Lighting Up Life One Pine Needle at a Time Travel-Worthy Christmas Trees As the holiday season approaches, the twinkling lights and spectacular Christmas tree attractions are always a must-see! Here are the best travel destinations to catch a
feet high and decorated with 2,500 red, white, and green electric bulbs. A local choir and a quartet from the U.S. Marine Band performed as the tree was lit. The Coeur d’Alene Resort Tree in Idaho Also known as the World’s Tallest Living Christmas Tree, this grand fir holds the record at 162 feet tall. It is festively
glimpse of one of the pillars of the holidays. The Rockefeller Center Tree in New York City
The Rockefeller Center tree is located just west of 5th Avenue from 47th through 51st streets in New York City and dates back to the Depression era, with the first tree placed there in 1931. This beloved tourist attraction draws thousands yearly with its dazzling lights and grand scale. To even be considered a contender for this role, a tree must be at least 65 feet tall and 35 feet wide! The National Christmas Tree in Washington, D.C. This American favorite has long been a tradition. Every year, the ceremony begins with live performances by musical artists, and an annual highlight is when the president delivers a message of peace. President Calvin Coolidge was the first president to light the National Christmas Tree in 1923. The tree was 48
decorated with more than 40,000 lights that twinkle in time to the music of “Jingle Bells,” and the tree is crowned with a 10-foot-wide star! The Biltmore Christmas Tree in North Carolina
This majestic 55-foot Norway spruce tree is in front of the Biltmore Estate and lit as guests make their way down the path of luminaries. With ornaments and miles of garland, this tree is selected for the Banquet Hall each year for guests from all over to see. Some are lucky enough to live near or in a city with a magnificent tree, but if you don’t, consider traveling to one of these locations to enjoy the holiday with your loved ones.
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The Value of Ethical Wills
An estate plan primarily consists of legal documents determining how your assets will be distributed after death. But we all know that people leave far more behind than money and personal effects. We will touch countless lives before our time on Earth is through, and most of us hope to have somehow made the world a better place. None of that can be accounted for in your estate plan, but you can reflect on the legacy you’ll leave behind in an ethical will. An ethical will is a Jewish custom, practiced as far back as medieval times. Called “tzavaot,” these documents passed along wisdom, reflections on one’s life, and the values the writer held dear. While the practice became less popular as the years passed, people of all faiths increasingly found value and solace in the process. Ethical wills are not legal documents. They’re a way of writing your legacy for the people you’ll leave behind, and people generally share it while they’re still alive so they can discuss it with loved ones. Many families feel a deeper connection after going through the process. Your loved ones will also cherish the document someday and consider it an essential part of your memory.
What do you include in an ethical will? There’s no one “right” way to do this exercise, so the answer is up to you. But ethical wills do tend to contain
common themes. Many people like to preserve memories of their youth and formative years so time will not forget them. This section can include information about your family, accomplishments, and experiences that made you who you are. An ethical will is also an excellent place to share your beliefs with your loved ones. Some of those beliefs might be religious, and many include meaningful practices or traditions they’d like to see continued in the future. But you can also share your values and viewpoint on the world. Additionally, some ethical wills contain regrets and apologies. Finally, many include their hopes for children, grandchildren, and future generations after they’re gone. An ethical will is a highly personal process. It may come quickly to some, while others will struggle with what to write. But a few things about writing your ethical will are certain: You’ll create a priceless family heirloom and learn a lot about yourself along the way.
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