ANGI MORGAN-ANNIVERSARIES ~ MAKE ‘EM SPECIAL

Stories of the Heart- July 17, 2019

In a time when it seems the world is nothing but name-calling, finger-pointing and bad vibes, its refreshing to hear the GOOD that still exists. For that, and these stories shared by some very dear and talented people, I am truly grateful and blessed!

A special reminder by a very special lady! Angi is a spitfire woman with a heart of gold. I am proud to call her friend. Enjoy!

#doesaheartgood

Amanda McIntyre

ANNIVERSARIES ~ MAKE ‘EM SPECIAL

by Angi Morgan

 

Today Tim and I are celebrating our 30^th Anniversary. I’ll say ‘thank you’ now to anyone who congratulates us. Why? We’re on a train. It’s something that we’ve both wanted to do for a while.  I have to admit that most years we’re not together on our anniversary. Some years there weren’t any gifts or even cards exchanged.

THIS milestone event though…we’ve given ourselves a trip, a new travel trailer, and new wedding bands… they’re all lovely, but not necessary. Gifts are nice and are something to look back on to identify the year. But one of my favorite celebrations was a picnic in the back of a minivan in a parking lot because it was raining outside. I don’t remember what we had to eat. No wine was involved because we couldn’t afford it. But we were alone (free of children) and happy.

On the day we got married, my dad told me something I’ve been passing on to other couples on their wedding day. It was something I wish he’d told me before I married the wrong guy when I was younger. After telling me he thought Tim was a good man and the right one for me he said, “Love isn’t something you fall into. It takes a lot of hard work to keep a marriage together.”

And then there was my own discovery. Love isn’t a 50/50 split. When you split everything 50/50 that actually means you give ONLY 50% and you keep 50% to yourself. But that leaves 50% of you "unfilled". Nope, a relationship works if you each always give 100%. It might seem like giving 100% leaves you with nothing. But remember...that your partner gives 100% to fill you up.

Anniversaries come by being ALL IN.

About Angi-
Where honor and danger collide with love" is more than a tag line. When the house is quiet, she plots ways to engage her readers with complex story lines, throwing her hero and heroine into conflicting situations requiring sacrifice. Alone their situations seem impossible...but then the one person they can love fights for that 'happily ever after' to share with them. ANGI MORGAN is a USA Today and Publisher's Weekly bestselling author. Her work has finaled in the Romantic Times First Series Book, the Booksellers' Best First Book, the Booksellers' Best Series Romantic Suspense, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, the Carolyn Readers Choice Award and the Daphne du Maurier. An 11th generation Texan, Angi utilizes her strong heritage to create passionate characters in actual Texas locations who are willing to risk everything.

Amanda hosts #storiesoftheheart with Jane Lange

A child's marriage through a mother’s eyes. 

by Jane Lange

There is something magical about weddings. The joining of two families and two special people. There is something gratifying as a mother seeing your children on the happiest days of their lives. 

As we leave the long, cold tundra of Minnesota for the warmth of Las Vegas, for our oldest sons wedding, I feel both both  joy and a bit of sadness. 

Joy in that many of our friends and family are joining us for this special occasion. We are so fortunate to have the support of so many. We are more than blessed with our children’s spouses. One son in law, soon to be, two daughter in laws. 

A bit of sadness knowing our family circle is now complete. All of our children are married. Creating new family memories will be wonderful. 

As a mother of three married children, I have realized, I may not have always been perfect. As they say “you don’t get a handbook with children.”  I am proud of the children I raised who have strong faith and belief in marriage and the commitment to it. My children make me a better person. While I was teaching them, they were teaching me the most important things in life.

Not all days are perfect. When the day is done and it all settles down, our family circle is complete and strong and as a mother, I cannot ask for more than that. 

Jane Lange lives in Minnesota with her best friend, and husband of 35 years, Bryan. She is the mother of  3 grown children and 4 grandchildren, all boys.