By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer An empty calendar and the first page of a blank journal mark my juncture of Known and Unknown. Behind me lie personal mountains of success and failure, as well as the mistakes, warnings, and recommendations of others along the way. But ahead of me?
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer When we think of the first Christmas (which was not called that at the time), we usually think of Mary and the infant Jesus huddled somewhere on the outskirts of an over-crowded Bethlehem during the first century. No light other than oil or candle.
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer Remember when Christmas was simple? You were probably a child. Gifts Pine trees Lights Music As adults we complicate things. Parties Pre-lit trees Shopping without end Credit Can we simplify the season—enjoy it without getting caught up in the hoopla? Celebrate the Child? This
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer Mary was once a common name for Jewish girls. It’s been a common name for other girls as well, primarily because of the first Mary mentioned in the Bible who was, in my opinion, quite uncommon. Uncommon because of the way she handled interruptions.
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer One man’s idea of born-in-a-barn is the forerunner of some of our contemporary Christmas décor. Tradition says this man was so disturbed by the secular materialism around Christmas, that he staged a living nativity scene or crèche to draw attention to the birth of
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer Christmas memories rise around me each year like yeast rolls in a warm kitchen. Some are tender and sweet, and some carry a dash of heartache. I can choose which of them to carry with me and which to let go. No sense cluttering
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer We hear it a lot, don’t we? The cloaked condemnation that demands we “Be grateful,” for “things could be worse,” and we “have it better than most.” Some of us find it hard to swallow this Thanksgiving side-dish because we’ve filled ourselves on “But Why”
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer There is a lot of clamoring right now. Have you heard it? A lot of noise. A lot of posturing and pointing, criticism and chaos. None of it is new. It’s all happened before, many times, in fact. And God’s antidote is the same:
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer The three most important things to consider when investing in real estate are location, location, location. At least that’s what I’ve been told. This deliberate hyperbole points out the importance of where a property is. Realtors are credited with coining this catchy phrase about
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer Some people like to be frightened and enjoy watching horror movies or reading scary stories. Maybe it’s because they know the scenarios are not real and they feel safe and relieved after the faux fright. Halloween is our most traditional fright night – a
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer As an author who lacks sketching and painting skills, I often sidestep artsy remarks by confessing that the only thing I draw is a conclusion. Joking aside, I believe this holds true for many of us. We are sometimes quick to judge, infer, or
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer Fifteen years ago I took my greenhorn self to a California writers conference, where I met with a well-known author for a “one-on-one.” It was the equivalent of a preschooler sitting down with a Ph.D. professor for a career pep-talk. “What do you write?”
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer It’s here – and free for a few days – my new contemporary cowboy Christmas romance. It may seem early for a Christmas story but it’s never too early for love. Nor is it too late. See what readers are saying: “What a poignant,
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer Of the eighteen novels and novellas I’ve written over the past twelve years, a predominant theme in my characters’ lives has been finding direction. Choosing the right path. A few of my heroines have known exactly what they wanted and headed straight for it.
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer Several years ago I covered a local craft show for the newspaper and was captivated by the work of several lapidarists. One man displayed not only his beautiful, finished products but also rough stones – common rocks I might have kicked out of