Free today on Kindle: More than the Sum...a love story. Brittany's journey after divorce leads her through catastrophe to find the value of empathy, faith, and true love. Check out the reviews!
http://www.amazon.com/More-than-the-Sum-ebook/dp/B009R4ZIJS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1356707561&sr=8-2&keywords=more+than+the+Sum

An angel visited Joseph; in a dream...

One interesting detail of Joseph of Nazareth's acceptance of his calling to rescue Mary and her unborn child is how God spoke to him. Both Zechariah and Mary were visited with a manifestation of an Angel who appeared to them...while they were awake. They actually conversed with him (Gabriel).But, not so with Joseph. Joseph was sleeping; a restless sleep, to be sure. He had just learned of the pregnancy of his betrothed and was pondering the ramifications - for him, for her, and for the community, once it became public.
That leads us to the unmistakable realization of how much God knew about Joseph's character and who he was. Joseph was visited by the angel in a dream, arose immediately, and rescued the girl - not on a white stallion, but took her away on a donkey. The obscured part of the story is pondering just exactly who he was and how, after over four hundred years of God remaining silent toward the Jews, that Joseph was in position to be chosen for the most important role in all of history.
Here is an excerpt from Joseph; the heart of the Father.  While the book touches on the Christmas story, it is a much larger exploration of Joseph - the Messiah's adopted father.
Excerpt. Chapter two: A shaft of pure white light slanted across his slumped figure.shining down on him from a small window high in the wall opposite where he slept. When he awoke, the full realization of his years of searching the scriptures and crying out to God to speak to his people again became his new reality. The angel said, "Joseph, do not be afraid to take Mary to be your wife, for the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. She shall have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins."
The light continued streaming across the room, blanketing him with a peculiar sense of peace.
Every abstract though and pondering of  his entire lifetime had crystallized, the words of the scriptures springing to life within him. Yes, God would visit his people. They would have their redeemer.
He must go to Mary and tell her everything was going to be all right. Mary was carrying Israel's hope within her. It was the will of Jehovah that Joseph be their protector.
Joseph; the heart of the Father is available in eBook, paperback, and audio through most internet booksellers. There are many reviews on Amazon, in particular. http://www.amazon.com/Joseph-The-Heart-Father-ebook/dp/B003CT4BKQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1356108434&sr=1-1&keywords=joseph+the+heart+of+the+father

The best gift...

I think my best gift as a little girl was my Tiny Tears doll. She was a rubber doll, her arms and legs moved, and she had a curly dark toupee glued to her head. And, she drank from a bottle and cried tiny tears from little tear ducts by her eyes when squeezed. Somehow she managed to survive my childhood and I gave her to our daughter, Melissa, who promptly soaked her head and her hair came off. Sadly, what made her unique was gone and she became 'just another doll', soon to be forgotten.
I often muse about what each of us have allowed to be discarded that made us unique and memorable. Life does shape us, alter us, and manipulate each of us to change from who we really are, and, often, we gradually morph into what someone else, or a lot of someone else's, want us to be.
I grew up on a small town (Peotone, Illinois), with a  population was twelve hundred. I had grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins who all lived in close proximity, so I was blessed with a lot of affirmation. Well, except from one person. My mother.  I now see how the withholding of affection and affirmation from her changed me.  
Over the years we either morph into who we think others want us to be or we become defiant, acting out of what has hurt us. Some do both.  Other's develop significant, often  undiagnosed personality issues. Whether rejection is real, or perceived, it casts a huge shadow over us. And, if we continue to move through life acting out of something negative, we will pass the mantle on to the next in line.
My own story, while still evolving, is, by God's grace, to have chosen to not let those issues define me. The victim role is a tough one, and usually wears the people around us out. But, if given to God-really given to Him-He will restore you and  use life's bitter pills by creating empathy. 

The best gift, outside of finding Christ and His unconditional love for me, was to embrace empathy and the power it has, if used. 

I have a granddaughter, Peyton, who was discovered to have cancer at age twelve. Peyton loved to dance, so that was the biggest heartbreak at the time, when she just didn't have the energy to do it anymore. She was strong in many ways, but wasted into a shadow of who she was before the cancer. And, of course, she lost all of her dark brown, straight hair. She is now seventeen, vibrant and full of life, dancing and defying gravity. And, her hair grew back. She is a beautiful brunette with a head full of curls; more beautiful for the testing. And, that reminds me of my Tiny Tears Doll, whose identity was in her tightly wound, glued on curls. Had I known then what I know now, and been a wiser mother, I would have made up a story, and made her a heroine of overcoming virtue. 
The best gift we give ourselves is knowing who we are, accepting our humanity, and then offering others the value of YOU. Only you can do it!

Dedicated to the children who died in Sandy Hook Elementary.

I'm dedicating this to the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary sin Newtown, Connecticut shooting last Friday. God bless and keep each of the families.

Twas' eleven days before Christmas, around 9:38, when twenty beautiful children stormed through Heaven's gate. 
Their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air. They could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.
They were filled with such joy; they didn't know what to say.
They remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
"Where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
"This is Heaven", declared a small boy. "We're spending Christmas in God's house!"
When what to their wondering eyes did appear, but Jesus, their Savior; the children gathered near.  
He looked at them and smiled and called them by name. And, in that moment, was joy that only Heaven can bring. 
He looked at them and smiled and they smiled just the same. Then he opened his arms and he called them by name. 
And, in that moment was joy that only Heaven can bring. Those children all flew into the arms of their King, and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace, one small girl turned and looked up at Jesus' face.
And, as if he could read all the questions she had, he gently whispered, "I'll take care of your Mom and Dad". 
Then he looked down on earth, to the world far below and he saw all the hurt, the sorrow, and woe. 
He closed His eyes and outstretched his hand,  "Let my power and presence re-enter this land! May this country be delivered from the hands of the fools. I'm taking back my nation; I'm taking back my schools!"
Then he and the children stood up without making a sound. "Come now, my children, let me show you around." 
Excitement filled the space; some skipped and some ran - all displaying enthusiasm only a small child can.
And, I heard him proclaim as he walked out of sight, 
"In the midst of the darkness, I AM the Light."    
Written by Cameo Smith.

A cry for help...

Today my blog will be brief other than to encourage you to read the accompanying link. It is sobering and breaks my heart for the moms, dads, siblings, and grandparents who must bear such a heavy load; heavier today because of what happened last Friday morinng in Connecticut. Our society, through church's, synagogues, and mental health facilities must come alongside families with assistance. Obviously, the stakes are very high. And, what this tragedy will do, will be to give the federal government more power to legislate and intrude. 

Continuing to pray for the families directly affected by the terrible tragedy and for each of us to have new sensitivities for the issues at hand. God bless!

If the link isn't live, please copy and paste into your browser. And, if you want to make a comment (this is the comic relief for the day!) click on 'no comment' and it will take you to a comment box. I am getting a lot of comments (via email) that people want to make comments but have been unable, so that is the 'glitch' in the Blogspot Blogger! 

http://gawker.com/5968818?utm_campaign=socialflow_gawker_facebook&utm_source=gawker_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

New 5* review on More than the Sum...

Fran Riedemann Books: New review on More than the Sum...: I'm sharing a new review for More than the Sum...so much fun to wake up to! And, so much fun to see someone else catch hold of the magic! Wh...

New review on More than the Sum...

I'm sharing a new review for More than the Sum...so much fun to wake up to! And, so much fun to see someone else catch hold of the magic! When I wrote the book I had no intention of it having a Christmas theme, although it begins and ends with the holiday. The rest of Brittany's year is the story...
Review:
5.0 out of 5.0 stars.  Best Proposal Ever  December 15, 2012
Format: Paperback
The worst Christmas of Brittany's life led to the best Christmas of her life!
Read how a fallen marriage can lead to a life of warmth, love, and new beginnings. How one with no hope can find hope in the true meaning of Christmas.
This is one of the best proposals I have ever heard of. Don't miss it!

One man, out of all time and space, was selected to raise the promised Emmanuel. Joseph of Nazareth, four hundred years after the last prophet spoke to his people, walked in righteousness before the Father.

Fran Riedemann Books: The tale of a Jewish daddy...: An excerpt from Joseph; the Heart of the Father: Many of his kinsmen no longer believed in the promise of a redeemer, but when Joseph recal...

Joseph - The heart of the Father

Joseph; the heart of the Father, excerpt from Chapter 4: Joseph remained uncomfortably slumped in the corner of the room holding his head in his hands. He pressed his temples with his fingertips, as if some miraculous discernment might be expressed.if he squeezed hard enough. Oh, Mary, Mary, what am I to do? What can I do? Oh, God, help me,
He realized it would be only a short time before someone would make it their business to inform the elders that Mary was with child. If the charge brought against her proved true, her fate would be determined according to Moses Law. The Law was clear. She would be stoned.Nothing like this had ever happened in Nazareth in Joseph's lifetime. Presuming they believed it was his child, he was as uncertain what might happen to him as well. Both of their lives, and futures, were inextricably damaged. He immediately reminded himself of the word of the Lord,  My heart is confident in you, Oh, God. It seemed impossible, but he sensed God with him even in the midst of his despair.
Available through Amazon in eBook, Paperback, and audio.

All I want for Christmas is you....

The Christmas song, All I want for Christmas is you, was just playing on the radio. What a wonderful thought that is...that there could be one special person who would be enough - totally enough - to make our holiday. Voila! Done! Our holiday is complete because that one special person fills our needs, our wants, and satisfies us enough that we need, or want, nothing else.
While the song's sentiment is sweet, it misses the mark because the Reason for the Season is often buried under so much tradition (Heaven forbid we add a new ingredient to Grandma's stuffing recipe), seeking to satisfy or be satisfied, or even the once a year compulsion to be charitable, that we, even while aware the holiday does exist because of the Reason, we let ourselves be sucked into the Wind Tunnel we call Christmas and be swept along in it.
It is important to remind ourselves that Christmas was not instituted by Jesus, so if we wanted it to be a purely secular part of our life, that wouldn't be a mortal sin. Perhaps the sin is to pretend he is front and center when he isn't.
I have always had a difficult time with singing "I surrender all" on command.  Is that possible on a human level? Personally, I don't think so. What if it means we put our cell phones in a drawer, and check our Bibles during the day (or night) like we do our cell phones. Or, if it meant giving up Starbucks or our favorite TV fixes. Or shopping... Or, gossip... Or, that friend who affects us like a pretty pink drink with an umbrella in it.
All I want for Christmas...what do I want for Christmas? In actuality, I want to be gathered with family, a few special friends, and be allowed to be a little sad, remembering back to those who are no longer with us, and when I could say Merry Christmas without wondering if it might offend someone . I want to be aware of my blessings; so aware, in fact, that it humbles me.  I want to give each of those I love a small piece of myself that far outshines any gift; something that is personal, deep, thought provoking, and kind; and I want them to always remember it, because the rest is temporal. And, that shining piece of me that I give away, may it be aglow because of the anointing of the Spirit who indwells me and knows that deep down all I really want is Him.
Jesus, I know even as I say it that in my humanity I will fail, but all I want for Christmas is You. And, because he is who he is, the blessings will come...

The Savior Came!

"Separation of church and state" has become a tired and misused mantra...well, unless, you're an attorney working in behalf of those who would silence the Christmas message across our land. Yes, I realize that December 25th is the wrong date, some of the traditions morphed from pagan rituals, people lose monetary sense of reason during the holidays, and there are mini-Grinch's lurking everywhere who will point out the obvious. But, in defense of the holiday, celebrated by Christians around the world, when else can you hear the message of a Savior born into human flesh,  His coming heralded by angels, worshiped by shepherds and wise men alike, bedded in a barn,  born to live in our human condition, die for it, and rise with 'healing in his wings' sung from every street corner, grocery store, market, and mall across the civilized world?
So, I'm a big girl, and I choose to not let the Grinch's steal my joy. Even if the Grinch's won, and took away the trees, and nativity scenes, the ringing bells, and even erase the "Merry" from "Merry Christmas", they won't silence me! He came, He conquered, He died. He is the King of Glory - the Lord strong and mighty - and the enemy wins if we let him get us off message. It isn't angels singing about the entrance of the Messiah into human history; it should be us!
The common men and women from all faiths benefit from this season of giving. Because of the Gift sent from Heaven the homeless and poor are visited, soldiers and prisoners receive gifts, cards & recognition, the plight of orphans and widows is felt by society, and turkey dinners are personally delivered to homes where the meal truly will be celebrated as a feast.
Of course, the takers are there, too...takers take. But, they can't steal my joy in giving. I'm no angel, but the angel tree helps me individually target special children that my husband and I can bless (and even dare to go over-budget in the blessing). And, I dare say, who, in the end, is more blessed?
So, let the Naysayers neigh (not a pretty sound, really).. It is a sad commentary on their souls - not our own. Put a dollar in the Salvation kettle (even if they got you last time), and celebrate why they are there and the great work of charity they do. The Reason for the Season is glorified every time we reach into our pockets.
The courts will be busy, and apparently the Grinch's have deep pockets themselves. Some judges will shake their heads in dismay while others side with them, legislating from the bench. It is a misuse, for sure. But, dear ones, then it is incumbent upon us to not be hidden under a bushel somewhere, but to let our light so shine that the world will know the Savior came, and that He came for all who will believe, and that He is going to return - and it could be soon. Spread the word. The Savior, Christ the Lord came, and He's coming again!
Maranatha and Merry Christmas.

The real Superhero

I used to tell people that my husband, Ken, believed in Santa Claus. We have grown children now, but throughout our married life I have done the shopping, and Ken (at the latest moment possible) buys for me. So, on Christmas morning, when our kids were small, he was as surprised as the kids where all the gifts came from. That may be a slight stretch, since if anything required assembling he had to do it, but to be a bystander during the busiest month of the year is certainly a privileged position. Our family has grown to 22 people and, even with help now, it is a daunting task to buy for everyone.

My daughter, Melissa, is an overachiever like her mom. She cooks and bakes, entertains, and buys and ships.One of her self-imposed traditions is to make her own Biscotti, along with a myriad of other Christmas cookies. While delicious, if you have never made Biscotti, the thing that adds to the 'incredibleness' of her making it at Christmastime is that it has to be baked twice.  Her husband, Gary, is much like Ken (an observer) and scolds her because she stresses out.  But, the truth of it is, the season is replete with overkill for most of us.

One Christmas holiday, when our youngest daughter was about nine, I was watching a Christmas broadcast. The minister had the nerve to announce that "Santa is a myth' in prime time. Emily was walking through the room about that time. She walked on, so I thought "Phew. She missed that.", but a few moments later she came back, stood in front of me, and asked, "Is that true?" I knew what she wanted, but said, "Is what true?" Emily - "What he said about Santa.; that he's a myth." My genius answer was, "Every culture has a different idea about Santa, and each one has a slightly different myth, but, yes, he's a myth." "Oh." she said and left the room. I decided to leave it there. When curious about something, Emily was not a child who left things alone.

The next day she bounced out of her bedroom, announcing, "There are only twelve more days until Santa comes." I waited for her to add a disclaimer, but none came. She simply wasn't ready to digest that Mom and Dad were Santa. And, for two more years, whether she did believe, or not, we played the game.

The child in all of us wants a Superhero. I think Santa is preferable to Spider-man or Spider-woman. The season's true meaning was never lost on us, and our children's ideas of God and the Savior he sent were not diminished by Santa. If anything, they were more diminished in seeing their spiritually flawed parents working out their salvation before their little eyes. The magic of Christmas is that most of us somehow seem less flawed in the midst of the nostalgia and fuss, generosity and giving, smells and songs, and festivity that surrounds us and remind us of family; and of one very special family in particular. God, who is not a myth, gave his precious Son a daddy and a mommy. 

How amazing it is that, overall,  it isn't Santa that offends the masses...the more of them the merrier. It is the picture of that particular mommy and daddy, kneeling before a manger, that creates the frenzy. 

But, for one more year, the carols ring throughout the world, reminding mankind that the best gift came a long time ago. The real Superhero came as a baby and was laid in a manger. And, the mystery is, how some parents would rather their kids believed in Spiderman.

Not my day to be politically correct. :)

Fran Riedemann Books: Allergic to Peanuts...: I grew up with peanut butter; so did my husband, Ken. To this day, given a preference, Ken would turn down just about anything to enjoy a pe...

Allergic to Peanuts...

I grew up with peanut butter; so did my husband, Ken. To this day, given a preference, Ken would turn down just about anything to enjoy a peanut butter sandwich at lunch time. It is, in many ways, a comfort food for many.

The nut allergies are new. I don't know what alternative there is for a kid with allergies to a white bread sandwich, filled with ooooy goooey peanut butter, and a smear of grape jelly, but I hope they have one. A PB&J stands as a icon in its own right.

Back to the nut allergies. While I am sympathetic, it does make one wonder how those with the allergies (yes, I know it isn't the kids, but their over-zealous parents and attorneys) who have all but made it illegal to bring a PB&J sandwich onto a plane, or into a school? In the early years of flying, smokers were asked to sit at the back of the plane (which was ridiculous because smoke is pretty hard to contain). So, come on, at least section off a few rows of airplane seats or cafeteria tables, and give  peanut lovers a break (or better put - TOLERATE US.)  

This holiday there is a new allergic reaction to Peanuts, only it isn't the kind we eat, but rather the kind Charles Schultz made famous.  An elementary school in Little Rock had the audacity to decide to do "Merry Christmas Charlie Brown" this Christmas. Now, there is irony in this if one really wants to look at it...first of all, the play contains Peanuts, a Christmas message (is it or is it not the season?), and of all things, the title itself shouts from the rooftops "Merry Christmas".

Well, not surprisingly, a few parents were aghast, and although the school gave a generous 'opt out' to anyone who didn't want their kids to be involved, taking their offense to the ACLU.  (I'm allergic to the ACLU), who is taking this to the courts. So much for tolerance....

This is not my hill to die on, but I must say that if people who share my views don't begin to stand up and be counted, refuse to give up their PP&J sandwiches and peanuts on planes, and stand up to the bullies, there will be little left to celebrate. 

Several years ago one of our granddaughters was in a reading contest in her school; it was this time of year. She read her little heart out, won the contest, and the 'prize' was to read any book of her choice to the entire first grade class. She chose a book about Christmas- how fitting!. Her teacher informed her that she couldn't read a book about Christmas, and, instead, had her read a book about Kwanzaa  What a lesson in moving the target that was! Thankfully, it only made her stronger because her parents were wise enough to talk her through it and recreate the lesson positively. 

This exercise has made me hungry for a peanut butter sandwich, but I don't have any Wonder Bread to put it on... But, less I digress, join me in the fight to keep our Christian heritage and traditions alive. After all, we live here, too! Let's cheer on Charlie Brown!

Wishing everyone a very blessed holiday of choice, and to you Christians out there...Merry Christmas to all! 

Fran Riedemann Books: Contest for My Subscribers!

Fran Riedemann Books: Contest for My Subscribers!: As a thank you to all of my subscribers, I am giving away two signed copies of More than the Sum.  Please tweet a message, leave a blog comm...

The tale of a Jewish daddy...

An excerpt from Joseph; the Heart of the Father:
Many of his kinsmen no longer believed in the promise of a redeemer, but when Joseph recalled God's Covenants made with Abraham, Joseph's faith was refreshed again. He knew that one day God would fulfill every promise He had made with his chosen people, the Jews.
Joseph lay on the ground on top of his robe. It had been four hundred years since God had spoken to His people through the prophet Malachi. Many Jews no longer believed in a Messiah, but there was still a remnant that still looked forward to the One who was to come and would relieve their oppression.
Joseph feared the price would be their own blood if his kinsmen got the kind of leader they were asking for. Joseph believed the redeemer would come to change their hearts first. The Jews were  a stubborn and rebellious people and Joseph cried out in their behalf.  Only by obedience to God and His law given them through Moses would they ever dwell in safety. Most had all but forgotten His mighty works in their behalf.
"Create in your people clean hearts,oh Lord, and Rock of our salvation," he cried.
Yes, God would reveal Himself to His people. Perhaps it would happen in his lifetime. One family, one day, would be called upon to fulfill the prophecies that began with God's words to Eve; that a woman would one day bear a child who would crush the head of the evil one. One day the curse on all mankind would be lifted.
God was true to His word. His promises were eternal. Joseph called upon the God of Covenant to again reveal Himself to the people He called "The Apple of His eye".
Available in eBook format, Kindle, paperback, and audio at Amazon and on most online bookstores.

Searching for Reason in the Season...

Wherever one goes these days, we are truly accosted by "Christmas". In some stores, Santa, and sometimes a nativity scene, appeared on shelves, placed  beside Jack-O-Lanterns and witches, before Halloween. That would not have happened in my childhood. So, in mid-October, merchants begin the push for us  to 'decorate'. My first reaction is to wonder how children can help but be confused, with the secular so conspicuously superimposed over what Christians celebrate as God sending His own son into the world...and why.

Every holiday most of us participate in some mother's outrage at their child being told by someone that Santa is a myth. Now, I must admit that my husband and I did invite Santa to bring toys on Christmas, and protected the fun of his stealthy appearance during the night for our kids, but we took the approach that the kids would figure it out. Ultimately they  'pretended' they believed, thinking that would pacify us and that they would get more presents because of it. And, we went along, trying to squeeze out as much lingering innocence as we could (possibly somewhat tarnished by their manipulation.) But, in spite of the toys and tradition, the centerpiece of our season was irrevocably  Christ. Our outrage would have been for anyone to have dared suggest Christ was a myth!

Now I have grandchildren, and with the hindsight that comes with years, see how the world would attempt to invalidate the message of a Savior who willingly left Heaven, took upon Himself a human body, and walked out every rejection, hardship, disappointment, temptation, and the urges that accompany each of those, in humility and faith - and ultimately embracing every rejection, hardship, disappointment, and urge that we struggle with. Truly, we have a High Priest in the Heavens who hears us when we pray, and groans with us while we try to make sense of those things that are truly, senseless. (Hebrews 4:14 & Romans 8:26) 

But, for the children, it is enough to know how much God loved them. who he sent, and why. To communicate the great love that would give up a child so that He could redeem all children, and that one day, inexplicably, bring us to live with Him (and each other) in Heaven.

Ah, the manger. The first 'king-sized bed'. Our Lord left Heaven, spent nine months under Mary's heart, and was laid in a manger in a stinky stable; it defies the imagination.  Let's keep 'the bling' in perspective this season. The shelves of Made in China plastic angels and Santa's will wait. Take a few moments to ponder the Reason and then go wish a "Merry Christmas" to everyone you see. 

Chapter four in Joseph: the Heart of the Father, gives a bit of insight as to what that first Christmas night was like. It was not a silent night!

My gift for you!

Fran Riedemann Books: Contest for My Subscribers!: As a thank you to my subscribers, I am giving away two signed copies of More than the Sum.  Please tweet a message, leave a blog comm...

Joseph: the heart of the Father. A lesson in obedience.

Fran Riedemann Books: The ultimate role model...: Some years ago it hit me how we are rapidly losing our role models - male role models in particular. One day, when I was reading the bible, ...

Contest for My Subscribers!

As a thank you to all of my subscribers, I am giving away two signed copies of More than the Sum.  Please tweet a message, leave a blog comment, or follow me on Twitter (authorFran) to enter!

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The ultimate role model...

Some years ago it hit me how we are rapidly losing our role models - male role models in particular. One day, while doing my devotions,  I pictured a little boy, dressed in a tunic, with dark hair and eyes. He was sitting on the ground and I watched as a hand lowered something to him. I immediately knew he was Jesus and the arm belonged to his daddy.
The arm is so symbolic of the little we know about Joseph of Nazareth. He is mentioned in scripture, barely, but significantly. But, what jumps off the pages of where he is mentioned, if you think about it, is his instant obedience to what God alerts him to do. While both Mary and Zechariah are visited by angels with the good news given them, Joseph wakes from sleep (more than once), and with no hesitation, offers himself to be available to be used (by God). The other scriptures that speak of him are the genealogies that tell us he was of the line of David and show the blood line that leads back to the Garden, where the Messiah was promised the first time, to Eve.
I have spent years trying to discern what made him God's choice. When Christ was conceived it was 440 years after the prophet Malachi warned the Jews for the last time what they must do to remain in Covenant with Him. In scripture 40 years represent a generation, so that computes to eleven generations that have come and gone, and 440 years of silence from God though His prophets. Yet, Joseph is in position to be used to rescue Mary, protect her, be the adopted father of Jesus, and teach him what he would need to know about what God would do though and because of him.
After years of prayer, searching the Old Testament for the role of the father as prescribed by God to the Jew, and realizing that many of the things that Christ did, like going into the hills to pray, may have been exampled, rather than spontaneous, I wrote my book, Joseph, the heart of the Father. More than once I was overcome with the profound message of obedience, sacrifice, and a life poured out.
There is more to tell, but I don't want to give away the story. I deliberately wrote it as a story, so it could be gifted to  people who are nominal Christians or may not be believers at all. It is intended to remind us that God, by His own design, placed the Messiah within a traditional family, gave him role models and siblings, and it was within that cocoon that he was guided toward the awfulness of what he would suffer - for us.
The book is a wonderful beginning for the Christmas season, can be read to children, or discussed by adults in a Sunday School or small group. It is equally appropriate for Easter. It can be obtained on Amazon or other book venues, or at Tate Publishing, who offers a discount for groups.
The last time see Joseph in Scripture he and Mary have found Jesus, who was lost, at the Temple, and speaking with the leaders there. I do not believe Joseph lived much after that because Jesus would have, by necessity, needed to look to the one Father he would speak of, yet would know better, because of the simple soul who raised him.
Please, after you have read it, would you review the book on Amazon, B&N, etc. and on Goodreads if you are a member. And, be sure to comment on the blog!
I wish you a profound journey in faith this season.

The whole, the sum, the parts...

A few words about my most recent book, More than the Sum. I have two daughters who have been through divorces. Having watched them struggle through the pain, the rejection issues, rebirth of self-images, and  revisiting their faith in the process, my husband and I often ponder how single women manage to wade through it without the support, or acceptance, of family.
Our family's story isn't perfect, and there were some choices that weren't either, but the bad ones became building blocks for better ones. Both daughters are in good places now and  better people for the testing. I believe all of us are. Their experiences have tested the family's 'metal' also, and we have, after some not so pretty moments of insensitivity, achieved the sensitivity to peer past the times when they erected a facade of "I'm okay" to read the signs in their eyes that were begging us to notice  "I'm really not".
Brittany, my heroine, has a family, but they choose to back away from her, rather than help her. In the midst of the shock and pain of finding herself single, she reaches deep inside and makes choices that will guide her destiny forward-in a good way. It is a love story on more than one level, because in the process of working through her 'aloneness' she discovers faith., which allows her to see God's hand in guiding her towards a good end.
I wrote the book for young women who might relate to the subject matter of divorce and recovery (or their family members)  in particular, but who doesn't love a love story? It is a book that travels through Brittany's personal pain and, because of her caution to 'react' and 'act out', takes her to a good end,  carefully drawing attention to her choices made in the midst of walking her journey out.
The audio book is now available also; on iTunes as well as a link to Audible.com on the Amazon site. I keep books in stock and will gladly personalize them. The eBook is still at the promotional pricing of $1.99 through the end of the month when it changes to $2.99. And, after you read it, would you please post reviews? I would also appreciate them on Goodreads.
The title is taken from Aristotle's quote, "The whole is more than the sum of its parts".

A great way to begin the holidays!

More than the Sum is a LOVELY way to begin the holiday season and a great gift for young women who are dealing with the issues of being single in our culture. Be sure to read the reviews. It is also available on Audible.com and iTunes.
Synopsis: On Christmas morning Brittany awakens to a surprise, but it is not the surprise she is expecting. Her Carefully ordered life leaves little room for spontaneity, but sudden personal catastrophe imposes itself without permission. She finds herself alone to confront the unexpected and discovers strength of character, coupled with a driving empathy to use the lessons forced upon her. Guided by a firm resolve to maintain her personal dignity, Brittany searches her soul and finds inner strength, faith, and true love.
http://www.amazon.com/More-than-the-Sum-ebook/dp/B009R4ZIJS/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1353939598&sr=1-1&keywords=more+than+the+sum

God bless America!

Our entire family gathered in Nashville this Thanksgiving...all twenty two of us, along with an exchange student from China. It has been 'delicious' on every level, savoring the reconnecting, the conversations, the food. I know our twins, Andi & Dori, have put weeks of effort towards making it special; and they were successful. Thanksgiving for the Riedemann's was perfect.
What struck me this year was the 'plenty' we so take for granted. We began our feast with a table full of appetizers and then there were two turkeys; one roasted and one fried, bowls filled with stuffing, mashed potatoes, southern greens,  corn pudding, fennel and citrus salad, cranberry sauce, and fluffy rolls. We will feast again today on the abundance that was left over. I'm sure not one of us isn't already looking forward to that time.
As Americans we have iconized this holiday as a time to be thankful for the 'plenty' this great country has afforded us and to feast accordingly, often forgetting the hardship of the early settlers who overcame starvation, disease, and the sacrifice of family and friends, to settle here, where they could pursue freedom and faith. So, even though the Thanksgiving prayers have been offered, let us remember that what we enjoy wasn't handed to us without great sacrifice and hardship, nor that it is fragile. "Dear God, thank you for this great land, for having been a free people, and may we ever be mindful that there may be personal cost required to retain it." God bless America!

Over the river and through the woods...

We have twin daughters. They are grown now, and by no design of their own, ended up living less than four miles apart in Nashville. It is a nine hour drive from Leawood, KS, where Ken and I live. Our entire family (22 with grand kids) are going to be in Nashville to celebrate Thanksgiving with our daughters; a lot of people, making a whole lot of effort to be together.

I grew up in a small town in Illinois with one grandma living behind us and another across town from us, with the rest of our family a short drive away. Those were rich times. My father bought a business in Omaha and moved our family of five there my senior year of high school. It was culture shock in many ways, but the loss of family nearby was huge, and looking back, changed a lot of things. Like many, our dysfunctions were worn on or sleeves, with most of the pressure of the entertaining falling on the moms and grandmom's, but  it was that extension of self that was, as the American Express ads used to say, 'Priceless".

I am thanking God this morning for our family and so very grateful that everyone is making the effort to drive or fly to Nashville, ever aware that our all gathering together for a holiday may be the last time. That is the one thing I wish I'd been warned of - the last time I would talk on the phone with someone, the last time we would all (as our family unit of seven) eat dinner together at the kitchen table, the last time I would hear a voice, or get a hug.... But, we don't get that warning. Life happens, stuff happens, and it sometimes takes us where we wouldn't choose to go...

But, today, Ken and I get to load our dogs, casseroles, and us in our car, traveling  "over the river and through the woods" to Nashville. I'm smarter now, and a bit sadder, and determined to savor every moment with my darling family. I am thankful for my Ken, Melissa, Gary, Cameron, Caedran, Peyton, Regan, Dan, Sherri, Chloe, Henry, Sophia, Andi, Tim, Nik, Connor, Dori, Hudson, Wyatt, Sage, and Emily. The food will be great, and there will be much fun, but the memories will be retained as treasure.

Happy Thanksgiving! Savor everything.

Now Available on Barnes & Noble

I've had many requests to have my books available for Barnes & Noble Nook. I am excited to announce today that Implosion is now available. Click here to be taken to the B&N site to purchase Implosion for your Nook.

Just a reminder...you don't have to own a kindle to download any of my books.  Amazon offers the Kindle App for Android, iPhone, iPad and even your personal computer or MAC.  Click on the link for your device to be taken to the App download page.  When installation is complete, visit my book page to choose what you would like to read first!

Thank you so much for your support.  I hope you enjoy all my books and will leave a positive review on Amazon and Goodreads.

Special pricing ends soon!

The promotional pricing for More than the Sum ends the first of Dec. It is currently priced on Kindle for $1.99. And, check out the reviews; they are starting to come in. The audio book is now available also on iTunes and Audible.com. The book was narrated by Amanda Friday, and I highly recommend her-she even sings in it! Here's the link to Audible for your convenience and just in time for your Thanksgiving road trip!
http://www.audible.com/search/ref=sr_lftbox_1_1

Larry's boy toy

I am a hopeless dog lover. We have, over the years, had a Poodle, Pomeranian mix (a mutt then - a designer dog now), a Brittany Spaniel, a Westie, and for the last ten years, we have had three Daschunds. A year ago our beloved Bob had to be put to down for back problems. Putting him to sleep was one of the hardest days of my life. His partner, Lucy, had become less and less social after his problems began and he withdrew from us, so I (with Ken's permission) got a puppy-for her, and for me.
Bob was a short-haired black and tan, so that was what I wanted, because his temperament was so good. Emily, our daughter who was living with us at the time, went with me to pick up Larry.(Oh, I forgot to mention she moved in with us with two Doxie's of her own...it was pretty crazy here for awhile.)
Larry was three pounds of cuteness and, from the first hour, dominated the other dogs. He was relentless in his pursuit of play and often had the other dogs chasing him, cornering him, and somehow wiggling out of the corner he'd been boxed into, chasing them. It was hilarious.
Emily moved out last August and Larry turned his attention on Ken. Lucy is a plump long-hair black and tan, and easily wins the 'laziest dog on earth' award, plus she is about as much fun as a stuffed toy (howbeit sweet in her own way), so it was evident he needed a playmate.
Ken has a history of tolerating our dogs (for me), but when I brought Larry home Ken was smitten. Larry began hiding tennis balls under pieces of furniture he couldn't retrieve them from, and would whine and make other mysterious noises until Ken would get down on all fours and rescue them for him. Then,Ken would toss the ball and Larry would chase it and come back to him, but couldn't factor how to let go of the balls, so Ken worked with him to 'drop the ball'.
It has evolved into a never-ending game that only happens when Ken is home. Larry acts like a normal dog until about 5:30 PM, then he finds a ball and waits by the back door waiting for Ken, dropping the ball at his feet when Ken walks in the door. The weekends verge on obsession. When Ken goes downstairs to his office, Larry nudges his ball between the railing (I think he enjoys hearing it thump down the stairs) and waits at the top for Ken to bring it to him and play again. And, Ken does it, giving me a helpless look that this puppy can possibly have him so well trained.
Ken has started hiding the balls at bed time, giving Larry a chewie to calm him down. This morning when Ken got up Larry was sitting below the drawer Ken hides the balls in, staring at it. Guess what? Larry got the ball. They're playing now.
This is a part of my husband I never thought I'd see...he's Larry's boy toy. It's a full life!

Twinkies are now a collectible...

Wow. There are some institutions you can't picture ever being gone. Hostess is one of them - an American icon for snacks. I got a lot of my kids chores completed with the promise of Hoho's afterward.
If I may indulge a little pondering, I wonder if the union workers feel a smidge 'used'. Surely some of them had to be thinking, while heading out to picket, "Well, the economy sucks, I'm hearing the phrase 'fiscal cliff' and that doesn't sound good, and some cities are going bankrupt. But, my union says I deserve a raise, and by gum, I'm gonna go on strike and show those Hostess people who has the power". Hmmmmm...
So, we end up with Hostess closing down nationwide, perhaps thousands out of work (how does, "I made Twinkies" look on a resume?), and having to go home and tell the family that you are both out of work and their favorite snack is no longer going to be made? (The varied responses to that would be interesting...like, "What do you mean Dad, no more Ding Dongs?...) I hope some union boss, sipping fresh orange juice on the balcony of some hotel suite overlooking a beach, has just a 'smidge' of guilt, wondering how the collective bargaining backfired and about the ramifications, both personally and collectively, to those whose dues they collected over the years, and enjoyed the perks from. Just sayin...

The helpful smile in every aisle.

I have to admit it, I LOVE shopping at Trader Joe's. I first became acquainted with them through my daughter, Melissa, who would pack their frozen chocolate croissants in her suitcase, and bring them from California for our breakfast the next day. Each time she came to visit she would bring a different cracker, some cookie or candy, or other treat for us to try, in addition to her reciting again her own joyous experience shopping there. Of course, when I would visit her, I eagerly went with her so I could experience the joy for myself. I'm rarely jealous, but she had me on that one!
A year ago last July, a Trader Joe's opened (walking distance!) from our home. I can't describe the feeling of fulfillment I felt knowing it was two short minutes away. Having owned a business I admire any business that can woo it's customers to the kind of loyalty I feel, having only been to a regular grocery store a handful of times in the last year. Most days I put off my Trader Joe run until late afternoon; I call it my "Happy Hour". It is my late day fix of fabulous products, the overkill of friendly staff making sure I have found what I'm looking for, and upbeat music - it makes my day.
And, having said that, I pray for them, and other business's like them, who have provided for their workers stellar training, a good work environment, and good benefits. When I ask people there if they like their jobs (and I do that regularly wherever I go), I have yet to find someone there who doesn't beam and tell me how they love working for Trader Joe's. I was shocked when one whispered to me what she'd started at when she went to work for them. The combination of the above is why there is a helpful smile in every aisle. I so hope that, as the increasing regulations and health care issues, kick in, those smiles remain. As I said, they make my day.

Quit thinking about tomorrow...

Procrastination is the nemesis of all creativity - Discipline is the nemesis of all procrastination. They are rivals, and procrastination, unless confronted, will win. Therefore, this blog post signifies that I have declined passivity, and will win this seemingly small, but mentally huge challenge, which is writing this blog. Next, I will make the pumpkin scones that I have been going to make for a week to take to our daughters' in Nashville, where we will be celebrating Thanksgiving with our entire family (recipe included!). What I have found is, once I 'get my act together', there is no stopping me; my mental adrenalin will have kicked in, and by tonight I will have the satisfaction of a much shorter list of things to do - having faced the long list that was the source of my procrastination. Perhaps that's why, for most of us, we need a deadline to get us kick-started. When I think back to when I owned my art galleries, traveled back and forth to Florida from Kansas City, and worked fifty or sixty hours a week, and remember what I was able to accomplish, it is a humbling reminder to me that busy lives, while they get blamed for things we do not get done, are not always an 'evil' taskmaster. Those were also very productive and creative years for me spiritually,also. So, my hope is, that as we move forward into the crazy/busy weeks before The Reason for the Season's birth, let us lay aside procrastination and embrace the opportunity remind ourselves of the warm memories from our own childhoods, the blessing of family, and the legacy of tradition. Hold them close, dear friends; it isn't about the gifts; I have learned that the gift is what we (deliberately) retain that warms our hearts, and can, if used rightly, become part of our own legacy.
Perhaps this will become a new tradition!
PUMPKIN SCONES WITH SPICED GLAZE
yield: 12 scones prep time: 30 minutes cook time: 14 to 16 minutes total time: 45 minutes
INGREDIENTS:
For the Scones:
2 cups all-purpose flour
7 Tablespoons granulated sugar
1 Tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
6 Tablespoons cold butter
½ cup canned pumpkin
3 Tablespoons half-and-half
1 large egg

For the Powdered Sugar Glaze:
1 cup plus 1 Tablespoon powdered sugar
2 Tablespoons milk

For the Spiced Glaze:
1 cup plus 3 Tablespoons powdered sugar
2 Tablespoons milk
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 pinch ground ginger
1 pinch ground cloves

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.

2. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger in a large bowl. Use a fork to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until mixture is crumbly and no chunks of butter are obvious; set aside.

3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, half-and-half and egg. Fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients, and form the dough into a ball. Pat out dough onto a lightly floured surface and form it into a 1-inch thick rectangle about 3 times as long as wide. Use a large knife or a pizza cutter to slice the dough twice through the width, making three equal portions. Cut each of the portions in an X pattern (four pieces) so you end up with 12 triangular slices of dough. Place on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 14-16 minutes, or until light brown. Place on wire rack to cool.

4. To make the powdered sugar glaze, mix the powdered sugar and milk together until smooth. When scones are cool, use a brush to spread plain glaze over the top of each scone.

5. To make the spiced glaze, while the powdered sugar glaze is firming, combine all of the ingredients for the spiced glaze. Drizzle over each scone and allow the icing to dry before serving (about an hour).

The debt we owe.

It is a rainy day in Kansas City and the temperatures are dropping. It is a day for comfort food, cozy clothes, and a good book...or to write one! On this rainy Veteran's Day, I am humbled by the sacrifice of so many to allow us a lazy day, warm and dry, anticipating our slow-cooked dinner. Thank you God for the sacrifices of the men, who laid in trenches, suffered immensely, gave up family and comfort, and many, who ultimately paid with their lives for us to be free. What a heritage and legacy - may it never be forgotten. God, give us the courage to fight the fight of faith, and not to faint. Onward Christian Soldiers!

Free November 10...IMPLOSION

Implosion is free today on Amazon.
"A structure has been selected for implosion. Jeremy Dobson, the owner of Dobson Detonations, Inc. has the job of insuring that every explosive is placed precisely so the structure will collapse in perfect synchronization; a ballet of malfunction. But, it is Jeremy who is confronted with the reality that it is his life that has imploded. Personal tragedy forces him to make sense of the catastrophe. He risks his future and his life to expose a strategy that would undo a nation and a way of life that is on its way of becoming extinct. What he discovers insures death for those who possess it."
Either go to the book page (it will take you to Amazon), or copy and past the link below.
http://www.amazon.com/Implosion-ebook/dp/B005WKCPO2/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1352486375&sr=1-2&keywords=implosion

My blog

There is no such thing as an empty nest when you’re a writer. Sadly, sometimes the company is so good inside my head that all I want is to be alone with my trusty companion (computer named Tonto) at my side.

I owned two art galleries and worked in the field of interior design for over two decades, so upon the sale of my second gallery I had time to write, was a pest to friends and family to read what I’d written, and encouraged to publish my work. (After writing something deemed publishable, that becomes the second learning curve.) But, here I am with my fourth book about to launch and loving how things I see and hear grab me and insist on being framed with words. So, having owned a gallery and being a designer has given me a rich palate to use to paint my pictures with words – not paint.

And, in my head, the picture is there, painted for a subjective reader to picture in their own details, with my words the frame around a picture that is ever changing.

It's my birthday and I'll cry if I want to...

With each birthday I allow myself the indulgence of reflection. Time should be a teacher; daily tapping us on the shoulder with reminders of the lessons taught through childhood, school days, being parented, parenting, and the ebb and flow of life. Granted the energies are different with each stage, but on this birthday I am aware that while my joints remind me of my age, in my subconscious I can be seven year old Beatrice Baker or a character (you haven't met Loretta yet) whose life has beaten her down, yet she celebrates every sunset. And, on this, my birthday, that is what I wish you...celebrate your sunsets. May they be many. And, might they remind us all that dawn is just around the corner.

Where do they go?

I sometimes ponder what I was doing with my imagination before I began writing. I wonder where all of the thoughts are that might have provoked a title, a chapter, a book...? I guess some people journal, so they have a reference to go back to; I wish I had, but I had a family (husband & five kids), add their mates to that, and then the grand kids. What a well of inspiration those journal entries would be to draw from now. I am, however, blessed with a very good visual memory, and I draw on it a lot in my writing, which is very descriptive. But I still can't help but wonder where all of the lost thoughts end up...? Don't you? If you know, please share!!

To self-publish or not to self-publish...'tis a quandry. Had I been over-the-top thrilled with my experience with a publisher, I might not have decided to gone the self-publishing route. And, now, having done both, the 'light bulb went off'. What it all comes down to is the marketing, and in both venues, what I am is virtually unknown. Can anyone relate? I have wasted a lot of time 'friending' and 'liking' other authors, realizing that rarely are the offers of mutual help 'mutual'. With so many books being released every year due to the eBook craze the goal has to be creating a body of quality work that will, book by book, draw attention back to the first works, and generate the momentum that will propel us toward notoriety.
What a publisher does do for the author, besides the obvious, is the media and press releases, placement of books in retail outlets, and setting up personal appearances & book signings. I have discovered it is a full-time job to be on top of of all of it, and the options to the author for "marketing for purchase" are confusing at best, and there are few guarantees.
More to follow...