When we lived in Redlands we were lucky enough to have this amazing family in our church congregation. Vicki Gunter and her husband are so talented and inspired. They always gave the best talks and taught wonderful lessons. Vicki always had the greatest object lessons to simply teach a more complicated idea.
Vicki used her gifts to write a book and it was recently published and is available to purchase
HERE with several of her wonderful poems. You can imagine how excited she was to have it published. She started a web site to promote it
HERE.
However recently this family has gone through some of the hardest trials imaginable. About 2 months ago they had to burry their oldest son. As if that was not enough, last Sunday Vicki was making breakfast and got distracted when special needs church member dropped by for some help. She helped the man and then he left for church with them. While they were sitting at church their home burned down (from the breakfast left cooking).
Being in a different State, there is not that much that I can do to help them but I can help get the word out about her new book. For $12 it makes a great gift for all the women you know that sometimes get discouraged while trying to be their best.
Here is her poem that inspired the title for the book:
The Girl in a Whirl
by ‘Dr. Sue’ (a.k.a. Vickie Gunther)
Look at me, look at me, look at me now!
You could do what I do
If you only knew how.
I study the scriptures one hour each day;
I bake,
I upholster,
I scrub,
and I pray.
I always keep all the commandments completely;
I speak to my little ones gently and sweetly.
I help in their classrooms!
I sew all they wear!
I drive them to practice!
I cut all their hair!
I memorize names of the General Authorities;
I focus on things to be done by priorities.
I play the piano!
I bless with my talents!
My toilets all sparkle!
My checkbooks all balance!
Each week every child gets a one-on-one date;
I attend all my meetings (on time! Never late!)
I’m taking a class on the teachings of Paul,
But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all .
I track my bad habits ’til each is abolished;
Our t-shirts are ironed!
My toenails are polished!
Our family home evenings are always delightful;
The lessons I give are both fun and insightful.
I do genealogy faithfully, too.
It’s easy to do all the things that I do!
I rise each day early, refreshed and awake;
I know all the names of each youth in my stake!
I read to my children!
I help all my neighbors!
I bless the community, too, with my labors.
I exercise and I cook menus gourmet;
My visiting teaching is done the first day!
(I also go do it for someone who missed hers.
It’s the least I can do for my cherished ward sisters.)
I chart resolutions and check off each goal;
I seek each “lost lamb” on my Primary roll.
I can home-grown produce each summer and fall.
But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all .
I write in my journal!
I sing in the choir!
Each day, I write “thank you’s” to those I admire.
My sons were all Eagles when they were fourteen!
My kids get straight A’s!
And their bedrooms are clean!
I have a home business to help make some money;
I always look beautifully groomed for my honey.
I go to the temple at least once a week;
I change the car’s tires!
I fix the sink’s leak!
I grind my own wheat and I bake all our bread;
I have all our meals planned out six months ahead.
I make sure I rotate our two-years’ supply;
My shopping for Christmas is done by July!
These things are not hard;
’tis good if you do them;
You can if you try!
Just set goals and pursue them!
It’s easy to do all the things that I do!
If you plan and work smart, you can do them all, too!
It’s easy!” she said
and then she dropped dead.
Then we decided to use our Mardi Gras beads and trunks.
Then Eric bought a black light to make this floating skeleton glow.
... and of course we needed a fog machine to make it look more realistic. It turning out to be a lot more then just a boat and skeleton, but it was super cool and everyone loved it.
Lucy was Jasmine.
Ruby was a cute witch.
Haley and her friend Anna were black belts.
Eric was the pirate (with a mullet) that passed out the candy..
I decided not to wear a costume and just go as myself.
