Last night I blogged about giving thanks at this time of year. Minutes later I was feeling a little less grateful. As I tucked myself in bed, I decided my attitude might be a result of my day. Here’s a thumbnail sketch:

6:20 a.m.: Bound out of bed to get to the TV by 6:30

6:30 a.m.: Work out with Denise Austin….big mistake! I put my hip out and reactivated my carpel tunnel in my right hand. (Note: Sleep in tomorrow and switch back to working out with Leslie Sansone on Thursday!)

7:00 a.m.: Read the entire book of Hebrews and the first 3 chapters of James. (I was a bit behind in my “read through the NT in a year” schedule, as the Timothys kept me longer for some indepth work, than I had planned.) Really heard God speaking to me in Hebrews though…way cool!

8:00 a.m.:Answered emails, ordered Beth Moore study for a dear friend, fixed breakfast for 3 kids, scrambled eggs for myself (trying a carb. addicts diet!)

8:45 a.m.: Did mad scramble to be ready for school by 9

9:00- 10:00 a.m.: School with kids….got them set for some independent work

10:00 a.m.: Ran to hairdresser for a long-overdue haircut!!

10:45 a.m.: Back home and ready for more school. Worked with kids until 12. Trying to cram 2 days worth of work into one day!

12:00 p.m.:Lunch for 4. Finalized grocery list while I ate a salad. Finished up school with kids.

1:30 p.m.: Left for Walmart to buy Tgiving groceries. Lord help me! Not only was it Tuesday (aka Geriatric Day at Walmart) the place was also packed with other last minute shoppers. Trip took 1/2 hour longer than usual.

3:00 p.m.: Home again. Took thirty minutes just to unload all the loot!

3:30 p.m.: Started supper. Fixed family’s favorite…which is time consuming.

5:30 p.m. Fed family.

6:00 p.m.: Left to pick up girlfriend for supper

6:00-9:00: Enjoyed catching up with a good friend. (Thanks, Laurie!)

9:00 p.m.: Home again to straighten house, answer emails, blog, research Fruit of the Spirit for 2 new talks, take a bath…and do the dishes that the family left for me on the counter!!! (That’s when the attitude of gratitude went out the door.)

11:00 p.m.: Fell into bed and replayed this day in my head.

Here’s the deal…I share this with you not to gain sympathy..although that would be nice. In truth, most of my days look like this, only worse. After I wrote my last blog about being thankful, it occurred to me that it sounds all nice to rattle off the things we are thankful for at this time of year. Ah, tradition. However, in the daily-ness of life, gratitude is often a deliberate choice we have to make. It doesn’t always come naturally. It looks more like grace than gratefulness. I do the things I do because I love my family and my Lord, and He has called me to do these things.

See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. Hebrews 12:15

Friends, at this Thanksgiving, I pray that you will not only be filled with attitudes of gratitude, but of grace-itude. May the Grace of God be with you. Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Two days to be exact. Last night Mike and I watched a National Geographic special about this traditional holiday and were amazed that so many of the things we have assumed to be true about Thanksgiving, aren’t true. It was fascinating. It certainly made me realize that I need to rethink what I teach my children about Pilgrims and Thanksgiving.

Despite the fact that many of our prior beliefs have been debunked, we still hold onto the tradition of giving thanks at this time. So, here are a few of the things I’m giving thanks for this year:

*Mike…who believes in me when I don’t believe in myself.

*Kadi…who, as she approaches the preteen years, is becoming a friend as well as a daughter

*Ben…who delights me with his fresh perspective of the world

*Caleb…who cracks me up!

*My parents…who are selfless and unconditional

*My writing friends…who challenge me to persevere

*Our family friends…who offer respite from life’s craziness & with whom we make fun memories

*For the opportunity to educate our children at home

*For the ability to stay home…most of the time

*For God’s obvious hand in our Grace Lessons ministry

*That as I approach another birthday soon, I can still keep up with my kids, bruch my own teeth, and have most of my hair. Yeah, it’s not much, but I’m thankful for it!

Julie Ann Barnhill…here’s a mighty big thanks to you!

Four years ago I heard Julie speak at Hearts at home in Rochester. It wasn’t the first time to hear her speak, but it was the first time God spoke to me simultaneously. He clearly was saying…”See what she’s doing? That’s what I want you to do too.” I got a great chuckle out of that one, but God kept talking.

A few weeks later I went to the MOPS International Convention in Minneapolis and who was there? Yep…Julie. This time I had an opportunity to chat with her alone. It was clearly one of those God orchestrated events. I shared my interest in speaking and she pointed me toward Speak Up with Confidence. I don’t know if she thought I was just another one of “those” fans who think they can easily do what she does, or if she realized I was serious. Nevertheless, 5 weeks later I was hauling it across three states to MI where I attended my first Speak Up Seminar.

Fast forward 4 years, to this past weekend. Now I have a full-fledged speaking ministry with 45-60 speaking engagements a year, I’ve written 3 books, and been published as a contributing author to 3 books and a magazine. How cool is that?

Julie sees thousands of women a year and each time we meet she says…”I think I know you.”…but I don’t think she remembers. I do though. I can’t forget the fact that she took the time to talk to little ol’ me, to point me in the right direction, and to serve as a model.

So here’s my challenge to each of you and to myself…be a Julie to someone. Even if it’s only a moment that you have to spare, take the time to encourage and cheer on someone who has a big-God-planted-dream. You may never remember her name, but you’ll forever be remembered for your kindness.

It’s been a momentous week at the Tiede house. For the past five weeks we have diligently studied Ancient Greece. Even Caleb (age 4) has endured/enjoyed lots of Aesops Fables and Greek mythology. Kadi (age 10) certainly understands it at a deeper level, but 6-year-old Ben has amazed me with his level of comprehension. Each night at supper the kids recount their most recent story to Dad. Ben always adds, “It’s not real, Dad.”

Last weekend I spoke in Owatonna, MN and the family went with me to do a little shopping at Cabela’s while I did my thing. After lunch, we treated the kids to an afternoon movie. We went to see “Santa Clause 3.” We loved the first two movies and were eager to see three…which proved a bit disappointing. However, Ben was very attentive to all the details, particularly Santa’s “mythical” friends; the tooth fairy, Sand Man, Mother Nature, Easter Bunny ,etc.

Three days later it all came together for poor Ben. While he curled up on the couch watching me exercise (I’m not sure why my boys get a kick out of that….hmmm), he suddenly asked, “Is Santa a myth?” I can tell you, I quit doing lunges right then and there! Now, we don’t play up the Santa thing too much at our house, but he does show up and brings one gift per kid and fills their stockings. We also talk about the original Saint Nicholas. Well, I couldn’t lie to Ben, so I admitted that the fat guy in the red suit is, in fact, a myth. Bless his heart. He was a bit down in the mouth all day about that.

Two days passed and I was again exercising when Ben said, “Is the tooth fairy a myth too?” When I confirmed his suspicion he asked, “Do I still get my money?” (Ben will likely lose his first tooth this week…it’s close!) Ben then ran through every ficticious holiday character he could think of (most happened to be in the movie.)

When we started reading the Greek Mythology, the author included a warning that the latter stories might be too graphic and troubling for young children. We have repeatedly discussed the fact that myths are not true. I wonder if I should write the author and clue him in that his warning should say “reading these myths to your children may change their holidays forever.”

Ho-ho-ho…bah-humbug.

I’m reading Mary Pierce’s first book, “When Did I Stop Being Barbie & Become Mrs. Potato Head?” (I don’t remember when I authorized her to write my autobiography, but she did a smashing job!) Tonight her words encouraged me tremendously. Here’s the Vicki version of what Mary shared…with my own spin.

How did I learn to be a mother? First, I had to become a mother.

How did I learn to be a speaker? First, I had to start speaking to groups.

How did I learn to be 30-something…and sooner than I care to admit, 40-something? First, I had to become 30-something.

I could go on and on, but I’m sure you get the point. One might ask another, “How did you learn to be deaf? …or…How did you learn to be a widow? …or…How did you learn to be a missionary? In every case the answer is the same.

First, you become. Then you learn to be what you’ve become.

How did I learn to share the gospel? First, I had to share the gospel.
How did I learn to write non-fiction? First, I had to write non-fiction.

Mary’s encouragement was delivered in God’s perfect timing. As I was printing out my current draft of my first novel, Small Town Sin, I was seriously thinking about putting it in a bottom drawer and leaving it there. Self-doubt is bubbling out my ears right now. However, tonight I’m hanging on to this truth for me…

How will I learn to be an author of women’s Christian fiction? First, I have to write women’s Christian fiction.

I have to make my own way on this journey. I have to learn to sift through the chaff of what I read in the craft books and hear from critiques, and sort out what is worth keeping and blow the rest away. If it’s meant to be kept, it will find its way back to me again. But no matter what, I know that as I sift and blow, I will keep on writing and learning…because “first you become, and then you learn to be.”