Laugh It Up! with Candace Payne + Giveaway
I remember getting a text from my friend and assistant Lindsey one day in May of last year. She wanted to know if I’d seen the Chewbacca mask lady who made a video in her car while in the Kohl’s parking lot. I had no idea what she was talking about. As of today, over 140 million people have viewed the video she was referring to of Candace Payne, aka Chewbacca Mom exhibiting pure joy with that Star Wars themed mask.
Today, Candace is a fellow author at my publisher Zondervan and she just released her book, Laugh It Up! Embrace Freedom and Experience Defiant Joy. She is spreading a little bit of her joy around by guest posting here and giving away five copies to my readers. Now, here is Candace!
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I honestly believe the lessons I learned in the anonymous years of being a stay-at-home mom shaped the “suddenly” moment of becoming Chewbacca Mom.
I’ve never felt more pressure and stress than the night I walked the red carpet at the Country Music Television awards. And not by the kind you might naturally assume. I have one word to summarize it all. SPANX. I had no need of Spanx ever before in the thirty-seven years I’d spent on this planet.
That night was one of the most surreal moments of my life. I enjoyed the evening like it was my last, soaking in every conversation with celebrities and artists between commercial breaks. I didn’t want the night or the experience to end.
With my family at work and school, I flew home the next morning and walked into an empty house with lights off. However, I also walked into an unmistakable smell.
The culprit was throw up found in my ornery pug Opal’s dog crate.
So this was my grand welcome-back-to-reality party right on the heels of the most surreal night in the history of the life of Candace Payne.
Red carpet to dog vomit, y’all. Just like that.
It was then I asked myself the question most of us frequently ask ourselves: Who am I?
Isn’t it funny how often we find our identity in what we do or achieve in our greatest moments? When we describe ourselves, we report in snapshots of our best moments, hoping that the sum of them will become who we truly are.
Even when we don’t describe ourselves to anyone else, we tend to struggle internally with our identities being wrapped up with what we do instead of who we are. The problem with such thinking is that we begin to believe that we find our worth in what we do day to day instead of who we are at the core of our being. Effortlessly, this can and will more than likely lead to discontent or prideful thinking.
We forget that what we do with our days (glamorous or not) is already an extension of what we value.
I long to have integrity and a heart that chooses love over arguing, complaining, and blame. I try with every effort to cultivate the kind of character I aspire to and ground my worth in that, rather than letting my worth be defined by my opportunities.
Inward character trumps outward opportunity every time, and I want to cultivate the kind of character I can be proud of whether I’m backstage, center stage, or when no one is looking at all.
Joy knows this so well. She lives in every moment fully content. I am not suggesting Joy doesn’t aspire to great moments and highlights that would “ooh and awe” the crowds. I am suggesting, though, that she also aims to live in the moments that get thrown on the cutting room floor. Joy knows that the secret of being content is found in being fully satisfied with who you are when no one is looking, no matter what role you are living.
Whether you’re backstage, center stage, or whatevs, claim your identity and get comfortable in it, and let this lead you to Joy.
Giveaway
GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED.
Congrats Michelle Vasquez, Dianna Vanhemert, Phyllis Wiley, Christina M. White, Robin (november 16, 2017 at 9:29 pm). You each won a copy of Candace’s book. Please check your email and reply with your mailing address and our publisher will get it to you asap.
Candace is giving away five copies of Laugh It Up! to my readers. Comment below and let us know what area of life you are looking to experience defiant joy in. U.S. Addresses only please. Winners will be announced here on Monday, November 20. **if you are reading this on email, click here to enter.
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Candace Payne is a viral sensation whose Facebook Live video of trying on a Chewbacca Mask became the most-viewed Facebook Live video to date. Candace recently released her first book, Laugh It Up! telling the rest of the story behind the woman in the mask. Like most of us, Candace Payne has often felt overlooked, undervalued, and insignificant. But she has also discovered the secrets to unshakable joy that no circumstance can take away. Candace lives in Texas with her husband, two children, and ornery pug. Connect with Candace online at CandacePayne.me.
Be sure to check out Candace’s Laugh It Up Illustrated Faith Bible Journaling kit.
As much as I need joy in areas in my life, a particular group of my coworkers need it more. I work at and an elementary school in Sonoma County, recently ravaged by wildfires. Our office staff was already facing unbelievable personal challenges: one was diagnosed with breast cancer at the start of the school year, one had lost her mom just months before and one was recently widowed. When the fires hit, our principal lost her home and all of their possessions. In the face of all of these personal tragedies, they had to put aside their personal grief and put on a happy face each day for the children, many of whom had lost their homes and possessions. This year more than ever, these six ladies deserve a way to heal and find joy in their lives. I would love to honor them with this book as a way to feed their soul and help their journies of recovery.
I need to find more joy in the daily tasks that are required of me — life should be filled with joy, not burdens. Often is is just a matter of perspective.
I need to laugh more in my day-to-day coming and going. Just to enjoy life and not be weighed down with worry.
I need defiant joy at work – I let it stress me out way too easily.
I would love to develop stable joy in both, my personal and professional, lives- to the point that no one or no circumstance would bump my happy/shake up my joyFULLness…I so long for this state of being and living.
And on top of that, I really loved this and I desire the same for myself “I long to have integrity and a heart that chooses love over arguing, complaining, and blame. “
I need to have fun and laugh more! I’m always trying to get things done on my never ending list!
I long to experience joy on the road to weight loss. I find my self in a terrible mood when I have to cook for myself and then a separate meal for my family. God help me this is tough. Eating what the Dr says I need to eat and not eat is also a strain financially.
Congrats – you won Candace’s book. Please check your email and reply with your mailing address and our publisher will get it to you asap.
Enjoy! Kim (Karen Ehman Ministry Team)
Defiant joy in the midst of an undiagnosed condition; doesn’t appear life-threatening but have change my way of eating, mostly veggies, and there are a number of those that cause a flare-up. God is good and gently reminds me He sees all of this and He has me! I have to remind myself of His truth and keep moving, remembering that I am His dearly loved daughter and the apple of His eye. Would love a copy of the book! Happy Thanksgivin’ y’all!
I would love this book!! I am struggling with WHO I AM since I am no longer working as a special education aid due to physical disabilities. I feel so useless, what can I do, am I God’s disciple if I’m not working somehow? I’ve worked for nearly 40 years….WHO AM I NOW? I am still in recovery from surgery so I am limited and I hate it….but maybe it’s time to rest and BE STILL… Get closer to God!! I need help finding joy after the loss of my sister to cancer recently….only having a short time after diagnosis to say good bye. It’s been a rough year…I know Gods got this….but I want an end to it all soon. Sorry for griping Lord….forgive me!!
Find defiant joy as a stay at home pastor’s wife, mom, and grandmother as I run the household and babysit two year old granddaughter.
I would like to experience joy in trusting God 100% with my family relations or lack thereof! Tired of picking up the thing I keep giving to Him. Finding joy in the total release and trust that He is working all things out would be some serious chain breakage!
I want to find joy in who God made me to be and just every day life. Also that I can extend that joy to my family and others that I come in contact with. ?
I could use some defiant joy dealing with my teens who are in college. I want to experience joy instead of constant anxiousness.
I’d like defiant joy when dealing with stress.
Congrats – you won Candace’s book. Please check your email and reply with your mailing address and our publisher will get it to you asap.
Enjoy! Kim (Karen Ehman Ministry Team)
I’d like to experience it in my job. Its been very stressful right now.
I can’t tell you how many times I look at the Chewbacca video on the days I am so down on myself. I laugh and laugh, because it brings be joy to see how much joy a simple object gave you. I want to think I am a happy person, but I have some many people tell me I’m just acting stupid and that hurts. I don’t let it show to them but I cry like a baby when I’m alone, thinking. ..is that how people see me, stupid? I admire you and I thank you for the laughs that video brings to me.
I definitely need defiant joy in everyday life. As a mother and business owner with my husband it is hard to be joyful when responsibilities are weighing you down. But we need to have joy, not only for us and our children, but to serve God better too.
I am beginning to understand that the truth about JOY is that before you can experience it, you first have to find comfort with who you are in the eyes of our Mighty Father, and in our selves, it has only taken me 65 years to get to the point of knowing that joy is of our & Jesus’ doing. Would LOVE to read this book!!
Congrats – you won Candace’s book. Please check your email and reply with your mailing address and our publisher will get it to you asap.
Enjoy! Kim (Karen Ehman Ministry Team)
Laughter is a gift from God and I can use more of it in my life!
I would like to experience more joy in the years raising a stubborn preschooler and a moody tween! :)
I came across Candace’s Chewbacca Mom video one afternoon when the enemy had stolen all of my joy! The Lord used this video to snatch me out of that pit and to begin a new work of joy in my heart. It still feels small, but I am asking for more…
Thank you Candace.
I would like to experience more defiant joy in family time. I would like to make the time with my husband and boys to be more fun and meaningful
I am retired but volunteer several times a week with Seniors. Sometimes I feel discouraged and would like to experience the JOY at all times. Thanks for the opportunity to win this book.