Take a look at our December newsletter!
DECEMBER 2025
TRADITION WITH A TWIST NEW FACES, NEW JOY, AND HOLIDAY MEMORIES THAT ENDURE
Mixing Celebrations In 2020, my eldest daughter and son-in-law welcomed a beautiful daughter. I was lucky enough to be there for her birth, which just so happened to coincide with the first day of Hanukkah. My son-in-law is Jewish but didn’t have a menorah, so he built one using stuff around the house. I got to experience the first night of Hanukkah with them, which was amazing.
The holiday season is one of the most exciting times of the year, and many people are looking forward to celebrating with family and friends as they participate in their favorite traditions. Over the years, you’ve probably had
many different experiences during the holidays, and the best parts usually carry over year after year. I’ve had many incredible celebrations in my life, but the happiest usually occur when we add something new to the mix. I’d love to take you on a journey to holidays past and share some of my favorite memories. Aunt Golden Growing up, my family would always open the main Christmas gifts in the morning before someone headed out to pick up my Great-Aunt Golden, a widow who lived on her own. We would open a few more
A few years later, their family came to my parents’ house for the holidays, and my daughter stressed that she wanted to make challah bread. This led to exploring another Jewish tradition, as we went through Shabbat with them on a Friday evening at sundown. My granddaughter even knew some of the prayers! It was a wonderful experience! The Exchange Student A decade ago, we welcomed an exchange student from Italy into our home. We exchanged gifts with her family and opened them together on FaceTime during Christmas. Their box consisted of all kinds of American
presents when she arrived, and she always had the biggest box awaiting her. Inside were usually 50 pounds of bird food, hand lotion, body wash, laundry detergent, and other items I didn’t view as gifts at the time. It wasn’t exciting by any means, but Aunt Golden loved that box. She couldn’t afford these items on her budget, and it meant a lot to her. It’s a great reminder that the season is about more than extravagant gifts and decorations. Catholic Mass Throughout my life, I had always heard that midnight mass at Catholic churches was a spectacular experience. When I was in college, I decided to attend one by myself. I am neither Catholic nor envision myself becoming one, but this was a beautiful service. Seeing something new was a wonderful experience, and I’m so glad I went! You never know what you’ll enjoy until you try it!
treats, but Aurora was extremely excited to send one thing in particular. When she stayed with us, I had a pass that got us free Olive Garden meals regularly, and Aurora loved the Andes mints they gave at the end of the meal. She was so excited to share some with her parents! For many, the holiday season is all about tradition, but there’s always room for something new. Invite someone new to Christmas dinner, explore activities you heard about online, or visit an unfamiliar destination. It will add magic to the holidays!
EMERYLAWOFFICE.COM | 1
Freedom in a Deck of Cards THE SECRET TOOLS OF WAR
James Bond gets the movie credit, but real spies in World War II were pulling tricks long before 007 hit the screen. Their work wasn’t flashy; it was desperate. The British intelligence agency MI9 and later the American MIS-X program were tasked with helping Allied soldiers escape Nazi prisons or avoid capture. That meant turning everyday objects into tools. Take the button compass. It looked like part of a soldier’s uniform, nothing more. But inside sat a tiny magnetic needle. Line it up on a string, and suddenly you knew which way was north. Hairbrushes carried folded maps or money. Monopoly boards weren’t just for killing time; they came with real bills mixed in, and if you saw a red dot on “Free Parking,” chances were good there was more than a game in the box. A few companies, including the U.S. Playing Card Company, also did their part. Soldiers could peel away the top layer of a card to uncover silk escape maps. Cigarette packs from the R.J.
Reynolds Tobacco Company carried radio parts. Gillette even made razor blades that acted like a compass if you balanced them on a stick. What’s remarkable is that the companies involved never asked for recognition or payment. Gillette, R.J. Reynolds, and the Playing Card Company volunteered and helped. And the gadgets kept coming. Radios hidden in suitcases. Hollow heels in boots with maps tucked inside. Even Ping-Pong paddles had secret compartments. Guards saw these items and didn’t give them a second thought. That was the point. Most of the devices were destroyed when the war ended. But enough stories survived to give us a glimpse. Clever doesn’t even begin to cover it. For many prisoners, a deck of cards or a shaving kit wasn’t just a distraction. It was a shot at freedom.
LOUISVILLE LIGHTS UP THE SEASON WITH THESE FREE HOLIDAY EVENTS
Light Up Louisville This is one of the most exciting free events in Louisville. This year’s event will take place on Dec. 6, 3–9 p.m., and it has something for everyone in the family. There will be a 200-drone holiday show, a video-mapping holiday show on Metro Hall, live entertainment on two different stages, a parade, free train rides, and even the opportunity to take a picture with Santa inside his house! If you’ve never experienced Light Up Louisville before, make it happen this year. You won’t regret it! Winter Wonderland at Shawnee Park As the sun sets, Shawnee Park will come to life with lights, music, and festive cheer during the Winter Wonderland celebration. You’ll get to drive through the park as over 200,000 lights illuminate the area. Choirs, music groups, and dancers will add to the festivities, and a laser light show will leave everyone in awe. This will be the fourth annual Winter Wonderland, and it’s gaining more traction every year!
The holiday season presents one of the best opportunities to get out and see the sights with our loved ones. The kids are out of school, everyone seems to be in high spirits, and we have so many things to do around Louisville to keep everyone entertained and jolly. If you’re looking for something free to do during the next few weekends, we have some ideas you will love! Crestwood Festival of Music, Trees & Nativities This year will mark the 15th celebration of the Festival of Music, Trees & Nativities at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Crestwood. There is no preaching; just beautiful displays of Christmas lights, trees, and of course, nativities. Because the church has missionaries around the world, they have nativities highlighting various cultures. They even have a live nativity. It is completely free and usually runs for two nights near the beginning of December. Check out CrestwoodNativities.com for more information!
2 | call or text (502) 771-1LAW (1529)
EMERYLAWOFFICE.COM
Have a Laugh!
The days between Thanksgiving and New Year’s bring joy into our lives. For many of us, this is the stretch when we get more days off than at any other time of the year. Most don’t have to worry about heading to the office during the major holidays, and we may even get an extra day off to enjoy the season. What you do with your time is entirely up to you. You may want to put your decorations away after Christmas or spend time reflecting on the past year, but one thing we highly encourage you to do is spend time with your loved ones free from distractions and interruptions. We live busy lives and barely take time for the things that matter most. When did you last sit with your family free from cellphones, tablets, and TV? During the holidays, set aside a day or two free from interruptions. Don’t answer the phone unless there is an emergency. Put away your work, keep the TV off, and just enjoy some much-needed time with your loved ones. These moments will turn into lifelong memories. No-interruption days look different for everyone, depending on their family makeup and interests. If you’re single and just finished celebrating the holidays with loved ones, you may want to take a day for yourself. Maybe your no- interruption day does not involve family time but allows you to declutter and clean around the house. You may even want to do some digital decluttering, getting rid of any subscriptions you no longer need. If you create a no-interruption day and find success, consider stretching it beyond a one-time occasion. Some families even make a holiday out of it, where the parents take the day off from work and the kids stay home from school just to spend time together. It could be an annual, quarterly, or even a monthly tradition. Taking a no-interruption day can be one of the best things you do for your mental health and relationships. Even if it sounds unnecessary, give it a try. It may become a new tradition you eagerly look forward to year-round. Make Time for What Matters This Holiday Season UNPLUG TO RECONNECT
Classic Italian Tiramisu
Ingredients •
1/4 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder, plus more for dusting
• • • • • • • •
1 cup brewed espresso 1 tbsp vanilla extract 5 large egg yolks, cold 1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 tsp kosher salt
16 oz mascarpone cheese, chilled 1 3/4 cups heavy cream, chilled
28 hard ladyfinger cookies
Directions 1. In a bowl, whisk together cocoa powder, espresso, and vanilla and set aside. 2. In a mixer, beat egg yolks and sugar until pale and thick, about 5 minutes. 3. Add salt and mascarpone cheese, and continue to whip. 4. Add the chilled heavy cream and continue to whip until light and smooth. 5. Dunk each ladyfinger in the espresso mixture to absorb the liquid and line a 7x11-inch oval baking dish with the cookies. 6. Top the first layer of cookies with half the whipped mascarpone mixture and spread it into an even layer. Dust with cocoa powder. 7. Repeat for another layer and then finish by dusting with cocoa powder on top. 8. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours before serving.
Inspired by WhatsGabyCooking.com
call or text (502) 771-1LAW (1529)
EMERYLAWOFFICE.COM | 3
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
¿Hablas español? Escanee el código QR para leer el contenido del boletín de este mes en Español.
6100 Dutchmans Ln., Ste. 601 • Louisville, KY 40205
EMERYLAWOFFICE.COM
INSIDE
THE BEST HOLIDAY MEMORIES ARE THOSE YOU DON’T SEE COMING 1 DISGUISED DEVICES OF WWII 3 FREE HOLIDAY EVENTS IN LOUISVILLE YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS 2 RECLAIM THE HOLIDAYS WITH A NO‑INTERRUPTION DAY
CLASSIC ITALIAN TIRAMISU 3 PANCHO BECOMES LIFESAVER IN WILDERNESS RESCUE 4
Tiny Pup, Big Hero TRAILBLAZING CHIHUAHUA LED SEARCHERS TO LOST OWNER
When 85-year-old Barbara Crosby went missing in the California wilderness, no one expected her travel companion, her loyal dog Pancho, would become her savior. Spotted by residents in the area, the adventurous pup led rescuers straight to his owner, navigating a steep embankment that could have spelled disaster. The pair went missing on an early Saturday morning when Barbara, who has dementia, wandered away from her senior living home with the Chihuahua mix. Search and rescue teams immediately began to look for the at-risk adult but saw no sign of her throughout the day. As they were about to pack up for the night, multiple residents reported that they had spotted Pancho in the area. Thanks to details from these glimpses of the would-be hero, rescue crews could pinpoint Pancho’s travel path, which led down a 70-foot steep embankment off the road. After hiking to the bottom, they found him hiding under some brush and followed him to where Barbara lay sleeping nearby.
she was no longer in harm’s way, the crews couldn’t stop to celebrate too long. Pancho pulled a hound-ini act and ran off before rescuers could lift him out.
Residents spotted the runaway dog the next day, just a short distance away. Dehydrated and exhausted from the ordeal, Pancho was taken to a veterinarian for treatment and is back to his old self. The county sheriff’s office recognized Pancho’s life-saving act in a special thank-you online, stating that his “loyalty and presence near Barbara’s location helped lead us to her, truly the unsung hero of this rescue.” They also thanked the search and rescue crews and the community members who shared their Pancho sightings. This Chihuahua’s keen instincts guided rescuers through tricky terrain, proving heroes come in all sizes. Thankfully, this duo’s adventure ended in tail wags and plenty of treats.
Due to the rugged terrain, the team had to utilize a litter and rope system to lift Barbara to safety and promptly take her to a nearby hospital. Though
4 | EMERYLAWOFFICE.COM
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator