Who Are The Williamson's?

Our Family

Hey! 👋🏻 Thanks for checking out our blog! I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and my family. My name is Suzanne. I grew up in the south metro Atlanta area with my Mom, Dad, and 2 younger sisters; I love most things southern (Mason jars, front porch rocking chairs, family...). I have been married to my wonderful husband, Kevin, for a little more than 5 years. He is also a native Atlantan, and we apparently grew up near each other for many years but didn't meet until after college. We met as coworkers at Chick-fil-A, and have loved working together ever since! We have 2 wonderful children, Anabelle (2) & Jacob (6 months).

Who were we?

First of all, before I write anything else, I want to establish the lens to read this through. Kevin and I are both tremendously blessed with loving and supportive parents. In regards to food, my mom did the best she possibly could with the knowledge she had. She was always reading a new nutrition book or trying to help us eat "healthier" but I didn't understand the basics of food. Why should I choose some chicken and veggies over a bowl of Kraft Mac 'n Cheese? The pasta takes less work to make (in my mind) and it tastes better. And as long as the calories come out around the same, what's the difference? 🤷🏻‍♀️ 

As a wrestler in high school, Kevin learned a lot about diet and exercise. He knew how to eat a balanced meal for the most part, but didn't focus much on nutrition beyond the standard nutrition labels on the foods he was eating. Through college, Kevin learned quite a bit about nutrition and things to avoid, but he will tell you himself he didn't really practice what he was learning.

I, on the other hand, have always been a lover of all the yellow foods (fries, macaroni and cheese, pasta... all in excess rather than balanced portions. No wonder I gained so much weight during college! 🤣). My history with foods has always been a means to an end. I would eat what I liked until I didn't like the number on the scale, then I would "diet" to lose a few, but my mindset never changed. I was treating the symptom (scale numbers), but not the problem (my belief about food). 

The start of a change

My first wake-up moment was during my pregnancy with Ani. I was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes at 22 weeks, which unfortunately was not a huge surprise. My dad has battled Type 2 Diabetes since I was 10. I had seen what a struggle it can be, so my diagnosis was devastating. Kevin and I dove into research about how to control this disease with nutrition because I was adamant that I would not be on medication while carrying our daughter. We studied the basics of "nutritionism" (believing a food is the sum of its nutrient parts) and made sure to pair carbs with proteins. We made it through Ani's birth without medication, which was such a blessing! However, after she was born, I went back to eating everything the way I did before. No balance, lots of processed foods. 

When Ani started teething, I knew I didn't want to constantly be giving her medicine. A friend recommended that I start putting Lavender essential oil on the bottom of her feet at bedtime to help her rest well. I got a cheap brand to try, and it helped a little, however, I still gave her the medicine if she was SUPER miserable.

The turning point...

Around Ani's first birthday my dear friend Amanda asked me if I would host a class about Essential Oils. I said of course! My mom and I were the only ones who made it, but I was fascinated by everything she shared about essential oils and the company she was a distributor with, Young Living. She shared about their Seed to Seal promise, and how they own their own or partner with extensively vetted farms all over the world. I loved the information but didn't feel like I would be able to convince Kevin to invest in a Premium Starter Kit, so I didn't try. 

After Jacob was born, I made a choice. I put my stake in the ground and told Kevin that my birthday present from him was going to be the kit. If you've met my husband you know exactly what he looked like when he said "Ok" (he was a little relieved that he didn't have to think of a gift on his own 😆). As soon as it arrived we started applying Frankincense oil on Kevin's back and chest. He had developed some degree of a skin irritation/rash that had grown for almost a year. We hadn't done anything about it because it wasn't bothering him at all, it just looked terrible! Once we started putting Frankincense on it consistently the irritation was visibly reduced in 2 days, and GONE within 2 weeks!!! That was it. We were sold and had become firm believers in the gift of essential oils. 

As we learned more about oils and how to use them, we also started looking at our food choices. I listened to a Facebook video by Dr. Jim Bob Haggerton and he made a statement that resonated with what my mind had started to believe. He said that you can use essential oils religiously but if you continue eating terrible foods, your body won't know what to do with them! You may see some benefits, but you're sending your body mixed signals. In essence, wasting your money. 

Our "Why"

So, here we are! Kevin and I have spent the last 3 months trying to consistently make little changes in the choices we make when feeding ourselves and our family. We've watched several documentaries and docuseries learning about the effect foods (both real and manufactured) can have on your body and health for better or worse. We believe that food was made by our Creator to nourish our bodies and bring life, rather than disease and death. We choose life. 

We are charting a new course for our lives and our family. We want to raise our children with a better understanding and respect for their bodies and food. We've seen how REAL food can give you energy and fuel. My husband says: "Most people have a TON of energy when they're kids. They start out eating lots of fruits and vegetables, but as they become introduced to more and more processed foods their diet starts moving in the wrong direction. By the time they become adults, they drain so quickly. I don't want to be tired all the time, I want to have the energy of a kid!"

We plan to use this blog to share our journey with both essential oils and real foods, a lot of times pairing them together! We frequently have people ask us what changing our foods has looked like, and we plan to share just that. Our prayer is that we will encourage other families to take control of their health and lives by making more informed choices and realizing that real food can taste BETTER!

As with any story, there's always more. We are excited to share the next chapters with you as we continue on this journey. In the words of Dave Ramsey, we are "changing our family tree!"