Growing up, I was a bean pole of a girl. I was dubbed 'Olive Oil', 'Sticks', and 'Chicken Legs'.  When I hit puberty, I was the only one of my friends who didn't develop breasts. I was then labeled as 'Flat Chested' and forced into the 'Itty Bitty Titty Committee'. High school was hell.  I spent every morning prepping myself into "perfection" and constantly analyzed my imperfections. 

  I was an angry teenaged girl and shortly after graduating high school I spiraled into a dark deepness of boys, drugs and depression.  In an attempt to control the chaos that I myself was creating, I started to starve myself.  The power that I derived from being able to survive on minimal calories was intoxicating. This was the one area in my life that I could control...but it was also the most dangerous drug.

Unlike "bad habits", addictions don't die hard. They don't die at all. They huddle in the recesses of your mind. They lie waiting, ready for the perfect moment to rear their ugly heads and strike at you in your weakest moment. 

I have fought with body image issues my entire life. It never goes away. It is an everyday battle. Every bite of food that I take, is in itself a victory but also a defeat. 

I have recently started to reclaim my health by working out regularly and eating healthy. I feel much better than I have in a very long time. I no longer feel sluggish or weighed down by meals.....and I have more energy than a mother of three boys should ever be able to claim. Can I say truthfully that it's all about the health?No. I will say with all honesty that I would love to have that "perfect body".  But I won't. I havestretch marks battle scars from preparing my three miracles to arrive into this world. I have cellulite. My breasts are no longer glorious due to nursing.

I can't say that I will always look in the mirror and be happy. But I will smile. In my darkest hour, I was Delivered. Grace was poured upon me, and now I am the product of prayer. 

A very dear friend of mine, Kate Wicker recently published her very first book- Weightless: Making Peace With Your Body. 

I am full of excitement and anticipation about the contents that I have yet to read. It is a book about her struggles with her own body image. Even if you haven't had to deal with an eating disorder, but HAVE dealt with body image issues (and who isn't it todays society? Thank you Victoria's Secret) then this book is definitely for you. I implore you to take a gander and let her know what you think. She will touch your life. I know this, because she has most definitely touched mine.

You can purchase her book on Amazon from the link that I provided above. You can also GET PERSONAL WITH HER ON HER BLOG. 



Dear Kate,


 You are beautiful. You are an amazing mother, a dedicated wife and the most wonderful kind of person. You are Christlike and you are greatly loved. I commend you for sharing your stories with the world. You have faced and fought your demons on a daily basis and you have overcome great obstacles that have claimed so many. I am incredibly proud of you and am honored to call you my friend. 

With love and prayers,