Multiple "post" pages. But can't customize the front page

[kimwhite]

I have created my own child theme and made my own front page.
For the Front Page I made a home.php template.
I only want 3 categories on my home page. Inside I have other pages pulling post, but I was able to make custom post types, so I can pull in just the categories I want.

The "Theme Settings" option to exude pages appears to only work for pages that are using the "blog" template.

So my question is... how can I control the categories on my home.php page?

thank you,
Kim White

[andrea_r]

Put widget areas on the home.php. Use the Featured posts widget and restrict it to categories using the widget settings. :)

[kimwhite]

ok. I do have widgets on.
So how do I make the features post NOT in the sidebar then but where I want them?
right now my home page just looks like this:
the main thing i'm doing is adding special wrap div only for the index page to format mypost.
I'm guessing i"m going about this is the wrong way?

<?php get_header(); ?>
<div id="index-wrap">
<?php genesis_before_content_sidebar_wrap(); ?>

<?php genesis_before_content(); ?>

<?php genesis(); ?>

<?php genesis_after_content(); ?>


</div>
<?php get_footer(); ?>

[andrea_r]

You need to make a home.php that has widget areas - much like we did in some of our other themes.

[kimwhite]

I have some themes so I will look.
A large part of my problem is there is a full width image that separate the page. I have not seen a way to handle this with the widgets. I would REALLY like to fix this, as I'm making it the background image and forcing a "space" between the widgets to accommodate. but I can't link it, and I know it will come back to bite me. here is the layout... if you can point me in the right direction I would be VERY grateful. The site is done, but behind a wall till we go live on Wed. I need to solve the post problem by then.

[andrea_r]

You'd need two sidebar areas to start - the top right and the bottom right.

I;d do a top left and right, then a middle fill width area and THEN the left side post area and the regular sidebar.