Thank you, thank you, thank you…
To my precious man, Bill. You are my best friend. You are my dream-come-true. Thank you for moving heaven and earth to fight for my heart and for loving to spoon.
To my amazing babies: Carli, Ben, and Sam. I know it's a nerdy mom thing to say, but my heart bursts with love, joy, and everything divine when I think of you. Thank you for the gift of yourselves, for every hug and every sweet kiss on my cheek. They fill my tank.
To the people who directly enabled me to write and publish this book, huge thanks:
Dawn and JT Taylor. For your love and friendship, for introducing me to the life-saving truths that are layered into these pages, and for faithfully standing by the operating table while God performed some major reconstructive surgery in my heart.
Jack Frost (who is reading this from heaven), Trisha Frost, and the entire Shiloh Place ministry team. For your disarming transparency, heart-gripping understanding of the Father's love, and willingness to share it. God used your ministry to save my life.
Allison Allen. For our near-daily talks about everything under the Son, your never-ending encouragement to give God time, and the eternal blessing of a loving and kindred friend.
Phil Stoner. For being the very first to say, “Write that book,” and being generous enough to read through my very raw first attempts. Your support lit the fuse.
Toni Birdsong. For your laugh, your zeal, your lovingly brutal honesty, your amazing gift of encouragement, and the hours of your precious time spent helping me make this story better one chapter at a time.
Wayne Hastings. For seeing something compelling in the pages of my manuscript, feeling led to send it to a few friends in book publishing, and then patiently guiding me down the roads of my brave new world. I couldn't ask for a more patient and kind agent and friend.
To Byron Williamson and his over-the-top incredible team at Worthy Publishing:
• Kris Bearss. Oh. My. Gosh. Thank you for reading my manuscript and liking it. Thank you for your support of not only this book, but of me. You are an amazing executive editor, and I thank God for you always.
• Sherrie Slopianka. Thank you for your support and more-than-generous help with all things social networking. I think I've finally passed Facebook 101.
• Thank you, Rob Birkhead, for your marketing genius; Morgan Canclini, for your kindness and help; Jeana Ledbetter, for graciously leading me through my very first book contract; and for all the amazing creatives who designed the cover and interior of this book.
Thank you, Susan Tjaden, for rounding out the edges and bringing an expert shine to the pages of my story. I'm so thankful for you. You are a sweet and incredibly gifted editor.
Thank you, Marika Flatt and Tolly Moseley at PR by the Book, for your support, wisdom, and for helping me get the word out about My Big Bottom Blessing. You are both amazing.
To the generous and gifted people who took their time to read and endorse this book: Wynonna Judd, Allison Allen, Steve and Sarah Berger, Michele Pillar, Lisa Patton, Nancy Reece, Trisha Frost, Pete Wilson, Jenni Catron, Constance Rhodes, Lisa Harper, Toni Birdsong, and Cindi Wood. I know you are all very busy, so thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Thank you to my pastor, Steve Berger, and his precious wife, my friend, Sarah. For nearly half my life you've shown me what it looks like to serve and honor God no matter the cost. Thank you for loving me and supporting me over all the years.
Thank you to these bosom friends I've been blessed with over the years: Christina Broadwin, Suzy Foley, Michelle Rajcic, Tracy Dekaney, Colleen Daly, Barb Mahy, and Jodie Grenead. I adore you all.
Thank you for the friendship, encouragement, counsel, and wisdom of the following people: Rick and Diana Cua, Jeanie Davis, Dave and Cheryl Buehring, Sarah Richmond, Kelley Arnold, Wes and Linda Yoder, Lark Foster, Robin Morrison, Camille Piland, Tami Olin, Pam Hastings, Meg Cox, Amy Lowry, Melinda Myers, Anne-Marie Helmsworth, Diane Spencer, Carol O'Rourke, Suzanne Brown, Rachel Bradley, Brittany Jenkins, Byron Spradlin, Kara Christenson, and Kathy Rowland.
Thank you to all the pastors, elders, and committed Grace Chapel family who have loved me in so many ways.
Thank you to my Gootee and Cannon family. I love you all. Thank you to my incredible mom and dad, who always believed I would write a book someday and loved me enough to speak words of life and hope over me year after year. I'm so glad God chose you to be mine. And Jenny Fann, my sweet baby sister, I'm so proud of you. Thank you for loving me all these years no matter what.
To my grandma, Johnnie B. Parker. Thank you for handing down my big bottom genes. I adore you, and I can't wait to dance with you in heaven some day.
And to You, the most worthy One, my Father God. I thank You for my whole life and with my whole life. You are my everything, and I give You everything.