BEST FRIENDS for LIFE

I hadn't really thought of this before, but it's so true.

I met my husband at a Youth For Christ rally and found a real soul mate. We were both interested in serving the Lord and so discovered we had this in common.

We kept company for two years before we were finally married. In that time we began singing duets together in Christian services.

I had other nice boyfriends before, but I never seriously thought of being married to them. As love grew from our friendship we knew we wanted to spend our whole lives together.

We have never once regretted our decision and enjoy our times together in whatever we're doing. We are so grateful to the Lord for allowing us to meet as we truly feel two halves of a whole. As the Holy Bible says, "The two shall become one." I know some couples want to have time alone to do what they are interested in, but we simply want to share each of our interests together. That also applies to the household chores. I cook the meals and my darling husband washes the dishes. I never asked him to, but he likes to share the workload.

We have both learned to be forgivers. There are bound to be times in a marriage when disagreements arise and sometimes harsh words are said. It is then we remember the Bible tells us to "not let the sun go down upon your wrath." Then we admit our wrong treatment of the other and seek forgiveness. We try to work out the problem, 'give and take' style, then put it behind us. And never to hold grudges for if God has forgiven our sins, then why should we not forgive our loved one?

As the years go by we have grown even closer together and know that whichever one of us leaves the other in death, we will be reunited in heaven. Not as husband and wife, but as worshipers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

HUSBAND and WIFE TEAM

Meet Cheryl and Mel Hoddes. This husband and wife team up to write Christian medical romance and suspense novels. The way they first met really intrigued me.

"You're a doctor?" Cheryl leaned toward Mel and raised her voice to be heard over the din of restaurant diners. "You could help me paralyze someone, then, couldn't you?"
Mel stared at her with some trepidation. This was the "nice young lady" his pastor, wanted him to meet?
"I only want to paralyze him temporarily, of course," Cheryl continued.

Mel glanced toward the nearest exit.

"I'd better explain myself," she said with a smile. "I write novels. I'm doing research for a book."

Ah, interesting. He relaxed slightly and gave her all the information she needed in good, graphic detail. He couldn't understand why she only ate half a slice of pizza the whole evening.

This was Mel's introduction into Cheryl's world of fiction. It was Cheryl's introduction into the life of an emergency room physician. They were both fascinated. A year and a half later, they were married.

 

 The fascination grew as Mel downloaded at the end of his workday — never betraying patient confidentiality. Cheryl's imagination took over, and together they generated ideas for a completely new story, with a completely new novel. With Mel's medical input, encouragement and help with plotting, and Cheryl's writing skills gleaned over 13 years, they developed their first ER-style novel.Cheryl is also a Christy Award -Winning author

The Hoddes (pronounced Hoddees) have loved working together ever since that first meeting. Cheryl has been a professional writer for 19 years now. Mel is a board-certified ER physician with a degree in osteopathy. They work together under the pen name of Hannah Alexander.

KEEPING FAITH is their latest novel