By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer I knitted once. Many years ago, I needled my way through a scarf for my soon-to-be-husband, hoping to keep him warm in Colorado’s snowy clime while I wintered in temperate California. That scarf was the extent of my knitting career. When I started writing …
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer When asked what advice I have for aspiring writers, I say, “Don’t quit.” Sometimes I say, “Never give up.” And often I add, “Keep writing.” I know; my advice is boringly repetitive. However, that’s the kind of stick-to-it-iveness required for most worthwhile endeavors. It’s …
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer In most places, fall arrives with a visual reminder that change is coming. Ordinary green trees don brilliant foliage and temperatures fluctuate drastically. I find hope in the changing seasons – hope that God in His mercy won’t leave me stuck in the same …
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer You’ve probably watched a parent hold their child close and pour in their love. Eye to eye. Face to face. Maybe you’ve even done it yourself. Holding a little one close to our face is often symbolic of how we hold them close to …
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer Do you see it—hanging like a papery ornament, just in front of a Colorado blue spruce? What you may not notice are its whirring, buzzing, stinging residents. That nest is best left alone. I shot this picture from the back of my horse on …
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer I received a note from a friend the other day. Part of it said, “Surround yourself with what you love.” Sometimes I do this without thinking about it, haphazardly scattering colors or keepsakes that appeal to me. Without serious consideration, I simply like the …
Join me today as I welcome author Kathleen L. Maher, as she shares encouragement for the week as well as information about a giveaway. -Davalynn Spencer By Kathleen L. Maher @Mahereenie Fear is a liar. As the popular song goes, “It will rob your rest, …
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer Hide and seek – is it only a child’s game? Not necessarily. Adults like to figure things out, hunt for buried treasure, and make ground-breaking discoveries. It is in man’s DNA to investigate and unearth. Personally, I believe God intended it to be so, …
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer Have you ever heard the phrase “down in the dumps”? It’s been around about 500 years, according to people who look that stuff up. Though the idiom is nearly self-explanatory, some etymologists believe the word “dumps” may have come from a Dutch or German …
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer My friend Lynne Schricker creates magnificent bronze horses, and her years of experience as a seasoned horsewoman bring a sense of life to her sculptures. As a trainer, rider, and winning rodeo competitor, she knows the flick of an ear and a worthy eye, …
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer These beautiful horses are from a string of bucking stock owned by Miller Rodeo Company out of Colorado. Believe me, they are well-prepared for the day of battle – once or twice a week all summer long for eight seconds at a time. Their …
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer Is there a place you go to escape the crush and commotion of life? A place where it’s quiet enough to hear yourself think? Hear God whisper to your heart. For Laura Bell in The Miracle Tree, her quiet place was the front porch …
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer Some people wonder what goes into the making of a novel, and with good reason. There’s so much more to writing fiction than lining up words on a page. For me, it’s about finding truth. August 23 is the release date for the repackaged …
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer In early June, I enjoyed a personal writer-research stay at Badger Creek Ranch, a working cattle ranch tucked into the high country of Colorado at 8,800 feet. While there, I was often reminded to drink water. “Don’t wait until you’re thirsty,” a staff member …
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer Fires and floods have ravaged wilderness and communities alike this summer, and many of us know people who have suffered extreme loss. For some, the fires and floods have been literal scourging flame and sweeping deluge. Others have experienced great emotional loss and pain …