Book Review: Life is Tough - I Doubt I'll Make It Out Alive and Give-Away

As I said in my last blog post, this past week has been very stressful for me. My computer crashed just as I was getting everything ready for my upcoming writers conference. Life went crazy and out of whack as my hubby and kids became sick. It seemed like one thing piled on top of another thing. The only things that kept me sane were chocolate and a sense of humor.

There were a few things that happened with my kids where I could have totally lost it, but instead just laughed and laughed. What a difference a sense of humor made during some very stressful moments.

This past week, I've also been reading Stacy Gooch Anderson's newest release, "Life is Tough, I Doubt I'll Make It Out Alive." I pulled it out in anticipation of reviewing it today as part of Stacy's blog tour. When I first pulled it out, I was kind of dragging - just one more thing from my to-do list. But my attitude changed very quickly.

Right from the first chapter, I connected with Stacy talking about her childhood and family. Then she goes on to talk about dating, marriage, and motherhood. There were so many times when I could totally picture the situation she was re-telling, and her reactions. My very favorite so far (I've not completely finished the book), is when she and her hubby take their baby out on a date night with them. While waiting for their food, they hear this great big toot (not from a train, but from someone's pants). At first, Stacy's hubby thinks it was her, but they very quickly realize it's the baby as he fills his pants . . . and keeps on filling, and filling, and filling until it overflows out of his clothes and all over Mama. Oh my heck . I was laughing so hard! All of my kids have done this exact same thing - each on their blessing day!!! It seems like they've each been wonderful and calm during the blessing, then they get passed back to me and within thirty minutes -EXPLOSION!!!

The thing I love about Stacy's book, is how she uses her own life examples to show us how to take difficult situations and how to lighten the load on our shoulders with laughter. This past week was certainly a time I needed a reminder to find a little bit of humor each day. I totally recommend Stacy's book to all women, no matter what stage they are in - single, married, mother, or grandmother. This is a book that will bring some wonderful delight into your day and while imparting a bit of wisdom as well.


Contest: Win an autographed copy of Life is Tough - I Doubt I'll Make It Out Alive by Stacy Gooch Anderson

Leave a comment on this post with a personal short humorous story (yes, it must be about you!). All comments/short stories must be recieved by noon on May 1st. The winner will be drawn that afternoon and announced later that day.

Good luck, everyone!

Would you like to comment?

Stacy G. Anderson said...

Danyelle,
It was such a pleasure to meet you last night and I look forward to getting to know you better through the conference!

Tons of hugs and a less stressful week!!!
Stacy;-)

Danyelle Ferguson said...

Thanks, Stacy. I loved your book! And ditto - it was awesome to meet you, too!

Cluttered Brain said...

Hmmm, A funny story about me. If you have children you gotta have funny stories right? Similar thing happened to me just the other day. However we were not at a restaurant. My daughter who is about 20 months was playing. She had a top on and a diaper, no pants(thank goodness!) Anyway my oldest daughter comes running to us and she says, "Uh I think you ought to change Lydia--She is overflowing!" Ugh! She was just having trouble pooing a little while ago. I gave her some dried fruit and WOW that happen fast. Since me husband was home at the time he threw her in the shower and hosed her off. I'm so glad my daughter caught up with Lydia when she did. Big messes indeed. If I think of any other stories. I'll let you know. I want to win that contest! :)

I also went to LDSstorymakers for the first time this year. IT was spectacular! I can't wait until next year. I will get pictures of people next time and will enter the writer's contest!

Cluttered Brain said...

Do you just contact the author to do a review of their book??? I want to review books too and drive the traffic up to my blog.

Danyelle Ferguson said...

Thanks, Covington! Let's see. How to review books. Meet the authors at writers conferences and offer to review their books. Let them know how much traffic comes to your blog. Start reviewing books online at Amazon, Deseret Book, etc. Anywhere you can leave an online comment with a good honest review. Also, contact Candace Salima and Tristi Pinkston. They both organize blog book review tours and are looking to add people to their list. You can google their names and go out to their websites to email them. Good luck!

Mary said...

Hi, Danyelle. It was great to see you at the conference. I even met Stacy, the author of the book you are giving away. I'd like to enter your contest, so I guess I'll have to leave a story. Since every one is telling diaper stories, I'll add mine. We were touring the state capitol building of Texas in the days before disposable diapers had elastic around the legs. We were carrying my little daughter, and just like Hansel and Gretel, we were leaving a trail, not of bread, but of "pebbles." Oops! Luckily, the building was pretty empty and we were able to retrieve the "markers" without too much embarassment.

Taffy said...

I found your blog from your email at AI!
My DD4 was sitting reverently in sacrament meeting so I wasn't paying attention to her as I listened to a young adult give his talk. Suddenly, there was a blood-curdling scream. I looked around for the child and hoped the mother would take her out! It was mine! She was stuck between the wall and and bench. She screamed again before I could extract her. To add to the drama, the speaker had stopped speaking and was watching us! After all was quiet, he said, "It's been a long time since I was in a family ward with screaming kids! It's great!"

J.R. Johansson said...

Great post! Nice to meet you and thanks for coming by the blog. :D I look forward to getting to know you better through AI

Danyelle Ferguson said...

LOL! Love the stories Mary & Taffy! And nice to meet you Jenn. Welcome to AI!

C.J. said...

Okay, I want to play! Here's my funny story. Once in the town I live, I saw smoke coming from a haystack nearby (I thought) so I called the fire department. All the fire engines came from two towns--there were a bunch. They roared up the lane to put out the fire. And we went over to see if we could answer questions. But all we found were a bunch of disgruntled fire firghters and no fire--no smoke--saying, "Who called this in?" My husband was kind enough to take the blame. Many of the firemen were in my ward so I was embarrassed to go to church the next day.

Unknown said...

Hey Danyelle.
The only short story I can come up with at the moment (I'm positive there are more, but this one is bad enough...) is this one: Last summer I went outside in our backyard to hose off the patio. I turned on the tap and no water came out the end of the hose. We had a leak in our refrigerator hose the month before that soaked through and warped our wood floors, so I panicked and was sure we had a burst pipe that was putting water into my house. So I immediately called a plumber and made him come out and check it.
When he got there he tried the faucet and nothing.
Then he picked up the hose and followed it, undid the kink in the hose, and then asked me if there was anything else he could 'fix' while he was out.
I still blush when I think about that one.

Danyelle Ferguson said...

LOL!!!!! CTW & De, you're both totally hilarious! :) Thanks for sharing!

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

That book sounds right up my alley!

Well, the most recent one that comes to mind is an issue we've been having with our four year old. We've been trying to teach her about "personal space" as she has a tendency to ambush poor helpless strangers. Well, we were in line at Costco the other day and she suddenly reached forward and patted the lady in front of us on the bum! She then shouted, "Hello my new friend!" Then she frowned and asked her, "Was that your pursenal pace?"

The lady, though confused, fortunately just laughed it off. My own laughter had a slightly hysterical edge...

Sara said...

I will never forget this day. It was the day of our baby Tanner's blessing. He was so sweet that everyone "oooed" and "aahhed". The morning had gone perfectly so far. Now, for the good part...oh yes, there is a good part and it begins with the word Riley. Riley, who was 2-years old at the time, decided that he couldn't let Tanner have the day all to himself, so he crawled under the bench and up to the front while Todd and I were listening to the High Councilman speak. (yes, it was high council Sunday and the Stake President was there visiting!!!) Anyway, he climbs up the stairs to the stage, runs to the back and starts running through the back row of seats to the other side of the chapel!! Annie, the Bishop's wife, turns around and says not to worry that someone up front would grab him. Well, no one up front grabbed him and Riley made it to the light switch. Can you guess what happened next? You got it, Riley TURNED OUT THE LIGHTS!!!! This is when Annie turns around and says, "Um, you better go get him now" I could have died of embarrassment! I had to cross the entire chapel in front of the High Councilman, climb the stairs, go to the back of the stage, turn the lights back on, and grab my child who is now screaming at the top of his lungs "LIGHTS!!!" and run to the door which of course is located at the BACK of the chapel. Oh, the joys of parenthood.

Anonymous said...

Funny....Funny?? To me??? You would think after 12 kids, I would have a million. I guess my brain is too fried. Our best story about kids is Zach...Mr. Clueless. He was about 8 or so and we won a TV in a drawing at a Christmas party. We kept it hidden until Christmas. After the kids went to bed, we put it where the old TV was. The next morning, after presents, we told the kids we had something we wanted to watch on TV. The kids saw the new TV and started screaming and jumping up and down--Zach included. A little while later, one of the kids said something about the new TV. Zach said, "we got a new TV?" The other one was when we went to the Nauvoo Temple open house. We got to the end where you got a cookie and Zach asked us when we were going to go in the temple!

Danyelle Ferguson said...

Sara - I can TOTALLY see Riley doing that! How embarrassing!!!

Pam - Why does that not surprise me? :)

Marta O. Smith said...

I couldn't think of a humorous story until one happened to me this evening. I went to the grocery store, but when I got home my wallet was missing. I called the store immediately and described my wallet, a dark blue trifold clutch, but no one had turned one in like that, just a black wallet. After many calls to cancel cards, a trip back to the store to search and a police report, the store called to say they had found my wallet . . . my BLACK wallet. I insisted that my wallet was blue, but the manager said they had looked inside and there was my driver's license. I guess my wallet is black. This is one thing I am happy to be embarrassed about.

Aunt Suzi Quilts said...

I know the contest is over, but this book looks like one that should be added to my shelf!