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OCTOBER 2018 HEADLINES HEGWOOD
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DECEMBER 2019
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THE HEART OF THE HOLIDAYS
Reflecting on Memories, Traditions, and the Power of Giving Back
T he holidays are a special time of year. As we gather with our loved ones this season, I cannot help but think back on meaningful memories of our traditions and celebrations. I am the oldest of three sisters, and when my middle sister and I were younger, we always hunted for our Christmas presents, and without fail, usually found them. As a result, we were scary good at unwrapping the paper and rewrapping it — well, that is until our mom caught us in the act! After that, she became more vigilant about her hiding techniques, but her anger took the fun out of this tradition! Of course, as kids, containing our anticipation for the holiday was hard! We waited months for Christmas, created our lists, and counted down the days until Santa came. It was impossible to fall asleep on Christmas Eve as we anxiously awaited the next morning. My sisters and I used to sneak over to the tree to see if Santa had been to our house yet. I even remember our grandma sending us back to bed one year when we had woken up at 4 a.m. These days, it is not so much the presents as it is my family and our traditions that excites me about the holidays. After my grandparents passed, I began hosting holiday celebrations at my house. My sisters and mom come early to put the finishing
touches on the meals and preparations, often teasing one another and making our mom laugh. No matter how old we get, we always revert back to our silly childhood selves when we are together. By lunchtime every holiday, we make pigs of ourselves and gorge on the delicious food we only enjoy a few
times a year. We may complain about how full we are, but we all love it. I also come from a big football family, so any holiday gathering usually involves watching a game or having it on in the background. Of course, I cannot write about holiday traditions without mentioning my commitment to service. The holidays remind us to be thankful for what we haveand to give back to the community we care about. I currently work with Innovative Alternatives, a mental health services and training organization that often responds to crisis situations. I am the past Chairman on the board for Habitat for Humanity in Pasadena, work with Family Promise of Clear Creek, which helps homeless families, and work with ARC of the Gulf Coast.
I come from a long line of volunteers. My mom was always willing to help others, but I did not come into volunteering until I was older and my kids were grown. As you get older, you begin to appreciate life more and want to give back. I have truly been blessed, and I want to share that with others. In particular, the work of one nonprofit reminds me I could have been in a similar situation as a kid. It is enlightening and empowering all at once. I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season, and I look forward to hearing all about your memories, traditions, and organizations close to your heart.
-Kim Hegwood
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LIGHTS OUT Florida City Battles to End ‘Extreme’ Lights Display
There is nothing quite like the magic of twinkling Christmas lights. But for city officials in Plantation, Florida, Christmas lights are a stark reminder of a prolonged fight, nearly $500,000 in court fees, and continued drama. In 2014, Plantation sued residents Mark and Kathy Hyatt for their “Hyatt Extreme Christmas” lights display, claiming it was a “public nuisance.” Each year, the Hyatts decorated their yard with more than 200,000 lights, snow, a Christmas tree, a Nativity scene, a functioning Ferris wheel, and more. Their creation was featured on two nationally televised programs and attracted flocks of visitors. But, for the Hyatt’s neighbors, extreme did not even begin to explain the chaos. Neighbors complained to the city about increased traffic, litter in their yards, and potential injury or death to pedestrians due to the traffic. Police officers in Plantation were dispatched to the light display multiple times each season for complaints by neighbors, accidents, and traffic control. After a two-year battle in court, a judge ruled in favor of the Hyatts, claimingthecitycouldnotprovethedisplaywasdangerousoranuisance. The city had spent nearly half a million dollars fighting their case.
For the Hyatts, Christmas 2016 was a celebration, though their display was restrained due to the timing of the court’s decision. By 2017, “Hyatt Extreme Christmas” was in full swing again, much to their neighbors’ chagrin. Mark Hyatt rode the wave of support for his display all the way to a vacant seat on the Plantation City Council in 2016, but the highs would soon stop there. Plantation news outlets reported in 2018 that Mark Hyatt filed for divorce, effectively ending any hope of another “Hyatt Extreme Christmas.” As the snow has settled, an extravagant lights display has instead become a story of nasty court battles with a sad ending for the Hyatts and their “extreme” Christmas devotees.
HOLIDAY HAVOC?
Managing Care for Your Loved Ones During the Holidays
Accept What Is Let’s face it: The holidays are never perfect. There will always be mistakes, but rather than dwelling on what could have been , remember what was . Maybe your child panicked because the holidays strayed off course from their routine, but you can still have an enjoyable holiday. Focus on what will give your celebrations the most meaning and put your effort into that.
When your loved one needs extra care, you rely on the providers who make this possible. Maybe it is a visiting nurse who ensures your mom’s medications are properly doled out, or a behavioral therapist who teaches your child to communicate. Regardless, it can be daunting to approach your loved one’s care when these experts take a break. This holiday season, as therapists, nurses, and other caregivers in your loved one’s life step away for holiday celebrations and trips, use these tips to manage care. Anticipate Problems Use the weeks before these experts leave to develop a plan. Familiarize yourself with the your loved one's routine, and stick to it as close as possible. Ensure everyone in your household understands the change and is prepared for possible complications. Do not be afraid to ask your caregivers for tips or procedural advice. And remember, they may be the expert on care, but you know what you are doing! You will know what is best.
Connect With Others You are not alone! Many families live in similar situations and battle similar problems, especially during the holiday season. Look for family support or meetup groups. Connect with agencies that can offer temporary help, or recruit loved ones you know would be up to the task of providing extra help. When it comes to elder law, estate planning, and long-term care, you are not alone either. Our attorneys will work with you to develop the plan you and your family need. Call us at 281-218-0880 to have your questions answered.
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THE JOY OF A GINGERBREAD HOUSE
Everything You Didn’t Know About This Holiday Tradition Of the many seasonal traditions that sweep our nation, few are as creative, delicious, and satisfying as building your very own gingerbread house. Whether you are looking to create a simple table decoration or bake a tasty treat to nibble on, everyone can enjoy this holiday activity! The Origins of Gingerbread Ginger was first cultivated in ancient China, then traded into medieval Europe. There, Europeans incorporated it into culinary traditions and used it to bake cookies into elaborate shapes and works of art, including figures of animals and people. The gingerbread house first appeared in the early 19th century in Germany. Although historians do not know an exact date, it is speculated that it gained popularity around the same time that “Hansel and Gretel,” the popular fairy tale recorded by the Brothers Grimm, was published.
The Largest Gingerbread House In 2013, the world record for the largest gingerbread house in the world was broken. The house, topping out at 21 feet and covering 2,520 square feet, was built by Traditions Golf Club in Bryan, Texas, to raise money for a local Level II trauma center. To construct the house, builders created a recipe that required 1,800 pounds of butter, 2,925 pounds of brown sugar, 7,200 eggs, 7,200 pounds of flour, 1,080 ounces of ground ginger, and a few additional ingredients. Build Your Own! While you do not have to challenge yourself to beat the Guinness World Record, you can still have fun creating your very own gingerbread village. Starting your gingerbread house from scratch can be a fun activity for the whole family to enjoy. Give the kids a chance to mix the ingredients, roll out the dough, and set out plenty of candies and frostings to use, and remember to have fun!
If you are looking for unique gingerbread house ideas, take a look at 20 gingerbread house ideas at TasteofHome.com/collection/ gingerbread-houses.
CHOCOLATE FUDGE
WORD SEARCH
Ingredients
• 2 cups sugar • 1 tsp salt
• 6 tbsp butter • 1 cup cream • 3 1/2 cups mini marshmallows • 3 cups semisweet chocolate chips • 1 tsp vanilla
• sprinkles (optional) • crushed peppermint (optional)
directions
1. Add the sugar, salt, butter, cream, and marshmallows to a large saucepan. 2. Cook the mixture over medium heat until the marshmallows and butter begin to melt, or about 5 minutes. 3. Once the marshmallows have melted, bring the mixture to a boil, and boil for 5 minutes. It will begin to brown and bubble. Take the pan off of the heat.
5. Mix it all together until the chocolate has melted and everything is nice and smooth. Pour into greased 9x13 pan.
6. I add a sprinkle to just about
anything, so I added some festive sprinkles to one side, and some crushed candy cane to the other. Let this sit at room temperature for 3 hours before you slice.
HOLIDAYS FLURRY FROZEN
WINTER SLEIGH COOKIES ORNAMENTS REINDEER STOCKINGS
PENGUIN WREATH SNOWFLAKE
7. Cut into squares. I got about 48 squares out of my 9x13 pan. This
fudge will keep at room temperature for 10 days in an airtight container.
4. Add the chocolate chips and vanilla.
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HEGWOOD LAWGROUP Trusts | Estates | Probate | Elder Law | Family
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1 Creating a Meaningful Holiday 2 Florida City Sues Family Over Extreme Christmas Display Caring for Your Family When Care Providers Take a Holiday Break
3 Building Your Own Gingerbread House
Chocolate Fudge
4 Our 2020 Event Breakdown
WHAT IS HAPPENING AT HEGWOOD ADD THESE 2020 EVENTS TO YOUR CALENDAR! At Hegwood Law Group, we want to keep you and your family informed. Our website, as well as attorney Kim Hegwood’s recently released books, deliver important information, and we believe these works create a meaningful dialogue.
‘10 Gruesome Estate Planning Mistakes’ Our team is immersed in estate planning and its related legal issues every day. As we have honed our expertise, we have come to understand horrible mistakes many people are in danger of making with estate planning. In this workshop, we will delve into what these 10 mistakes are, how you can avoid them, and address any further concerns. ‘How to Plan for Children With Disabilities’ As a parent, you do all you can to care for your children as they grow. For parents of children with disabilities, this commitment to their care is monumental and lifelong. But what happens when you are no longer able to provide the care your child needs? Our “How to Plan for Children with Disabilities” workshop will detail how to ensure your child’s special needs are met when you are gone or no longer able to serve as their primary caregiver.
But we know many people will still have lingering questions. To help those seeking guidance, our team hosts monthly workshops. As we head into 2020, be on the lookout for more installations of our most popular workshops. And the best part is they are all FREE! ‘Elder Law Essentials’ The most common questions we hear are “What is elder law?” and “Is it different than regular estate planning?” The “Elder Law Essentials” workshop will answer these questions and more as we pull from our years of expertise in this niche. We will provide introductory information about how elder law can offer you and your family the peace of mind you deserve. With the wide-encompassing reach of elder law, this workshop can be vital for adults of any age.
To learn more about our upcoming workshops, or to inquire about dates, please call our office at 281-218-0880.
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