to find a future together?
Can’t wait for the drawing? Purchase now:
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Question for Readers: Where did you meet your spouse? Or if single – where did you meet your best friend or friends?
Come back Arpil 21st for Laura’s romantic interview!
I met my husband at a prayer meeting. At the time we were both Catholic and he was soon to be entering seminary. After all, if you’ve met Jesus and you want to tell other people about him, you become a priest. We met again six months later and I said, “You don’t look like a seminarian.” He answered, “I went there to get to know Jesus better, but Jesus wasn’t there.” That’s when Jesus told me that Jim would be my husband. (Took him a few months before he got the same word from the Lord, lol.)
Met him through my brother. They were friends and I also was best friends with his cousin. Told my Brother I wanted to date him and the rest is history.
Oh it sounds so exciting, and an bonus to be able to enter to try to win a free book. Ty. Congratulations and good luck you’ll
I meet my ex husband at church and then went to a friend’s house for a game night was married 15 months later
I loved reading how Laura and Steve met and their getting to know one another, I was married to my second husband in 1987. I am anxious to read this latest book about the Amish firefighter. thanks for sharing today…
I met my husband in high school. He was the new guy and when I got my first glimpse of him, I thought that’s the guy I’m gonna marry. It took him half the school year to notice me, but I caught him.
I met one of my best friends in school and one at work.
Great blog post about how Laura meet her husband, Steve. It’s always great to learn more about an author. I’m looking forward to reading The Amish Firefighter. I love reading Laura’s books. God bless!
I first became friends with my husband online and met him when he had a business related meeting in the state where I lived. He came to the hospital where I worked night shift, brought me a red rose, and we went to Disney World the next day Sith some of my friends. I knew I had found the man I was going to marry. We have been together 16 years.
I first met my husband after seeing him around town several times. My Mom’s car quit on me at the bottom of the big school hill after I dropped her off at work early one morning. He laughed his head off at me beating on the steering wheel while he waited for the other guy to ride with him to work. I just looked at him, boy was I ticked at that car. Later he approached me and we laughed over that. He asked me to marry him after two dates! A year and a half later we married, and that has been over three decades ago. I still am crazy over that laughing fellow of mine.
I met my husband at my cousins house because they thought we would make a good pair that was in 1972 and we were married 25 years before he passed away,
Hope to win ! Love all Amish Books! Thank you for the giveaway!
What a sweet wedding picture and story, Laura!
I love reading all the stories! Deb, especially loved yours. 🙂 And Shannon, your’s too.
I met my husband at church. I saw him several times when we were just kids but had no idea he would be my husband. We were both Pentecostals but lived in different cities so I saw him at some church gatherings occasionally. My teenage years his sister and I went to church camp together and became best friends. Three or four years later we dated awhile and then married. We will be married 40 years this December.
Thanky for for a chance to win one of your awesome books.
I met my husband at a shuffleboard match that I went to with my best friend and her hubby. I ran into an old friend that evening who asked me out. I dated this fella, who happened to be my future husband’s best friend, for a month or so and then started dating my hubby. We will celebrate our 31st anniversary in June.
I met my soon-to-be ex-husband at McDonald’s that I was working at at the time.
I originally wasn’t nice to him at first, but a month later I talked myself into getting to know him since a certain friend was not around.
Almost 17 years later, we will be moving on with our lives separately.
God brought us together and now He is seeing me out.
I met my spouse through a mutual friend. We never dated anyone else after we met and now have been married for 23 years!
We met at a high school basketball game during my Senior year. We dated one year before we married and we will celebrate our 48th anniversary this December! Young people can make a goal of it!
Connie
cps1950 (at)gmail (dot)com
I met my husband through an acquaintance of his. At some point during the evening, he gave me a wink, and the rest is history. We married less than a year later and we will celebrate our 41st anniversary this fall. That wink is still mighty special!
mauback55 at gmail dot com
I love reading these stories. Tina, I’m so sorry.
I met my husband one evening at a restaurant I enjoyed going to. He treated me special right from the start and still opens the car door for me every time. Congratulations on your many years of marriage, he’s a keeper for sure! Thank you for the giveaway opportunity!
I met my husband at church. I never really paid attention to him until youth group. But years before his mom was my sunday school teacher and my mom was his sunday school teacher. We went to the same high school too but in different grades so I saw him around school too.