Shannon here: My awesome critique partner, Lorna Seilstad shares her April Fool’s surprise for her husband plus a chance to win a copy of her latest release, While Love Stirs. Comment on this post to enter the drawing. Deadline: May 10th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Lorna:
Keeping the Love Alive as We Approach 25
It’s hard to believe I’ve been married to David for almost twenty-five years. In February, we’ll celebrate our silver wedding anniversary. In some ways, it seems like only yesterday we took our vows, but in other ways it feels like there was never a time before “us.”
I think there are a lot of secrets to a happy marriage. First and foremost is a shared faith. Mutual respect, honoring one another, and communication are keys, too. But I think an often overlooked element is just plain old FUN!
Last time I visited Shannon’s blog, I told you all about my husband surprising me with M&M’s that he had made bearing the names of my heroes and heroines for the Gregory Sister Series. I still haven’t eaten the candies. They are on my desk, sealed, and I can’t seem to bring myself to dip into them. They are a great reminder of David’s love.
We both like to do things to bring fun into our marriage. I want to tell you about my recent escapade.
On April Fool’s Day, I picked up my daughter from high school and asked her if she wanted to help me play a joke on her dad. Of course, the answer was yes. Over the years, I’ve often pranked the kids. For example, I made them ice cream sundaes for an after school snack. Imagine their disappointment when they discovered they were mashed potatoes and brown gravy. I’ve gotten David a few times, too, but it had been a while.
So, this year, Emma and I took sticky notes and covered all of the windows of his work car. Naturally, we chose the brightest sticky notes we could find. It was really cold that day, so thankfully, it didn’t take long, and we loved doing this together. It was a blast seeing the faces of people who drove by and saw us.
We couldn’t wait to see David’s reaction. Unfortunately, we had to leave about the time he got home. Still, when we finally met up, we could see he was tickled, and like a good wife, I helped him take them off the next morning.
Why do things like this? Because life shouldn’t just be about shared responsibilities or tasks. It should be about living life abundantly and sharing joy, and I hope David and I get to do that for another twenty-five years.
About Lorna: Lorna Seilstad has called Iowa home her whole life. She received her B.S. in education from Lubbock Christian University. After her first child was born, she stopped teaching and became a professional wiper. “I wiped noses, tears, skinned knees, baby’s bottoms, and countertops every day. But at naptime, I wrote.” Today, she writes historical fiction with a generous dash of humor. Learn more: www.lornaseilstad.com and www.inkspirationalmessages.com
About the book – While Love Stirs: After graduating from Fannie Farmer’s School of Cookery in 1910, Charlotte Gregory is ready to stir things up. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to travel, lecture, and give cooking demonstrations on the very latest kitchen revolution–the gas stove–and certainly doesn’t mind that the gas company has hired the handsome Lewis Mathis to perform at her lectures.
Lewis encourages her work, especially her crusade to introduce fresh, appetizing, nutritious food to those convalescing in hospitals. But young hospital superintendent Dr. Joel Brooks is not convinced any changes should be made–especially by this outspoken young woman.
When Charlotte and Joel are coerced into planning a fund-raising gala for the hospital, will this combustible pair explode?
Follow the second Gregory sister as she looks for true love and makes her way in a rapidly changing world in this breezy, lighthearted love triangle that will keep you guessing.
Come back May 2nd for James L. Rubart!
What a fun post! Lorna had me cracking up!
Hi Lorna,
As I’ve told you before, your books have beautiful covers! You gave great advice here, you need to keep having fun with your spouse to balance all of the other stresses that come with life and marriage.
would love to win.
Good morning, Amy! I’m glad you had a laugh for breakfast. 🙂
Hey Lorna,
I love the Post Its. But I can’t help thinking, oh the notes that could have been written on those. Were they still usable?
And I love the cover. If I’d lived back then, I’d have had a periwinkle dress and hat just like that. But I’d have griped and complained because I’d have been hot. Maybe I would have invented air conditioning. Or at least funded someone who could.
Congrats on your anniversary . Love the story and the stick notes .. Would love to win Lorna’s book . Thanks for the giveaway .
lizd225(at)gmail(dot)com
Ha!! I love it, Lorna!!!
Ugh — today I hate books. Setting up a book fair!
Love your pranks, Lorna. I hope you had real ice creams sundaes for your kidlets after that pranks! :-0 You are a blessed woman to have such a wonderful marriage!!!!
I think I have to steal that idea! What fun! And you’re so right–enjoying each other, just having fun is a key to keeping romance alive.
I love the cover of your book it’s just beautiful!!
I would love to win your book
Thank you for doing the giveaway
Also happy anniversary!!
oh.hello.hiya@gmail.com
Hi everyone! Thank you all for stopping by. The sticky notes were fun to do and cheap. I bought the cheapest ones I could find at Target.Shannon, you could still use them, but I didn’t. Someone suggested I should have written something I wanted David to do on each of them and compile a massive to do list.Somehow, I think that would have taken some of the fun away fro him.
This is one of my favorite covers. I think it’s because of the periwinkle and the crocheted sleeves on the dress.
Thank you so much for your post! This book looks wonderful, thank you for the chance to win a copy of it.
wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
Fun thing to do, Lorna….love it! Also, love the covers on your books. I enjoyed your LMS series and am anxious to read this book, too.
Thanks for the giveaway.
jacsmi75 at gmail dot com
I can understand why he would be mad, but doesn’t he see the fun in it? 🙂 At least it was bonding time with your daughter!
Doreen
I am all in. The book sounds great and I love the cover.
melback at cebridge dot net
This book cover looks so delightful!
Shannon, thanks for this interview with Lorna. This sounds like a book I would love to read. Lorna sure gave me a laugh with the Professional Wiper. Wish I had thought of that when I have written down the few jobs I’ve had. Would have made me sound more important. LOL Sure would love to win. Thanks! Maxie mac262(at)me(dot)com
We have Lorna’s books in the church library. I would love to win “While Love Stirs” to add to our collection.
Thanks for the opportunity to do so.
I love this fun interview and would love to win a copy of WHILE LOVE STIRS!
texaggs2000 at gmail dot com
Doreen, I don’t think he was mad. Tickled in Lorna’s vocabulary means he thought it was funny.
And I have a winner! AmyC won the drawing for Lorna’s book. I appreciate Lorna for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.