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NOVEMBER 2024
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A LOOK AT MY FAMILY’S THANKSGIVING TRADITIONS Giving Thanks and Embracing Chaos
I cherish so many things about Thanksgiving: sweet potatoes, stuffing, extra gratitude, and people-watching at the mall. As corny as it sounds, this holiday is all about stopping and giving thanks for all we are, all we do, and all we have. It’s so easy to get drawn into the chaos, to-do lists, and anxieties, but this time of year provides us an opportunity to be mindful of gratefulness; not just the great food and warm traditions but family, good friends, and shopping!
This tradition started with my mom many years ago. She and her sisters, who lived about an hour and a half away, would go together to the mall every year. As I got a little older, I tagged along. I’ve been doing the same thing with my family for about 20 years! My kids always enjoy it. When they were young, we let them pick out a gift for each other and us. Since they’ve gotten older, they’ve grown to appreciate the madness of people dashing from store to store. We didn’t even let COVID-19 stop us from our tradition. In 2020, we donned masks and kept our distance, but we still enjoyed our annual tradition.
My family comes together for Thanksgiving every year, and we typically host at our house. My sister, her children, and my mom come in, and my daughter and her fiancé usually visit from Salt Lake City. It’s a great chance to be together as a family. My wife takes the lead on kitchen duty making sure the turkey is perfect. She gets up too early to prepare the bird, and each of the guests brings some sort of side dish. Over the years, everyone has established their signature offerings. Mom makes a tasty vegetable dish and my sister brings mashed potatoes and homemade gravy. I’m the person who fills my plate to the brim with sides like stuffing and sweet potatoes and has just a tiny piece of turkey.
Beyond the side dishes and mall madness, I just love the focus on gratitude. Another of our family traditions is to take turns at dinner and share what we’re thankful for this year and what we’re excited about on the coming horizon. When you have teenagers and young adults, you understand how stressful life can be at that stage in life. So, we take advantage of this holiday to reaffirm what brings us joy every day, even when life gets chaotic.
What am I thankful for this year? I have it all. I’m always grateful for my family and
our four kids. My son started college in August and is thriving, making friends, and enjoying it. My eldest daughter got engaged this year, and
I’m truly thankful for the young man she has met. I’m grateful for our health, our happiness, and a cozy house where we want for nothing. With so many people in the world struggling just to survive, Thanksgiving is an excellent time to remember just how fortunate we are.
But my favorite Thanksgiving tradition doesn’t even happen on the day itself — it’s the day after. For many years, we have braved the crazy crowds at the mall on Black Friday. We’re not there to compete with other shoppers for some of the season’s best deals; we’re there for the atmosphere. It’s about having lunch at the food court and people-watching during the craziest shopping day of the year. Every once in a while, we split up to find little deals and Christmas presents, but it’s more about experiencing the energy of the crowd. The mall is packed. People are running from store to store and it just feels like the holiday season has officially kicked off.
Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours.
–Jeremy Rafferty
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WEAVE YOUR FAMILY TAPESTRY Dig into the Roots of Your Family’s Genealogy
Organize family groups. In genealogy, organizing information into family groups is vital. This involves clustering data about immediate family members, allowing for a clearer understanding of familial relationships and histories. This process clarifies lineage and enriches the personal connection to your ancestors. Share your discoveries. As the family tree expands, sharing these discoveries with family members can rekindle relationships and spark collective interest in your shared heritage. These revelations often lead to family gatherings and deeper connections, bridging past and present through shared ancestry. You may even find more information through family members! Enjoy lifelong exploration. Genealogy is more than a hobby; it’s a continuous journey through history with endless opportunities for discovery. It involves solving familial mysteries, breaking through research barriers, and preserving stories for future generations. So, if you’ve ever been curious about your family’s past or are just looking for a rewarding project this fall, genealogy might be the perfect adventure. Grab a cup of tea, pull up a chair, and start uncovering the chapters of your unique family story. Who knows what fascinating facts, stories, and relationships you’ll find!
Diving into the world of genealogy can be as thrilling as unraveling a good mystery. As we enter the cozy season, why not embark on a journey through your past? Here’s how to begin your genealogical adventure. Start with what you know. The golden rule in genealogy is to start with the known and work backward. Begin with personal details and then progressively explore parents and grandparents. This systematic approach helps build a robust family tree, starting with the most accessible information. Choose the right tools. A crucial first step is selecting a reliable genealogy database program. This tool is essential for organizing and collecting various forms of documentation — from personal records to official certificates — and serves as the foundation for structuring and preserving the familial legacy. The National Genealogy Society has an impressive list of free websites at NGSGenealogy.org/free-resources/websites. Gather essential records. Once you prepare the workspace, the next phase involves gathering documents. Early stages typically involve collecting recent generations’ birth, marriage, and death certificates. As you dig deeper, the search extends to census records, military enlistments, and old newspapers, available through free online resources like FamilySearch (the top site on the NGS website mentioned).
Open Season Made Simple
FOCUS ON THE FOUR C’S
Cost Cost is one of the most common aspects of choosing proper health care. Consider what is most important to you about the price. Are you concerned about high monthly premiums, or do you want to secure lower copays? When you pinpoint the financial aspects you prioritize, you can help narrow your search and find a plan that fits. Convenience Convenience can mean different things for people when it comes to health care. You might prioritize having access to providers nearby so you feel confident you can get treatment if any emergency arises. Or, you might be looking for an option to reduce the time you need to manage your health care visits and needs. If convenience is a top priority, look at plans that offer telecare, 24/7 support, or an extensive network of doctors in your area.
Choice If you have a preferred doctor or specialist you want to continue working with, start by identifying which plans your provider accepts. Ensuring you can keep seeing the medical professionals you trust can be essential in selecting the right plan.
Coverage Coverage is a critical factor in finding
During Open Season, federal employees can review and update their health, dental, and vision benefits. This annual period, starting on Nov. 11 and going through Dec. 9, allows current employees and retirees to adjust their benefits. There are many different options, which can be overwhelming as you try to find the right plan. I encourage people to look to the “Four C’s” — cost, convenience, coverage, and choice — as a framework to simplify the process. Decide which of the “C’s” is most important to you, and use that as a launching point.
insurance that best covers you if you have specific health care concerns, like chronic conditions. Explore which plans provide the best options for treatment for your individual needs. For example, if you have a chronic condition requiring specific medication, look for plans with reasonable prescription costs. This will help you choose a plan to help with your most pressing health needs. Focusing on the “Four C’s” can help simplify the decision-making process and help you find the right plan for you and your family.
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THE UNIQUE ALLURE OF BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK
Most national parks are full of visitors from spring through fall. Big Bend National Park turns that schedule upside down. The ideal time to visit this southwest Texas wonderland of wild river canyons and stunning mountain vistas is from October through May — the offseason for most national parks. Since summertime temperatures in Big Bend soar to 105 degrees F. or more and are too hot for safe vacationing. But wintertime is mild and usually sunny. Many tourists and vacationers have recently discovered the park, driving visitation 16% higher since 2018 to more than 511,000 people annually. Big Bend offers a diversity of sights and terrain. Elevations soar from about 1,800 feet along the Rio Grande River to almost
8,000 feet in the Chisos Mountains. Boating and rafting trips along the Rio Grande, which Congress designated as a free-flowing Wild & Scenic River, take visitors through the spectacular Santa Elena Canyon limestone cliffs. Options range from a leisurely float lasting less than a day to a seven-day wilderness adventure down the Lower Canyons. Big Bend is also a birder’s paradise, with 450 species sighted there on various occasions. The park also offers an abundance of family-friendly activities. A legal Port of Entry enables visitors who bring their passports to cross the Rio Grande River and visit the shops and restaurants of a rural Mexican village, Boquillas del Carmen. Families also enjoy stargazing at
the Sotol Vista Overlook, scrambling over the boulders on the Upper Burro Mesa, and trekking the Grapevine Hills trails to see Balanced Rock, a giant boulder seemingly teetering in midair between two smaller boulders. Kids can also see dinosaur remains at the Fossil Discovery Exhibit or explore the ruins of a mercury-mining ghost town, Terlingua. Five visitor centers are usually open through the winter. Construction of a new visitor lodge and water system will begin in late 2024, likely causing some disruptions. However, Big Bend has four developed campgrounds and many backcountry camping opportunities. Most campsites are filled six months in advance, so reserve a spot early for your winter camping adventure.
Train Your
BRAIN!
Exquisite Lemon Bars
INGREDIENTS
• 2 cups all-purpose flour • 1/2 cup powdered sugar • 1 cup butter, softened • 4 large eggs • 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice • 2 tbsp grated lemon zest • 1/4 tsp baking powder • 1/4 tsp salt
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 F and grease a 9x13-inch baking pan. 2. In a medium bowl, combine flour and powdered sugar. 3. Cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
4. Press mixture into prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes or until lightly browned. 5. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, baking powder, and salt. Pour over crust. 6. Bake for 25 minutes or until set. Allow to cool before cutting into bars.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE page 1 Traditions, Togetherness, and Crazy Mall Adventures page 2 Uncover the Hidden Stories in Your Family Ancestry Find the Perfect Fit for Your Health Needs
page 3 A Big Wintertime Playground Exquisite Lemon Bars
page 4 Discover the Fascinating ‘What-Ifs’ of State Names
The Bizarre and Creative Titles That Nearly Defined Our States NAMES THAT ALMOST WERE
One of the first things you likely learned was the name of your home state, but what if everything you knew about your state’s namesake was different? It’s a quirky and bizarre journey through the world of almost-names for states! The early days of American statehood were filled with creative, peculiar, and downright odd suggestions. Let’s look into history and uncover the surprising stories behind the names that could have been. Kentucky Kentucky’s famous horse race was almost known as the Transylvania Derby, but it has nothing to do with vampires. In 1775, a businessman named Richard Henderson established the Transylvania Company and signed a treaty with the Cherokee tribe, securing land known as the Transylvania colony. However, Henderson’s treaty
failed as Virginia had already claimed the land. Years later, in 1792, those living on Henderson’s attempted purchase broke away from Virginia to become Kentucky. Despite naming the state themselves, the residents couldn’t decide whether the state’s new name meant “prairie,” “land of tomorrow,” or “river of blood.” Utah When Brigham Young, the leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (widely known as the Mormon church), moved the congregation west, they settled in the Salt Lake Basin. He petitioned Congress to create a new state for them and settled on Deseret, after a name in the Book of Mormon, one of their scriptural texts. The government declined the request until 1896, granting statehood in a smaller area than originally planned. They still
didn’t get their desired name, though; the government named the state Utah after the Ute tribe that called the area home. Nevada The name Humboldt almost became the name of the state of Nevada. It pays tribute to explorer and naturalist Alexander von Humboldt, who helped popularize scientific exploration. Though he traveled thousands of miles across Central and South America, he never made it to the western United States. So, when Nevada became a state in 1864, they used the Spanish word for “snow-covered” instead. History is full of “what ifs” and whimsical alternatives that could have shaped our country. These almost-names remind us of the rich tapestry of the past and the imagination that defines our nation.
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