Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

A more grateful heart

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Perhaps it’s the time of year with the holidays almost upon us (can you even believe it!), but lately I’ve been far more aware of how incredibly blessed I am.

I’m currently in BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) and we’re studying the book of Revelation, and each week I find my gratitude for God’s Word deepening, same as my thirst for it.

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I love the screen savers available at SheReadsTruth.com.
In addition to using them on my phone, I print them out and stick them around the house as reminders of His Truth. Are you familiar with She Reads Truth?

Yes, I love drinking Diet Pepsi and iced tea from wine glasses, as you know. But I especially love these wine glasses because they were a gift from author and friend Judy Miller.

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So every time I drink from them, I think of snarky Miss Judy and the sweet friendship we share.

I’m grateful for Jack—and was reminded last week about how much I love this little guy. First, when I took him to the vet. And second, when he got stung by a wasp while we were walking. 🙁

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I took him to the vet so that Dr. Wood (SO appreciate you, Dr. Wood!) could check his leg (that she operated on last December), and I got good news…and bad news. Good news—Jack’s leg is doing great. Bad news—he has a condition known as “tracheal collapse.” A condition in which the cartilage in the trachea begins to fail, leading to breathing problems. While there’s no cure, there are options—so grateful!—and I’m headed back to the vet today to explore those more fully.

I’ve also been blessed so much by reader friends…

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One of them (waving to you, Teresa!) sent me this gorgeous antique looking handkerchief, and I told her it’s so pretty it needs to go into a book! (So watch for that addition in a book soon.)

I walked into a grocery store the other day and—in a very unexpected moment—was overwhelmed with the abundance of food available to me. It’s everywhere. Meat, fruit, cereal, cheese, bread. Right there at my fingertips. Stocked on shelf after shelf, clean, neat. I don’t have to raise it, grow it, kill it, or knead it. (Although I do love kneading dough!) Have you ever had a moment like this when entering a Kroger or Publix, or your neighborhood store?

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I happened upon this luscious treat that same day.
Have you tried it yet? I love yogurt and am grateful for the plentitude of healthy choices available to me. Now to choose them more consistently!

Lastly, I’m so grateful for my writing critique partner, Deb Raney, who—and I mean this—I would NOT want to write a book without. Deb, thanks, friend, for making my stories so much better than they would be on my own (including the one you’re reading now).

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Deb, you rock! Even though you are a cat lover.

Lastly, I’m grateful for YOU and the community we share here at Inspired By Life and Fiction and am celebrating by giving away Deb’s newest book, Another Way Home. Fabulous story! If you love(d) Parenthood, you will adore this book (and series)! Family drama, infertility, and adoption are woven together masterfully by Ms. Raney in Another Way Home.

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“Another hard-to-put-down family drama from Deborah Raney.” 
~ RT Book Reviews

ENTER TO WIN…
Simply leave a comment on this post TODAY by 10PM Central sharing at least one thing you’re grateful for (U.S. Mailing addresses only, please).  And if you have a prayer request, please leave that too. Because we’re here for each other. And aren’t we grateful?

Blessings on your Tuesday,

Tammy

CONGRATS to NANCY GRIGGS!! who won Deb’s book in the drawing! 
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Nancy, send me your snail mail address (send me an email), and I’ll get your book in the mail to you!

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Tamera Alexander

Novelist at Novelist
Novelist, wife, mother… USA Today bestselling author Tamera Alexander has loved the lure and power of story for as long as she can remember. Now she enjoys creating stories set within the real history of the post-Civil War South and the rugged, panoramic vistas of America's West.
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Comments

  2. I am grateful for so many things. I am thankful for my husband and kids. I am also thankful for public libraries. I would not be able to support my kids and I’s love of reading without them.

  3. Awwww! I’m grateful for you, too, Tammy. And I would say the same: Wouldn’t want to write a book without your eagle-eye and tender heart. I’m SO very grateful you offered to “proofread” my little novella all those years ago. We’ve both come a long, long way since then. Thanks so much for your friendship (even the snarky parts 😉 ) and how fun that you’re giving away a copy of Another Way Home. P.S. Would you PLEASE quit sending me excerpts to read that end on cliffhangers and then wait DAYS before sending me the next chapter?? Grrr!

  4. I’m thankful for my loving and caring husband, my lovely daughter, and GOD! Without them, I don’t know where I would be today!

  6. I am so grateful for my family – my loving husband, my almost grown up kids, and my parents who recently moved to be closer to me (please pray that the house they left would sell – it has not yet). I’m also thankful for all you Christian fiction writers that write good stuff for me to read:)

  7. Great post Tamera! I have to remind myself to slow down and look at those things I am grateful for. I am grateful that I can homeschool my children and be a part of their growth. I am also grateful that my dad, who is getting up there in age, is still able to travel and that we can spend time with him. Thanks for the reminder and the giveaway!

  8. I’m grateful for too many things to count, but I think I’m most grateful for God’s mercy. I am so thankful that he knows we are imperfect and will make mistakes continually, but when we’re remorseful and try our best to do better he’s merciful and forgiving towards us. The second thing I’m most grateful for is a spiritual husband and head who takes the lead in our household in a loving way. I have so many more things that I’m grateful for but if I wrote all of them the world itself could not contain them. ( :

  9. I’ve been more aware lately of my sense of smell. Fall is in the air. I can tell by the smell of earth in the leaves, and bonfires wafting through the air. How easily we take our senses for granted. What a gift God gave each of us in our senses.

    Blessings to you.

  10. I am thankful for a job that continually challenges my creativity! And for a loving family, good health and wonderful children. Deborah’s book sounds like a treasure of a story!

  13. I’m thankful of course for my salvation and my wonderful family I’ve been blessed with. But my eyes and sight so that I can see God’s beautiful world and so that I can enjoy two of my favorite things, reading and crocheting! I

  14. Hard to start, so many things. Family, friends, employment and health. I think so many of the things we are grateful for are so often not even considered. So it’s nice to have to think about them and thank the Lord for them each day so that we will continue to have these wonderful blessings in our life.

  15. I love getting a glimpse into your world when you post on “inspired by life and fiction.” Just finished “To Win Her Favor” a few weeks ago. I enjoyed it and our book club has decided to read it next year. I love that God has given you the ability to intertwine fiction with true historical characters.
    Jack looks like an adorable and well loved pet. Hope you get a good report today at the vet. Our fur family members do add to the fun found in our homes. God Bless You!

    • Hugging you from Nashville, Elyce! And thanks for reading—and reading again! I’d love to “join” your book club meeting for To Win Her Favor via Skype or conference call when you meet, so let me know a couple of months in advance, if you’re interested. Much love!

  16. So grateful for my new husband! We were married in April, and although we’ve gone through much more in our first 6 months of marriage than many couples go through in the first five years, there is no one I rather go through it with.

  17. Wonderful post, Tammy. I’m thankful for so many things–my family, my home, my work and of course, my amazing writer friends. You all set the bar high for me and I get to read the results!

  19. I am grateful that my brother was not more seriously injured in a dirt biking accident and that he is now home from the hospital after a week. He broke 5 ribs and bruised. Please pray that his pain would lessen. He sneezed this past weekend and the pain was so bad he passed out.

    • If those wine glasses give you a reason to think of me, I hope you drink from them often. 🙂 Love ya, friend. (I’m thankful for all of the blessings God has sent my way–and they are many, but don’t enter me in the drawing.)

      • Love you, Miss Judy Lou! Wish we could bop around the Nashville mansions again together. That was such fun. Oh, and eat Loveless biscuits. That was pretty fun too. : )

  24. I am grateful for each day we live – for God, family and friends. Please pray for Joey Feek (of the duo Joey and Rory) Thursday November 5th @ 8:00 P.M. CST for a miracle healing of her cancer or peace with the decision. Thank you.

  25. I am grateful that God looked through all the ages of time, through all the people that have been & will be, He saw me and gave me the opportunity to know His Son as my personal Savior and Friend.

  26. I am grateful for a Godly dermatologist who has just now removed a skin cancer from my scalp. While I am waiting for the stitches, I would love a good book to read! 🤗

  27. Loved this post today, Tammy, and prayers for sweet Little Jack to get the breathing help he needs. Our furry family members are SO special to us. Speaking of that….*ahem* I noticed your comment to Deb about her being a CAT lover. That is a GOOD thing!! 🙂
    Back in the summer I went into our local Publix one day, shortly after hearing a missionary on the radio speaking about children in impoverished areas digging through garbage. Of course hearing that broke my heart and stayed with me for a long time. Anyway, as I entered the grocery store I, too, was suddenly struck by how MUCH we have available to us, while there are others who are looking through garbage. It’s a burden on my heart, and I’ve been praying extra for those in need and asking the Lord to show me other ways to help. May I never take what I have for granted.
    Hugs, Patti Jo (who is VERY grateful for my special author friends!) 🙂

    • Amen to being reminded to be grateful. We have so much, and will be held accountable for what we’ve done with it. Lord, may we be good and generous stewards of all your blessings. Give us eyes to see the needy as we meet not only their physical needs but their spiritual poverty as well. Love you, Patti Jo!

  28. I am greatful and truly blessed by so many things. I look around and see all the beauty around me, I think of all the wonderful things that have happened in my life, and I am most greatful for my family.

  29. I am grateful for salvation, good health and wonderful authors! (Just finished To Win Her Favor!)

  30. Tamara, I love all the screen savers. Can you use these on iPad? They all speak to me, and I plan to send the information to my friends. I also have to find that yogurt. Is that chocolate in there? I am so sorry about your sweet fur baby. I, too, am a dog lover. My sweety is 8 years old and had leg and tummy problems for most of her life.
    I broke three bones in my pelvis almost four months ago and am still not healed. My church family and friends are praying for my healing, but I am happy for all the prayers sent my way.
    I am grateful for too many things to list, but foremost I am grateful for a Heavenly Father who loves me just as I am.
    Thank you for offering another book. Reading has been my main occupation for these home bound months.

  31. I am so thankful that I live in a country where I can openly study the Word of God. I am privileged to lead a small group on Facebook that is part of Proverbs 31 Online Bible Studies. Today I’m thankful I didn’t have to have a shot in my eye.

  32. There are many things I am thankful for, but one that makes me feel very blessed is my daughter. She is a young adult now and is so helpful with home repairs and other things. She always makes the time to help with projects when she comes home for a visit.

  33. Thank you so much for the wonderful posts that you always write for us. I am thankful for my family and my dogs and my friends.

  34. I’m grateful for the wonderful man God brought into my life 23 1/2 years ago! Sometimes he fills with amazement & sometimes he fills me with exasperation, but I wouldn’t trade him for anything in this world!

  35. There are so many we could each write and I enjoyed reading how God has blessed everyone. We have a Compassion child in Bangladesh, Liza. Her country has been in conflict for so long and in recent months many Christian help organizations have been removed or are unable to do the work they feel God called them to do there.We are blessed to have dear Liza in our lives.

  36. I’m grateful for my husband of 45 yrs., our family (grown), our loving church family & of course, good books to read!

  39. I think the antique handkerchief is so beautiful. I can see how it would inspire you. What a thoughtful gift! Another thing to be grateful, thankful for.

    I also especially love the comments about your close author friends. I’ve had some really great friends which I should cultivate. I do miss them!

  40. My father died last Jan. He had Alzheimer’s for 4 years. We cared for him at home. I heard my father sing for the First time ever in his 86 years of life. The song was praises to God.

    I’m so thankful my mother is still alive & of sound mind. She loves vets to read & reads several books a week.

    Please pray for my mother. She has an extremely persistent cough for over 18 months. She has been to the doctor so many times & they can’t find a cause for it. Her whole body shakes when she coughs so hard.

  41. I’m late but I wanted to say something anyways. Please remember my husband in your prayers. He has metastasized renal cancer.

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