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Pack Up Your Gloomies in a Great Big Box, Then Sit On the Lid and Laugh!
With an attitude of love and a heart that's overflowing with joy, Barbara Johnson helps you learn not only to endure life, but to enjoy it! Pack Up Your Gloomees is filled with bittersweet stories of Barbara's journey through the minefields of life and her wise and encouraging responses to letters from hurting parents. Best of all, each chapter ends with a day-brightening, laughter-packed collection of Gloomee Busters. She lovingly lights the way for others by sharing her own struggles with questions such
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
13 people are currently reading
188 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Johnson
66 books93 followersLibrarian note: There are other authors with the same name
Barbara Johnson (1927-2007) died July 2nd, 2007 of cancer (Central Nervous System Lymphoma) after a valiant 6 year fight against the disease. During her illness, she added four more books to her long list of published works, including one that takes humorous pokes at her life with cancer. Affectionately called the “Geranium Lady,” a title taken from her bestselling book, Stick a Geranium in Your Hat and Be Happy, her homespun humor and hope in God in the midst of tragedy, ministered to millions.
A strong Christian woman who relied on her faith in God and her sense of humor to persevere through many devastating experiences, her life was plagued by a string of tragedies. Her husband was in a near fatal accident and slowly recovered from debilitating injuries. She lost one son in Vietnam and another son to a drunk driver. Her third son was estranged from the family while pursuing a homosexual lifestyle. But, she emerged from these experiences having learned that though pain is inevitable, people can choose to pick flowers instead of weeds.
Her compassion extended far beyond the pages of her encouraging books. Wanting to use her own pain to help others, she and her husband Bill founded Spatula Ministries, a unique organization that uses a “spatula of love” to help parents “peel themselves off the ceiling” and begin on the road to recovery. She wrote her first book after reaching the age of 50 and was voted “Celebrity Mom of the Year” for 1996. Prior to being diagnosed with cancer, she toured across the country as a popular conference speaker and part of the "Women of Faith" tour. Her many books have comforted millions of women, bringing them hope and humor in times of distress. She will be missed by many, but her life will live on in her numerous books.
Barbara Johnson (1927-2007) died July 2nd, 2007 of cancer (Central Nervous System Lymphoma) after a valiant 6 year fight against the disease. During her illness, she added four more books to her long list of published works, including one that takes humorous pokes at her life with cancer. Affectionately called the “Geranium Lady,” a title taken from her bestselling book, Stick a Geranium in Your Hat and Be Happy, her homespun humor and hope in God in the midst of tragedy, ministered to millions.
A strong Christian woman who relied on her faith in God and her sense of humor to persevere through many devastating experiences, her life was plagued by a string of tragedies. Her husband was in a near fatal accident and slowly recovered from debilitating injuries. She lost one son in Vietnam and another son to a drunk driver. Her third son was estranged from the family while pursuing a homosexual lifestyle. But, she emerged from these experiences having learned that though pain is inevitable, people can choose to pick flowers instead of weeds.
Her compassion extended far beyond the pages of her encouraging books. Wanting to use her own pain to help others, she and her husband Bill founded Spatula Ministries, a unique organization that uses a “spatula of love” to help parents “peel themselves off the ceiling” and begin on the road to recovery. She wrote her first book after reaching the age of 50 and was voted “Celebrity Mom of the Year” for 1996. Prior to being diagnosed with cancer, she toured across the country as a popular conference speaker and part of the "Women of Faith" tour. Her many books have comforted millions of women, bringing them hope and humor in times of distress. She will be missed by many, but her life will live on in her numerous books.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 1, 2017
I had heard about this author, and so pick up a book by her at a used book sale (that's how it usually happens with us), but this book didn't really apply to. It was about moving beyond traumatic experiences, about getting on with life after your children make life changing decisions, and about living as a Christian with gay children. I finished it away, and it will have a good home with us until we know someone who truly needs it.
May 29, 2020
Short on content but makes up for it in encouragement
This book is a bit short on content, but what it has is a mountain of encouragement. Barbara is one upbeat and positive lady who has borne such out of deep tragedy and disappointment in at life but has come out on top - victoriously sitting on the lid of her big gloomy box!
Way to go girl!
This book is a bit short on content, but what it has is a mountain of encouragement. Barbara is one upbeat and positive lady who has borne such out of deep tragedy and disappointment in at life but has come out on top - victoriously sitting on the lid of her big gloomy box!
Way to go girl!
July 9, 2020
Because of due dates on other books and life events, I was delayed in finishing the book.
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January 13, 2023Ahora cada dìa es un nuevo arcoiris lleno de esperanza, amor, gracia y puro gozo, sin importar los pozos y adversidades que tenga.
September 16, 2023
Great book!!!!
November 20, 2023
What a great book
August 7, 2017
This was a good book overall. I enjoyed the humor.
August 24, 2016
Not about clinical depression. I'd prefer she state that explicitly, but it's clear enough that she's only addressing depressions with easily identifiable and external trigger..
Title is misleading. Sounds like trivializing sadness and saying to suppress negative thoughts. It's actually an attempt at humor, and just means that sometimes you can respond to life's lows with levity. Title is author's take on levity.
Giving a 3 rating. Usu I leave rating blank if book is a 3, but I want to make sure to disagree w the average rating of currently 4.23.
Christiany book.
However, pleasantly surprised by this book. Really disliked some parts, wanted to give a 2, but realized most parts I hated were quoting reader letters. And she wdn't respond by saying "the person you chose to be for the past 20 yrs was not like Christ and destined you to shock, confusion, depression". So I'd be upset. But Instead she wd print the letter, and eventually get around to saying what that person cd do moving forward to get past depression. I kept thinking, why doesn't she tell them how to avoid the strong reaction in the future, by being more like Christ? Still, she doesn't judge readers, even when they say they were appalled embarrassed and depressed when their kid came out of closet. So, good for her to hold judgment and help those parents their terms, fostering love in long run.
This book cd be very powerful for Christians raised in the era of political correctness and acceptance of gay culture, who have heard the gay movement message and been annoyed by how strident and insistent it was. You see in this book, reading firsthand letters, how widespread and oppressive was the Christian anti-gay attitude. Surely this still exists some places outside of my bubble.
Otherwise pretty formulaic book. When life gets you down, let things go and turn to God.
Title is misleading. Sounds like trivializing sadness and saying to suppress negative thoughts. It's actually an attempt at humor, and just means that sometimes you can respond to life's lows with levity. Title is author's take on levity.
Giving a 3 rating. Usu I leave rating blank if book is a 3, but I want to make sure to disagree w the average rating of currently 4.23.
Christiany book.
However, pleasantly surprised by this book. Really disliked some parts, wanted to give a 2, but realized most parts I hated were quoting reader letters. And she wdn't respond by saying "the person you chose to be for the past 20 yrs was not like Christ and destined you to shock, confusion, depression". So I'd be upset. But Instead she wd print the letter, and eventually get around to saying what that person cd do moving forward to get past depression. I kept thinking, why doesn't she tell them how to avoid the strong reaction in the future, by being more like Christ? Still, she doesn't judge readers, even when they say they were appalled embarrassed and depressed when their kid came out of closet. So, good for her to hold judgment and help those parents their terms, fostering love in long run.
This book cd be very powerful for Christians raised in the era of political correctness and acceptance of gay culture, who have heard the gay movement message and been annoyed by how strident and insistent it was. You see in this book, reading firsthand letters, how widespread and oppressive was the Christian anti-gay attitude. Surely this still exists some places outside of my bubble.
Otherwise pretty formulaic book. When life gets you down, let things go and turn to God.
March 23, 2009
Aperson who had read one of Barbara Johnson's other books recommended that Barbara's publisher put on the following label:
WARNING
For women with bladder weakness,
wearing your DEPENDS is recommended.
Alternating between serious issues and giggles, this book helped me keep my perspective as I dealt with difficulties.
WARNING
For women with bladder weakness,
wearing your DEPENDS is recommended.
Alternating between serious issues and giggles, this book helped me keep my perspective as I dealt with difficulties.
December 8, 2009
Religion doesn't have to be gloomy. Barbara Johnson tells tales of her life that would knock most of us off our feet, and she can still laugh about it. She acknowledges God never has to say OOPS! He's always right. She says, just keep praying as if everything depended on Him and work as if everything depended on you. A good book for those times you only have 5-10 minutes and need a lift.
May 2, 2013
This is the first book I read of Barbara's and I was hooked. The negatives being turned into positives and the way God works through our lives if we trust him is definately a message sent in this book.
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March 20, 2008248.8
November 7, 2008
I've read several of Barbara Johnson's books and this is my favorite. They are easy reading and fun inspirational books.
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September 3, 2009Love it! Barbara never disappoints!
June 5, 2012
EXCELLENT READ
February 24, 2016
Lovely book
Short, quick, easy to read. Very pleasing and encouraging. Loved the humor in it and fill with many short advises.
Short, quick, easy to read. Very pleasing and encouraging. Loved the humor in it and fill with many short advises.
July 9, 2007
A problem can be light when we see the funny side of it.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews