February 24, 2008
Personal Tesitmony

I’ve been home long enough to unpack my suitcase and put away all the beautiful things I was so blessed to receive this weekend. What a fabulous time I had. I need to say thank you over and over and over again! I can’t believe this really happened to me….and I don’t want to wake up if it was a dream!!! You can’t imagine how special being selected for a makeover was for me. I’m doing the Lenten devotions at my church again this year. Last week, I asked “what is keeping you from having a closer relationship with God”. I went on to share my testimony that it was my weight that was preventing me from feeling worthy of His love. God has told me He never walked away, it was me who did the walking. He loved me morbidly obese, but he didn’t make me that way! He made me to be strong and healthy and when I realized I had to get good health both physically and emotionally, He was right there to help me. The journey I’ve been on has been interesting, difficult and incredibly wonderful all at the same time. I realized that I don’t ever recall being told I was pretty or beautiful….praised for my accomplishments, praised for being a part of group that was successful, but I never felt pretty. Last night, I was absolutely overwhelmed with the number of beautiful, powerful, loving women who came to me to say I was beautiful and pretty. It was as if God himself was telling me I was pretty! You just can’t imagine how much this experience has done for me in my closer walk with God.

God uses us in so many ways to share His message of love. You honored Him so much by following your heart to plan this retreat with its wonderful makeover. I’m sure you had no idea who would win such a fantastic prize when you started this process, but God knew. Thank you so much for being his hands, his feet, his mouth and even his wallet!!! The shopping experience with Beth and Denise was “over the top”!!!! I’ll never be able to eat at Chick-Fil-A or shop at Macy’s again without thinking of all of you!!! Wendy is an incredibly gifted hairstylist as well as a wonderful Christian woman…and 7 kids!!!!!! J Next time I need a new bra, I’m going to hunt Beth up to help me shop for one!!!! I really lost count, but I’m sure there were at least 25 of those things in that dressing room!!! And the shoes are a hoot!!!

God bless you all!!!!! Love, Marla