Dating can be stressful. I’m so glad I’m no longer in the dating game. If first dates are awkward, blind dates are on par with prying broken sticks beneath my fingernails.
First dates could end in a number of ways. She liked him, but he wasn’t interested. He liked her, but she put him in the friend zone. They both liked each other, but they’re both too chicken to call later.
I mean, I’ve had my share of bad dates. I once went on a date with a guy who talked about how much he wanted to have a little girl one day. Not just kids–a girl. When I jokingly asked what he would do if he ended up with a boy, he gave me a serious look and said, “I won’t.”
And then there was a long drive home humoring his imaginings of his future with a little girl. Yikes!
There was also the date with my now-husband when I met his family.
It did NOT go well.
But, there’s a happy ending. They love me now!
The first Christmas I spent with my husband’s family, my twenty-five-year-old brother-in-law pouted most of the evening because 80% of the presents under the tree were for me. I like to think he likes me now though.
Oh, good times. Now, my dates usually involve a child’s menu and mac n cheese.
Dates are all about getting to know the other person. Both sides are wondering if this is going to work out, but everyone is too afraid to dive deep and ask the real questions! Dates can seem like informal job interviews. You’re really sizing each other up while trying to be on top of your game.
No pressure, right?
What would dates be like if we could just ask the questions that might expose those traits we’re going to wish we knew about later?
Are you a nail biter?
Have you ever run out of gas in your car?
Do you snore?
Do you drink the last of the orange juice and put the empty jug back in the refrigerator?
Those examples are all in good fun, but there are some questions that should be answered sooner rather than later.
I polled the lovely ladies in my reader group this week and asked what questions they’d like to know the answers to on a first date. They came up with some good ones.
What’s your favorite Bible verse?
Are you a Christian?
Do you like to travel?
Are you a sports fan?
Alabama or Auburn? (Just a little college football humor from the Southeast US.)
Have you ever been arrested?
Do you drink or smoke?
What do you like to do for fun?
Are you close with your family?
In my book, Charmed by the Cowboy, Maddie has just gotten a job as the new horse trainer at Blackwater Ranch, but she’s a little bummed that there weren’t any big interview questions. Lucas gives her a few to shake things up a bit.
If you were part of a pencil, would you be the lead or the eraser?
If you were a fruit, what kind would you be?
These questions are silly, but the answers can tell you a lot about a person. If they chose the lead, are they a perfectionist? If they chose a watermelon, are they hard on the outside and sweet on the inside?
I actually had a class in high school where we had mock job interviews, and these questions were sometimes thrown in to make us really consider our answers.
It’s impossible to know someone well after only a first date, but we can usually tell if things are going to pick up or come to a halt.
While real dates can be awkward and awful, dates we read about in books are usually funny or push those characters toward a happily ever after.
I’ve picked out a few first dates in contemporary Christian romances that stood out to me.
Downtown Billionaire by Hannah Jo Abbott
Andrew is nervous about the date and begins to ask pointed questions so they won’t fall into an uncomfortable silence. She’s definitely being grilled, and he admits to searching interview questions before the date.
Blind Date with a Billionaire Professor by Evangeline Kelly
This was the first book I read by Evangeline Kelly, and I still remember laughing at the blind date scene. Colin is an academic through and through. He talked about mushrooms the whole date! Thankfully, he convinced Abby to give him another shot.
Lavender and Lace by Tara Grace Ericson
Oh boy, Lavender’s story was my favorite read of 2020. Lavender and Emmett are thrown together against his will, and he immediately dislikes her based on simple things he knows about her. He’s hung up on a girl he’s been chatting with online anyway. When he finally gets to meet his online crush for a date, he’s shocked to find out it was Lavender the whole time. How can he be in love with one side of her but not the other?
A Thousand Words by Mandi Blake
I’m writing this book right now, and it begins with an interesting blind date. The characters realize they know each other, and while Tyler thinks they should just forget this mix-up ever happened, Sissy is all in for a date with her brother’s friend. It’s an opposites attract story that I hope you’ll enjoy. Sissy has been my favorite character to write throughout the Unfailing Love series, and I always knew she needed an epic beginning with Tyler. Since Sissy and Tyler were already married when the series began, I knew I’d eventually write the prequel to tell the story that started it all.
A Thousand Words is included in the Love’s Treasure Box Set that you can pre-order now for just 99 cents. It includes fourteen full-length Christian romances written by some wonderful authors.
Plus, if you pre-order, you can take your order number to the Love’s Treasure website and enter it to start getting free books delivered to your email every week.
I’d love to hear some of your dating stories or which books included a date you really enjoyed reading about. Share them in the comments.
Mandi Blake was born and raised in Alabama where she lives with her husband and daughter, but her southern heart loves to travel. Reading has been her favorite hobby for as long as she can remember, but writing is her passion. She loves a good happily ever after in her sweet Christian romance books, and loves to see her characters' relationships grow closer to God and each other.
First dates can be quite traumatic. So insecure and nervous.
I’d ask if they read for pleasure.
Oh my, that was such a long time ago. The one which spring to mind is the first date, where he had us married and me at home taking care of his children because I was looking for a new place to live, yikes, definitely the last d waste with him.
* date not d waste
That’s a good one!
No way! That’s crazy. I’m glad you ran the other way.
Oh, your experience with the guy that wanted a daughter reminds me of one where the guy said he had to have a son! He was going to marry and SHE was going to give him a son. Excuse me, but basic biology says that HE determines the sex of the child, so if they don’t get what they want, they need to just blame themselves! Needless to say, we had that one “date” and that was it! I’ve already told you what questions I’d ask! Lol!
Never really dated. I went to a singles camp and got to know a guy and then went to visit and stay with his family. He picked me up from the airport and I knew within 10 mins of arriving and seeing him (seeing him from a distance then getting my luggage) that we had no future. I was right. No real hug or anything and on camp he did everything others did and found out he doesn’t normally do things like going to theme parks etc. He did it cos he was on camp and to fit in. He was the total opposite to what I had thought even to going to church on occasions but not every week. (Was a Christian camp with bible teaching). His friend who I actually had more in common with had the sticker something like warning when the rapture happens this car will be unmanned. The guy I was visiting had not idea what it meant.
I would want to know do you like Cricket and if not will you accept me loving and going to the game.
Also what sports do you like and to what degree. Like I don’t mind if you like to watch your football team but if you watch every game that is broadcast I may go nuts.
My first question to most is do you have dogs? and if so are they loose or contained and would you work with my fear of dogs or expect me to just learn to handle them?
I went on a first date and when he was taking me home he asked where we could go park and I told him my driveway. When he pulled in I got out and never talked to him again.
My one date in high school (yup, generally scared to death of how to relate to members of the opposite sex) was taking a girl to the circus. She, however, was afraid to tell me that she had fallen sick and felt absolutely awful. I never had a clue, other than that she was definitely not having a good time! Once burned, twice shy. I kept to myself.
I think I’d ask if she enjoyed doing creative things like painting or photography or crochet, something where she made something beautiful to be enjoyed by others. Of course, questions about her walk with God would be vital. I would also ask something like, “Do you prefer to lead, follow or work shoulder to shoulder?” And, of course, “Do you like to read?”
I got to know my wife by working with her in the singles ministry at our church. See? Church can still be a good place to meet people and get to know them. The down side is that the group can be restricting. What if you don’t like any of them? Or, worse yet, what if none of them like you? Worst of all, what if you can’t tell? ;P It’s easy to talk about trust and prayer but here is one place where it seems absolutely crucial. My memory of myself from 30+ years ago is that I couldn’t have led myself out of a wet paper sack where dating was concerned. God’s precious gift of my wife was all His work and my blessing. We’ll be celebrating 32 years in June!
On one of the dates I went out with a guy and for some reason he reminded me so much of one of my brothers, I really liked him but like I said he reminded me of one of my brothers, I think it was his mannerism, so I just didn’t date him anymore, he was super nice, but it was kind of awkward . Have a Great weekend and stay safe.
Alabama! Roll Tide Roll!
All Blind Date Disasters books by Evangeline Kelly are great :)
It’s been way too long since I’ve had a first date, lol! My husband and I were friends long before we fell in love, so I’d say we knew each other pretty well that it wasn’t awkward when we started dating. The only thing I remember was being a bit nervous! He put me at ease though with his humor….that’s one thing I’ve always loved about him :-)
How funny that we had similar dating situations!
Those are some very good questions to go with your concerns.
And I agree, it sounds like that guy wasn’t right for you. I’m glad you figured it out soon!
No way! That’s crazy. Best to walk away like you did.
Congratulations on 32 years together! What a wonderful blessing!
Uh oh. Sounds like it wasn’t meant to be haha.
Yes! Roll Tide!
I agree! I love all of her books, but those were the ones that hooked me.
That is so sweet, and it sounds like you were perfect for each other!