How do you love someone when you can't be together? Is that a strange question? Not for guest author, Jennifer Arrington. Today, she's giving us a look into a Real-Life Romance situation when she couldn't be with her husband. I think you're going to love this story as much as I do! In January of 2021, I went in for a double mastectomy. A large caveat to this frightening surgery was that I had to go in alone; COVID protocols allowed zero guests. I remember being more afraid of flying solo than the actual surgery. My husband had been by my side throughout my original breast cancer surgery, a lumpectomy in 2019. He held my hand and cracked jokes and kept me distracted from the fear the entire time. The last thing I remember was his presence; the first face I focused on afterward was his. So, having to go through this more significant surgery without him felt overwhelming, and he knew and understood this. Now, we live in a small enough town that we know people who work at our local hospital, yet our town is also large enough that our friends are not always mutual. My husband dropped me off at the hospital door early that morning, January 20, 2021. It was presidential inauguration day. Ironically, my diagnosis had been on election day, and my surgery was already six weeks delayed since I had gotten COVID and then did not test negative for weeks. From the moment I walked through the hospital doors until I went under, to waking up, to the next day in my hospital room, I was scarcely alone. There was never a moment to feel afraid or isolated because people kept popping by. The conversations went something like this: “You don’t know me, but I know so-and-so who works with or fishes with or grew up with your husband, and I just want to stop by and make sure you are OK.” It happened over and over, and it was never intrusive but just that perfect amount of acknowledgment, and it brought me so much comfort. It became humorous to the point that when my surgeon stopped by, he asked how I knew the entire town. And this is love: anticipating the needs of the person you care for and working to meet those needs. I came through that surgery and three more subsequent surgeries and am healthy now. And, after 30 years of marriage, when I think of all our typical Hallmark moments, the people my husband lined up to stop by my hospital room stand out the most! And this is why I love writing romance: there are so many unique ways to communicate “I love you.” Jennifer Arrington holds a master’s degree in nutrition from Texas A&M University. Having spent much of her career as a chemistry teacher, she returned to writing while recovering from multiple surgeries after recurrent breast cancer. A self-proclaimed bibliophile, weekend pianist, and beach lover, she loves to spend her free time paddleboarding and snorkeling. Inspired by her experiences growing up in South Africa and moving to the United States as a young adult, The Counting Tree is her second novel. Her first novel, Trusting for Tomorrow, captures the struggles of diagnosing and living with celiac disease. He resents the foreigner. She’s searching for meaning. Falling in love might ruin everything. Are you ready for a breathtaking, cross-continental love story of faith and perseverance spanning nearly two decades? Connected by one poignant weeping willow, The Counting Tree takes you on a thrilling journey with Heidi, a young woman who defies her destiny and embarks on a life-changing adventure as a camp counselor in 1987 South Africa. But what she finds there isn’t what she expected, and she must navigate cultural differences and the camp’s enigmatic director, Johann, who challenges her at every turn. Desperate for success, Heidi works to provide hope amidst the dark shadow of apartheid, betrayal, and hostility. However, just as she finds a sense of belonging, her world is rocked by the devastating news of her mother’s breast cancer diagnosis. Fast forward fifteen years, and Heidi unexpectedly finds herself at another camp – this time in the United States. Surrounded by an eerie sense of familiarity, she's about to unravel why. Filled with emotional twists, spiritual growth, inspiring characters, and humor, The Counting Tree is a heartwarming romance that will leave you breathless. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable tale of a love that defies all odds. Click here for your own copy and let the journey sweep you off your feet! https://tr.ee/dsrSWllCKJ
2 Comments
6/29/2023 09:51:41 am
Although I’ve not met Jennifer Arrington in person, we have a wonderful relationship via messenger, text, Facebook, etc.
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Amy R Anguish
6/29/2023 04:20:14 pm
I absolutely loved her story. Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting.
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This is a place for me to share thoughts and ideas not just related to writing. Thoughts about what's going on in my life, about an idea I got that I thought shareworthy, or just a funny anecdote.
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