First and foremost, I have to thank you, my Chic Tribe. Years ago I started blogging about what I ate for dinner, and even then, when my pictures sucked and I had no idea what I was doing—even then I found a community of supportive women online. When I self-published my first book, you were there. When I nervously (and awkwardly) went on TV for the first time, you were there. When I tried Instagram or danced on YouTube or told embarrassing stories in Rach Talk, you were there. And now we’re here . . . with this book and this platform and this incredible community of hundreds of thousands of women all over the world—and that’s because you are still here. Thank you, thank you, thank you, friends, for showing up for me and with me again and again. I believe we can change the world together . . . I believe we already have.
I am grateful as always to my mentor and champion—who also happens to be my literary agent, Kevan Lyon. Kevan, I’m not sure if you had any idea what you were getting yourself into when you took that first phone call with me, but I’m so stinking thankful you’ve come along for the ride.
Thank you to the incredible, hardworking team at Thomas Nelson and HarperCollins for taking on this project. Thanks, too, for the cheddar biscuits and chips and guac and wine and dessert and all the untold snacks and group dinners yet to be.
On average I spend at least six months of the year writing and/or editing a book, which means six months of mood swings, outlines, verbal processing, and caffeine-induced hysteria as I work to meet a deadline. I could not do any of this without the help of an incredible, incomparable team at Chic who keeps the train moving forward even when the conductor is in a fetal position in the corner crying over book edits. Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone at Chic HQ who continues to help me build this dream.
Endless thanks to Johana Monroy, who has loved and cared for our family for years. People ask me how I do it all, and the honest truth is, I absolutely don’t. Behind the scenes is an incredible, loving friend and sister who takes care of my kiddos when work or travel takes me away from them. Jojo, I literally don’t know how we would do life without you.
Thank you to my children: Jackson, Sawyer, Ford, and Noah. I’m so grateful that God allowed me to be your mommy . . . It is the greatest honor of my life.
Thank you to my husband, Dave Hollis, who allowed much of our story to be retold—not just in this book but over the last eight years of public life—even when the retelling was difficult. I am blessed to be married to someone who believes as deeply as I do in vulnerability and the power of “me too.”
Lastly a significant thank you to my parents. I am truly grateful for the pieces I carry of both of you that have made me the woman I am today. Our life might not have looked like anyone else’s; it was at times joyful and painful and chaotic and magical and good and hard, but I wouldn’t change it. I am who I am because of who I come from. I love you both.