A midnight phone call from parents in Virginia to Germany alerts a military man that his four-year-old son, their grandson, has been driven from California and abandoned by his mother. The military man sensed that his marriage has broken down files for divorce and custody only to be told that he cannot get custody of his son because of his military service and that his son has to be torn from his grandparents and returned to the mother who abandoned him. Twelve years later, after a twenty-year military commitment, that military man files for custody again this time in Mississippi from Alaska where he is disrespected and abused financially by a court system that favors custody to go to the mother despite of many shortcomings by that mother. After winning custody the military man discovers that planted in the mind of his son is one last mental entanglement designed to deny him a lasting relationship with his father.

Do kids come with an owner’s manual? This book is about Jim Minton’s journey of figuring out how to raise his kids and learning a lot about himself in the process. When Jim’s children were born, he focused on raising Division I athletes who would make him look good. He started off as that obnoxious dad we have all witnessed at sporting events. He ended up with thirteen principles for improving himself, plus three amazing kids who bring him great joy as they walk in the truth. Jim loves good quotes. He kept a list on the refrigerator as his kids grew up, many of them coming from legendary basketball coach John Wooden. Jim knew his kids were going to find the bad stuff on their phones and in the culture; it was up to him to get the good stuff in front of them. Along the way, Jim discovered that the Bible is the owner’s manual he was looking for.

Developed from years of research and shaped by a biblical world view, They Call Me Dad is a powerful exposé of the spiritual insights of effective fathering. Dr. Canfield encourages fathers to activate their faith through modeling and teaching children to out-think, out-live, and out-love the world. They Call Me Dad contains interactive and profiling tools which enhance a dad's skill and understanding of his role as a father.

Inspired by his family experiences and his parents' paintings, a young boy creates four poems.

“Like the YouTube channel, this is a touching yet informative guide for those seeking fatherly advice, or even a few good dad jokes.” — Library Journal

I want him to be my first.I want him to be the one.I want him to be my everything.I didn't expect to spend my eighteenth birthday stranded in the pouring rain with no way to make it home. I didn't expect to be rescued from the worst night of my life by the most amazing man I'd ever seen.His name is Nick, and he says he wants to take care of me, says he'll look after me, says I don't need to be alone anymore.He treats me like a princess, like the fragile little girl he saved from the cold. But I like him... I like him like that. I've never liked anyone like that before...And it's weird, this thing we have... It's like I can't decide how we're supposed to be... what we are... Until he says the words...Call me Daddy.

I have always had people who knew my mother tell me that someday someone should write a book about that woman. While I sometimes had the inclination to write her story, I never seemed to find the time. However, I was forced to have a spinal fusion and the recovery period meant months away from my golf game. I now had the time to write my mothers story, which turned out to be my story as well. Because this would be a totally new venture for me, I was looking for help and input from many directions. Undoubtedly, Martha, my wife, was my biggest helper and supporter. I want to thank her for putting up with Jane and her bizarre ways all those years. Martha also has a degree in English, which came in very handy when editing the book. Next I would like to acknowledge our four children, Mark, Michael, John, and Shannon. They all had to deal with Jane. They reminded me of some of Janes eccentricities which are mentioned in this book. Most of all, I want the kids to know that I sincerely regret that Jane was not a better Grandma to them. Grandmas are wonderful people and our kids missed out on that joy in life. I appreciate the input of Rosie Browning, our friend and accomplished teacher of English, who read the first draft and made many suggestions that I welcomed and incorporated into the book. I would also like to thank Sandi Faber for her contribution and editing skills. Many thanks to Dee Domingo, our neighbor and computer guru. I could not have put this book on a flash drive without her. I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge all of my friends who gave me such positive encouragement. My friend Jeanie Williamson suggested the title, and Nancy Campbell, my former secretary, shared some of her memories with me. Every story about Jane in this book is true and is written exactly as remembered by folks who dealt with her directly. To my brother-in-law Jerome Carrigan, my nephew Jay Carrigan and his wife Lisa, my niece Michele, and certainly John Nelson, I just want to say thanks for remembering.