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MAY 2024
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Moms can be total superheroes. From giving warm comfort to providing advice on growing, mothers play a pivotal role in a family and help shape who we are. Thanks to Mother’s Day, we had the perfect opportunity to honor the strength, resilience, and love mothers bring into the world. I also wanted to acknowledge the unique journeys of motherhood we see here at Pacific Northwest Family Law. Sometimes, moms are co-parenting with an ex-spouse or learning the motions of being a single parent, but no matter what their paths are, moms deserve a big hand for inspiring us. I don’t know much about my biological mother because I was adopted as an infant, but I’ve always been incredibly grateful to her. I know it took a lot of courage to make that tough choice to give me the best opportunity for a happy and healthy life. Sometimes, a mother’s act of love is a difficult one that requires putting your children first, and that’s precisely how I see it. My adoptive parents gave me a truly wonderful childhood. They were great people who made the choice to adopt because they wanted more children but couldn’t have any biologically. At the firm, we have extensive experience with adoption cases, and it’s heartwarming to see children feel that sense of belonging with their new family. I feel so inspired by “adoptive mothers” who are really just mothers, period. They are the moms a child will grow with, learn with, and love for the rest of their lifetimes. These women may have faced challenges in having children and decided they want to bring love and guidance into the life of a young person who needs a parent. They may have worked for a long time to make an adoption happen. Thank you to all the moms who found their children through the adoption process. A Tribute to All Types of Moms
moms embody strength and unwavering love in the face of challenges. They often juggle work, house chores, and parenting duties while being available for hugs, fun, and emotional support. Divorce can be an arduous process to navigate as you are parenting, especially if you are still working out what co-parenting might look like. So, thank you to the single and co-parenting moms for putting your children first as they heal. There are also all the inspirational women around us who act as mother figures in life, like grandmothers, aunts, sisters, and friends. These strong females sometimes step in to guide us with the same maternal love and instinct as a parent. For some children, these mother figures may be all they have and are essential to a family structure. Thank you to the mother figures who help us grow, too! Every mother’s journey is different, but these incredible women leave indelible marks on our hearts. From the joys of adoption to resilience in the face of divorce, your strength inspires us every day. All of us at Pacific Northwest Family Law hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day. Thank you for providing nurturing guidance and unconditional love.
–Scott Ashby
We also work with mothers who are going through a divorce or are co-parenting with an ex-spouse. Single
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SPRING INTO WELLNESS
Spring is the season of renewal and rejuvenation, so there’s no better time to revitalize your health and wellness routine. New routines can boost your motivation and keep you engaged. From workouts to diet, it’s time to get out and take advantage of the sunshine! GET OUTSIDE Winter is fierce, unrelenting, and notorious for derailing outdoor fitness routines. It’s finally warm enough to exercise outside, so mix things up and get outside. Jump on a bike and ride through the wind. Slip on your jogging shoes and run through the neighborhood. Put on your swimsuit and head to the pool. Nature is full of challenging and fun activities, so take advantage of the warm weather before the next winter arrives. SPICE UP YOUR ROUTINE If you’re into yoga or weight training, try new exercises. A new routine ensures you won’t miss any muscles while keeping you engaged. When the treadmill becomes a dreadmill , do your cardio on an elliptical or
Refreshing Ways to Revitalize Your Health Routine
Memorial Day can be a holiday full of family barbecues, fireworks, and pool days. It’s an excellent opportunity for fun, but it’s important to remember the solemn reason for the celebration. Families nationwide can unite to honor the fallen heroes who have defended our freedoms. Here are some ways parents can celebrate this holiday while educating children about the true meaning of Memorial Day. ATTEND A MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY OR PARADE. This event can be exciting for kids; who doesn’t love a parade? It can also be a great way for parents to introduce their children to veterans of all ages. These vets honor the fallen as well as celebrate their own service. Families can join the community to commemorate the sacrifices made and assure veterans they are not forgotten. VISIT A MEMORIAL SITE AND DONATE FLOWERS. After such a celebration, kids will inevitably have questions. Don’t shy away from them. Head over to a local memorial site — bring flowers along, as kids will feel further connected to our fallen heroes as they pay their respects to them. Also, educate them on how service members’ families are notified of their loved
one’s passing. Deborah Skillman, the program director for the Defense Department’s casualty, mortuary, and military funeral honors, has provided the information you can share: The news is delivered to their spouse first, and then a different set of service members will attend to the grandparents (or in-laws). The spouse hears quickly, 12 hours after their loved one’s death at the most. A casualty assistance officer will walk the spouse through the next steps. DONATE TO BUILDING HOMES FOR HEROES. Other ways exist to honor this sacrifice alongside your children outside of attending events or memorials. Donating to Building Homes for Heroes, you help fund a home for an injured veteran. Many veterans are disabled and, as such, need specific modifications within their homes to live full lives. This organization provides such modified homes for disabled veterans. They live mortgage-free alongside their families. It’s a way to honor those still with us on Memorial Day. WRITE A LETTER. While kids may not want to settle down during the long weekend, there will be quiet moments at some point. In these moments, offer to write a letter to an
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As any gardener will tell you, gardening is hard but has an incredible payoff. Yet rewarding as it may be, much toil and sweat goes into every plant. Not everyone wants to spare the time. If you long for flourishing flora around your home but are leery of the time commitment, you’re in luck. Creating a vibrant flower display with little to no effort is easy. The end goal of this project is to fill an outdoor planter with flowers. To call this a “project” at all does a disservice to projects, which typically require some degree of work. This undertaking only requires a few minutes and zero maintenance. YOU’LL NEED A PLANTER, A HANGING BASKET FULL OF BLOOMING FLOWERS, AND A POT. Planters come in all shapes and sizes; square, wooden planters look especially nice. It can be any planter if it fits your chosen basket. The hanging flower basket should overflow with blooming flowers with a hanger in the middle you can remove. Lastly, the pot will be used to elevate the basket in the planter, and it won’t be seen, so use whichever vessel you have lying around. Just a simple clay pot will do. It should be about half the size of the planter. TURN THE POT UPSIDE DOWN AND PLACE IT IN THE PLANTER. If you’re using the right pot, you won’t be able to see it from the outside, and you’ll have enough space for the basket to sit on top without it being taller than the upper rim of the planter but not too low, either. LOWER THE HANGING FLOWER BASKET ONTO THE POT IN THE PLANTER. The flowers in the basket should fill the entire space, creating the illusion of a beautiful, stunning flower arrangement you grew and potted yourself. If you see gaps between the flowers and the planter rim, adjust the height of the pot underneath or find a smaller planter. TAKE THE HANGER OFF THE BASKET. The hanger is easy to remove on most baskets; you can usually just twist it off. A few aren’t removable, necessitating cutting tools to snip the three wires attached to the pot. CREATE A STUNNING FLOWER PLANTER — With Minimal Effort
active American soldier or veteran. A Million Thanks is an organization that sends written letters to those stationed overseas and veterans alike. All you have to do is write a letter, drop it off at A Million Thanks, or mail it to the National Mail Intake Facility of A Million Thanks, and they’ll take it from there. They have samples on their website if you’re unsure what to write and even ways to host a letter-writing event. Including a letter-writing activity at your family barbecue could be a great way to encourage everyone to honor active-duty soldiers on Memorial Day. CREATE PATRIOTIC CHALK ART. This low-stakes art project can provide an opportunity for education and connection. Setting out some chalk along the driveway and beginning to draw some red, white, and blue decor will encourage them to do the same. You can discuss the previously mentioned things while doodling away in the summer sun. Kids will casually listen and learn without feeling lectured to. They can digest the information at their own pace while they explore their creative side. Memorial Day allows families to come together in remembrance, gratitude, and support. Parents and children can offer meaningful gestures to honor our brave service members. stationary bike. Grab some free weights if you’re starting to find weight machines dull. There’s always an alternative to keep things interesting. FIND FRIENDS A workout buddy can keep you invested in your routine. They’ll keep you motivated and accountable — it’s much harder to skip a workout if someone’s relying on you. Even better, a partner can keep you safe if you’re weight training. Consider enrolling in a class if you have trouble finding someone to work out with. Not only can you learn new fitness tips and tricks, but you can also make friends. SPRINGIFY YOUR DIET Winter typically involves plenty of warm comfort meals, such as soups and hot chocolate, but spring is blooming with other options. It offers an array of refreshing and delightfully light dishes. Strawberries, pineapples, and avocados are best these months, along with many other delicious foods perfect for salads and smoothies. Shake up spring and keep to your regimen. There’s no better time to build healthy habits, especially in May’s warm weather. Take a jog with a friend, and afterward, enjoy a strawberry smoothie, and you’ll surely have an exceptional season.
Congratulations, you’ve done it! In less than 15 minutes, you’ve created a stunning display to enliven your outdoor space. Nothing is preventing you from doing it for inside arrangements, either.
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1359 Columbia Park Trail Richland, WA 99352 564.212.2733 pnwfamilylaw.com
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1 | Celebrating All Mother Figures
2 | Rejuvenate Your Routine With 4 Spring Wellness Changes
Beyond Barbecues: Marking Memorial Day
3 | Beautiful, Low-
Maintenance Outdoor Flower Arrangements
4 | 5 Heartfelt Ways to
Commemorate National Pet Month
5 Fun and Meaningful Ideas to Celebrate National Pet Month
Pets make a meaningful difference in our lives, whether cats, dogs, birds, or reptiles. These animals enrich every moment with unconditional companionship. National Pet Month is dedicated to the pets we love and reminds us to appreciate all they do for us. Here are a few ways to celebrate the holiday, including showing them off and supporting shelters. BRING YOUR PET TO WORK. Dogs live for their owners. While most can survive your absence during the day, they still miss you. Alleviate their anxiety and take them to work! They may be an office distraction, but they’re good for morale. Everyone’s day gets a little bit better when they see a cute pet, which will be reflected in the quality of their work. SUPPORT A CHARITY. Not every animal has a home, but animal welfare organizations work tirelessly to ensure every creature has
a chance. Donations allow them to purchase essential supplies like food, medicine, and more. They may be looking for extra hands if you have the time to volunteer.
national park, host a puppy play date, or give them a special treat.
TAKE A PET PORTRAIT. Many professional artists accept
commissions for pet portraits. Simply provide them with some photos, and they’ll paint a classy painting expressing your pet’s personality. Every artist has their own style, so pick someone whose work resonates with you. ADOPT A NEW PET. If you have the room, consider adding a new family member. Many animals need a home; they’d love to move in if you can provide one. Shelters are loaded with worthy candidates who would be ecstatic to become your perfect companion. This National Pet Month, give a dog a belly rub and a guinea pig a head pat. Our beloved animals enrich our lives in an endless number of ways. Celebrate them not just in May but every day after.
GIVE THEM A SPECIAL DAY. Most days, our pets wake up, eat
breakfast, run around a little, and then go back to sleep. Instead of the usual routine, celebrate National Pet Month and give them a day to remember. Take them on an exhilarating adventure through a local
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