Real-life Romance: Every Day of the Week

Do you consider changing diapers to be romantic? You might be surprised. Guest author, Ann Brodeur is joining us today to talk about finding romance every day of the week. See if you agree.

​My husband and I met when we were in our thirties. By then, I’d given up hope of ever getting married or having kids of my own. When we finally met, it was a whirlwind romance. From the time we met, dated, got engaged, married and had our first babies, it was a grand total of sixteen months. Barely time for flowers, chocolates or expensive dates – those typical things when thoughts of romance come to mind.
He was never a romantic in the sense of showering me in gifts, or even remembering special dates (though now with technology, he records those dates in his electronic calendar so he never forgets!). But he is truly a romantic in the everyday things.
My husband cooks (he’s French and I don’t mind admitting his cooking skills are on a whole different level than mine – he makes even scrambled eggs into a gourmet meal). My husband does laundry (he lived on his own for over a decade so his laundering skills are excellent). My husband changes diapers (he had to learn pretty fast with having twins as the first of our brood to come along) and plays with our kids.

​What I love the most about our romance is how he’s able to understand me and takes the time to get to know me better – even after nearly ten years of marriage. Romance is in the small gestures of taking the kids outside so I can have a few moments of quiet to sip my tea. Or encouraging me to find a quiet spot to write while he holds down the fort. It’s teaching a science lesson to our children whom we’re homeschooling this year (science and math are not my forte). It’s lighting a candle at the table for dinnertime every single night of the long winter months. It’s listening to my latest story idea. It’s hugging me and handing me the box of tissues when life overwhelms me. It’s praying for me and our children.
And what romantic things do I do for him? I write love notes and hide them in his lunch bag or briefcase. Express my appreciation for what he does for our family. Little gestures like folding his laundry and putting it away. Or brushing off the snow of his vehicle before he goes to work and shoveling the driveway so he doesn’t have to do it when he gets home.
To me, romance is in the small things. It’s what is witnessed every day. It’s doing life together (the good, the bad and all the ugly – and we’ve had a whole lot of ugly). Romance is give and take. Creating romance every day is tough work, but so worth the effort.
And if God is in the center of your marriage, it’s that much sweeter.
Martin is the hero of my personal story.
I’m thankful that God brought him into my life.
 
What’s the most romantic thing your significant other has ever done for you?

ANN BRODEUR is an award-winning novelist who writes inspirational and contemporary romances offering sweet hope and happy endings.
 
When she’s not reading, writing, chasing after her kids or enjoying long chats with her husband, Ann can be found drinking coffee, that’s been reheated several times throughout the day. She aspires to someday drink a hot beverage in one sitting.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
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Unwrapping their past – one secret at a time.
 
Owning her own PR firm is all reporter Stephanie Clark wants for Christmas, but the idea of running a prestigious election campaign in the country’s capital throws her stomach into knots. A last minute vacation road trip to focus and seek God’s direction for her life ends up in disaster when she gets caught in the worst snowstorm to hit Vermont in over a decade, crashing her into a small town and the one person she’d rather forget.
 
Former photojournalist Jason Miller hadn’t planned on being solely responsible for saving his family business from financial ruin. He’s barely keeping the newspaper in print, his News Editor has gone AWOL during the town’s most celebrated holiday festival, and reports of missing Christmas decorations have everyone on edge.
 
When a desperate knock at the newsroom door brings a ghost from Christmas past back into his life, can Jason make up for his prior behavior without breaking his promise to Stephanie’s father? Will Stephanie’s quest to solve the town’s Christmas caper—and uncover the truth about Jason’s disappearance—cost her everything she’s ever wanted? 

SNOWBOUND IN WINTERBERRY FALLS Purchase links:
Ebook Canada: https://amzn.to/3529fZe 
 
Ebook US: https://amzn.to/3p48B5y
 
Paperback: https://bit.ly/36aKN7h

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