Fried Onions & Cranberry Sauce - a short Thanksgiving romance

Amber walked through the grocery aisles searching for fried onions and cranberry sauce. She was willing to search high and low for the fried onions but wondered why her mother insisted on having the cranberry sauce when no one ever ate it. Horrible stuff.

She was home for the holiday weekend, alone. Two years out of college, by now nearly all her friends were married, and she was striving to be content with a burgeoning career in public relations.

She spied the fried onions on the lowest shelf, all the way in the back. She had to get on her hands and knees to reach the closest package. She pulled herself out of the shelf and sat up wiping dust from her shirt.

“I admire your dedication to green bean casserole,” a masculine voice chuckled above her.

Amber's face reddened, “It wouldn't be Thanksgiving without it,” she quipped, looking up and nearly choked.

Before her, as handsome as the day they graduated, stood her high school crush.

His Last Rodeo - a short romance

Kelly grimaced as she looked at the clock. 7:52. There was no way she would make it now. There was nothing worse than being called in to work on the day you had asked off.

Buzz.

“Nurse? Nurse?!”

“Yes, what do you need?” Kelly spoke into the microphone.

“The water you brought me is tepid,”a crotchety voice rasped, “I thought I said I wanted ice.”

“I'll bring a cup of ice,” Kelly said patiently but the roll of her eyes belied her real feelings.

“I caught that.” Anastasia grinned across the circle of desks. “I'm impressed you didn't mention that you had put ice in the last glass but it melted while she slept.”

“That would just make her want to stay up and she needs to sleep. I need her to sleep.” Kelly shook her head ruefully, “This is a hospital not a nursing home. I'm not sure this lady has any other ailment besides a sever case of grumpiness.” She heaved a sigh as she stood.

“You're usually more patient. Sorry you couldn't go to your thing tonight. But they have bull riding every weekend, right?”

Kelly nodded and quickly turned, hiding the tears that sprang to her eyes as she walked away. She would rather die than explain that a certain man from her past would be riding here tonight only.

Kelly grabbed a cup and pushed it against the ice release. She'd always been a firm believer in fate. She had thought she and Cody were destined for each other. How else could you explain their connection? Their perfectly fated meeting?

But then life happened. She couldn't really pinpoint the end, they had just drifted apart. Sometimes long-distance did that. But they had neither one ever married and barely even dated anyone else; she had his mama to thank for that strategically dropped piece of information.

Loud clinking pulled Kelly back to the present. The ice had overflowed the cup. She hurriedly picked up the fallen cubes and dashed to room 4013.

“It's about time. You finally bring ice for me?” the cantankerous woman asked from deep within the sea of pillows she had requested one by one.

Kelly smiled and gently placed the cup on the woman's tray table.

It was going to be a long night.

*****

Cody looked at the bright lights surrounding the arena.

His hometown rodeo. He hadn't ridden here for years. For the hundredth time tonight he wondered if she was here. Vainly, he scanned the indistinct spectators. A sea of faces.

“Next up, a cowboy returning for one night only to ride for family and friends before heading off to nationals next week. Ladies and gentlemen, Cody MacGuire.”

The crowd roared. His stomach clenched. Was she cheering for him? Right now?

The gate beneath him rattled as Big Red reared, ready to do battle.

“Ready, MacGuire?” the young man next to the gate pin asked.

Cody didn't recognize the guy. He'd been gone for over five years. This man had been a boy sitting in the stands last time he rode here.

Cody glanced at the faces again.

“Ready.” He dropped onto the bull's back. “Pull.”

The boy pulled the pin from the gate and Big Red shot into the arena.

In that instant Cody realized with shock that he wasready. He was ready to find Kelly and settle down for good. After Nationals he would find her. His mind was made up.

That is when the bull threw him.

99 Balloons

When I was in Germany at the Christian filmmakers conference last year a man from the Netherlands involved in the production of this showed this film. I wanted to share it with all of you. (Make sure your tissue box is close!!).

Faithful - A short romance

She had been avoiding this moment for over a year now but there was something about a party held in your honor that didn't lend itself to avoiding any particular guest. Sarah wasn't sure why he had come or even why he had been invited. Wasn't it taboo to invite an ex-boyfriend to a friend's party?

Graduating law school (and passing the bar!) was an accomplishment to be sure and it was true that she might not have made it through the first year without Grant's help and tutelage but they had broken up two years ago and she had been studiously avoiding him for a year so why was he here? It was terribly unfair that in a few weeks they would both move away from campus and her previous year's diligence would be worthwhile, yet here he was walking toward her and she had nothing to duck behind.

“Congratulations, Sarah.” Grant's dimples lit his typically serious face with sincerity as Sarah tried to recall every reason why she shouldn't still love this man. “I heard you're moving back to Owensville to practice.”

Sarah nodded, swallowing to find her voice. She could argue a case in front of the meanest judge but Grant still made her swoon. “My mom's all alone now,” she shrugged, “I'm all she's got left. What about you?”

“I will be working in Richmond for a non-profit, providing cheap or free legal counsel to those in need.”

“That's great, Grant. I didn't really expect you to do that but – it's great,” Sarah spluttered, trying to cover her shock. Grant was a really great guy but he had always been more ambitious than not. He had always wanted to land a prestigious job immediately after passing the bar to help him vault up the corporate ladder.

“Actually, there is something I wanted to talk to you about, Sarah. Something I wanted to explain,”Grant looked around the crowded party tent anxiously, “this isn't perhaps the best place for it but...”

The squealing microphone interrupted him. Sarah was relieved. Whatever Grant had to say she didn't want to hear it. A year ago she had given her life to Christ and had been working furiously to overcome her feelings for him since learning that she should not marry a non-Christian. She had found her best weapon to be avoidance and had used it profusely. She had just wanted to get through these last few weeks without seeing him and to move on with her life.

Valentine's Day Expectations (and what they reveal about marriage)

Two months into our marriage my husband and I celebrated our first Valentine's Day together. He bought me a plunger. Now if that doesn't say something about the difference between the expectations of men and women on Valentine's Day (and when it comes to marriage) nothing will.

The tenth Valentine's Day we celebrated as a married couple, my husband bought me flowers, a nice card with an even nicer message hand-written inside, and (very important) a box of fine chocolates from a local chocolatier. I think you'll agree that we've come quite a ways in ten years.

The reason for that is quite simple really. I've gotten much better at communicating my expectations and he has gotten much better at hearing those communications.

Everyone talks about the importance of understanding and communicating your expectations before you get married. You are warned to talk about: how many kids you want, whether your squeeze or roll your toothpaste, religious beliefs, keeping your house warm or cool, and how you like to spend your vacations. But what about after you are married? Expectations are not problem then, right?