Choose to Love

By Lacey Gunter

One the eve of Easter there are many wonderful messages I could share. But what seems to be sticking in my mind is the grandness of Charity.

I recently finished a beautiful middle grade novel, Wonder, by R. J. Palacio. It is a book about a boy with severe facial abnormalities and his experience attending school for the first time in 5th grade. It compels the reader to truly examine how we treat others who are quite different from we are and challenges them to choose kindness over fear, anger or ridicule. One of the quotes from the book  really stuck with me today.

"If every single person in this room made it a rule that wherever you are, whenever you can, you will try to act a little kinder than is necessary - the world really would be a better place. And if you do this, if you act just a little kinder than is necessary, someone else, somewhere, someday, may recognize in you, in every single one of you, the face of God."

It got me thinking how every one of us can be a reflection of God and Christ.Christ's gift to us was an infinite atonement, a gift that could only be born of an infinite love. A love that big requires many hands to carry and distribute. God needs us to be those hands. When we carry that love out to the world, we are reflecting God and Christ's face, hands and heart. By so doing, we carry more than love out to the world. We start to carry souls, souls who are troubled and hurting. We lift them towards Heaven and put them one step closer to the Healer of Souls.

As we ponder the utterly amazing gift of the atonement, in this beautiful Easter season, I want to be one of those hands that carries his love.  I also challenge each of you to carry that love.  Let it be your gift to Christ and the rest of the world. Choose to love.

Service Marathon

By Lacey Gunter

It doesn't take long perusing the news to feel kind of disgusted with the moral slump in society right now. It would be easy to fall into a mindset of thinking people are selfish and uncaring beings, for the most part.

Granted, there are a lot of people out there who are like that. But, there are an amazing amount of people out there who are not, people who make a profound difference in the lives of those around them and who make the world a more beautiful place one small act at a time.

I have had the pleasure to meet many people like this. Some have been my guardian angels in a time of need. Others have been a shining example or inspiration for the kind of person I want to become. The theme I see in these people is an abiding commitment to help and serve others.

For several years I have had an aspiration to live a life committed to service. Sure, I get the typical opportunities to serve in my neighborhood, church, schools and home. These opportunities are great and I know I am making a difference. Yet, just fulfilling my duties and helping others out when needed feels more like sitting in the passenger seat, when what I really need to do is take the steering wheel and drive toward the kind of person I would like to become.

So, today is just as good of a day as any to start to make a change, and I think I've got some ideas to get me going. Thanks to the example of a friend, I've decided on a realistic, concrete goal to set. Thanks to the example of some strangers, I have realized I need to recruit some friends to share, help and motivate me to accomplish my goal.

My goal is to complete a service marathon, 26 days in a row where I perform at least 1 act of service outside my typical daily activities. If I fail, I will start over again until I have accomplished the goal.

Now, what I need are some friends to help me achieve my goal. That is why I am posting this here. Perhaps one of you feels inspired to join me in my journey.  I plan to start on September 15th and would love to hear from you on Facebook. I promise to help and encourage you along the way, too. Together we can make the world a little better place, one small act at a time. And, hopefully, in the process, we will change ourselves the most.

It's Been a Long Week!

by Cheri Chesley

Yesterday I took my twins to the dr for their scout camp physicals. I love my kids. I'm not sure they'd be everyone's cup of tea, but I really, really think they rock. That being said, I apologized in advance when the doctor walked in the exam room. My boys have a tendency to get silly, synergize, and completely lose focus. It got real goofy, and I kept reminding them to calm down, remember where they are, etc.

Sometimes I just look at them and say, "Is this a playground?"

But my kids, being mine, say, "Um, yes."

So then I really give them the "Mom Look." That usually settles them down.

Yesterday, while one was being examined, the other one started getting really silly. Our conversation went something like this:

Me: I just want to let you know if you don't chill there will be repercussions."
Son (grinning like a loon): What are repercussions?"
Me: Consequences.
Son (smile falters ever so slightly): Oh.

The doctor suggested I send their scout master to him for a Valium prescription. ;)

Speaking of Valium (weird, huh), I spoke to my friend Rebecca last night. Now that her hair is gone, she's got the cutest little hats. I haven't seen her in a bit because she had chemo last week, and it takes a while to recover, but I wanted to take her the little present I'd found at The King's English Bookshop in SLC on Wednesday. Dean Hale, husband of Shannon Hale, published a children's book that's pretty dang cute, and I went up there because Shannon had announced she would also willingly sign books--and I had a stack for her. (I have a cousin in Indiana who's a big fan, and can't get out here for signings, but that's another story)

Rebecca makes these cute butterfly pins for breast cancer awareness. She's made me a bunch so I can sell them at book signings. I picked her up a copy of Ella Enchanted, because it was signed by the author. Pretty cool find.

Remember, it's not too late to HELP me help Rebecca with her medical bills. You can use the link to head over to my blog for info.

For a Good Cause

This is less of a post and more of a plea.

Wednesday, my friend Becky found out she has breast cancer. She’s 35, just like me. Today, Friday, she’s having a mastectomy. Her husband just had back surgery a few weeks ago and has been recovering.

I hate feeling helpless. And right now I completely identify with what they are going through. Their medical bills will bury them if something is not done. So I decided I’m going to help them. And here is your opportunity to join in the fun.


From now until the end of August 2011, I am donating every penny I make through my books to help Becky pay her medical bills. Every penny. So if you’ve ever though about checking out an e-book, now is the perfect time. In purchasing one of my books, you will help give this family hope for the future.

Becky’s doctors are hopeful they’ve caught the cancer early enough that they can eradicate it, but it’s no secret the surgery and procedures are expensive. Help this family. And enjoy a fun read in the process. It’s my prayer you will.


My website’s books page has all the links you need to find a copy of my book to purchase. Don’t be shy. I’ve heard pretty good things about these books from readers. :) And every penny I collect through August 31st goes to Becky. Click HERE to access my website.

If you’d prefer, direct purchase links are below. Thank you.

You can look up The Wild Queen or Ghost Bride on amazon.com or BN.com if you prefer to purchase directly from those sites for your Kindle or Nook.

Here are the Smashwords purchase links for both books:

Ghost Bride HERE. It's a short ghost story.

The Wild Queen HERE. This is the story of King Gregory's parents (King Gregory from The Peasant Queen) and gives you a glimpse into what made him the tyrant he'd become.

And, of course, I think Amazon currently has the best price for The Peasant Queen, if you'd rather purchase it online than at a bookstore. Click HERE. This is the story of the peasant, Krystal, who fights for her freedom and that of the entire kingdom of Fayterra.

I'd appreciate you spreading the word far and wide. I will do all I can on my end as well.