Today marks the 20th anniversary of my first date with my husband.

Wow...that is kind of a crazy thing to write.

It all started back when Jared was a senior and I was a junior in high school and after hanging out in the same friend group for a couple of months, I was anxious to see if the sparks I'd been feeling were mutual.

So when the Sweethearts Dance for my school was coming up, I knew I needed to ask Jared out and see if anything could happen. So, I got a coloring book with a bunch of princess coloring pages and made a little storybook.

I wrote a story about how there was a ball coming up and the princess was wondering if the knight in shining armor would go to the ball with the girl and all that fun stuff.

Then I called his mom to ask what his favorite candy was and dropped it all off on Jared's doorstep.

We saw each other at school the next day and I was so nervous since I was always so awkward around boys, (especially super cute, popular, football playing boys like Jared!) but he thanked me for the things and said he'd be answering me soon.

It was probably a day or two later when I came home to find two beanie babies (which were all dressed up in a tux and fancy gown) on my bed along with a bunch of candy hearts and an envelope that Jared had left his "answer" in.

And to my surprise, he had actually just finished the story that I had started, saying that the knight would be excited to go to the dance with the princess and that they would dance the night away and have a great time together.

So yes...my husband is basically the cutest.

We ended up having a great time at the dance and Jared apparently had a good enough time with me that he asked me to prom ten days later.

We did have a few bumps in the road before we were able to start our happily ever after (as all good love stories do). But it was definitely the start of something great and I'm so thankful that I have been able to build a wonderful life with the cute guy I met in high school.

And thankfully we've learned how to take slightly less awkward photos since then. 😉

Last week I was interviewed for a podcast and asked which of the couples that I've written is most like my husband and I and I had to think about it for a bit. I like to think that my characters are their own people and haven't ever tried to create them to be like anyone I know in real life.

But I would have to say that if I did have to choose a couple who has a dynamic that is most similar to Jared and me, it would be Arie and Emma from Protect My Heart.

No, Jared wasn't my undercover bodyguard and I wasn't in danger back in high school, but their banter and personalities are pretty similar to us. (I may have had a family friend who read Protect My Heart and said they had a hard time not imagining Jared and me as the main characters...which you know, is always a little weird when there are passionate kissing scenes in the mix haha!)

So yeah...if you are reading that book, I promise, Arie and Emma ARE different and definitely not Jared and Judy fan-fiction even if we do have some similar personality traits. 😉

Check out this Sweet Read!

As one of Earth's Guardians, one girl finds herself in a bond that might be the death of her.

Elementals don’t mix. They fight over territories constantly and news of their battles is everywhere.

Vela, an Earth Elemental, wants two things: to make it through high school and one day run her very own flower shop.
When Linc, a Fire Elemental, strolls into her life, she is immediately thrown into chaos when a bond flares up, connecting them forever. Linc pursues her relentlessly, for connections like this are rare, but Vela wants nothing to do with it or him.

With this news, Vela discovers she and Linc may be a part of an age-old prophecy that could change their world forever by uniting the warring clans. However, a powerful group does not want their pairing to exist, for if it does, the prophecy may come true.

Vela and Linc must keep their bond a secret, for their lives are at risk if it is made public.

Can Vela deny a bond that could unite the battling clans, finally providing peace after centuries of conflict? Will she allow herself to love an enemy?

Become immersed in this sweet, clean fantasy romance!

Find it here!