Take a look at our newsletter this month.
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12/19
BUILD IT. PROTECT IT. PRESERVE IT.
holiday is in the name — it’s the time of year we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
THE REASON WE CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS
Roughly 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born to eventually die and save us from our sins. While Jesus was on the earth, He showed everyone how to live a holy and blameless life, and, more importantly, He showed us that it wasn’t a life we could achieve on our own. Without Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and without His birth, death, and resurrection, we would have no hope of being righteous before God — and that’s infinitely greater than any gift you can get on Amazon. I grew up going to church, and, even though I don’t go maybe as much as I should, I always want to keep Jesus at the center of the holiday. Every year, our
IT’S NOT THE GIFTS OR THE FAMILY TIME
Displays of twinkling lights, evergreen trees, and this year’s stock of must-have Christmas gifts flood every billboard, TV channel, and department store every holiday season. Even though most of us wouldn’t say that gifts are the true meaning of the season, the near ubiquitous commercialization of Christmas makes it appear as though that is the consensus. My wife has talked about Christmas shopping as far back as August this year, a full two months before Halloween has even passed. At the same time, the Hallmark Channel puts out countless holiday movies about the importance of family and connection with loved ones, especially around Christmas. Just as every store and shopping website assures us their products will make our holiday a success, every schmaltzy made-for-TV movie that comes out around the same time says the true meaning of the season is love and connections with others. Neither of these are bad things. Of course, it’s good to want to buy the best gifts for friends and family, and a major part of Christmas is spending time with the people we love. But neither of those things are the reason Christmas exists, or the reason we should really celebrate. The real reason for the
family goes to a Christmas Eve church service because I want my daughter, Kyzlee, to know the true meaning of the holiday — the one you never see in the ads or the movies. I hope as she grows up, she’ll be able to see it. With that in mind, I know that in this day and age, it’s more politically correct to say “happy holidays” around this time of year, but in saying so, I wouldn’t say what’s in my heart. I’d rather stand for what I believe than for what society deems to be politically correct. I always say “Merry Christmas” because it keeps the real reason for the holidays in mind.
To all of you reading this, Merry Christmas! I hope your year finishes up well, and next year brings lots of blessings.
–Edward Littlejohn
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WHAT’S NE The past few months have been really busy. Between court hearings and traveling, it’s been nonstop. So, why am I traveling to different trainings? It’s because I want to be a better leader in the community so I can better serve my clients.
RELYING ON A WILL ALONE (PART 2) THE REAL COST TO YOUR FAMILY
A WILL OFFERS NO PROTECTION AGAINST INCAPACITY
cash could cause serious problems for someone with poor money-management abilities and/or addiction issues.
A will helps ensure your assets are properly distributed when you die. But it offers no protection if you become incapacitated and are unable to make decisions about your own medical, financial, or legal needs. Should you become incapacitated with only a will in place, your family would have to petition the court to appoint a guardian or conservator to manage your affairs, which can be extremely costly, time-consuming, and traumatic. Passing on your assets using a will leaves those assets vulnerable to several potential threats. If your will distributes your assets to your beneficiaries outright, those assets are not only subject to claims made by a beneficiary’s creditors, but they are also vulnerable to lawsuits and divorce settlements the beneficiary may be involved in. And, if assets left via a will pass to beneficiaries without any conditions, those assets are susceptible to the beneficiary’s own poor judgment. For instance, a sudden windfall of A WILL DOESN’T PROTECT AGAINST CREDITORS, LAWSUITS, OR POOR DECISIONS
NOT ALL ASSETS ARE COVERED BY A WILL
Some assets can’t even be included in a will. For example, a will only covers assets or property owned solely in your name. It does not cover property co-owned by you with others listed as joint tenants, nor does a will cover assets that pass directly to a beneficiary by contract, such as a life insurance policy or retirement account. Though a will is an integral part of your estate plan, a will is almost never enough by itself. Instead, wills are often combined with other planning vehicles, such as living trusts, and other nonprobate assets, to provide a level of protection devoid of any gaps or blind spots. And here’s the thing: If your plan is incomplete, it’s your family who suffers, having to clean it all up after you are gone. As your lawyer, we will empower you to feel confident that you have the right combination of planning solutions for your family’s unique circumstances. Schedule a Free Estate Plan Review today to get started. DON’T LET YOUR PLAN FALL SHORT
• Pictures Daycare Abuse
Attorney Russell Button from Dallas, Texas and School Law Attorney Scott Swier from Avon, South Dakota
• Edward sitting on the Hayden Butte Preserve in Tempe, Arizona, with
some like-minded business owners, including my friend Tom Foster
Where’s Kyzlee? She’s enjoying tons of candy from Halloween. Check out her costume! Kyzlee is being thankful and making sure she’s on Santa’s “good list.” Be sure to check out the Live Nativity at the Starkdale Presbyterian Church. The Live Nativity is arranged to present the Good News to all. It is a meaningful opportunity to learn about the real Christmas story.
LOCAL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT VINCE DOWDLE & ASSOCIATES LLC
157 Fairplay Rd., Bloomingdale, Ohio 43910
Dowdle & Associates has been in business since 1991 in Ohio, and since 2001 in West Virginia. They take surveying seriously and take great pride in getting the jobs done right. Dowdle & Associates can handle your surveying, high-definition scanning, and drone mapping needs. Call them at 740.944.1943.
This newsletter is for informational purposes only and no legal advice is intended. Be sure to consult with this law firm if you have a specific question about your situation. And, remember Edward and Jeff don’t take any unplanned inbound telephone or in-person meetings. We believe each case deserves our undivided attention.
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WITH ME AND MY OWN?
CALENDAR OF EVENTS UPCOMING VIP EVENTS These SEMINARS AND TELECONFERENCE CALLS are FREE. That’s right; there is no charge. We just ask that you preregister, so we can make sure there’s enough space. We want to make sure people make good decisions about their legal situations.
December: Estate Planning Client Appreciation Event - Invitation only
January 2020: Small Business Mastermind — Start 2020 Off Right
If you see a seminar or teleconference that’s interesting to you or your family, be sure to preregister by calling 740-314-4829 or visiting LittlejohnLawLLC.com. We’ll send you more information as we get closer to the meeting but only to those who have preregistered. If you have a topic you would like to learn more about, be sure to attend one of our seminars or teleconferences. Send your email requests to office@ elittlejohnlaw.com.
CRANBERRY GINGERBREAD
Inspired by Food & Wine Magazine
INGREDIENTS
• 1/2 cup canola oil,
• 1 1/2 cups fresh
plus more for greasing • 3/4 cup unsulphured molasses • 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar • 2 large eggs • 1 tbsp fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated
cranberries, coarsely chopped • 2 cups all-purpose flour • 2 tsp baking powder • 1 tsp baking soda • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon • 1/2 tsp ground cloves • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 350 F. 2. Grease a loaf pan with canola oil.
3. In a large mixing bowl, mix together 1/2 cup canola oil, molasses, brown sugar, eggs, ginger, and cranberries. In a separate bowl, sift and combine flour with baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients until blended. 4. Scrape batter into loaf pan and bake for 50 minutes. 5. Transfer to a rack, let cool for 20 minutes, slice, and serve.
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352 FRANK LAYMAN BLVD. WINTERSVILLE, OH 43953
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
THE REASONWE CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS
2
RELYING ON A WILL ALONE (PART 2)
LOCAL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
WHAT’S NEWWITH ME AND MY OWN
3
UPCOMING VIP EVENTS
CRANBERRY GINGERBREAD
4
FAMILIES CAN LEARN FROM ‘A CHRISTMAS STORY’
MORE THAN JUST ‘YOU’LL SHOOT YOUR EYE OUT!’ Lessons Families Can Learn From ‘A Christmas Story’
In 1983, one movie introduced Red Ryder BB guns, fishnet-clad leg lamps, and bright red bars of soap into America’s everlasting Christmas mythos. Now, over 35 years later, “A Christmas Story” continues to delight audiences every holiday season with timeless lessons for viewers of all ages. In a
furnace to work. He doesn’t admit this to his mother, but it’s a lesson for parents everywhere that kids may hear more than they let on.
KIDS WON’T BELIEVE IN MAGIC FOREVER. Magical stories about Santa or even “Little Orphan Annie’s” Secret Society fill children’s hearts with wonder but won’t enchant them forever. Belief in certain parts of the Christmas season can fade slowly or die as quickly as the spin of a decoder pin, but parents can always be there to remind children about what’s really important during the Christmas season. SOMETIMES ‘DISASTERS’ LEAD TO NEW ADVENTURES. Christmas Day can be hectic, and, in the hubbub of it all, sometimes disaster can feel inevitable. Ralphie’s parents certainly experience their fair share of disaster in hilarious fashion when the Bumpus Hounds destroy their holiday turkey and leave nothing but the heavenly aroma. But, when Ralphie’s father takes them out to eat at a local Chinese restaurant, it creates a whole new Christmas tradition for the Parker family. Our holiday mishaps, no matter how tragic, are rarely the end of the world.
story where kids are clever and kind, and parents are bumbling and wise, “A Christmas Story” has more lessons to offer families than just,
“You’ll shoot your eye out!”
YOUR KIDS ARE LISTENING TO YOU (OH, FUDGE!). They aren’t always obedient, but that doesn’t mean they’re not listening. After Ralphie lets slip the “queen mother of dirty words” in front of his father, the narrator reminisces about first hearing that word from his old man — possibly when he was trying to get their
Consider one final tip: Do not stick your tongue to any flagpoles this winter! Merry Christmas!
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