Davalynn Spencer's Blog, page 52

10 Favorite quotes from Will Rogers

I have always admired the wit and wisdom of humorist, author, and actor Will Rogers—the cowboy philosopher from Oklahoma. He was also pretty handy with a rope and you can see a sampling of his work on this 3-minute video: Watch here.

When I heard about the Will Rogers Medallion Award for outstanding achievement in Western literature, making the list of finalists became a personal goal. So you can imagine how honored I was to recently learn that the third book in my Cañon City historical collection, Romancing the Widow, was named as a finalist in the WRMA Inspirational Fiction category. A complete list of categories and finalists can be found on the WRMA Facebook page, and you can read more about the award on their website.

To celebrate, I’m giving away a signed copy of Romancing the Widow. Details at the end of this post.

The  hero in Romancing the Widow is a Colorado Ranger named Haskell Tillman Jacobs. Tillman was my maternal grandfather’s name. He wasn’t a Ranger, but he spent some time in Cañon City in the 1920s, and it was fun working a bit of family history into the story.

As a Will Rogers fan over the years, I’ve collected many of his pithy sayings. Here are ten of my favorites:

1. A difference of opinion is what makes horse racing and missionaries.

2. A man only learns in two ways, one by reading, and the other by association with smarter people.

3. Buy land. They ain’t making any more of the stuff.  (My dad liked that one.)

4. Don’t let yesterday use up too much of today.

5. Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.

6. People who fly into a rage always make a bad landing.

7. The best way out of a difficulty is through it.

8. The farmer has to be an optimist or he wouldn’t still be a farmer.

9. Worrying is like paying on a debt that may never come due.

10. What the country needs is dirtier fingernails and cleaner minds.

Do you have a favorite Will Rogers or other cowboy saying? If so, I’d love for you to share it is in the comment section. If not, let me know which one of my ten you like the best.

And if you’d like your name added to the drawing for a signed copy of Romancing the Widow, just mention it in your comment. I’ll be choosing a random winner on July 5.

Until next time, remember:

You’ve got to go out on a limb sometimes

because that’s where the fruit is. –Will Rogers

A cheerful heart is good medicine. Proverbs 17:22

#lovingthecowboy

4 things I Learned While Driving a Tractor

We’ve all heard it: “Train up a child in the way he should go.” It’s more of a principle than a promise, a good one to live by.

My dad taught me how to drive a tractor when I was about 10, and his instruction included the following:

1. Stand up on the brake if you don’t have enough strength to push it down.

2. Stop at intersections even if there aren’t any other cars coming (or your dad will have a heart attack).

3. Watch the edge of the pavement (not the center line) so you stay in the right lane.

4. Plow a straight line by staring at a point in the distance rather than looking back over your shoulder.

One summer afternoon at our home in town he said, “Take the pickup out to the ranch.”

Guess he figured it wasn’t that much of a jump from the tractor to the truck. He didn’t say a word while I ground through the gears of the old Chevy with “three on the tree.” Just acted like he was busy checking over his tools.

I made the nine-mile trip without getting a ticket or running over anyone’s dog or cow. And even today, I still watch the edge of the road rather than the center line, especially in a snowstorm or fog.

Dad’s parenting approach wasn’t exactly what I’d call tender, but I learned. Sink or swim was not a metaphor to me in those days, because he taught me how to swim by throwing me in the pool and coaxing me back to the edge where he stood watching and cheering me on.

We all learn from our dads, whether it’s what we want to do with our life, how to do it, or how not to do it. Like walking. For years I walked like my dad until I figured out that I really didn’t want to swagger or wear work boots the rest of my days.

My son, however, chose to walk like his dad. And skip, and run as you can see in the picture for today’s post.

How about you? What did you pick up from your dad that made an impact on your life for the better?

 

#lovingthecowboy

Don’t bust your mug in the Mutton Bustin’

How far can you ride a sheep?

Over the weekend, I attended the Top of the World Rodeo in Cripple Creek, Colorado, to watch our bullfighter son Jake save a few lives during the bull riding. He also chased a few sheep.

Back in the 1800s, cattlemen and sheepherders weren’t exactly friends when it came to sharing grazing rights. But at many rodeos today, there’s a trailer load of woolies on hand for what’s known as the youngsters’ Mutton Bustin’.

From all appearances, the event looks a lot like trying to ride a big fluffy cat. There’s not much under that fleece but a few bones, and most kiddos bite the dirt on the first jump. Those who hang on half-way across the arena usually end up winning.

Six-year-old Shiloh Young took the honors in his age group last weekend, and as you can see here,  he’s quite a buckaroo. Chaps, spurs and all. Ten years from now, he’ll probably be entered in the bareback or bull riding.

Before Jake was a bullfighter, both he and his sister tried their hand at the family-favorite event. That’s Amanda at the top of this post about to win a buckle in Greeley, Colorado, at the 1994 Rodeo Bible Camp.

If you have a youngster who’d like to try his (or her) grit in your local rodeo’s Mutton Bustin’ this summer, encourage them to follow these 10 steps:

1. Screw your hat down tight and climb in the chute.

2. Swing a leg over the animal (or get Dad to lift you up).

3. Get a good double-fisted grip of wool.

4. Wrap your legs around tight.

5. Nod your head for the chute gate to open.

6. Hang on until you fall off.

7. Keep your mouth closed.

8. Pick yourself up out of the dirt (or wait for the bullfighters to run out and help you).

9. Throw your hands in the air when the crowd cheers (and they will cheer).

10. Walk back to the chutes like you mean it.

I suppose the term Mutton Bustin’ came from the old cowboy phrase, “bronc bustin’.” Though with cowboys, it’s sometimes a toss-up as to who busts whom.

Life can do that to us—turn us inside out on a dime. But as you can see by the 10 steps listed above, attitude has a whole lot to do with how we fare. The trick is to get up, dust off, and get back on.

Have you ever taken a dusting in life’s arena?

Jake Spencer distracting the bull from its fallen rider.

 

For a timely rodeo-related devotional, check out my guest post at More to Life Magazine and find out why it’s not a jungle out there.

 

Coming July 14 to select Walmart stores across the country: Old West Summer Brides. Look for my novella “The Columbine Bride” and three other inspirational historical romances.

 

 

 

 

 

 

#lovingthecowboy

Pick a Tree, Any Tree

If you could be a tree, what kind would you be?

No intent to wax poetic here. The great tree poem has already been written. But I’m serious – which tree do you like best?

I love pine and cedar–the way they roar with the wind and bear snowy quilts on their winter arms. Yet nothing compares to the golden coins of aspens in the fall, glimmering from the high slopes of Colorado’s mountains.

Apple, pear, and apricot trees circle my home, and other glorious trees provide shade during summer’s hot days.

A giant cottonwood grows not far from our house, and our dog Blue and I walk past it each morning. A truly seasonal tree, it stands a silent skeleton in winter, barren and cold. In spring, it rustles with budding green, and in fall it mimics its wealthier cousin, the aspen.

But now, full with mature summer leaves, the cottonwood sings, even in a light breeze. Each leaf responds, and the combined whispers raise a chorus akin to a “rushing, mighty wind.”

One morning last week as Blue and I passed the tree, I thought of Psalm 1.

Blessed is the man

Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,

Nor stands in the path of sinners,

Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

And in His law he meditates day and night.

He shall be like a tree

Planted by the rivers of water,

That brings forth its fruit in its season,

Whose leaf also shall not wither;

And whatever he does shall prosper.

The tree described by the Psalmist is never a silent winter tree. Not even a spring or fall tree, but a full-leafed tree of summer whose leaves never wither.

It offers wind song and shade and comfort. Why?

Because it’s planted by the river—one of God’s metaphors for life.

I think we have a choice of what kind of tree we want to be. Our roots can reach down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love and we can drink from His water of life whenever we choose.

God’s word pictures surround us, reminding us of His accessibility. We can be a summer tree, full of life and song if we drink in His words, His ways, and His promises.

If you could be any variety of tree, which would you choose?

Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the Lord.

Psalm 96:12 NKJV

The 12 Brides of Summer!

Summer – yea! We’re celebrating the advent of warmer weather here in Colorado because we’ve had rain, rain, rain the entire month of May. Wish I could send some of it to my family and friends in California.

In addition to the joy of blue skies and green growing things, I’m excited about the release of The 12 Brides of Summer. Why? Because I’m one of the brides! Well, not exactly, I wrote about one of the brides – The Columbine Bride.

If you enjoyed my Christmas novella, The Snowbound Bride, then you’ll recognize the hero in this summer’s sequel to Nate and Ara’s romance.

Remember Nate’s uncle, Buck? In The Columbine Bride he gets to practice some of his wrangler wisdom on himself  after falling for the two Powell children and their pretty widowed mama.

I know you’ll enjoy the eleven other great stories as well – all from the same authors who wrote The 12 Brides of Christmas. And most of the stories are sequels like mine.

The 12 summer bride stories will be released throughout the summer in four e-books with three stories in each one, available for the super price of $2.99.

The first collection releases June 1. Book 1 offers Blue Moon Bride by Susan Page Davis; The Sunbonnet Bride by Michelle Ule; and The Wildflower Bride by Amy Lillard. (If you don’t want to wait, you can pre-order the other three books right now!)

I hope you’ll get your copy today and enjoy these quick but heart-felt summer reads – just the thing to go with a tall glass of cold iced tea.

Unless, of course, it’s raining where you are, and then you might want a steaming mug of hot tea.

 

Blessings to you~

Davalynn Spencer

~loving the cowboy

On What Do You Stand?

In preparation for Memorial Day at our house this year, I planted pansies and petunias in the back yard and stretched deer netting over the columbines and roses in the front to discourage nocturnal grazers. I also bought new lawn chairs.

After setting everything up, I decided to clean out the barbecue grill and raised the lid to find a large pile of straw, leaves and feathers on the rack. Tempted to sweep it out onto the patio, I stepped around to the end for another view. And that’s when I saw them: three yellow-beaked babies with heads too large to hold up, snuggled together in their perfectly camouflaged crib.

No barbecue for our crew this year. Of course my son said we were already set for Chick-fil-A. Not funny. He’ll be lucky if he gets to eat anything at this family gathering. For the life of me, I can’t figure out where he gets that rodeo-clown sense of humor.

But of course Memorial Day is about more than what to cook, where to cook it and how to eat it. Once known as Decoration Day, it was set aside to honor the fallen from our nation’s Civil War by decorating their graves with flowers and flags.

After WWI, honors were extended to include those who were casualties in any of America’s wars.

Battlefield casualties were obviously on the founders’ minds, but the fallen have given their lives in many venues.

During WWII, many women went to work outside their homes for the first time, picking up the slack left in the wake of their deploying husbands and fathers. One very young bride took to the Long Beach shipyards in southern California while her new husband served on the damp airfields of England.

But it was he who came home to a funeral, for her lungs could not withstand the ravages of tuberculosis, and she left a toddler in his arms when she died.

Every year on Memorial Day, my husband gives a nod to the woman who gave him life and ultimately her own for her country. And I think of others whose names we will never hear who gave all of what they had to give.

The giving goes on. And those of us who remain must live our lives in ways that offer examples of hope and faith and goodness.

Do you have a loved one who gave his or her life?

This Memorial Day, may we pause in our reveling and remember with gratitude the fallen upon whose sacrifices we stand.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

 

 

Available now for pre-order, “The Columbine Bride” in book four of The 12 Brides of Summer. 

Do You Need Discipline or Hunger?

My guest today is Dianne Neal Matthews, multi-published devotional author. Dianne’s inspirational words last week on the Christian Authors Network prayer link were such a blessing I asked her to share them with you, my readers, today.

 

You’d think that anyone who writes daily devotionals begins each day with a deep, meaningful quiet time with the Lord, wouldn’t you? I would think so if I didn’t know myself.

Sometimes I feel like my picture should be in the dictionary by the word hypocrite. Having a consistent prayer time has always been a struggle for me. But lately I’ve been ending most days with the realization that I failed to make time for the most important thing. I vow to start fresh the next day and make time with God my first priority.

I’d always chalked up my failure in this area to lack of discipline or disobedience; last Sunday my perspective changed as I sat with a handful of worshippers in my parents’ little country church.

The speaker reminded us that prayer time is not an item to check off our to-do list. It’s not a matter of discipline but a matter of hunger for God. Our actions reveal our appetites. If we say that we ate three meals yesterday, no one is going to say, “Wow, you certainly are a disciplined person!”

So I looked at what I’ve been hungry for lately. I had to admit that I always manage to find time to scroll through my Facebook newsfeed at least once a day, keep up with the latest episode of “The Voice,” and text or call family members and friends. Not to mention the things that I would be ashamed to mention. Trivial, self-centered activities that keep me from intimate fellowship with the King of kings.

From now on, I won’t be praying for God to help me develop more spiritual discipline. I’ll ask Him to help me get so hungry for Him that my soul’s longing outweighs my stomach’s growling for breakfast in the mornings.

 

 

My heart has heard you say,

“Come and talk with me.”

And my heart responds,

“LORD, I am coming.”

Psalm 27:8 (NLT)

 

Dianne Neal Matthews is the author of four daily devotional books including The One Year Women of the Bible (Tyndale House) and Designed for Devotion: A 365-Day Journey from Genesis to Revelation (Baker Books). She also writes for websites, blogs, and compilations (including Guideposts’ Mornings with Jesus). Dianne and her husband, Richard, have three children and three grandchildren, and currently live in southeast Texas. Please visit her at www.DianneNealMatthews.com or connect through Facebook.

 

Congratulations! We have a #winner from the April 27 symbolism giveaway: Janet K. Brown won an e- copy of Branding the Wrangler’s Heart.

 

Join me on my Facebook page!

MOM: Trust Your Kids or Trust God?

#Alwaysbeforeme

In honor of Mother’s Day, I’m sharing a page from my devotional book, Always Before Me. Enjoy!

Shiny Shoes

The man with the shiny black shoes sat down on our living room sofa and told us why the US Army was a great career choice for our son. Jake was a graduating senior and he’d met the Army recruiter at a career day at school. Two short years of his life, and he would be trained for the military, Shiny Shoes promised, as well as a career in the field.

I felt I was losing control, but of what? This man had come into our home and in so many words, told me he was going to take my son away. I resented his presence, but I knew Jake was supposed to grow up and go out on his own. That’s what his father and I had raised him to do. I guess I didn’t expect it to happen so suddenly. Eighteen years just isn’t very long when you’re in the eighteenth year.

Yellow lamplight shimmered on the recruiter’s black patent-leather shoes. It could be a lot worse, I told myself. Some parents lose their children to tragic accidents or drugs or reckless living or any number of things. The Army meant self-discipline, direction, determination. Yes, it could be worse.

Letting go was hard. Every day up to that point had been preparation for the big release, yet I was still frightened. Why was it so much easier to trust God with my own life than to trust him with my children? Perhaps the issue wasn’t trusting God, but trusting my children, which meant I had to trust God even more.

The last shiny black shoes I’d seen had been on my own feet years before, swinging above the floor from the church pew where I sat with my parents. The next pair I saw would likely be on my son at boot camp on graduation day.

Life is short, isn’t it?

Thank you, Lord, that I can trust you with my children. Thank you for the comfort of knowing that you go with them to places I’ll never be able to go. You help them in ways I never could. Help me remember that you are in control and I am not. I am so glad.

I do not pray that You should take them out of the world,

but that You should keep them from the evil one.

John 17:15

 Want to give Mom something a little different this year? Order a copy of Always Before Me, 30 daily devotions for busy or not-so-busy women. Paperback or e-book.

 

~Loving the Cowboy~

What’s the Symbolism in Your life?

Comment to enter my #giveaway!

When I was a young summer bride, newly arrived in Colorado with my cowboy, our first home was in Greely—feedlot capital of the world. Locals called the beefy fragrance permeating the shady streets and college campus “the smell of money.” But it wasn’t long before I discovered another perfume I much preferred: lilacs.

The bushes were everywhere. They bordered old homesteads, often growing tall enough to serve as windbreaks for farmhouses. They grew in city yards and along country lanes, and I quickly equated my new home with the beauty and perfume of the purple, white, or lavender blossoms.

The flowers said “Colorado” to me, and became a visual representation of my new life.

In many of my historical novels set in the Rocky Mountain state, I’ve scattered lilacs in some form—a bush in the background, or a bouquet of the fragrant blossoms on a table. Last year’s spring release, Branding the Wrangler’s Heart, showcased lilacs by the ranch house door.

Recently, I put the final touches on a manuscript set to release from Barbour Publishing in 2016—The Wrangler’s Woman. Sure enough, lilacs managed to slip into the tale.

But best of all, I have two young bushes behind my own home, and I delight in their spring color. Symbolism is important in stories, and for me, the lilacs of my Western romances symbolize my own young romance that grew into an enduring, life-long love.

Do you have symbols in your life that bring to mind an important moment or a loved one? If so, I’d love to hear about them. And when you leave a comment, you’ll be entered in a drawing for an e-copy of Branding the Wrangler’s Heart.

 

Is a Happy-ending Romance for Real?

Today I’m guest posting on Alexis Goring’s blog with a devotional about happy-ending romance.

Seriously?

In this world?

Check it out: Is a Happy-ending Romance for Real?