Ten Months

Hudson,

Sweet boy, today is Easter Sunday. Today marks ten months since we said goodbye. Last Easter, I was twenty-two weeks pregnant with you and received this bunny rattle as a little sussie from your grandmother. I had hands all over me at church gushing over my baby bump. The picture your Daddy and I took that day was the first one where you were truly visible. It is one of the few pictures I have of our family of three.

If you were here with us today you would be in your seersucker best! We'd go to church together, then to the country club for brunch, taking way too many pictures with the Easter Bunny and in the petting zoo. We would start new family traditions together with a sunrise walk around the neighborhood, a bunny pancake breakfast, an egg hunt you couldn't do yet but we'd try and pretend, there'd be an Easter basket filled with your Children's Bible and candy really meant for your Daddy because you couldn't eat it yet. Instead, in our reality, there are Easter lilies in your memory on the altar at church this morning.

Though there is sadness, we choose to focus on the Easter message of new life and rebirth in Christ. As you were to grow up, we would teach you about the meaning of Easter. There is a saying that we are Easter people living in a Good Friday world. On Good Friday, Jesus was hung on the cross and hurt so badly that he died for us and went to Heaven. His earthly family and friends were so sad, just like Mommy and Daddy were when you left us. Jesus was taken down from the cross and buried in a tomb. On Easter Sunday, the tomb was empty, he had risen from the dead and resurrected to Heaven, giving those who believe in Him eternal life.

Sweet boy, we've experienced our own Good Friday in losing you. It has been dark and sad, we were angry and in deep pain. However, God's promise allows us to be hopeful Easter people. Hopeful of new life and that our sorrow will be resurrected. Today, we are Good Friday people, but we are also Easter people who are hopeful. We will celebrate new life and everlasting life with the promise that we will be reunited again someday in Heaven.

Sending you an Easter basket full of love and kisses today.

All my love, forever and always.

Mommy

Paleo Avocado "Caesar" Salad with Almond Crusted Chicken

Spring weather has come early in Texas so we've been enjoying some lighter fare around the dinner table. This dish is a delicious and nutritious fix for those looking for a fun new way to jazz up an entrée salad. It's light enough for a lady and hearty enough to qualify as dude food. One thing I loved was that it was both eggless and anchovy-less too. Some of you may be asking then how is it a Caesar dressing? Using a vegan and gluten-free dressing recipe base I found and adapted from Detoxinista, you can replicate the tastes well enough not to miss those ingredients.

This meal gives you a healthy dose of protein, fiber and omegas by using kale, brussels sprouts, avocado, and almonds (instead of breadcrumbs) for a little texture. Can it get much better than that? I don't think so. If you are not following a Paleo diet and would like to bulk it up even more, add some quinoa or pearled couscous.

This recipe yields two plentiful servings and will take you all of 30 minutes or less in 5 simple steps.

Ingredients:

• 2 chicken breasts ( I prefer to get cutlets, the filet cut of a chicken breast, so that fat is already removed and it cooks more evenly)
• 1/2 cup almonds
• 2 tsp. dried parsley
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. paprika
• 1 egg
• 1 bunch of kale, stems removed, chopped
• 20 brussel sprouts, shaved (I do this using my shredding disc attachment tool for big food processor to help save time)
• Grated Pecorino Romano cheese

For the dressing

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard (I prefer the Organicville brand, it's Paleo approved)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 small avocado, smashed
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar

To begin, pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees and prepare a baking dish lined in aluminum foil.

1.) In a small food processor, pulse the almonds until finely chopped. Next add in the parley, garlic powder and paprika. Pulse until well blended and set aside in a shallow dish.

2.) In a separate bowl, whisk the egg. If you are vegan or do not want to use dairy at all, brush coconut oil over either side to accomplish this next step. Dredge the chicken in the almond mixture, coating both sides. Place the chicken in the baking dish and bake for 20 minutes, or until cooked through.

3.) While the chicken is baking, make the dressing. Excluding the olive oil, place all ingredients in the small food processor. Blend until smooth and then slowly add the olive oil to emulsify. Set aside.

4.) Let's talk about kale for a hot minute. It's fibrous and can sometimes be a little too tough which often turns people away from an otherwise fantastic green. When making kale salads, you can soften the leaves by massaging them with dressing. Take about half a tablespoon of that reserved dressing and pour it over the chopped kale. Using your hands, begin to massage the greens - start big tossing all the leaves and then using the universal "money" hand motions, rub the individual leaves. How's that for descriptive? Do this for about 2 minutes, that's all it takes! Once the kale is massaged, add the shaved brussels sprouts and toss with a tablespoon more dressing to evenly coat.

5.) Once done, remove the chicken from the oven and let it cool slightly. Plate your greens, sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese, drizzle with a spoonful of additional dressing if like my husband and the more sauce the better is desired, then top with the chicken.

Hudder Putter Classic is Open for Registration!

I've been a little quiet on here lately and that's because I've been channeling most of my energy into the One Wing Foundation. Today, I'm excited to share that tournament registration for both the Hudder Putter Classic and the Olivia Aldredge Silent Auction & Benefit Concert is now available online! 

Click here for Tournament details and registration information. 

Click here for Auction Party details and ticket sales. 

Additionally, we have a number of sponsorship and underwriting opportunities available for both events! Please contact me at onewingfoundation at gmail dot com if you are interested in doing that on a personal or corporate level, or if you have an auction item or tournament prize you are interested in contributing as a donation.

We have our first fundraiser and awareness event coming up next week on March 9. The generous gentlemen, Cody and Ken, of the Bishop Art's Home on Bishop, Dwell on Davis, and Bishop Ranch are opening the doors of their stores to us. The One Wing Foundation will receive 15% of sales from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. that evening and we will provide you with wine and heavy appetizers compliments of Cretia's Eatery and Bake Shoppe. 

Please see below for invitation and click here to RSVP on our Facebook invitation page. We hope to see you there! If you are a parent of loss that would like to channel your grief in a way that is meaningful to you, we'd love to have you join us at the Gloria's in Bishop Arts following this event at 7:30 p.m. on March 9 for an informational meeting and support gathering. We will go over the various Leadership Council opportunities that are available for the One Wing Foundation, in addition to how to hold your own fundraiser in honor of your angel baby.