Acknowledgments

The idea for this book was conceived decades before I was recovered and strong enough to write it. Without divine assistance and the encouragement and support of many wonderful people who have come into my life, I would not have had the courage to write with such transparency.

My intimate partner in life, David, has endured some of the fallout of my violent past. Nonetheless, he has supported and encouraged me to persevere in my healing process. He has modeled to me exceptional parenting skills, though, humble man that he is, he’d be the last to admit it. He has joined me in therapy at times so we can learn together from the marriage mechanic, as I call our therapist, how to better maintain our marriage and family. He has loved and supported me and urged me to write about overcoming the e²ects of my past.

My lovable and capable daughters—Aleah and Anisa—are gifts from God. I hope and pray that when they begin to build their adult lives they will examine their childhood and repeat the traditions and behaviors worthy of being passed down to their children and grandchildren. I give them my full permission to do better where I have fallen short, to avoid repeating my mistakes, and to strive to create peaceful and loving homes for their families.

My mom and my brothers, Mike and Chuck, deserve acknowledgment for having endured violence that no one deserves. They have willingly agreed to have our family story shared and have o²ered their emotional support throughout the writing of the book.

Jaco and Michelle Hamman’s generosity in providing their cottage on Silver Lake enabled me to make signi³cant progress on the book. Nancy McKenzie, another angel, o²ered her cottage, which enabled me to set aside the daily challenges to focus on revising the book.

Pat Crum Lubben, Carmelita LaPorte, Robyn Afrik, and Kristen Gray were readers of the manuscript in an earlier form, and their feedback helped me in the revision process. Pat Crum, an advocate of children, an inspiration, a teacher, and a friend, continues to provide a listening ear and astute insights about parenting when I feel challenged in my role as a parent. She appears in the book, as she was one of my teachers for the Nurturing Parenting Program.

My Juice Plus business leaders and team, especially Dr. Candace Corson and Kortney Burgess, o²ered their understanding, support, and help with my growing business, especially during the ³nal stages of the editing process. Dr. Corson’s leadership is a model of integrity, vision, and health that serves me in my personal growth and in my service to others.

And I would not be here, functioning and thriving as I am, without the expertise of numerous therapists who listened, questioned, encouraged, and challenged me. I want to acknowledge the expertise of Denise Hames, Wanda Decker, Sara Shambarger, Ishwara Thomas, Dr. Roger Danchise, and Lois Khan. The workshop I attended with Marion Woodman, author of Addiction to Perfection, remains a highlight in my healing process.

Terry Cassiday and Bahhaj Taherzadeh, my editors, have o²ered their generous and astute insights and helped the manuscript reach its potential through the revision and editing processes. Their belief in the book and its potential to impact readers fuels my own hope that the story can help and inspire those who have been victimized. In this way, what I have su²ered will have greater purpose.

I am forever grateful to all of you and the many others—family members, friends, mentors, teachers, and writers—who have listened, tried to understand, and encouraged me to persevere through the challenges of healing and endeavoring to break the cycle of violence.