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Protection Team News CHERISHING 2025 MEMORIES AND ENVISIONING A BETTER 2026
Kick Off Your 2026 With Intention Page 1 VOL 18, ISSUE 2
Goals and Vision Boards Power Change, Not Resolutions
I know that the end of the year and the beginning of a new one are incredibly busy times for everyone. Between holiday parties and family gatherings, time seems to fly by in a blur. That was certainly true for my family as well. We had an amazing, albeit hectic, close to 2025, capped off with a week in Key West where my entire family came together to celebrate both the end of the year and the start of 2026. We rented two side- by-side townhouses, and having my parents, my brother and his family, and our family, including our new grandbaby, all together under one roof was special. As our kids get older, start their own careers, and build families of their own,
coordinating time like this isn’t easy, so we know how fortunate we were. It was a wonderful week filled with memories we’ll cherish for a long time. The cherry on top was a chance meeting with a very good friend of mine who also happened to be visiting Key West from Connecticut with his family. We were able to spend a few hours together, and he even got to meet and hold Franklin. I felt incredibly blessed that circumstances played out how they did. This time of year, gyms are packed with people kicking off New Year’s resolutions. While I’ve never been a big fan of resolutions, I am a big
believer in goals and vision boards. For me, they’re effective tools for staying committed to long-term objectives, and they don’t require waiting until Jan. 1 to get started. While I do take time at the start of each year to plan, I’m constantly reviewing, updating, and refining goals throughout the year, and 2026 is no different. We have some big goals and exciting plans ahead for 2026, and I look forward to sharing more with you soon as my team and I finalize the details. No matter what your goals and aspirations are this year, I hope 2026 is successful and prosperous for each of you. As always, if we can be of assistance in any way, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Before I close out this first edition of 2026, I have to congratulate the Iowa Hawkeyes on a fantastic ReliaQuest Bowl victory in Tampa on New Year’s Eve. While I had to watch the game on TV from the Keys this year, it still turned into a great family moment, cheering
The Vermost Team Has the Best
Partners Page 2
Healing Through the Eyes of Awe Page 3
Referral Winner Page 4
Wacky February Holidays Page 5
Puzzle Time! Page 5
Hot Honey-Infused Feta Chicken Page 5
January Puzzle Winner and December Referrals! Page 6
them on together. Until next month,
–Darren
Exploring Key West with Noelle & Ainsley!
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vermost.com newsletter@vermost.com
FEEL THE LOVE IN THE AIR WITH THE VERMOST TEAM
MARY RIVERA ABRAMS How did you meet? I was
What’s one thing you appreciate most about them? Melanie supports me 100%, no matter how crazy my ideas are. What’s something they do that makes your life easier during busy work seasons? Melanie has always been supportive of the long hours I work and consistently ensured our children were well cared for during their younger years.
introduced to him in 2016 in Pennsylvania, a casual three- minute intro by my best friend. How long have you been
together? I moved to Florida in 2017, and he had some insurance questions, so he called me. We chatted on the phone off and on for the next seven years until he vacationed in Florida early in 2024, and we spent time together. What’s one thing you appreciate most about them? He makes me feel safe. What’s something they do that makes your life easier during busy work seasons? When needed, he can talk me off the “cliff” during tough workdays. CHRISTINE EARLE How did you meet? High school. How long have you been together? 41 Years. What’s one thing you My Husband Rodney
Darren & Melanie’s engagement photo
COLLEEN SPARKMAN How did you meet? We lived in the same neighborhood, so we walked home together after high school. How long have you been together? We have been together for 13 years and will have been married for eight years in April. What’s one thing you appreciate most about them? We’re always on the same page. Whether it be games, TV, books, or music, it’s best to have someone to always bounce ideas off of.
What’s something they do that makes your life easier during busy work seasons? He will take over my chores, if need be, no questions asked.
appreciate most about them? My husband will do anything to make me happy. What’s something they do that makes your life easier during busy work seasons? We have parking wars at our townhouse
RONNIE SPARKMAN How did you meet? We were walking home from school, and my As I Lay Dying band shirt sparked a conversation between us. How long have you been together? 13 years together but married eight! What’s one thing you appreciate most about them? Being able to relate and hold conversations. What’s something they do that makes your life easier during busy work seasons? She will always find a way to help take on any workload, be it chores, errands, or you name it. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 ... Ronnie and Colleen
This is our high school prom photo. We started dating a month prior. This was May 10, 1985.
home. There are not enough parking spaces for residents who have two vehicles (which is every couple nowadays). My husband will give up our numbered space and hopefully find a visitor space (sometimes four buildings away from ours) just so I have a place to park. I commute 1–2 hours home every night, so knowing I have good parking at home is wonderful. DARREN VERMOST How did you meet? Melanie and I met at a church retreat held in a convent. Yes, a convent. How long have you been together? We have been married for 26 years.
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1200 Belcher Rd. S., Suite 1 Largo, FL 33771-3315 Phone: (727) 748-2886
... CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2
REBEKAH MATTIOLI How did you meet? We met through Facebook in 2017. He had just moved to the U.S. from Venezuela, and he was adding people in Florida who shared his hobby of cosplay. He had been following my cosplay Instagram account even while he was living in Venezuela. How long have you been
In a world that races ahead at full speed, it’s easy to lose sight of wonder. We rush through our routines, scrolling, planning, and worrying, and rarely pause just to feel. But when we do stop long enough to notice the world’s quiet beauty, something remarkable happens: We experience awe. This emotion, which is part surprise, part reverence, can shift our perspective, soothe our nervous system, and reconnect us with something larger than ourselves. DISCOVER THE MAGIC OF FEELING AWE. When we are captivated with awe, time seems to slow. Our thoughts, usually centered on our own problems and plans, suddenly expand to encompass the broader picture, which helps dissolve stress and boosts emotional well-being. Research indicates that awe can reduce inflammation, lower heart rate, and even promote compassion. It’s as if our minds momentarily reboot and remind us that life is vast and full of meaning beyond our daily concerns. Standing beneath a star-filled sky or witnessing a child’s laughter can make us feel small, but not in a diminishing way. Instead, we sense our place in life. That feeling of belonging and connectedness nourishes emotional balance and strengthens our resilience. ENCOUNTER AWE IN EVERYDAY MOMENTS. You don’t need to climb a mountain or visit a famous landmark to experience awe. It’s waiting in the subtle corners of your day: the way sunlight dances on a wall, the sound of rain tapping on the roof, or how someone’s kindness catches you off guard. Try taking a few minutes each day to slow down and look around. Step outside, watch the clouds, or listen to a piece of music that stirs you. When you allow awe to find you, you begin to reconnect with presence, gratitude, and joy. Awe heals because it reminds us that we’re part of something larger and endlessly unfolding. In moments of difficulty, wonder offers perspective and hope. It grounds us, opens our hearts, and helps us see clearly beyond fear or fatigue. So, pause today. Let a moment of awe find you and allow it to do its quiet, powerful work. The Everyday Magic That Heals Us FINDING AWE IN THE ORDINARY
together? We started dating in 2022 and got married in 2024.
Luis & Rebekah
What’s one thing you appreciate most about them? He is so kindhearted and sees the best in everyone. I have a tendency to be a bit hotheaded, and he helps balance me out. He always knows how to comfort me. What’s something they do that makes your life easier during busy work seasons? He currently works from home, so he handles many household tasks because it’s convenient for him.
BRITTANY ROSSOW How did they meet? My dad was traveling abroad in Spain and was introduced to my mom by a friend. She spoke fluent English, which helped break the ice. How long have they been together? They don’t love sharing the exact number, but it’s long enough to build a lifetime of memories. My age plus 18 years says it all.
Brittany’s parents on their wedding day!
What’s one thing you appreciate most about them? What I appreciate most is the way my parents have remained devoted to each other through every season of life, the good, the hard, and everything in between. What’s something they do that makes your life easier during busy work seasons? My commute to and from work is over an hour, so knowing there’s always a hot meal waiting for me during busy seasons is such a blessing. It gives me the time I need to still get to the gym or run errands, and it reminds me how incredibly lucky I am to have them as parents.
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Toll free (800) 828-2226 Fax (727) 577-4991
vermost.com newsletter@vermost.com
BE A LIFESAVER We want to thank everyone who referred their friends, family, and coworkers to Vermost Insurance throughout 2025. When you refer someone to us, you receive rewards for each referral and are entered into 2025 REFERRAL WINNER! 2026 REFERRAL PROGRAM
monthly and annual drawings for additional, even bigger prizes. Your referrals mean a lot to us, and we want to reward you for helping us grow our Vermost Insurance family. The annual grand prize winner of our 2025 referral program was Richard Claybrooke. He received a $500 Amazon gift card plus a $250 donation to the charity of his choice. If you want a shot at the 2026 prize, keep sending referrals our way. Your referrals make us happy, and we hope our referral program makes you happy, too!
Richard Claybrooke was our 2025 referral winner of a $500 Amazon gift card plus a $250 donation to a charity of his choice.
Be Entered in MONTHLY Drawings for • A $50 GIFT CARD • PLUS ... ANNUAL Drawing for a
• EACH Referral • $5 Starbucks Gift Certificate • 3 FL Lottery Scratch-Off Tickets • A chance to win prizes! • $5 donation to our spotlight charity: Robert Irvine Foundation
$500 Amazon Gift Card plus a $250 donation to the charity of the winner’s choice
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1200 Belcher Rd. S. Suite 1 ● Largo, FL 33771-3315 ● Phone: (727) 748-2886 Largo, FL 33771-3315 Phone: (727) 748-2886 1200 Belcher Rd. S., Suite 1
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Wacky February Holidays
• February 1 – National Serpent Day • February 2 – National Tater Tot Day • February 3 – National Carrot Cake Day • February 4 – National Homemade Soup Day • February 6 – National Chopsticks Day • February 7 – National Fettuccine Alfredo Day • February 8 – National Kite Flying Day • February 9 – National Pizza Day • February 10 – National Cream Cheese Brownie Day • February 11 – National Peppermint Patty Day • February 13 – Galentine’s Day
• February 16 – National Do a Grouch a Favor Day • February 17 – National Random Acts of Kindness Day • February 19 – National Chocolate Mint Day • February 20 – National Comfy Day • February 21 – National Boiled Peanuts Day • February 22 – National Cook a Sweet Potato Day • February 23 – National Dog Biscuit Day • February 24 – National Tortilla Chip Day • February 25 – National Chocolate Covered Nut Day • February 26 – National Letter to an Elder Day
• February 27 – National Polar Bear Day • February 28 – National Tooth Fairy Day
• February 14 – National Ferris Wheel Day • February 15 – National Gumdrop Day
HOT HONEY-INFUSED FETA CHICKEN
WORD SEARCH
Ingredients
• 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts • 1 tsp salt • 1/2 tsp black pepper • 1 tbsp olive oil • 3 tbsp hot honey • 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 tbsp
crumbled feta cheese • 2 tsp fresh rosemary chopped (or thyme) • 1 tbsp lemon juice (optional)
Directions 1. Pat chicken dry and season both sides with salt and pepper. 2. In a skillet over medium-high heat, heat olive oil. 3. Sear chicken for 2–3 minutes on each side until golden. 4. In a small bowl, mix hot honey and minced garlic to create a glaze. 5. Place the seared chicken in a baking dish. Pour the hot honey mixture over top. 6. Sprinkle chicken with crumbled feta, then rosemary or thyme. 7. Bake at 400° F for 20–25 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 165° F. 8. Optional: Broil for 1–2 minutes for extra caramelization. 9. Let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with lemon juice and extra herbs before serving. Inspired by LadySavor.com
DREAM EQUALITY FESTIVAL GROUNDHOG
HEARTS KING LINCOLN MUFFIN
PANCAKE RABBIT ROSES
You can fax, email, or mail your completed puzzle for a chance to win our monthly prize!
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Toll free (800) 828-2226 Fax (727) 577-4991
vermost.com newsletter@vermost.com
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
1200 Belcher Road South, Suite 1 Largo, FL 33771 vermost.com (727) 748-2886
You Make Us Happy
We Insure More Than Just Cars and Homes Here’s a list of some of our lines of protection:
People who referred clients to us in December: • Frank & Carol Capuano • Caitlin Le/ GGV LLC • Michael Fisher/ Dreamscapes Irrigation
› Antique vehicles › Annuities › Auto › Boat/RV › Bonds › Builder’s risk › Commercial auto › Commercial property › Condo › Disability
› Flood › General liability › Home › ID theft › Life › Mobile home › Motorcycle/Jet Ski › Notary public
• Ron Meledandri • Richard Dunno • Dan Flynn/State Farm
January Puzzle Winner: This should have been you! December Referral Winner: James Allison
› Umbrella › Workers’
• James Allison • Gregory Taylor
compensation
... and more!
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1200 Belcher Rd. S., Suite 1
Largo, FL 33771-3315
Phone: (727) 748-2886
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