Laugh It Up!: Embrace Freedom and Experience Defiant Joy

The world knows Candace Payne as "Chewbacca Mom," whose Facebook video captured the hearts of millions with nothing but a toy Chewbacca mask and infectious laughter. But what the video doesn't show is Candace's storied journey of overcoming daunting obstacles on the way to a joy-filled life.Laugh It Up! tells the rest of the story behind the woman in the mask. Like many, Candace Payne has often felt overlooked, undervalued, and insignificant. But she has also discovered the secrets to unshakable joy that no circumstance--be it extreme poverty, past trauma, or struggles with self-worth--can take away, and Laugh It Up! will help you discover and experience the same.Join Candace to discover the gift God has given us all--to experience life to the fullest. All you need to do is answer "yes" when joy calls you to come and play.Do you feel tempted to give up on your dreams? Joy stays the course.Do your knees knock when thinking about the future? Joy hopes for what can be.Do you feel unseen and unnoticed? Joy is content whether backstage or center stage.Do you feel crushed under the weight of regret? Joy loves you enough to weep with you, but also help you move on.When life punches you in the gut, it can be difficult to muster a smile--much less a laugh. But with humor and power, wit and wisdom, Candace lights the way forward to a life that is free indeed. Review I'm so fortunate to have gotten to know the real woman 'behind the mask' after her hilarious video took the internet by storm and reminded us all to LAUGH with abandon! Candace has a lot to teach the world about living joyfully, laughing loudly, and cherishing the small things that make life worth living! -- Patricia Heaton, Emmy Award-winning actress and producerOn May 21, 2016, I posted this on my Facebook page: 'Have y'all seen this video of a lady finding such joy in her newly purchased Chewbacca mask? I'm willing to bet she's a believer. That kind of joy comes from a much deeper place.' What's interesting about the spring of 2016 is that I was in a deep depression when I came across that viral video. Looking back on it now, I know that the joy I saw in Candace flooded Light into my pit of despair and beckoned my spirit to rise out of the dark. As you read Candace Payne's story, you will see why she is able to find joy in the simple things. I know firsthand the power of joy in the midst of pain. That is why I believe that God has spread Candace's contagious, Light-shining spirit for the world to see at such a time as this. -- Mandisa, Contemporary Christian recording artistIf you think Candace Payne is nothing more than a viral video, you are sorely mistaken. I recently spent time listening to her life's story and was stunned by the unspeakable pain she has endured and the breathtaking triumphs she has experienced. Candace Payne is more than a mask, and I'm confident that her new book will cement her as a go-to inspirational voice for years to come. -- Jonathan Merritt, contributing writer for The Atlantic; author of Learning to Speak God from ScratchCandace truly does have the gift of spreading joy, and that is something that the world needs more of at this time. I'm happy she's using her platform to make people smile. This book will open people's eyes to see joy in their own life. It makes me proud to be her friend. -- Sadie Robertson, bestselling author, speaker, and founder of Live Original The TourThanks to a viral Facebook video, the world got to see a glimpse of the joy and spirit of Candace Payne. I've been fortunate to know and feel that joy and spirit in person both before and after the video took over the internet. There's more to Candace than one video. Candace has a gift. A gift for living her life with a smile on her face and a shine in her heart. Laugh It Up! will give readers an insight into that smile and shine and hopefully help even more people find joy in everything they do in life. And real and t