I do love fall y’all but I’m not ready to say goodbye to summer just yet. Too bad we can’t hold on to the people & moments we love a bit longer. As I write this letter, I’m reminded of our good friend who lost his father unexpectedly this week. I’m also reflecting on how my sweet grandmother will celebrate her 100th birthday next month. These life events make me grateful for the time we have but they also make me ask myself, “What steps am I taking to stay healthy & how am I teaching my kids healthy habits?” Not that I’m aspiring to live to be 100 years old, but I hope to be a grandparent one day & soak up more memories with my loved ones.
This marks our 5th year of bringing you this special edition featuring our Healthy Families Guide sponsored by MANA Medical Associates. MANA, Medical Associates of Northwest Arkansas, is a group of local independent physicians working together to provide exceptional care for the people of NWA. Their clinics encompass women’s health, pediatrics, chiropractic care, family medicine, urgent care, psychiatry, sports medicine & more. By sponsoring this issue, they’re ensuring we have the best resource in our hands for quality health care. Thank you, MANA, for 5 years of good health!
Our special thanks also go to Dr. Virginia McCord of the Northwest Arkansas Pediatric Clinic, a MANA Clinic! She shared her home, her family & her healthy eating tips (page 7) with us for this issue. Her adorable children, Kate & Reed, were a delight to photograph for the cover & not only could name nearly every vegetable pictured, but also had eaten them! Some of which they were quick to share as their favorites. Clearly, these kids have learned from their parents how to eat healthy.
What we love most about Dr. McCord’s tips is that they are practical. Any of us can use them. Don’t like eating vegetables yourself? Purée them & add them to the foods she suggests. As the saying goes, “don’t knock it until you’ve tried it”. Or as my friend says, “don’t yuck my yum!” Maybe you can’t bear the thought of eating vegetables every day. Try drinking water instead of soft drinks. Today I jumped on the trampoline holding our nearly 30 pound son. My legs only lasted about 10 minutes but he made exercise fun with his giggles & “whoas”! Making one healthy change can make a big difference in the way we look & feel.
Kid’s Directory of NWA will celebrate 13 years in business next month! It’s a joy working with our phenomenal team & providing the highest quality family resource for NWA. And Cat Hoyle, our Creative Director, has been making our magazine beautiful for nearly all those years! Her creative talents blow me away. She’s also one of the most generous & kind people I know. I count her as a huge blessing in my life. Thank you, Cat, for your friendship & for being the easiest person on the planet to work with!
Wishing you healthy, fun memories with your family!
