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!!