Yvonne Lehman | Surviving, or the tale of Rigel the Survivor

February 26, 2016

“You’ve got to come down here,” my granddaughter, Savannah, said over the phone. “We have the perfect dog for you.”

“Who’s we?” I asked.

“Celeste, Emily, and I. It’s a rescue dog. Hurry.”

Well, they are my teenage grandchildren, so I decided to accommodate them, all the while feeling that I wasn’t sure I wanted another dog.

The last one I had was a 50-pound black chow with a purple tongue who decided to bite a lab and took me for runs when I was only trying to walk him. He wasn’t the cuddly type! The only thing he apparently feared was going up and down stairs. When there was a tornado alert and we retired to the basement, he stayed upstairs, braving the storm. He wouldn’t do the stairs even when it was sunshiny, nor when offered a treat.

So, after he “retired,” I’d made it clear my next dog would be calm, love me, and let me be the boss.

Reminding myself that these were the grandchildren who “made” me get a cat at a time I was more a “dog” person, I nevertheless met them outside the store where there were cages filled with pleading, rescued dogs.

Nope! None appealed to me except for the fact I wished they all could find good homes, but not mine. Then…the girls saw me, ran to me with wide smiling eyes and mouths and steered me to a back cage.

The cage was opened and there was the most beautiful ball of long blond and white fur. It’s big brown eyes pleaded with me to be kind, and of course I was as I led “my” Pomeranian along the sidewalk for a while, although that wasn’t necessary. I knew he was mine.

I did ask if they’d take $50 less than the asking price, although I would have bought him for $50 more, even if I had to sell my car to do it. The rescue group “happens” to have their business right outside Tractor Supply so naturally the five of us (me, three granddaughters, and my pom) went inside to purchase all the necessities such a regal Pomeranian requires. I was thinking… maybe I will have to sell my car.

But…what can you do when it’s love at first sight!!

We debated the name for such a regal male member of our family who turned out to be whiter and lighter blond after a bath. The rescuers said his name was Bandit, but that didn’t seem to fit. At least not until one day when I left half a sandwich on the coffee table while I went out to get the mail. Then, I understood why someone had named him Bandit.

During our naming however, I chose “Rigel,” which was the name of a black Newfoundland who survived the sunken Titanic. He swam for three hours, barking to alert the lifeboat occupants and the rescuing ship, Carpathia. An officer on the ship became that Rigel’s master.

My Rigel was a survivor too, although of what, I don’t know. But he also represented my 50^th novel, HEARTS THAT SURVIVE-A Novel of the Titanic that seemed to be the survival of my writing career at a time when so many changes were taking place in publishing and I was without a book contract. Depression threatened me, until I saw the Bible verse, “Show me the wonders of your great love,” and decided to ask and allow the Lord to show me if he wanted me to continue in the career he led me into. He did show me and that turned out to be my miracle book.

Sometimes when I’m signing that book (several times a year at the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge TN), someone who doesn’t know or think about the Titanic having sunk in 1912, will ask if I’m a survivor (at least…I think that’s the reason they ask and not because I look to be over 100 years old), I say, “Yes, I’m a survivor, but not of the Titanic.”

That’s what I think about my life, (likely most of us have trials that we’ve “survived”), and Rigel’s. We have a good life together. He’s calm, takes me for walks, and most of all, he loves me and I love him. And…I “say” I’m the boss, but…

Giveaway

What is your favorite tale of survival? It can be a book, your pet, a person, just tell us. One commenter will win a copy of HEART OF A COWBOY

About Yvonne Lehman

Yvonne Lehman author of more than 3,000,000 books in print, founded and directed the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference for 25 years. She joined Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas as Managing and Acquisitions Editor of Candlelight Romance and Guiding Light Women’s Fiction. She has taught English and Creative Writing on the college level. Her 50^th novel is Hearts that Survive – A Novel of the TITANIC (Abingdon), which she signs periodically at the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge TN. Her newest novella is Have Dress Will Marry, in the HEART OF A COWBOY collection releasing March 1

FACEBOOK | TWITTER

About HEART OF A COWBOY

Four award-winning authors offer a unique historical romance in this collection.

HEARTS IN PURSUIT
By Susan Page Davis
Can Abby and Sam fight their way through the danger and violence and live long enough to find love?
Texas, 1880. Abby and Sam pursue a band of raiders to rescue their younger siblings. Abby’s father is gravely injured, and she knows she can’t return home without her little sister. Sam’s father wants to thwart his powerful Mexican father-in-law and stop him from taking Pablo to live with him south of the border, but once he has Pablo back, will he continue the search for Abby’s sister? Abby and Sam feel it is up to them to keep the recovery mission on track. Though romance seems to have no place on the trail of danger and violence, can this journey draws them closer?

HEARTS REUNITED
By Miralee Ferrell
Mercedes Taylor is determined to save her ranch after her father’s death, but she won’t let anyone help—especially not her old friend Jesse Townsend who deserted her so many years ago. The pain his family inflicted on hers goes too deep for her pride to forgive.

After riding the trail for five years, Jesse Townsend returns to his family property to find the girl he’d once loved all grown up—and more prickly than he’s ever seen her. After his mare is seriously injured, he has no choice but to call on Mercedes—the local animal doctor—for help.

Add the attractive banker’s daughter who Jesse seems smitten with, and trouble starts brewing. Can Mercedes and Jesse set aside the old family feud and find their way back to the love that had only started to blossom when Jesse left?

HAVE DRESS, WILL MARRY
By Yvonne Lehman

Julie Hayes must escape from Wildcat Mountain. Her mother died, leaving her with a step-father she doesn’t trust.
James, who she thought would be her means of escape, is gone. Her only hope is to approach the cowboy, saddleback preacher Timothy Sullivan, when he makes his circuit into Wildcat Mountain. She asks, “Will you marry me?” He says, “Yes, of course,” expecting to perform a ceremony for her and James.
Believing Julie is in danger, Timothy takes her to the Sullivan Ranch. Suspicions abound when she’s accused of stealing a horse and jewels.
While Julie is trying to become the kind of woman a preacher would want to marry, Tim is trying to realize his ranching dreams, which don’t include being a circuit riding preacher.

THE HAND-ME-DOWN HUSBAND
By Vickie McDonough

Ellen Stewart despises Lance Garrett. If not for him dashing into Isabelle’s life and stealing her heart and filling her head with his dreams, her little sister would still be alive and safe at home. When she receives Lance’s letter requesting help, Ellen rushes to Silver Springs, intent on taking charge of her young niece. A rugged ranch is no place for a motherless baby. But when she realizes the depth of Lance’s despair, she can’t leave him alone. Though everything within her wants to flee back to the big city, something makes her stay. Tessa needs her father, for one—and he needs her. Ellen knows what it’s like to lose all she’d dreamed of. When local church members make a stink about Ellen living at Lance’s ranch, they are forced to marry. Ellen didn’t want a hand-me-down husband, but could their marriage be God’s will for them both?

Buy HEART OF A COWBOY: Kindle | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon FR

Comments

34 comments posted.

Re: Yvonne Lehman | Surviving, or the tale of Rigel the Survivor

I really like Oprah's real life story of survival and her journey to a successful
life. I think she is very inspirational.
(Lily Shah 11:14am February 26, 2016)

It was my sisters struggle to fight lung cancer. She fought the good one but sadly lost it 6 months later.
(Bonnie Capuano 11:32am February 26, 2016)

I have meet up with Yvonne at the Titanic Museum when I am also doing a book
signing for my books (Tea on the Titanic). She is as lovely in person as she is in
her pictures. I have learned a lot from her and so appreciate her sharing from
her heart. My story of surviving was almost my last, as a faulty furnace spewing
out Carbon Monoxide into my mother's home, almost killed me, my Mother and
my brother. The Lord used a very strange way to wake us up before it was too
late...hair curlers!!! Guess that might be a good plot for a book!!!
(Penelope Carlevato 6:30pm February 26, 2016)

I love learning about stories of survival from the Holocaust. One man survived, joined the US military, then later received the Medal of Honor for his actions and sacrifice.

Thank you for the giveaway! Added the book to my to-read list :)
colorvibrant at gmail dot com
(Heidi Robbins 6:37pm February 26, 2016)

What a sweet story about your pom. My survival story deals with
my divorce and remarriage. Family and friends were against the
remarriage and I didn't know if I could really survive the
whole ordeal. God pulled me through.
(Lillian Humphries 8:44pm February 26, 2016)

I have survived many things in my life. I can look back on my life and
realize I could have died because of the things I done or just being silly.
Praise God he kept me safe because I wasn't ready to die. I wasn't a
Christian and it scares me just to think about where I could be right now.
Praise God he loved me and held until I received his Son as my Savior.
(Pam Lunsford 1:10am February 27, 2016)

I honor all our wounded warriors that struggle each and every day to get by! They are my true heroes. God Bless them all!!!!
(Bonnie Capuano 10:02am February 27, 2016)

Currently, my favorite book of survival is Pepper Basham's
The Thorn Keeper! O, you have to read it! Thank you for
the giveaway!
(Annie Jc 12:56pm February 27, 2016)

My son helped me survive many bad things that have happened to
me since I was focused on being strong for him. Doctors
thought he would not make it to his first birthday, but I
found the right doctors and had a great support group.
(Melissa Basnight 4:00pm February 27, 2016)

Thank you all or your comments, we appreciate them so much.
Yvonne is having trouble getting signed into this site. I'm
one of the authors of the book as well, and we hope you
enjoy it if you get a chance to read a copy!
(Miralee Ferrell 9:32pm February 27, 2016)

One survival in our family is that our granddaughter has
survived neuroblatoma, which takes many children. She is now
in college to become a nurse.
All the books sound like good reads.
(Leona Olson 8:28am February 28, 2016)

I would love to read this book, sounds very good.
(Wilma Frana 11:10am February 28, 2016)

I don't have one particular one, but I like to read or watch stories about how people survive being in storms.
(Leni Kaye 11:19am February 28, 2016)

My son found a tiny kitten outside his office and brought it to me. I had to bottle feed it a few days before she learned to drink milk from a dish. Since then, she has grown into a large, loveable cat full of curiosity. I never had an animal living in my house, so this has been a new experience for me.
(Anna Speed 12:18pm February 28, 2016)

I survived my mother telling me and my two sisters to get out of her life and her business . That was a nightmare to us ,but we held on to each other and we would say we will be strong and we will survive . Mother had her ' baby boy ' and that's all she wanted . We knew our father held our family together so when he passed away that's when she told us to get out of her life and our brothers .I could go on and on about this with things that some would not believe but I won't . When you look at a person you don't know what they have been through , and most will have a story to tell also . Most of us are survivors , some more than others .
(Joan Thrasher 12:58pm February 28, 2016)

My grandfather fought in WWII. He was just a little crazy: when he fought in the tank, he would be the gunner, and several times would get out on top of the tank and shoot planes down. When his commanding officer got them lost in the wilds of Germany (forest) he realized it and told him "You're leading us in circles." He said, "I know, but if we don't keep moving the men will panic. Can you lead us out?" He said yes and did. They were never captured either.
(Cynthia Powers 5:24pm February 28, 2016)

I deeply admire the people who have struggled with addiction
and I pray that they will find the strength to overcome!
(Connie Saunders 5:28pm February 28, 2016)

Tale of survival - I love reading books and stories about the pioneers traveling to America or throughout America to reach their dreams of homesteading out west or elsewhere in the US. (during 1800's)
[email protected]
(Susan Fletcher 7:59pm February 28, 2016)

I appreciate the sacrifices and fortitude that my husband
has show in his time with the military, as well as his
battle with PTSD.
(Terrill Rosado 9:49pm February 28, 2016)

I have read many, I am intrigued by hostages, their will to survive and for those who do their strength of character and determination.
(Darci Paice 12:32pm February 29, 2016)

I love historical romance and would very much like to win this contest. Please enter me for it.
(Mary Baker 1:05am February 29, 2016)

Pleae enter me for the contest.
(Mary Baker 1:06am February 29, 2016)

My favorite tales of survival were the ones told me by some of the people I
met while I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Philippines. World War II was
such a harrowing time for them when the Japanese occupied their islands.
The two teachers I lived with has been young women during the war. They
told of the villagers being rounded up and kept in pens. In the evening,
soldiers would come by and select women to keep them "entertained" during
the night. The young women were so desperate to not be chosen, they would
smear feces over their bodies so they would be passed by.
(Patricia Barraclough 1:35am February 29, 2016)

My favorite survivor stories are about those who survived the
Holocaust. I also admire missionaries who survived difficult
experiences to share the gospel.
(Amy Smith 6:52am February 29, 2016)

My favorite survival story is of my darling lady beagle who
managed with lots of vet care and surgery to survive a
ruptured disk in her back to run and play like a normal
dog.
(Sue Farrell 9:32am February 29, 2016)

Love all movies & books that show the human will to survive
no matter what the obstacles...
(Nancy Ludvik 9:55am February 29, 2016)

My favorite classic survival story is "Black Beauty". Another story I saw a few years ago is "War Horse". They both show that survival is possible-just don't give up.
(Sharon Karas 11:58am February 29, 2016)

My nephew was born with muscular dystrophy, and was not
expected to reach his 20th birthday. He's now nearing 40
and has married, had a daughter who he is seeing grow up
and has worked as an announcer in community radio for as
long as he was able. All after the time when it was
predicted he wouldn't be around.
(Deb Philippon 4:32pm February 29, 2016)

My favorite tale of survival is that of Corrie Ten Boom
during the Holocaust.
(Mary McCoy 5:07pm February 29, 2016)

In September of 2014 I was diagnosed with a blood infection as the result of a surgical screw used in my neck. Not only was my neck infected, but it went to my right knee which needed to be replaced anyway. They told my hubby I might not survive the infection, but I did. Then it returned in February of 2015 as an abscess on my spine requiring two more surgeries and a tube in my chest (2 liters of liquid taken off), again warning my husband I might not survive. I started walking again in August of 2015 and am currently in pool therapy--I have survived and love life even more for having gone through those times.
(Shirley Cochran 12:08pm March 1, 2016)

Ilove to read this book it sound like a goood book to read
(Judy Pearson 2:11pm March 1, 2016)

Would love to read this!
(Candy Voisine 9:13pm March 1, 2016)

There is a cute children's movie with 2 dogs & a cat
surviving the wilderness - Homeward Bound.
(Sharlene Wegner 11:32pm March 1, 2016)

The survivors in Fern Michaels Sisterhood series books They
are very strong women thanks for the chance to win
(Linda Moffitt 6:15pm March 2, 2016)

Registered users may leave comments.
Log in or register now!