April is a month of important milestones for me. Perhaps most notable to you would be my first blog post with Inspy Romance, which is the third milestone I’m celebrating. I’m honored and ecstatic to join this community of contemporary Christian romance lovers. Since I am new here, I wanted to take this welcome post to tell you about myself, my first CCR series, and how you can win a copy of my first novel, A Heart to Cherish.
On April 9, I celebrated milestone two, my twenty-fourth anniversary with my husband, the hero of my personal love story. We have seven children ranging in age from thirty to ten and a two-year-old grandson. Our family is also home to three rambunctious dogs and a flock of chickens who are more pets than livestock.
Doug and I are avid travelers, and I already have potential vacations planned for at least the next three years. I think he would prefer to vacation in our home state of Michigan every year, but he indulges my love and excitement of new places and sights by following me around as I live out my bucket list item of seeing all fifty states. I’m VERY thankful he doesn’t mind driving when we’re in the mountains because, as much as I love seeing them, driving in them makes me nervous.
Writing has been a dream of mine since I was in fourth grade, and I published a Christmas poem that I wrote with my grandma in our local newspaper. The poem is truly terrible, but what can I say? I was nine when I wrote it! I’ve dabbled with several blogs through the years, but it wasn’t until July 2021 that I seriously considered writing something more substantial.
The first of my significant milestones this month came on April 1 with the one-year anniversary of the release of my first novel, A Heart to Cherish, which is book one of the family saga I am currently publishing. There are three books available so far from this series, as well as a related Christmas novella. I have plans for two more novels and two more novellas, but we’ll see where the Lord takes me!
A Heart to Cherish drew heavily from my time as a part of Michigan’s foster care and adoption community. Three of our children are former foster children that Doug and I adopted. When we went through the licensing process, a woman on a panel in one of the training classes spoke of children who “age out” of the system. Her words weigh heavily on me to this day, and writing a book with a female main character who had grown up in foster care without being adopted was my way of trying to bring awareness to the problem of these “system orphans.”
I’d love to introduce my writing to one commenter with an ebook copy of A Heart to Cherish. Say “Hi,” in the comments, and share something about yourself with me to be entered. Anyone with a valid email address can enter, and the winner will be chosen on April 24.
Everyone leaves…including God.
That’s how Julia Price feels after years of being passed over in foster homes. All she has ever wanted is a family, but when she finds herself pregnant and homeless, her dreams seem further away than ever.
Strait-laced good guy Alex Morgan has waited his entire life for the woman God has prepared for him. When he makes it his mission to help Julia, he wonders whether she could be that woman. But why would God lead him to a pregnant non-believer?
As Julia struggles with issues of self-worth and trust, can she open her heart to both God and Alex? And can Alex trust their relationship to the One who holds Julia in His hand?
Judith McNees lives in Michigan, where she enjoys spending time hiking with her kids and breaking out into random songs to annoy them. She loves to travel, and visiting all 50 states with her husband is at the top of her bucket list. She has a B.A. in English from Western Michigan University and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.
Welcome! I have always admired people who foster and adopt. I have a nephew with four adopted children and they are just so special!
I am a 72 year old grandmother and wife to a very patient and special man. I am South African, but have two sisters who are American.
I love reading Christian novels and being retired I have the time to indulge myself.
Hi Judith! I’ve been married almost 21 years & have 3 kids. I love to travel too, though we mostly stay in Texas. A lot of our traveling is related to our love of competition BBQ & someday I’d love to go to Kansas City to college in the Royal.
Hi Judith! Welcome to Inspy Romance and congratulations on your milestones. This retired high school English and German teacher, mom to 3 sons, and Oma to 2 grandsons and 2 granddaughters lives in SW Michigan and is a graduate of Western Michigan University. Hubby and I will celebrate our 50th anniversary in June. I also love to travel and have been blessed to drive coast to coast (26 states) and 9 countries (Canada, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, England, the Netherlands, Poland, France, and Japan). I purchased the Christmas novella and hope to read it soon. Is Tranquil Shores a Michigan setting?
Welcome, Judith! Your book sounds wonderful, and I’m off to grab a copy.
Someone close to me has recently become a foster carer for the first time, and it’s brought home to me what a sacrifice it is. They’re required to love with all their hearts while knowing they might have to let the child go. Which, indeed, is what is happening with the little one who’s been in their family since his birth. God bless you for what you’ve done!
Hi and welcome! My parents adopted a seven year old boy when I was 12 and my biological brother was 13. It was quite a change to our established family! But it had been a dream of my father’s that my mother knew about and supported. I admire them so much for their kind spirits.
Welcome!! I have quite a few friends who are either foster parents or adoptive parents. I don’t have children, always wanted them, but God had other plans! I’ve also never married, which is another part of God’s plan! I thought of being a foster parent, but after being my Mom’s full-time caregiver for 9 years, I’ve re-thought that. It’s kind of nice not having to look after anyone but myself!
Lovely to meet you Jeannette! I have a novel that has been in the works for about two years now with a South African character. Maybe the Lord will strike me with the inspiration to finish that one soon!
Thanks for stopping by to say HI! I actually lived in Texas for about two months when I was 13. I’d love to come back for a visit some day. I love the warm weather!
Hi again Renate! Thanks for stopping by to chat on Facebook this morning! Tranquil Shores is a fictional town set on the shores of Lake Michigan. I always think of South Haven when I’m writing about the city. You have me beat on the world traveling. I have only been to 8 countries!
Thanks for stopping by Milla! I always say fostering is the toughest job you’ll ever love. We had a little one we brought home from the hospital go back to his birth family after 15 months. That was the beginning of the end of our time as fosters. It takes a big heart to stay in it for the long haul!
Hi Laurie! Yes, it was quite the adjustment for my birth children as well. I think they’re better, more compassionate people as a result, though. God bless you and your family!
Thanks for the warm welcome! I can definitely relate to needing to decompress after being a caregiver. My 3 adopted kiddos are “extra needs,” so I often need that kind of time myself. My husband and I usually try to take time with just the two of us, even if it’s only for a weekend, every year.
My son and his wife are adopting two foster children who are siblings but have been in two different homes. They are 8 and 9 and will be moving to a new state. I am praying that everything will go well.
Thanks for commenting, Lori! My adopted kiddos are siblings, too. It’s so great that your son and his wife are keeping siblings together. Not every sibling set is that fortunate in foster care!
Hi Judith!! And welcome. I loved your blog and look forward to getting to know you better. I live in central Ohio, married for 51 years (to the same man!😅), have a son and daughter and 3 grandkids. I’m retired from a Christian daycare where I was office manager. I am sitting here by the Grand Traverse Bay in Traverse City. It is my favorite place. Love to come here with my tablet full of books, read, and look out at the bay. This is our 16th year of vacationing here. When a book has it’s settings in Michigan, I give it a second look to see if I want to read it. I usually do. I will be looking at your books for sure. Love meeting new authors, especially Christian authors.
Hi Bonnie! Lovely to meet you. We’ve been to Traverse City on one of our mini-vacations. It sure is a beautiful area! It almost got a mention in A Heart to Cherish, but I went with Harbor Springs instead so I could give a wink to the Tunnel of Trees. So beautiful to drive through during the fall!
My parents fostered several children when I was young. They wanted to adopt one of them but was unable to do so. I have been married 41 years and have three children who are now grown. I homeschooled them through high school which I loved doing. I had planned on fostering children when my own grew up, but my husband was not interested. I go on trips with my daughters sometimes. My husband does not like to travel. Your book sounds interesting and different.
Hi! I’m a mom of two teenage girls and we have two blue tick hound dogs. Sometimes wish I could travel but migraines prevent that. I’ve only lived in two states, Maine(twice, one when I was an infant & now) and Florida. When I was a kid we traveled back and forth in the summers so we drove through a good amount of other states. Other than that, I went to Tennessee once with church youth for camp and to New Hampshire to visit an aunt and also alpine sliding. Your book so really good!
Thanks for stopping by to say hi Kathleen. I’m a homeschool mom as well!
Lovely to meet you, Joannie! We had two blue ticks when I was growing up named Duke and Blue. They sure have a lot of energy! Maine is one of the dozen or so states I haven’t visited yet, but Lord willing, we’re heading out east this fall!
My cousin was a foster mother to many children as they couldn’t have children as my cousins husband had cancer when he was younger they got twins when they were 18 months then when they were 2 they adopted them now they are in middle school . I would help my cousin lots when they were younger .
Thanks for sharing, Kendra. Foster parents need lots of support to do what they do. I’m sure your help was a huge blessing to your cousin and her husband.
Hi Judith, welcome! Your book sounds really good. I’ve often wondered how hard it must be for the kids in foster care who never get the chance to be adopted. It’s heartbreaking.
Hi Judith, welcome! Thank you for your post, it’s really interesting to hear about you and the books you have written, they sound great and I will add them to my TBR list.
I really admire people who foster and adopt, it’s such an amazing thing to do. And I’m so impressed you find time to write too!
I’m a mom of 3 aged 7, 4 and 18 months, and I live in the UK, in Southwest England. I love spending any free time I have reading and Inspy Romance has been a great place for me to find new writers and chat to others who enjoy CCR.
Hello! I am 26 years old, currently a university student, Christian since I was 19 years old.
I love Christian romance in all its subgenres, also speculative fiction with elements of fantasy and clean fiction friendly to faith, although when it comes to reading about crude subjects (traffic of people, death, etc) I prefer it to be from the Christian perspective.
Praying to find my own personal hero and for God to help me control my heart and not fall in love until the right time and the right man.
Welcome Judith. I am one of the aussies who visits. I have been to 12 USA states (sure 2 I only was in the airport or hotel by it and one we drove into for about an hour but it counts).
I have a friend who fostered then adopted children. the first 3 were a little older (school age) when she first fostered then adopted. the next 3 were 3 siblings ranging from about 4 down to 6 weeks. So she ended with 6 kids from early teens to 6 weeks old.
The fact they age out and are often then left to fend for themselves is so sad. It happens here too with some if they have health issues getting more help especially if they can’t fend for themselves. but most are basically on there own unless they have a foster parent who will continue to care for them. Here adopting an older foster child is a lot harder.
Welcome, Judith. Glad you are here. I look forward to your posts.
Hi Megan. It really is sad. It puts them at a greater risk for all sorts of things such as unwed pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse, and homelessness. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!
Thank you for the warm welcome, Ruthie! A lot of my writing gets done in the evenings once everyone has gone to bed. It also helps that the kiddos who still live at home are reaching ages of self sufficiency. Lovely to meet you!
Hi Lilly! You sound like a fairly eclectic reader! I’m not usually very brave about branching out into other genres. I’m too much a creature of habit I suppose. All the best with your classes, and thanks for sharing about yourself with me!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and absolutely those two states count. I count the states that we only drive through going somewhere else! ;) Nice to meet you!
Thank you for the welcome, Merrillee! I’m very glad to be here.
Hi. Like to read
Hello and welcome. We have been married for 34 years. We have three indoor cats. We feed the stray cats and kittens. Thank you for joining us and sharing about you and your family. God bless you.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Hi Debra! Nice to meet you. I’m very happy to be here.
Hi, Judith! We’ve been married almost 20 years and have 2 18-year-olds. We live in a tiny little condo in central Ohio, so we don’t have any pets. Glad your husband is happy to travel with you! We used to travel more but are turning into homebodies.
Nice to meet you Kathy! Thanks for commenting!
Hi Judith, welcome!
What a great post and I love that your books raise awareness too. Mum took in a few foster children when we were young. It’s quite an adjustment and the trust issues they had were heartbreaking. April 1 is an interesting date for publishing, glad it went well for you. Look forward to more posts in between your travels.
Lovely to meet you, Dianne! Thank you for stopping by!
Hi Judith, Welcome to Inspy Romance! 😊
Thanks, Narelle! I’m super excited to be here!