Real-life Romance: Wrestling & Bread Pudding

Every person has a different definition of romance. And sometimes, those definitions take a direction you might not expect. My good friend, Heather Greer, is chatting today about how she and her husband celebrated twenty-five years of marriage. And it might surprise you.

Sometimes romance isn’t roses and chocolates.
Sometimes it’s wrestling and bread pudding.
My husband and I just celebrated our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. When you pass a milestone anniversary, people expect the couple to enjoy dinner at a fancy restaurant, a rose for every year, or a vow renewal ceremony complete with second honeymoon. We did have a party, but only because friends planned it as a surprise for us.
When friends ask how we celebrated this special anniversary, their open curiosity turns to confusion when I tell them we went to a wrestling match with a couple of close friends. To be honest, we went a week before our anniversary. But that couldn’t be helped. The Royal Rumble didn’t ask us when we wanted them to arrive in St. Louis, Missouri.

Maybe you’re thinking, “Oh isn’t that romantic. She did something she knew her husband would love for their anniversary.” If you are, I need to burst your bubble. I wanted to go as much, if not more, than my husband did. For the past few years, we’ve gotten together with another couple to watch the pay-per-views every couple months. I enjoy the athleticism and the storytelling.
When we heard the Royal Rumble was going to be so close to home and right around our anniversary, we made plans to attend. Though I was working on a new book with a professional wrestler hero, I’d never been to a real match. Not only would my husband and I get to enjoy the show, I’d also get to work the experience into my writing.
But going to the Royal Rumble wasn’t the end of our anniversary celebration. My husband took our actual anniversary day off work, and we spent the day in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Now, this isn’t a magically romantic destination. It’s not the next Hawaii or wherever it is people go for a romantic getaway.
Cape is a regular midwestern small town, and we spend Saturday afternoons and evenings down there at least once a month. We walk through the historic riverfront part of town and wander through the antique shops looking for treasures. There’s a great little used bookstore with a huge selection of Christian fiction. And there are a few restaurants we like to frequent.
For our anniversary visit, we went to Katy O’Ferrell’s. Their shepherd’s pie is so good. So is their potato soup. Of course, nothing can compare to their bread pudding. Served piping hot with a scoop of ice cream and a dollop of whipped cream, it is sweet perfection. Rich and delicious. And since my husband is allergic to dairy, all mine, even though it’s really too much for one person.
With all the best comfort foods filling me past full, my husband and I did what we always do. We meandered down the streets visiting familiar stores. When we drove home, our only additions were a few used books. No expensive jewelry or overpriced flowers. Just some books and memories of a quiet day spent together.
Was I disappointed in our anniversary celebration? Not at all.
But what about romance? Don’t I wish it was more romantic?
As non-traditional as it was, my husband and I honored our relationship by spending time together doing the things we enjoy. That makes wrestling and bread pudding more romantic than flowers and chocolates could ever be. ​

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Love in the Squared Circle

Trinity Knight is not a fan of professional wrestling. But with her husband gone, it falls to her to give their son the father-son trip they daydreamed about when he was alive. After Trinity causes them to miss a meet and greet with Jay’s favorite wrestler, a random act of kindness saves the trip and starts Trinity on an unexpected path.
Universal Wrestling Organization Champion Blane Sterling hears whiny children at photo ops all the time. However, overhearing a young boy comfort his mother piques his interest. Touched by their story, Blane works with the UWO Public Relations team to give Jay the experience of a lifetime.
As they learn each other’s stories, Trinity and Blane are drawn to each other. But they don’t just come from different states. They live in different worlds. Trinity might learn to fit into his life, but can those in her world look beyond Blane’s profession to see his heart? Or will a lack of acceptance cause Trinity and Blane to lose their shot at love?

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​Heather Greer is a preacher’s kid and pastor’s wife who loves using her passion for reading and writing to encourage and challenge others in their faith. Whether writing or speaking, Heather’s desire to help believers grow spiritually shines through. 
An avid reader of Christian fiction, Heather also reviews books on her website. Her love of God and story flow into the devotional videos she shares on her YouTube channel and the ones she shares with her writing buddies about all things reading and writing on the Once Upon A Page channel on YouTube.
While Heather thrives on all things romance, she’s also a fan of professional wrestling. It was this interest that led to her reading the biography of Christian wrestler, Shawn Michaels. His powerful testimony sparked the idea for Blane Sterling and Love in the Squared Circle.

Follow her:
​https://www.pinterest.com/authorheathergreer/
Website and blog: http://heathergreer.com/
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YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/channel/UCDLHaPMhxYBlmdzQYuyhYXQ

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