The Secret of Counting Gifts: A Guest Post from Author Heidi Kreider

Today you’ll be hearing from my friend and author, Heidi Kreider. She’ll be telling you about her recently released book and I highly recommend that you check it out!! You may remember Heidi and her family from 2010 when I shot their family photos four times: Once for each season of the year. You can see what Heidi looks like here so you can have a little context for this post. Heidi is currently doing a virtual book tour for her book The Secret of Counting Gifts. I’m so honored that she has chosen my blog as one of her stops on the tour. So, sit back, relax, enjoy this read. Take it away, Heidi!! 

I commissioned her to take family photos.  One session for each of the four seasons of the year.  Four times Marah gathered us around her lens and did her magic.  Four times she made it fun for my family.  And, each time, her work blew me away.   How she does it,  I do not know.  I only know that I am so glad she does.

When it came time to choose an author photo for my novel, there was no doubt in my mind which picture it would be.  On our last session together, Marah gathered us under the golden autumn sun.  Click, after shutter click, she worked her magic… freezing time in a frame… capturing who we really are.  One such shot has become my author photo.  I have no other picture of my man and I that more clearly defines us.

That very photo is now on the cover of my book, The Secret of Counting Gifts, which has just been released and is available through Amazon.com.  The separately sold companion journal, The Secret of Counting Gifts Gratitude Journal is also available.

While The Secret of Counting Gifts is a novel, I wrote it from my life experiences.  I am a wife of 18 years and a mom of 3.  I’ve spent the past fifteen years at home washing dishes, folding clean laundry, blogging, and teaching my children.  My days are full of counting grace gifts with gratitude and asking for grace and forgiveness.  I am blessed with rich friendships and have prayed more friends than I care to count through the battle of breast cancer.

The Secret of Counting Gifts is a story about life, friendship, hardship, and gratitude.  It is the story of  Kris McClintock and Liz Bower and their friendship that spans twenty-eight years.  Through marriage, babies, and infidelity they stand by each other and hold one another up… until breast cancer delivers the final blow.  As she sits by Liz, Kris recounts the trials and  blessings that made them who they are.  She tells their story and recalls the many “gifts” they have been blessed with throughout the years. She shares of how Liz taught her to notice the gifts in each day and to live with a grateful heart. It is through the telling of their story that the secret of counting gifts is discovered….

I’m excited for the release of The Secret of Counting Gifts and The Secret of Counting Gifts Gratitude Journal.  It is a direct answer to the prayers of my husband, my children, my friends, and myself.  I look forward to seeing how God will use these books!  Thorought this month, I am on a virtual book tour.  You can see the stops along the way on my website www.heidikreider.com.  While you are there, stop in and say “Hey!” and register for my giveaway… autographed copies of The Secret of Counting Gifts and The Secret of Counting Gifts Gratitude Journal in a hand-made basket.

I’m so glad Marah allowed me to stop here and tell my story.

I’d love to hear yours.  

If Marah has taken your photos, how have you used them?  

Which is your favorite? 

Why?

** Heidi Kreider is a wife, mother, author and friend.  She blogs about life, grace, and gratitude at www.heidikreider.com.