Menus, Becoming a Doula, and Remembering

I feel empowered,  I feel amazing,  I feel like I made the best and biggest step towards this amazing journey I am about to embark on.  My first class in my doula program was perfect!  I went into this not knowing what to expect.... and within 5 minutes of being in the class I knew I was in the right place.  I was following my heart!  I have some big dreams with becoming a doula.  I eventually want to see my dream become an organization that would provide prenatal, labor, and postpartum support to mamas who are low-income, poverty stricken,  non-English speaking,  incarcerated, or single mamas who don't have much support.  My motto.....Everyone deserves a doula!

I have had many people ask me what a doula is.  So for those of you who don't know, here is a definition according to the DONA website....."A doula is a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth."  Many studies have shown that when doulas are present in birth, labors have fewer complications, babies are healthier and will breastfed easier.  Helping mamas with pregnancy and birth seems to come natural to me and I am beyond ecstatic to follow my heart with this natural dream.



As we speak of dreams, today especially, but also every single day we need to remember one of our peacemakers, Martin Luther King Jr. and his dream.  As we remember, we need to realize why it is important we bring even more peace to this world.  It is important that we can reach out to our fellow humans no matter what color, sex, religion, race, sexual orientation or economic status.  I know there is a lot to be done in this world to achieve peace, which is why I practice compassion.  In order for us to make big strides, we must start small.  If everyone did little things to practice compassion...our world will slowly become a more peaceful place.  We can do it!

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."  -Martin Luther King, Jr.  

On to our menu of the week.  I am wanting to learn how to cook more global and international foods, so this week I am trying out a couple African recipes.  I am going to dedicate a whole blog post to these recipes with pictures and my experience.  Stay tuned!

MENU:

MONDAY:  Dinner out with my family.  Salvador Molly's!  YUM!

TUESDAY:  Skillet Tuna Noodle Casserole

WEDNESDAY:  Mtuzi wa Samaki (white fish in coconut curry, from Kenya.) with Yemarina Yewotet Dabo (Ethiopian honey bread). 

THURSDAY:  Veggie Fajitas

FRIDAY:  Homemade Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese

SATURDAY-  Spinach and Lemon Soup with Orzo

SUNDAY-  Leftovers and a big veggie salad

For more meal planning inspirations, visit I'm an Organizing Junkie every Monday.

Happy cooking and peacemaking,

Alyson

"Let us turn our thoughts today to Martin Luther King
and recognize that there are ties between us, all men and women living on the Earth.
Ties of hope and love, sister and brotherhood, that we are bound together
in our desire to see the world become a place in which our children can grow free and strong."
-James Taylor- 'Shed a Little Light'