Rochelle Frazier was born and raised in Magnolia, Mississippi, and graduated from Mississippi State University with a BA Degree in Communication in 1996. "Desperation birthed inspiration" that led to her children's series the "Sweeteas" that now includes three titles; "It's A Southern Tradition," "Secret of the Pearls," and "God's Promises to His Sweeteas." In Fall 2011, she shares her personal journey of inspiration and transformation in "He Gave Me Pearls." She currently resides in Mississippi with her three children Holland Rose, Houston and Jackson where she continues to write and speak of the stories that pour from her heart. She has just launched the Sweetea Club with the mission to inspire creativity, promote the search for passion (God's Gifts), instill faith, hope and charity, and to bring back the essence of a true Southern Girl: charm, character and charisma.

The Sweeteas
By
Rochelle Frazier

I will share with you my story, because while the “Sweeteas” seems to be touching the heartstrings of most any Southern woman who reads it, there is a lesson in faith here that is far greater than the “Sweeteas.” My life is a testament that sometimes our lives NEED to fall apart so that we need Him(God) so desperately that we actually find Him! It began with a cycle of life changes starting with Katrina devastating our community followed by a very complicated pregnancy then led me to early bed rest and a move closer to my family to help with my daughter while my husband tried to salvage his business back home on the coast.

 I was often worried about having twins, and how I would possibly provide financially and physically for three children when it was already so difficult for me with my job and my one precious daughter. How would I be the mother that my children or any child deserves?? So, I started praying for inspiration to change my life.  It was almost immediate that I started dreaming of these adorable cast of characters who were on a mission to touch the world with a little Southern Grace. At first I didn’t see it as inspiration, but my crazy mind in motion, as always.

I started getting very sick before the birth of my twin boys and the doctor thought I had bronchitis.  It turned out that I had pregnancy induced congestive heart failure. It’s called a peripardum cardiomyopathy, and it occurs in about 4% of pregnancies. By the time they realized this, my heart function was at 20% which was pretty close to requiring a heart transplant. My cardiologist and internist were both positive that I would survive, but neither knew how I would respond to therapy and both doubted I would return to my current job which had been the livelihood of our family. So I found myself at a place needing inspiration more than ever before. I will admit that there were many rough days and I was on a roller coaster with my emotions, but I was mostly afraid that my children would grow up without their mom. A dear friend who battled cancer told me to say continuously that “I will not die but live and spread your Word," and I kept these words close and I truly believe they transformed me. I kept scriptures posted to my walls  and books of inspiration at my hip trying to keep my spirit up, because I had a family who needed me desperately.

As if this wasn’t enough, I ended up going through yet another life change that called on my spirit more than ever. My husband and I of almost ten years ended our marriage less than a month after my mom was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer.  It was truly a season of suffering, but not only did I survive, God put so many people in my life to help me change my life for the life I wanted and deserved. A life that today is so full of blessings.

With the help of my library of motivational books and several very influential Christian mentors, we continued to pray for inspiration and the Sweeteas began to come alive. I began writing and drawing both to my surprise. People were put in my life almost magically to help me with water coloring, publishing, printing and everything involved to get the Sweeteas to press. It’s a book in itself. My health did return and I was able to keep my job to provide for my family while I continued developing the Sweeteas. It was yet another miracle that our company was purchased by another pharmaceutical company, and I had just enough vested options to self publish my book. So I was able to write, draw and self publish the Sweeteas just as I was inspired. I had great faith it would do well, but no idea how much it would touch people. On October 16th, 2009, I also released, “The Secret of the Pearls,” my second book in the series. Last year much like 2006 was a very trying year for me and my family, but again through such suffering came yet another adorable book that I get to share with you today.  I believe in lessons and that sometimes we keep getting them until we fully learn what we need to move forward. I am happy to say that I am finally on a Rock….and I pray that this is where I live always!! I hope you will join me here….together we can surely touch the world with a lil’ Southern Grace!!!!! Please check out my blog (A Spoonfull of Sugar  )to follow my journey. I hope it will inspire you, as so many have inspired me. Beth Moore wrote that sometimes you are more useful healed than you ever were well….I love that:)

We released God's Promises to His lil' Sweeteas  2010, and it is my personal favorite. This will take me on a new journey, but one I am very eager to begin. I was truly transformed in 2006 with the words "I shall not die, but live and spread your word." I pray that the Sweeteas will begin touching people in a way that they become so full they overflow the Love of God and His Word on to others.

Blessings to Y’all,
Rochelle