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NOV/DEC 2025
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Holiday Wisdom for Everyday Life THE SECRET LIFE LESSONS HIDING IN YOUR HOLIDAY FAVORITES
As the holiday season comes to life, I cannot help but think about the lessons hidden inside our favorite Christmas movies. These films may bring laughs, nostalgia, and plenty of hot cocoa moments, but they also hold reminders that feel especially relevant as we wrap up one year and step into the next. Three stand out to me every December: “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Home Alone,” and “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town.” “It’s a Wonderful Life” has always been the gold standard for gratitude. George Bailey spends so much of the movie frustrated by what he thinks he has not accomplished with his dreams set aside, ambitions delayed, and opportunities missed. But when he finally sees how his life has touched the people around him, he realizes just how full and meaningful it truly is. It is a powerful reminder for all of us. How often do we measure our lives by what we think we lack instead of the blessings right in front of us? This story reminds us to take a breath, look around, and appreciate the friends, family, and communities that shape our lives in ways we might take for granted. Gratitude changes everything; it turns ordinary days into something extraordinary.
there is a message about family that shines through. It is easy to get swept up in the frenzy of December, be it decorating, shopping, planning, traveling, and forget that the real magic lies in the people we love. Kevin McCallister’s unexpected solo adventure reminds us how quickly we notice the absence of those closest to us and how precious our time together really is. It is a nudge to slow down, put down the to-do list, and cherish the laughter, meals, and even the messy moments that make family what it is. “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” surprises me every time with its message about change. The Winter Warlock begins as a terrifying villain, but through kindness and friendship, he learns that transformation is possible for anyone. The song “Put One Foot in Front of the Other” says it perfectly:
“Put one foot in front of the other And soon you’ll be walking ‘cross the floor You put one foot in front of the other And soon you’ll be walking out the door.” That is such a hopeful reminder, especially as a new year approaches. Whether you are chasing personal goals, mending relationships, or trying something completely new, big changes begin with small, steady steps forward. Taken together, these movies offer a holiday guidebook of sorts: Be grateful for the life you have, hold your loved ones close, and do not be afraid to start fresh if you need to. As we head into a new year, that feels like the perfect recipe for joy, peace, and maybe even a little adventure. – Brian Eagle
“If you want to change your direction If your time of life is at hand Well, don’t be the rule; Be the exception A good way to start is to stand “If I want to change the reflection I see in the mirror each morn … You mean that it’s just my election? To vote for a chance to be reborn?
Then “Home Alone” mixes holiday chaos with heart. Between the wild traps and belly laughs,
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WHISKING UP NEW TRADITIONS THIS THANKSGIVING Fill Your Holiday With Gratitude and Games
The holidays are a magical time that brings together loved ones and a little chaos. Between the pie-making and travel plans, it can be easy to forget what we are gathering to celebrate. This Thanksgiving, let us not just carve the turkey, but also carve out some time for mindful traditions the whole family can enjoy. From sharing what you are thankful for to hosting a family Thanksgiving talent show, this year is the perfect chance to create new traditions that deepen connections and spark laughter. Get ready to gobble up the fun together. GATHER FOR GRATITUDE Thanksgiving is all about honoring what we are grateful for in life, and it can be a fun activity for you and your children to share. You can gamify gratitude in several ways, like creating a thankfulness jar where everybody adds slips of
paper describing what they most appreciate. You can take turns reading them after dinner and even make a guessing game out of who wrote what. It could be as simple as gathering around the table for breakfast and everyone saying one thing they are grateful for. TURKEY DAY TRIVIA There is no better way to digest after the big Thanksgiving feast than having fun. Pick out some of your favorite board games or a deck of cards for a post-meal game night. You could test everyone’s knowledge with a holiday-themed trivia competition or create a scavenger hunt around the house. No matter the game, ensure everyone from grandparents to kids can join in. Keep it focused on connection, not just winning. If you want to go all out, challenge all your guests to be ready with their best skills for a family talent show.
A SOUNDTRACK TO THE STUFFING Create a perfect soundtrack you can play while everyone helps with the cooking or winds down after dessert. Before the big day, ask everyone in the family to add one or two songs to a Thanksgiving playlist. Prompt them to pick tunes that remind them of the season, happy memories, the joys of being together, or even their favorite dishes. You can keep adding to this list in subsequent years, turning the songs into a playable family history.
SECURE YOUR LEGACY WITH A SIMPLE REVIEW End the Year Strong
As the year winds down and the holiday season approaches, now is the perfect time to review your estate plan and ensure your beneficiary designations are up to date. Even a carefully crafted plan can fall short if your accounts do not reflect your current intentions. All it takes is a few moments now to prevent confusion, legal complications, and stress for your loved ones later. A Beneficiary Designation Checkup is a detailed review of all your accounts and policies that pass assets directly to a named beneficiary. While it may sound daunting, this simple process ensures that your estate plan works exactly as you intend and for the people you love most. A few key areas to review include: • Life insurance policies (employer-provided or supplemental) • Retirement plans, including 401(k)s, IRAs, and profit-sharing accounts • Annuities • Any other assets that pass directly to a named beneficiary
It is also essential to conduct a checkup whenever you experience a life event, such as:
• • •
Marriage or divorce
The birth or adoption of a child The death of a spouse, child, or other family member Significant changes in your finances, such as selling a business, acquiring property, or receiving an inheritance
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A Beneficiary Design Checkup allows you to carefully examine whether your current designations align with your long-term estate goals. Unfortunately, misaligned or outdated designations can unintentionally create conflict, tax consequences, or delays in distributing assets. Now is the ideal time to take action. During your annual meeting, or if you are not participating in our annual meeting offering, when you schedule a review meeting, we will include a Beneficiary Designation Checkup so you can ensure your
estate plan is linked to be in accordance with your plan, knowing that you have created a Purposely Designed Organized Plan SM . Our team is ready to guide you through the process, answer all your questions, and help make any necessary updates. Taking this proactive step is a thoughtful way to protect your family and your legacy, giving you peace of mind as you head into the year ahead.
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Word Search
Flip the Script
APPLES BASKETBALL BLACK FRIDAY
ELECTION KINDNESS LEAVES NAP PARADE PIE SCORPIO TOPAZ VETERAN
SUPERCHARGE YOUR CHILD’S LEARNING BY LETTING THEM TEACH YOU!
Many parents hit mental roadblocks trying to help their children with homework. Perhaps you are trying to teach your child long division or Spanish grammar rules, but the knowledge doesn’t stick. Have you ever considered having your child teach the material to you ? The science of how children learn shows that “learning by teaching,” also known as “the protégé effect,” is an effective way for children to build a deeper, longer-lasting understanding of new information. By digging into new concepts and figuring out how to communicate them to others, children must engage more deeply with the material. They must answer questions and clarify areas of uncertainty. Educators say this makes them more likely to retain the information. Many children will relish taking the lead and playing an instructor role. A good way to start is to ask your child to explain a skill or concept they are learning in class and then ask questions. If your student gets stuck, instill good research and study skills by suggesting they refer to their notes or search through other class materials. Many kids love making videos, so consider channeling that medium for learning. Have your child create a concept map for a subject that interests them. Start with the big idea and then create a step-by-step explanation, showing connections among the ideas and including examples to illustrate main points. Then encourage them to convert the concepts to a video tutorial and view it together. While this technique lacks some of the verve of face-to- face interaction, the intellectual exercise is still valuable. Ask your child’s teacher for suggestions on concepts to practice at home or for learning tools that might facilitate learning by teaching. The teacher may offer questions or suggest activities to give your child new opportunities to play teacher. Also, do not hesitate to encourage your child to perform skills they have learned, play guessing games about school topics, or listen to them describing new knowledge. Remember that genuine, non-judgmental parental interest in a child’s learning is a high-octane fuel for lifelong growth!
This tangy and sweet apple- cranberry salad will steal the show at your Thanksgiving feast this year.
• 6 slices of bacon • 1/3 cup balsamic vinaigrette INGREDIENTS
• 3/4 cup dried cranberries • 1 Honeycrisp apple, peeled and thinly sliced • 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced • 1/2 cup feta cheese
• 1/3 cup olive oil • 2 tbsp raw honey • 8 oz fresh baby spinach, rinsed and dried
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large skillet, cook bacon until crispy. Remove it from the pan and set on a paper towel-lined plate to cool. 2. In a small bowl, whisk together balsamic vinaigrette, olive oil, and honey. Set aside. 3. In a large bowl, add spinach, cranberries, apple slices, red onion, and feta. Crumble bacon pieces over the top. Use salad forks to toss ingredients thoroughly. 4. Add dressing to the salad and toss again until well-coated.
Inspired by WanderlustAndWellness.org
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1.
From George Bailey to the Winter Warlock: Life Lessons for the Season From Thankful Jars to Turkey Trivia Align Your Estate Plan and Beneficiaries Before It Is Too Late Sit Down, Mom and Dad, Class Is in Session Apple-Cranberry Salad Skiing Through Time: The Fascinating History Behind the Slopes
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THE UNEXPECTED HISTORY OF DOWNHILL SKIING
There is something breathtaking about downhill skiing on a crisp winter day with blue skies above, perfectly groomed trails beneath, and the quiet rush of snow as you glide downhill. But how downhill skiing, or alpine skiing, came to be is just as fascinating as the sport itself. Surprisingly, while skiing can be dated back to 8000 BC in Northern China, alpine skiing as a recreational activity is relatively new. In the 18th century, it was actually not about leisure at all. Norwegian soldiers were among the first to use skis for downhill speed and mobility, even competing in military exercises that combined skiing with rifle shooting. These early competitions eventually inspired the Olympic Biathlon, keeping the spirit of those challenges alive today. Innovation soon followed. In 1809, Olaf Rye became the first recorded ski jumper, soaring nearly 10 meters through the air (and surviving), a remarkable feat for the time. By 1928, Rudolph Lettner introduced steel-edged skis, giving athletes greater control on snow, while Austrian pioneer Hannes Schneider developed modern turning techniques and established the first ski school. Schneider’s influence helped transform skiing into a sport enjoyed worldwide from Chile to Japan! The 1930s brought two major breakthroughs: the invention of chairlifts and the debut of downhill skiing in the Winter Olympics. For the first time, skiers could reach mountaintops without exhausting climbs, making multiple runs in a single day possible. Television broadcasts in the 1950s and the invention of snowmaking machines later that decade fueled the sport’s popularity even further, ensuring that skiing would continue to grow as a favorite winter pastime. So, the next time you find yourself on a pristine slope with the sun shining overhead, remember that you are part of a tradition that began centuries ago with soldiers, inventors, and visionaries who saw the magic in gliding over snow and made it possible for the rest of us to enjoy it today.
MILITARY DRILLS, CHAIRLIFTS, AND
DARING PIONEERS BUILT MODERN SKIING
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