If there is one thing I've learned in my journey with Marjorie, it is that life can change in the blink of an eye. No matter how much we plan or perfectly color code our calendars, life happens. And with adversity comes miracles. My family and I are counting our blessings extra this Thanksgiving as we received a miracle that could only be written by God Himself...…
Something happened yesterday that jarred me… As I unwrapped and loaded scales in boxes for our Alliance for Eating Disorders NOT ONE MORE walk in Orlando, Jordan came over and tossed a scale on the ground. He is a lighthearted, joking guy and was going to step on the scale. I immediately grabbed it from him. It wasn’t about him weighing himself. He could careless and I don’t care if he does, but not with these scales and definitely not…
Ever feel like you are floating through life with no idea what you are doing, but you are doing it anyway? That has been my reality every day for the last seven years. I started Southern Smash without a single clue as to what I was doing, but knowing in my gut this was what I was born to do. Not only smashing scales and the mental health stigma, but moreover sharing my story of recovery and healing. Despite the…
My precious peanut, You’re FIVE! How did that happen? I seemed to have blinked and you’ve grown into a sprouting and sprightly girl before my eyes. Your birthday was not what I ever imagined and each year on this day my heart soars with happiness and gratitude while also aching with longing for what should have been. I said on repeat as I lay in the hospital bed, “Today is not your birthday!” But after two weeks of praying, the…
This week I was thrilled to create and write the feature essay for the Today Parent’s newest “Challenge”. My idea was to challenge moms across the country to embrace their ‘mom bods’ and tell us why the love them. The amazing Parent editor Terri Peters loved it so I created the Why I Love My Mom Bod Challenge with three goals in mind: Get mothers thinking about insecurities that possibly hold them back from being fully present with their children…
My wonderful friends at Eating Recovery Center reached out to me last month, asking to feature me an Eating Recovery Day writer. The task was simple: write a #myrecoveryletter. I was touched they thought of me and began to wonder who I would write my letter to. My initial ‘easy’ thoughts soon turned to writers block and, of course, procrastination. I have countless people and moments deserving of a recovery letter. How do I just pick one? But when it boils down…
My eyes opened well before the sun rose, knowing what today was. My heart ached that same ache I have been experiencing for the last 365 days. A distinct void that will never be filled. I lie in bed and suddenly felt the need to see the sunrise. I threw on my clothes and drove the three minutes to the beach. As I walked passed the dunes and saw the expansive beach unfold before my eyes, I laughed. It was…