 This week's guest blogger is Rhea Williamson. Rhea is a wife, mother, author and woman of God. We recently connected by chance and hit it off instantly! Yay to new friends! Currently, motherhood and homemaking are Rhea's main ministries and I'm excited to share a glimpse into her faith-filled life as well as her books with you. 1. Tell me about yourself. My name is Rhea (pronounced re-ah). I am a wife and a mother of two. If you ever met me then you would learn three things: I am a follower of Christ, I'm from St. Croix USVI, and depending on if we are eating or near music, you will catch me dancing. God laid it on my heart to write two books to help others, Dear Mommy You're not alone and Proverbs 31 she's not perfect. I am a transparent momma trying to help others. 2. How/why did you become a blogger and author? I became a blogger and author because I wanted to help moms come to know Christ. Writing relatable and transparent posts brings me joy. Moms need to know they're not alone. It helps to give a different perspective. 3. Can you give a brief overview of your books, Dear Mommy you're not alone and Proverbs 31 she's not perfect? Dear Mommy you're not alone was written for first-time moms to help them with the changes that happen after delivery. Proverbs she's not perfect is a 15-day devotional written for moms and wives to dive into the imperfect life of Proverbs 31 woman. In 15 days, women get to deepen their relationship with Christ and gain practical lessons. 4. When you wrote Dear Mommy You're Not Alone, what did you hope to accomplish by sharing your experience? I hope it made other moms feel less alone. As moms, we go through different scenarios that might make us feel lonely. Sharing my stories about postpartum depression struggles with breastfeeding, and more has helped moms feel seen and understand God is their help. Most importantly I wanted moms to know that God is their source of help. Hopefully, the book helps to create or deepen a relationship with Christ. 5. What led you to create the Dear Mommy Devotional Podcast? In the beginning stages of motherhood, it was hard for me to find time with God. I was so tired! Listening to sermons from Priscilla Shirer helped me fall back in love with God. I listened to her while I cooked or during other chores. Being able to feed my spirit man while I checked things off my to-do list was so rewarding. So, I wanted to create the same for other moms. Someone said when they read my books it's like I am sitting next to them having a good conversation. With the podcast, you can feel like a friend is riding with you or cooking a meal, while we laugh and learn more about the word. 6. How has being a woman of faith improved your relationships, specifically with your husband and children, as well as your overall life? Girl it is the reason I have a relationship with anybody ha ha. Like I stated in my first book I wanted to divorce my husband. It took all of the Holy Spirit to save our marriage as he matured us both. I had to learn to be a daily praying wife and mother. I had to learn that God loves my family more than me and with his guidance, I can be who they need. 7. What are the best & most challenging parts of being a SAHM? The best part of being a SAHM is living my dream. I always wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. I wanted to be able to make my home a priority and not secondary to a job. I wanted them to create a place my children felt loved, seen, and safe. The most challenging part of being a SAHM is finding time for myself. I have created a schedule that helps me get a break during the day however I have been trying to find a day I just don't do anything. Always being home I can easily pay attention to the task that needs to be done. So my brain is always on overload. I am working on better communicating my needs to my husband. We also work together to give each other child-free days. 8. What is your favorite book? Who is your favorite author? Currently, my favorite book is "8 great smarts" by Kathy Koch. Amazing book if you want to know the way your children might think and why. I've also always enjoyed books by Lisa Bevere. 9. What are your goals for 2024? Are you working on another book or any special projects? (Be as vague or open as you want with this question) I hope to not be working on another book ha ha. Writing is a process! I'm hoping to have a few events for moms including bible study picnic and hopefully a trip. 10. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? I would love to see myself running a successful mom group that helps moms and wives grow closer with God. I would love to see my books on shelves and offered at various Christian birthing centers. I said "I would love" and not "This is where I see myself" because I don't know where God would have me. Those are my desires but I have learned His way is better. 11. Please share any upcoming events you will be participating in or any special offerings. There are no upcoming events at the time however I have started a Proverbs 31 small group based on my second book. The small group is for 8 weeks and will relaunch in spring of 2024. We talk about the book but also dive into the word. It is a place to let your hair down and grow with other moms. You can sign up for the waitlist on my website rheamarie.com.
0 Comments
 Brrrrrrrrrrrr! Winter is fast approaching and this week I wanted to share a home remedy to keep you and your family healthy. If you frequent the internets and don't live under a rock, chances are you've heard of fire cider. It is a homemade herbal tonic for immune support. The "fire" comes from the hot peppers that are infused in the tonic. They have been shown to increase circulation, boost metabolism and support the immune system. Obviously, you can add a little or as much spice as you would like to you recipe. Raw (unpasteurized) apple cider will be the base of the tonic. It aids in digestion, fights infection and clears sinuses, among other things. The other ingredients in the tonic are up to you! Whatever medicinal plants that you enjoy can be added for flavor and provide health benefits such as anti-inflammatory affects, antioxidants, antibacterial and healing properties. Not only is fire cider a natural remedy that can be made in minutes, you can use it to keep your immune system strong and also use it to rebuild it should you come down with something instead of your typical over-the-counter drugs. Bonus: it's not just limited to cold and flu season-it's beneficial all year round! This is just one way I stay healthy, especially when I am on call for a birth. Basic Fire Cider Tonic Recipe: Prep Time: 20 minutes "Cook" Time: 4-6 weeks Ingredients:
Instructions: Clean and chop veggies as needed. Fill a clean jar with the prepared ingredients, aside from your sweetener and pour apple cider vinegar into the jar to fully submerge the ingredients. Seal the jar with plastic lid (metal will corrode) and let it sit at room temperature but away from the sun for anywhere from 4-6 weeks. During this time all of the ingredients will infuse into the apple cider vinegar along with all of their health benefits. After this time strain the vinegar through a fine mesh strainer into a large bowl. At this point, you can sweeten the fire cider to taste or leave it unsweetened. Transfer the final product to a glass bottle or jar for storage. Store fire cider in a cool dark place away from sunlight. Herbal vinegars like this should last for up to 1 year stored at room temperature. Notes: Dosage: Take a shot of fire cider or 1-2 tablespoons daily for a potent punch of immune system support and increase that dosage to 3 times a day to use it as a natural remedy to help fight off common cold symptoms. As always remember to please use caution, do your own research, and consult your medical professional before treating yourself or others. Alternative Ingredients: you may prefer maple syrup instead of honey; you can also add a variety of herbs such as sage, oregano lemon balm and lemon verbena. My next recipe will likely include cranberries, elderberries, pineapples and rosehips. I highly recommend making your tonic at the end of the summer so you can have it on hand when the weather starts getting cooler. If you intend on drinking a little each day, have a big family or plan to cook with it, be sure to make your tonic periodically so you don't run out. For Your Information This recipe is:
  The Honest Truth: This year was more than I anticipated. Lots of unexpected things, disappointments, adjustments and feelings about it all. BUT, as I reflect on who I am and what I have, I am very thankful for the good and the bad because I am truly blessed and God's hand is always upon me.
When I wrote this post a few months ago, I wasn't sure what was in store for me for the second half of 2023. This season has truly been one of going where God wants me to go and being content even when I don't understand everything. But I am happy to say that I have been led to some great opportunities and connected with some beautiful souls. I'm Most Thankful To Be Doing God's Work You may be aware that I offer companion and respite care services. At the beginning of the summer I became a Caregiver Respite Specialist for The Center of Volunteer Caregiving. I serve families all over Wake County and care for some of the most interesting and delightful elders. While this position does have it's challenges, I know that I am needed. Supporting the aging community has definitely given me a greater appreciation for life. In July, I began working at Anchor Perinatal Wellness as one of their on-site postpartum doulas. I care for the "Little Anchors" while their moms attend group therapy. I really love the fact that I've been able to get back into postpartum doula work with this position. I have meet some amazing new moms and helped them navigate motherhood while they improve their mental health. The staff at Anchor is also amazing and they truly care for their clients. Most recently, I have joined the Tree of Life Birth Collective. The collective is made up of Christian birth workers that serve various parts of North Carolina. I've been a doula for almost 9 years and I have longed to find a group of like-minded birth workers that I can share personal and professional successes with, fellowship and pray with, learn from and talk about our walks with Christ and the impact it has on our work. It's only been a few weeks, but I have already seen and felt the benefits of joining the collective. TOL has been such a blessing to me and I know it will only lead to more divine connections. I may not be where I thought I would be at this moment in time, but I am so thankful that God has me right where I need to be and he is developing me for even greater things that I can imagine. I can't wait to see what 2024 brings! Today, I took some time to write down a few more things that I am thankful for and I wanted to share them with you.
What are you thankful for?  Photo by Toni Dash It's Fall and that means warm, hearty, one-pot meals that are easy and flavorful. With Thanksgiving just a few days away, it's the perfect time to make soup so you can save your energy for cooking your Turkey Day meal. Today, I'm sharing one of my favorite soup recipes. Don't worry, I promise not to give you a bunch of filler before getting to the actual recipe. My Sweet Potato Soup is a quick and simple recipe that only contains a few ingredients with the option to add more if you want more flavor and/or nutrients. My soup recipe is actually based off of a soup I had years ago when a new mom shared it with me. She made a batch one day for the family and invited me to have a bowl for lunch and I fell in love! Check out the recipe below and let me know if you try it or share your favorite soup recipe in the comments. I'm always up for trying new recipes! Sweet Potato Soup Prep Time: 1 hour 40 minutes Cook Time: 20 minutes Ingredients: 4-6 sweet potatoes 1 can unsweetened coconut milk (or your milk of choice) 1/2 medium yellow onion 1 can of cannellini beans 3-4 cups of chicken stock or broth Bacon (bits for garnish, 2-3 tbsp of grease for flavor) Crushed red pepper flakes Salt Pepper Turmeric Cardamom Onion Powder Garlic Powder Instructions: Bake sweet potatoes for 45 minutes at 365 degrees. Wait for them to cool and then peel the skin. Cook bacon. Be sure to save some of the grease. Chop and sauté onions in some olive oil (or you can use some of the bacon grease). Combine sweet potatoes, onions, beans (drained) and milk in blender and blend until smooth and transfer to pot. You can also combine your ingredients in your soup pot and use an immersion blender. Use salt, pepper, turmeric, cardamom, crushed red pepper flakes, onion powder and garlic powder to season soup to your desired taste. Let soup simmer on low for 20-30 minutes. Serve with chopped bacon bits on top. Notes: Cooking sweet potatoes- if you prefer to roast your potatoes, cube them and put them on a sheet pan. Coat them with olive oil, salt and pepper. Cover the pan with foil and roast the potatoes for about 35 minutes or until soft. Substitutions- vegetable stock/broth in place of chicken stock/broth; If you are using whole milk, you can also add sour cream, whipped cream cheese or heavy cream for a creamier consistency Additional ingredients- roasted carrots for heartiness and nutrients; fresh garlic for more flavor (sauté with onions); garnish can also include croutons, your favorite herbs like thyme or parsley or crumbly cheese (feta or goat). Enjoy! For Your Information This recipe is:
 |
About the AuthorKelly Collins Archives
August 2026
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed