Mama of the Wild Crew Podcast

Wild and Free: Embracing Nature-Filled Motherhood with Rachel Olmstead

• Alexis Schmoker • Season 1 • Episode 11

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What happens when a childhood dream of motherhood is threatened by a medical diagnosis? How does healing our past shape the way we parent? And what does it mean to create a home where barefoot adventure and deep faith intertwine?

Rachel Olmstead's journey into motherhood began with an unexpected challenge - diagnosed with pre-cervical cancer at 17, doctors warned that having children might be difficult. Years later, she and her husband navigated a year of trying to conceive, a period that stretched her faith while drawing her closer to God in profound ways. Today, she's mother to three beautiful children, each with their own vibrant personality, living a lifestyle she describes as "barefoot and nature-filled."

This conversation explores how motherhood becomes transformative when approached with intention and grace. Rachel shares how coming from a broken home where she often felt unseen has shaped her commitment to creating space where her children feel heard and valued. She describes motherhood as a healing journey - not just for her children, but for her younger self.

Rachel's approach to balancing homeschooling, photography work, and family life centers on being "fully where your feet are" rather than seeking perfect equilibrium. She embraces "grace over guilt," acknowledging that sometimes the dishes wait because connection takes priority. Her relationship with God serves as the foundation for everything, reminding her that she's not just raising children but discipling hearts.

The most touching revelation? Each night, her children ask, "Mama, where are we going tomorrow?" - testament to the sense of adventure and wonder she's cultivated. Beyond muddy feet and creek explorations, Rachel hopes her children remember growing up where curiosity was welcomed, their voices mattered, and love remained the constant thread weaving through everyday chaos.

Join us for this heartfelt conversation about finding joy in the wild journey of motherhood and creating a home where faith and freedom flourish together.


Follow Rachel on FB, instagram and check out her photography!  

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XO, Alexis Schmoker

Mama of the Wild Crew



📸: A heartfelt thank you to Jordan Allen of Cr00ked Teeth Photography for capturing this stunning cover photo.

Speaker 1:

Welcome to Mama of the Wild Crew podcast, the podcast where we embrace the messy, wild, beautiful journey of motherhood together. I'm your host, alexa Schmoker, mama of two beautiful kiddos, wife, nurse and lover of Jesus. Motherhood is full of hard moments, unexpected chaos and those days where you just really don't have it all together. But in the midst of it all, there is so much joy. On this podcast, we're diving into the real, honest conversations about motherhood the challenges, the triumphs and everything in between. We'll hear the stories of incredible moms from all walks of life, share wisdom, laughter and let's be real probably a few tears, and we're going to discover how to embrace the joy in this chaos. So, whether you're rocking a baby to sleep, folding that never-ending pile of laundry or sneaking away for a quiet moment with your coffee, welcome, mama. You're not alone here. Hit, subscribe and join me on this wild adventure of motherhood. I can't wait to do this journey with you.

Speaker 1:

Hey, mamas, and welcome back to another episode of Mama of the Wild Crew podcast. The podcast where we celebrate the beauty, the chaos and the deep heart behind motherhood. Today's guest is someone who radiates warmth, intentionality and a deep love for her family. Rachel Olmsted is a free-spirited homesteading, homeschooling, nature-loving, hippie, mama of three, as well as a gifted photographer, who has captured many moments for my family during pregnancy and the newborn stages. Rachel is a woman whose journey is deeply rooted in faith and with a fierce love, from overcoming the odds to become a mother to raising her little ones in a home filled with adventure, nature and purpose. Rachel is the kind of soul you just want to sit down and have a cup of coffee with. So I am so excited to hear her story today and share it with you all. It's raw, it's inspiring and it's full of heart. Let's dive in. Welcome, rachel. I am so excited to have you. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, your husband and your little family?

Speaker 2:

Yes, thank you for having me. My husband and I met in college One evening. My friend wanted to go hang out with a guy on the baseball team. Now, the baseball boys were not my jam. I hung out with the Aggies most of the time, but this time I went with her. But this time I went with her and Preston had made his way in that room throughout the night and we talked for a while and then, after my friend and I went back to our rooms, I looked at her and I said I don't know who that boy was, but I will marry him one day. And here we are married, almost eight years. Wow.

Speaker 2:

So what started as a sweet friendship grew into something strong, steady and rooted in a lot of grace. We've been through a lot together, but each season has brought us closer, teaching us to lean into God and into each other. Life now is full, full of babies, messes, adventures and so much love. We homeschool our kids, spend as much time outside as we can and do our best to raise them with open hands, open hearts and a deep trusting God. Our oldest, lakin, is five. He is our sweet, gentle and thoughtful child. He has the kindest heart and brightest smile. He is the best of our athletic talents, squeezed into a little body with an unbreakable passion for baseball. Then there's our three-year-old Paisley. She keeps us on our toes, to say the least. She has a wild and free spirit. She's sassy, she is independent, she's silly, she loves hard, but that's the last thing she's going to show you. She is our least affectionate child and there's never a dull moment with her. And our youngest, wrigley, is pure sunshine, full of cuddles, curiosity and joy, unless I walk away.

Speaker 1:

All tears.

Speaker 2:

Each of them are wildly different, but all of them are a piece of God's goodness in our home. Our life isn't perfect, but it's beautiful. God's hand is all over our story and I'm just so grateful to live it with the people I love the most.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and you just have the most beautiful children, like truly, just so beautiful. I cannot get enough of them. Hey there, wild Crew Mamas, some super exciting news. If you're like me, these days any day is a hat day. Literally, probably every day is a hat day and we have two new hats for Mama of the Wild Crew podcast. I am so excited and huge shout out to my sister-in-law, brie, over at Schmokey Designs, for taking these ideas and bringing them to life. We have Mama of the Wild Crew podcast hat and we also have the cutest hat. It says Motherhood is my ministry and ain't that the truth, guys? Head on my ministry. And ain't that the truth? Guys, head on over to our instagram at mama of the wild crew, underscore podcast, dn me or comment on one of the posts and let us know that you want your hat today.

Speaker 1:

Growing up, our parents had a super special tradition. We kept this big stork in our garage and whenever someone, either in town or one of our friends, had a baby, we would all load up and go over to their house and put this stork in their yard to help them celebrate. It was one of my favorite childhood memories and my sister, addison Sewell, has carried on that tradition. She is the proud owner of Owasso Storks, offering personalized stork deliveries to families celebrating the arrival of a new baby. Stork deliveries to families celebrating the arrival of a new baby Whether it's a baby announcement, a baby shower or to celebrate the birth of a little one, owasso Storks is the perfect, thoughtful, sentimental gift. There are even options to celebrate proud big siblings and even those furry little family members. For a sweet, memorable gift, reach out to Owasso Storks. Check them out on Instagram. That's at Owasso Storks, at O-W-A-S-S-O-S-T-O-R-K-S, and you can find their contact info in the show notes. Guys, this is just the sweetest gift. I have personally been blessed by a stork from Owasso Storks. Before Owasso Storks was a thing and it was just the sweetest thing. So definitely reach out to Awaso Storks, okay, rachel.

Speaker 1:

So as moms, we tend to be our own worst critics. We can be absolutely crushing it and when little mom fail just has us questioning everything. So I had to tell you, you know we're we're like in the process of moving, so we are having to change schools for crew for next year, which I'm like so sad about because we love her preschool. But we've been going on like tours because we're on the wait list at different places. So this past week we went on a tour and we were I was like I had Wilder Jordan couldn't come because he had soccer because it was like later in the evening and I got in the elevator because we had to take the elevator because I had Wilder in his stroller and he was asleep and crew pressed the fire alarm in the elevator with the director and with one of like it was the director that is retiring and then the new director coming on and she thought she was pressing, pressing, I guess, the up button or down, but I don't know.

Speaker 1:

I wasn't like paying attention because I was like trying to get wilder on the thing and the button got stuck and all of like the church staff because it was at a church came out to like help fix it and anyway.

Speaker 2:

So we're on the wait list there and we'll see oh my goodness, oh my gosh, I would have just left. I'd be like, oh no, not for me.

Speaker 1:

Well, and to where? Like then we thought we were going to have to take the stairs because the elevator was literally it was not stopping, like it was just, and crew was like you could tell she was like about to cry Just because it was so loud and the doors had shut. So we're all in the elevator, like with this going off, and then, thankfully, the doors open and we like go out, but then there's all these people standing outside of the elevator because they all, like came over to help. So, anyway, it ended up being fine. But that was like my mom fail of the week, because I was not paying attention and she set off the alarm during our preschool tour.

Speaker 1:

Oh, my goodness Anyway what have you been doing?

Speaker 2:

Well, this one still haunts me a little bit. Lakin was probably about one, and we were out at a Mexican restaurant with some family. I was trying to multitask, feeding myself, feeding him, just doing the usual mom juggle when I spotted what I thought was a harmless little bell pepper in the pico de gallo. I put it in front of him without thinking and it was a jalapeno.

Speaker 1:

Oh, no, yes, with all your family. There too You're like okay.

Speaker 2:

Instantly he started screaming, then crying, then rubbing his little eyes with jalapeno hands and screaming even louder. I panicked.

Speaker 2:

I was like, oh my gosh. I frantically started wiping his face, giving him water, trying to fix it, while also filling the weight of the entire restaurant staring at me. Yeah, in that moment I felt like the worst mom on the planet because he was in so much pain. There was nothing we could do to fix it. But now it's just a story we laugh about because it's just so real. You can be doing your absolute best and still hand your baby a jalapeno.

Speaker 1:

Still hand your baby a jalapeno. Well, you know he experienced it now, but oh, I'm sorry.

Speaker 2:

And he does not like spicy food, so rooted from that oh my gosh, yeah.

Speaker 1:

Rooted from that oh my gosh, yeah. Oh, I'm sorry, that is kind of funny, though You're just trying to like. Let him venture out, yeah. Try new things, baby-led weaning, a little baby-led weaning with some jalapeno. It's fine he survived, but yeah, I'm sure your family doesn't let you look that down either. A dream that was actually tested fairly early on with the diagnosis. Can you walk us through that? What was that like emotionally, spiritually, to receive that news, and how have you seen God's hand move in your story since then?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, being a mom has always been one of the deepest desires of my heart. Even as a little girl I just dreamed of raising babies, building a home full of love and pouring myself into motherhood. So at 17, when I was diagnosed with pre-cervical cancer, I didn't have to go through any other radiation or chemo because they caught it early. But even after surgery they told me I may not be able to have kids or it would be difficult. At least it felt like that dream was suddenly on shaky ground, but even more a year into marriage, at 24, 25 years old, just wanting to be a mom. But first I want to acknowledge that our year of trying is so, so small compared to what other families go through with infertility and I don't want to dismiss the years and years some moms have to go through. But for me, emotionally it was terrifying. There was so much unknown.

Speaker 2:

I remember crying out to God with questions like why would you put this desire in my heart if I wasn't meant to be a mom? Spiritually I was stretched, but also drawn in closer. I had to surrender my dream in a way I never had before. I had to trust that, even if things didn't go how I imagined he was still good and his plans were still for me. Looking back now, I can see God's hand so clearly, the healing, the timing, the children he's given me it all feels like a miracle. That season taught me not to take any part of motherhood for granted, because I know what it's like to wonder if I'd ever get to experience it. God did. God didn't just restore my health, he restored my hope. And now every time I look at my babies, I see his faithfulness written all over them.

Speaker 1:

Oh yeah, that's so sweet. And we were kind of like with the year that's how we were too with Wilder and I just I didn't anticipate that, like we got pregnant with Cruz so quickly and easily and it was like no big deal, and then with Wilder we just were trying and trying and trying and kind of like you said, like that year I feel like bad talking about it sometimes, because it's so short?

Speaker 1:

It's short, yeah, yeah, but whenever you're in that it does not feel that way. Like it, I mean, and as a woman and maybe other people don't feel this way but like for me it's like was all that I was thinking about all the time, like just consuming me and like even whenever I was having conversations at work or with other people, like that is like the loop that was in my head yeah and it was.

Speaker 1:

It was hard.

Speaker 1:

So I definitely can relate to that, and there's other people out there that can, too, like, like you said, like you feel so stretched but so drawn in at the same time, and that's how I was too, like I felt like this was the hardest season of my life, but it was like one of the most beneficial spiritually, was like one of the most beneficial spiritually whenever I look back, um and kind of Chad had a sermon not too long ago and at the end of it he said like, but even if you don't, yes, yeah, and that is so good, that is good.

Speaker 1:

And it's like, even in those hard times, like just always keeping that in your mind, like this, these are the desires in my heart, this is what I'm wanting. But even if you don't like, you are still God and you are still good. And that can be so hard, I think, for us as humans sometimes, because, yeah, it's just bigger than us for sure. So, rachel, you have described and I've seen I mean, I see you guys just your home and your lifestyle is barefoot and nature-filled and free-spirited. How has this hippie way of living shaped your family culture and what are the values that you intentionally try to root in your kiddos.

Speaker 2:

My husband jokes all the time that I'm not the same girl he met in college. Yeah, now I'm his little hippie. I'm not the same girl he met in college. Yeah, now I'm his little hippie. And honestly, I thank God I'm not that same girl, because it took everything that we just talked about to get here. It has become the heartbeat of our home Just being grounded, nature filled, mindful, non-toxic lifestyle, clean ingredients and just living a beautiful, simple life.

Speaker 2:

Living this way helps us slow down and stay present. The outdoor becomes our classroom, our church pew, our playground. It's where our kids learn to see God's creation, to respect life and to find joy in the little things we value freedom, not just to roam barefoot but to be fully ourselves, deeply connected to each other and to God. This lifestyle has taught our family to value simplicity over stuff, presence over productivity and creativity over convenience. It helps us raise kids who are rooted not in the ways of the world but in wonder, faith and gratitude. Every leaf, puddle and muddy footprint is a chance to teach them that God is near and that there is beauty in living gently.

Speaker 1:

Wow, that is so beautiful and seriously like whenever I see you guys, like that is what I think and what I feel and it's so funny because whenever we were walking out of the church, you made a comment about us playing in the Creek, and whenever we were sitting like having our picnic we were on a picnic because someone was doing a showing at our house we just like had to get out, um, and walked over to our park and we've like had some issues there before with snakes, um, and so I like can be kind of fearful there, just because, like we had a very traumatic like event with crew and a snake there but she wanted to go like in the little creek and it was just like barely full and like I literally thought about you like in that moment. Like oh, I should like, we should like. Why am I being like fearful? Like you're right, like this is the beauty of like God's nature and we didn't. We had the best time.

Speaker 2:

It looked so fun. Yeah, I am more of a clear rock bedded water. The murky brown is a little scary for me too.

Speaker 1:

As it should be yeah, but that's so fun, and so you guys really do like take your school and go out into the outdoors. Yeah, because I see, like all of the different things that you put on social media and guys, if you're not following Rachel on social media after this, go follow her, because she has so many good things that she puts up there, that she does with her kiddos that are like easy. It's not that you have to buy all this different stuff and like, literally, you go into your backyard and pick up different things and you make a lesson out of it.

Speaker 1:

We've gone to the park, the river, the backyard, yeah, just nature, yeah, all the different things, and you even incorporate like math into it. That's so cool. I'm like I want to do that. You're inspiring, oh thanks, you seriously are. That's so fun. You said one of your biggest joys in motherhood is watching your kids live freely without a care in the world. As someone who didn't have the easiest childhood, how do you process these moments and how has motherhood helped you heal your younger self?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, Um, being a child of divorce early in my life, I didn't grow up feeling truly seen or heard or even loved. At times I felt used a lot and for a long time I didn't even realize how deeply that had shaped me.

Speaker 2:

So now, when I watch my kids share their thoughts freely and ask a million questions or express their big feelings without fear of being dismissed, it's healing in the most unexpected way. In those moments, I see a glimpse of what I longed for as a child someone to lean in, listen and say I hear you and you matter. And as I offer that to my children, god has also been so faithful to whisper the same truth to me. He's shown me that I was never invisible to him. He saw me even then, and he sees me now. Motherhood has given me the opportunity to give my children what I didn't always have, not out of bitterness, but out of hope. It's helped me heal the parts of my heart that still ache to be known, and through it all, god's been gently reminding me that he hears me too. Yeah, oh, that's sweet. Thank you, yeah, yeah, you're welcome oh well, I really like that.

Speaker 1:

I was thinking back to, like when you were talking about your husband. This is jumping back a little bit like not marrying the same, or this is the woman that he married. Yes, yes, like I feel like that can be so true in motherhood, so much Like I have so many friends that even I look at them and I'm like I never expected you to be this kind of mom. Like norm, majority of the time it's in a good way.

Speaker 1:

Like you're like. This girl that I grew up with and knew and I I loved in both seasons is like this awesome mom, like whether you're a crunchy mom or a granola mom or an outdoor mom or a fly by the seat of your pants mom, like whatever it is like. It's just so crazy how you do not know what kind of mom you're going to be.

Speaker 1:

Yeah for sure, and it changes you so much and it does. It changes you as a woman too, just like your outlook on everything yeah, I've learned that balance isn't a perfect 50 50.

Speaker 2:

it's learning to be fully where your feet are. Some days I feel like I've got a good rhythm and then other days I feel like I'm dropping all the balls. But the beauty is in learning to listen to the holy Spirit in the midst of the chaos and ask what needs my heart most right now and I feel most of the time it's my kids or my husband. Homeschooling, running my photography business and being present for my family isn't easy, but it's always worth it. I've had to let go of the pressure to do everything perfectly and instead focus on doing the right things purposefully.

Speaker 2:

That means grace over guilt. For me, that means sometimes the dishes wait because my kid needs connection. Sometimes editing has to be done late, late, late, late late at night, when all the kids are asleep because the day was full of teaching and making memories. My advice to the moms who feel pulled in every direction stop chasing balance and start chasing presence. You were never meant to carry it all alone. Ask God what he's calling you to today Not forever, just today and trust that he'll give you what you need to show up well in the roles he's placed you in Rest in the truth that being faithful is more important than being flawless.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, absolutely, Because I mean, the balance is just like non-existent. I think it's figuring out how to juggle like everything and then, like you said, just focusing on the things that need to be done and doing them well and purposefully. And I love the grace over guilt because I can be a guilt person, Like sometimes I can be fueled to make rash decisions out of guilt. I think, Um, and it's like I don't ever take that time, Like if I'm feeling guilty about something, or even I feel like I've said something wrong or like hurt someone's feelings, like I never like just take the time to like sit in it and think through it before, like trying to respond and fix it. Yeah, Like so quickly.

Speaker 1:

And Jordan is the opposite, Like he is so relaxed and go with the flow, so I feel like sometimes it's good to bounce that off of him. Or sometimes I'll like be thinking about something and like come at him with something real quick and he's like just hold up, like take a moment, and then let's talk about it a little bit later. But, yeah, and the house stuff that is another thing that gets me like getting the dishes done and everything. And it's like how do you juggle all that? Because, yeah, eventually you got to keep your house up too, but the connection with your children is like what it needs.

Speaker 1:

And sometimes I'll find myself like just trying to check all of these boxes off on, like the things that need to get done at the house and then I realized like well, I've just plopped my children down like to watch TV and I've been at work all day and I like haven't even talked to them and like sometimes you do have to stay up late and do that stuff just to have like that intentional time with your kids. So definitely I think that's great advice. You talked about how God became real to you in a personal way, not through religion, but through relationship. How has that relationship shaped you in the way you are as a mother, the way you love and the way you live each day?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, that's a great question. When I truly met God, not just as a figure in a book or a Sunday routine, but as a father, a friend and a constant presence, everything changed. It wasn't about religion anymore. It became about relationship, like you said, and that relationship began to touch every corner of my life. That relationship began to touch every corner of my life as a mother.

Speaker 2:

It means I don't have to show up perfect. I can show up surrendered, I can admit when I am weak and I can ask God to fill the gaps. It's his grace that covers my failures and his love that reminds me to parent my kids the way he parents me, with patience, compassion and truth. That relationship also gives me peace in the chaos and direction when I feel lost. It reminds me daily that I'm not just raising kids, I'm discipling hearts that are ultimately his kids, and I can't do that on my own strength, but with him I can walk in purpose, even on the messy days. It's personal now, and because it's personal it's powerful. It shapes the way I love, the way I lead and the way I live, because I know I'm not doing any of this alone.

Speaker 1:

Right, wow, and we truly are like making little disciples, which is a lot of responsibility. It really is. But whenever you do, look at it as a way of partnering with God and finding those people around you, which I know you do too, because we go to the same church, so we're both plugged in there too, and it takes that, at least for me and my family. It takes me plugging in somewhere and being able to grow myself spiritually to be able to pour into them and then also have people, other people, pour into them too, and First Church is first years is incredible with that, absolutely incredible.

Speaker 2:

They do such an amazing job.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I'm so grateful for them. So and you also said so every night, your kids ask like Mom, where are we going tomorrow? Which is such a beautiful example of just like the wonder that you've created in your home. What do you hope your kids remember the most about their childhood? With you?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, it melts my heart every time, every time, every night. It never fails. Mama, where are we going tomorrow? I love it because it means they see life as an adventure and, even more than that, they trust that I'll be there to walk it with them. That kind of wonder is so important to me. I hope what they remember most isn't just the places we went, but how it felt to grow up in a home where curiosity was welcomed, their voices mattered and love was consistent. I hope they remember muddy feet, long talks, belly laughs and bedtime prayers, and how we made ordinary days feel magical simply by being together. More than anything, I hope they remember that we pointed them to Jesus, not just in words, but in the way we loved them, forgave them, disciplined them and showed up day after day. I want them to grow up knowing that life is an adventure because God is good and that being deeply known and wildly loved is the safest place to be.

Speaker 1:

I love that. Rachel, thank you so much for being here and sharing your story with such honesty and grace, from the powerful testimony of healing and faith to the way you create wonder and freedom with your kids. Your voice is such a gift. I know that many mamas listening here today were reminded that joy can live inside chaos, that healing is possible and that motherhood truly is a holy calling, even on the messy days. I hope this conversation spoke to you. Mamas, be sure to follow Rachel on Instagram, facebook and check out her photography. I'll link all of her social media stuff in the show notes. The way she captures love is just so beautiful. It's just as beautiful as the way she lives it. As always. Mamas, thank you so much for opening up your hearts and your homes for these conversations. I'm praying for you. I love you and I can't wait to see you next time.

Speaker 1:

Mama, I'm so grateful that you took time out of your busy schedule today to listen to Mama of the Wild Crew podcast. I'm Alexa Schmoker and I hope you love this conversation and that it resonated with you. Thank you so much for opening up your circle and letting us in as we walk through this wild ride of motherhood together. Remember, in the chaos of motherhood, there is always joy to be found, so keep looking in those little moments that make it all worth it. Be sure to follow along on Instagram at mamaofthewildcrew underscore podcast. Please don't forget to like, subscribe and share our podcast. I'd love to hear from you, so comment, tag me, dm me, let me know what you think and let me know what you'd like to hear next. Mama, I am praying for you, I love you and I cannot wait to see you next time.

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Alexis Schmoker

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