Stevens Firm - December 2019

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’re 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 don’t know an exact date, it’s 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 don’t 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’re looking for unique gingerbread house ideas, take a look at 20 gingerbread

house ideas at TasteofHome.com/ collection/gingerbread-houses.

Your Pretrial Preview

What Happens at a South Carolina Family Court Pretrial Hearing?

If you’re embroiled in a divorce or child custody case that has been dragging on for months and is approaching its 365-day limit, then one of the attorneys involved might have requested a pretrial hearing. Thanks to the word “trial,” that sounds a bit intimidating, but really, it’s just an attempt to get things back on track. So, what exactly happens at a pretrial hearing? That’s a question our clients ask all the time, and the answer is simple: not much. Basically, a pretrial hearing serves as a check-up on your case. It’s a short hearing, usually 15–20 minutes, that allows the attorneys, parties, judge, and any other necessary participants to come together and discuss the status of any outstanding trial preparation issues. The judge usually asks one or both attorneys to present the status of the case and outline any issues that need court-ordered deadlines to help the case move forward. For example, if discovery hasn’t been completed by one or both sides, or if mediation hasn’t been scheduled, the judge will issue a final deadline for it. The judge will also ask the attorneys for an estimated number of witnesses and how many days of trial they’ll need if mediation is unsuccessful, so that the docket clerk can reserve time for a trial. At the end of the hearing, everyone leaves the courtroom with a much better idea of where the case stands and what the important dates will be going forward.

Many of our clients tell us they like these hearings because they offer a light at the end of the tunnel. Family Court litigation can be a long and expensive process, so having a short order from a family court judge detailing everyone’s responsibilities and obligations, and putting firm dates and deadlines in place, can feel like a win. As simple as it might sound, it’s still not a good idea to face down a pretrial hearing without an experienced family law attorney at your side. If you’re struggling with or about to begin a divorce or child custody case, call The Stevens Firm today to schedule a consultation. We’d be happy to answer your questions and put your mind at ease.

2 www.SCFamilyLaw.com

Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs