Today we’d like to introduce you to Diora Smith.
Hi Diora, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Wow, what a broad question so I was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, born to my wonderful parents Sandra and Michael Merrill who are still married to this day. I have one big brother Sherard Graham who is such an inspiration to me. I had the privilege of attending multiple schools one being Christian, then Public and then Scotland school for veterans children a boarding school. No I wasn’t a bad child. It just afforded me much more opportunities than to be schooled in the city. I attended Millersville University graduated in 2013 with a bachelors degree in speech communications with a concentration in public relations.. let’s fast forward. I met my husband in 2012. We were married August 18, 2018 in Philly and moved to Georgia six months later. The New Wife was birthed in 2020 but the discovery of it started in 2018. Being a New Wife and having to navigate through what you’ve seen in marriage, your whole life, which was a great example too now figuring out if that works for your marriage. I thought I had it all planned out but God the Father had a totally different plan. If I had to pinpoint how I’ve gone from where I was to where I am right now it would be firmly because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. Then it would be on truly getting to learn myself and look in the mirror and deal with the parts of me that I’m not so excited about. Spending more time with Christ, helped me to get to learn myself better . which then made me better for my husband my bonus, son, Aaron and Judah my family and all those that I come in contact with as a whole.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I literally just laughed. Whew hunny it has definitely not been a smooth road but when I look back at all that I have come through, I can see God’s hand of grace throughout my entire life. Let’s start from when we got engaged. We set the date for six months later. Within that timeframe, my husband’s grandfather passed away and My husband lost his job. We pushed through. and each time we were unsure if we were gonna be able to make it happen God made a way whether it was someone giving us the deposit for our reception or when my mom and I went shopping. Literally everything we needed being on sale to the store giving us extra for free of what we were buying. We planned on just going on a honeymoon later, but we were surprised and given a weekend, honeymoon to parts of the city we had never gone to in the most amazing hotel The AKA! OK now let’s fast-forward six months later we moved to Georgia with my sister the movers lose a chair that has been in my family over 50 years. We begin our entrepreneurship journey with helping my sister get her Food Truck up and running two months after we moved our car was totaled. We had great success with the Food Truck then 2020 came shut the whole world down. Let’s not forget the miscarriage my husband and I had the first year we were married. My bonus son Aaron was now living with us full-time so navigating the world being a parent shut down, no income all I can say is what a time to be alive! The world opens back up, so does the Food Truck things seem to be going pretty well then the Food Truck closed indefinitely, which was both of our incomes. So a few months later, we both started jobs which we both were really enjoying then we found out we were pregnant and high risk so I had to leave my job Leaving my husband as the soul bread winner of our home. So imagine navigating through mentally and spiritually every time you go to the doctor, they are telling you if you make it to week 36 they are basically trying to prepare me to lose my child. This is another time in my life where my faith in God had no choice but to increase. Through seven fibroids Covid short cervix, multiple emergency visits. Our son Judah was born January 18, 2023. There are so many other things that I could share, but I want to highlight more than the struggles the hand of God providing through people through friends, family, and how he always made a way for us to be OK these early years in our marriage really developed our appreciation for one another And solidified even more our faith and trust in God.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a full time mom, wife and minister. If I had to pinpoint something that I specialize in, I would say, encouraging women. Having extremely transparent conversations with them and whatever state they’re in whether a wife, a mom single, or going through transitions in life. God has graced me with my word and it allows me to meet people where they are. I love public speaking and counseling couples and also intimate settings where I get to poor into women. I am most proud of my growth and development in my own personal life and in my relationship with Christ. I’m proud of my husband he amazes me I love being on the front row of his growth in Christ and life as well. I’m proud of my children; Aaron is so resilient and kind. Judah is so full of life. I am proud of my family. I am known for my food just a highlight a few my grits, Thai chili, shrimp, shrimp scampi, and lamb. If I’m honest, I’ve always felt different than everyone. I have to say that God has made me different. If I had to add more, I would say the way that the Holy Spirit allows me to think and move throughout life is what sets me apart from others.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I am very excited to work with others, whether that’s collaborating on helping to develop wives to fully understand their authority their power and balancing being a wife Mom and still fulfilling the call that God is placed on their life. They can support me by inviting me to their events to be a speaker or on their panels. Even digitally we can do lives together I truly believe in pouring into women so that they are fulfilling their calling, but well rounded and prepared in every area as well. Conferences, events, programs and more. Call me or email me hunny
Pricing:
- Marriage Counseling $50 Per Hour
- Speaking Engagements Starting at $300 plus Travel
- One on One Sessions $25 Per Hour
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_new_wife_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BvEsanydk/
- Email: thenewwifeceo@gmail.com
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@TheNewWife
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.new.wife
