A Reflection on Motherhood TAKING TIME TO FUEL YOUR VILLAGE
Growing up, I always knew I wanted to be involved with kids who needed me, whether it was working with them or starting a big family of my own. Little did
these days while I still have them. Motherhood is hard work, but even today I can tell how much I’ll miss these days when the kids are all grown up and moved away. Of course,
I know what that would look like in the real world. The road of motherhood, with its ups and downs, has been one I’ve traveled with passion. Today, it’s hard to imagine living any other way, even though I didn’t exactly have the ideal nuclear family in my youth. The idea of a big family was always an unrealized desire for me, something I idolized as a child of divorce who experienced the splitting of my family at a young age. As I aged, I always wanted a secure family unit for myself. Now, I’m happy to say I have just that, with more than a little help from my loved ones along the way.
these perils are one of the curses of motherhood, a nagging worry that someday your babies won’t be babies anymore, and all this despite my oldest child being only a few years old.
Despite the years you spend watching your children grow, it is just as important for
you to take time for the other relationships in your life as well. While the majority of my time is split between the kids and my part-time work at the children’s hospital, Toph and I make sure to save time for each other. A marriage is a bond that’s meant to last, and for good reason. You saw that light in each other when you first got together, and that light never really fades, as long as you take time to nurture it, no matter how busy you are picking up Legos and stuffed animals. I make sure we never take our time together for granted. It takes a village to raise a family (the old adage proves true), so make sure you’re paying special attention to your village. Your family will thank you later.
Family cannot be easily defined; it takes many forms. All of those forms, however, include the idea of a place we can call home with each other. That’s what Toph and I have worked so hard to give to our family. All the sleepless nights and runs to the store to get more diapers and formula can be hard to get used to, but, for me, it’s always been a matter of appreciating
–Ashley Sheldon
SHRIMP SAUSAGE SKEWERS
TAKE A BREAK
Inspired by PaleoLeap.com
Ingredients
Creole Seasoning Ingredients • 2 tablespoons paprika •
•
1/2 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined 1/2 pound cooked sausage, cut into 1-inch pieces 2 zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch cubes 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil Wooden skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes
•
1/2 tablespoon garlic powder 1/2 tablespoon onion powder
• • • •
• • •
1/2 tablespoon cayenne or chili powder
1/4 tablespoon dried oregano 1/4 tablespoon dried thyme
Directions
1.
Heat your grill to medium-high.
4.
Add creole seasoning and mix well until all ingredients are covered. Load up skewers with alternating pieces of shrimp, sausage, and zucchini until they’re full. Grill skewers until shrimp are well- cooked (6–8 minutes).
2.
In a bowl, combine all ingredients for creole seasoning. In a large bowl, combine the shrimp, zucchini pieces, and sausage pieces, and cover themwith the olive oil.
5.
3.
Solution on page 4
6.
• 3 WWW.TOPHCPA.COM
Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker