By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer I thought “returns” were things you took back to a store because they weren’t what you expected or because they were defective. Even online marketing mentions “free returns.” But that’s not what “many happy returns” is talking about. The short phrase derives from a
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer “Transition” is not one of my favorite words. It implies hard work, change, letting go of the familiar, and heading into the unknown. It takes a person from what was to what will be and often involves pain. Biological mothers everywhere know exactly what
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer If someone came up to me and said I smelled, my reaction would depend upon what they said I smelled like. Cinnamon rolls? Fresh flowers? Bacon grease, dirty socks? People care about how they smell, and because of that, smell is big business. Air
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer This morning (Sunday) clocks were turned ahead from 1 a.m. to 2 a.m. for the commencement of Daylight-Saving Time. Personally, I wasn’t awake to spring ahead and lost those precious sixty minutes of sleep between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. I think this manual
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer The morning I opened my Bible to Psalm 57, I had just read a social media post from a young woman in a war-torn country. She recounted miracles and unexplained accounts of things happening that should not have – but for the power of
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer If God asked you a question, what would it be? “God doesn’t need to ask me a question,” you say. “He already knows everything about me.” True, He does know everything about you, but God is relational. He asks questions of those He loves.
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer In recent months, I’ve had a few requests for copies of my out-of-print devotional book for women, Always Before Me. So remodeling has begun. Additions are framed in, and an open house is set for this spring. The original book had 30 daily devotional
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer Romantic love is celebrated on Valentine’s Day, February 14, in North America and in many countries around the *world. With unclear *origins, a great deal has been written about the observance. However, there is much more to love, and other languages, particularly Greek, have
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer The man named Job spent a great deal of time observing God through His handiwork and had some interesting things to say about the Creator. In chapter 26 of his ancient book, we find one of Job’s lists of God’s amazing deeds and attributes
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer Imagine my surprise when I walked into my attached garage one morning and found the remains of the mini-blinds on the only window in there. I didn’t know cats could do such damage. Apparently, they can. Especially if they are feral and resent the
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer The doorbell rang. When I answered it, a friendly young man greeted me from a company I have done business with for several years. After leaving his delivery, he mentioned the deer in my driveway and yard. He had encountered several on the roads
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer At Christmas I became the hesitant owner of a Paperwhite Narcissus Bulb Kit – Ziva. Hesitant because things looked pretty barren in that mostly empty box. However, it was worth trying if success meant the heady perfume I associate with narcissi. According to the
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer A new year. A new month. A new week. Do you ever get the feeling that you have to gear up and get a jump on things? Get a head start? But a head start on what? Anxiety, stress, over-achieving? Completing that to-do list
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer I like to walk just before dawn. I don’t always make it, but when I do, I am awed each time by the moment night becomes day. Many verses in the Bible speak of it, and one of my favorites is Psalm 130:5-6. I
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer How often do our New Year’s Resolutions involve denying ourselves something in order to improve our life? Stop over-eating. Stop smoking. Give up sugar. Don’t criticize my spouse/siblings/in-laws. These are admirable aspirations and well worth our efforts. But typically, such resolutions fall by the