Take a look at our December newsletter!
DECEMBER 2024
BE SMART, GET RINEHARDT Rinehardt Law | RinehardtLawFirm.com | 419-LAW-2020
COMPASSION AND KINDNESS MUST GUIDE US THE ENTIRE YEAR The Spirit of the Season
When Attorney Hillary asked in one of our weekly meetings who had the most Christmas spirit, I was elected to write the cover article for the newsletter. My daughter says I’m “Christmas crazy” — I prefer to think of myself as a Christmas enthusiast! I love all things Christmas! Like lots of you, I enjoy packing away the normal decorations and getting out my Christmas décor to transform a room into a winter wonderland. Whether you cut down a tree and bring it home or pull yours out from the box and decorate it, seeing the finished tree with lights and ornaments is something special. One of my favorite holiday activities is to go and look at Christmas lights. There is something magical about Christmas lights. They can take something ordinary and turn it extraordinary! Some fun lights around town are Christmas at Kingwood, Candy Cane Trail in Ashland, and Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo. But even just driving around town and looking at light displays in people’s yards, drinking hot chocolate, and listening to Christmas music is amazing! What else do I love about Christmas? Everything! Christmas candy and cookies, Christmas movies (yes, I watch all the Hallmark
Christmas movies), Christmas music, parades, ugly sweaters, pageants, gift exchanges, Christmas games ... the list goes on! I love how the atmosphere changes at Christmas time. The world becomes a little nicer and kinder. Donations are gathered for those in need, people smile at each other and wish each other Merry Christmas, cars pay for those behind them in the drive-thru line, cookies are baked for neighbors, and random acts of kindness are done in secret. But what do I love most about Christmas? I am reminded of what happened over 2,000 years ago and the greatest gift ever given. God loved us so much that he sent his son Jesus to earth as a baby to live, and ultimately die, so that we
Kids dressed and ready for a Christmas Program
1 Rinehardt Law | BeSmartLegal.com Case Manager – Carrie Byus But as the Christmas season ends, the decorations are put away, and the light displays are taken down, I don’t want to pack Jesus away until next year, too. Each December is a reminder to keep Jesus with me every day and show his love to others, a reminder to keep my Christmas joy throughout the year and not just save it for December, a reminder to cherish each and every day with family and be thankful for my blessings, a reminder to not take any day for granted and to sprinkle a little Christmas spirit throughout the year. can have eternal life with him. I’m in awe of what the shepherds (common, everyday people) must have felt when a host of angels lit up the night sky announcing his birth. I imagine the star that was so bright that scholars left their home to follow it, and remember the young girl who had the honor of being his earthly mother and caring for him as he grew. When I think about such love, my heart bursts with gratitude. That is why I love Christmas carols so much, singing about that glorious night!
Caroling at Grandpa’s Cheesebarn
Kingwood lights with friends
The Christmas Trees of Rinehardt Law How We Celebrate This Special Time of Year
Carrie: Each year I take the kids to Hobby Lobby and let them pick an ornament to add to the tree. When they are older and move out, they will take all of the ornaments they’ve selected over the years to start a tree of their own. Melanie: We never discourage our pets from spending time around the tree. A couple of our dogs got even more excited about the new tree each year than the kids did! Maybe it was because the animals loved the twinkling lights or the familiar scent of the kids’ handmade ornaments. Or maybe — like me — they just enjoyed the coziness of bringing a bit of nature inside! Avery: Every year, our family gathers to pick out a Christmas tree at the local tree farm. Without fail, this involves my dad insisting we’re underestimating the size of the tree, we siblings disagreeing, and then realizing he’s right once we get it home. However, this particular year took us all by surprise. When my dad cut the twine, the tree quickly unfolded, leaving him hilariously reenacting a scene straight out of “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” Once trimmed, the tree beautifully displayed all the ornaments from our sibling exchanges over the years — another memorable tradition.
end up agreeing on the same tree to chop down and take home. While there, we grab some hot chocolate and visit the reindeer. After finding the perfect tree, we stop at a local Mexican restaurant to warm up and enjoy a delicious meal together. We finish off the day by going to my home and decorating the tree! One of my favorite days of the year! John and Hillary: For many years after the tree was all decorated and lit, we would get the kids dressed in their Christmas outfits and take photos. Now that the kids are grown up, we don’t decorate a tree anymore. If we are blessed with grandchildren in the future, we hope to return to our family tradition!
Brilynn: My grandmother gifted me a Precious Moments ornament each Christmas from the year I was born until I turned 18. All of those ornaments are on our family tree. Some of them are 25 years old now! Beth: We generally try to decorate the tree together with holiday music playing in the background. We always pick up an ornament when we are on vacation to put on our tree to help remind us of our travels. We also visited Bronner’s in Frankenmuth, Michigan, and purchased quite a few glass ornaments there. In fact, we have so many ornaments that we have two
Melanie
Stephanie: My favorite tree tradition is going to Kleerview Farm every year with the entire family to choose the perfect Christmas tree. We all tend to pick our favorites to start but eventually
decorated trees: one in our living room and one in our family room.
John and Hillary
Carrie
Stephanie
Brilynn
Avery
Beth
2 Rinehardt Law | BeSmartLegal.com
Old Fashioned Pecan Pie INGREDIENTS • 1 cup pure maple syrup • 1/2 cup packed (7 oz/198 g) light brown sugar • 1/2 cup heavy cream • 1 tbsp molasses (regular or mild molasses works best) • 4 tbsp unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces • 1/2 tsp salt • 6 large egg yolks, lightly beaten • 1 1/2 cups toasted and chopped pecans, plus pecan halves for decorating • 1 (9-inch) unbaked pie shell, chilled in pie plate for 30 minutes The overly sweet, artificial-tasting pecan pies of today bear little resemblance to their 19th-century inspiration. This recipe uses a combination of pure maple syrup, brown sugar, and molasses, and it tastes so much better than corn syrup ever could. Hillary makes it every Christmas.
DIRECTIONS 1. Make Filling: Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 450 F. Heat sugar, syrup, cream, and molasses in saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool 5 minutes. Whisk butter and salt into syrup mixture until combined. Whisk in egg yolks until incorporated. 2. Assemble Pie: Scatter chopped pecans in pie shell. Carefully pour filling over. Starting closest to the crust, place pecan halves in concentric circles until you get to the center. 3. Bake Pie: Place pie in hot oven and immediately reduce oven temperature to 325 F. Bake until filling is set and center jiggles slightly when pie is gently shaken, 45–60 minutes. Cool pie on a rack for 1 hour, then refrigerate until set, about 3 hours and up to one day. Bring to room temperature before serving.
Directions 1. Grate 2 tbsp butter on large holes of box grater and place in freezer. Cut remaining 8 tbsp butter into 1/2-inch cubes. 2. Pulse 3/4 cup flour, sugar, and salt in food processor until combined, 2 pulses. Add cubed butter and process until homogeneous paste forms, about 30 seconds. Using your hands, carefully break paste into 2-inch chunks and redistribute evenly around processor blade. Add remaining 1/2 cup flour and pulse until mixture is broken into pieces no larger than 1 inch (most pieces will be much smaller), 4 to 5 pulses. Transfer mixture to medium bowl. Add grated butter and toss until butter pieces are separated and coated with flour. 3. Sprinkle 2 tbsp ice water over mixture. Toss with rubber spatula until mixture is evenly moistened. Sprinkle remaining 2 tbsp ice water over mixture and toss to combine. Press dough with spatula until dough sticks together. Transfer dough to sheet of plastic wrap. Draw edges of plastic over dough and press firmly on sides and top to form compact, fissure-free mass. Wrap in plastic and flatten to form 5-inch disk. Refrigerate dough for at least 2 hours or up to 2 days. Let chilled dough sit on counter to soften slightly, about 10 minutes, before rolling. (Wrapped dough can be frozen for up to 1 month. If frozen, let dough thaw completely on counter before rolling.) 4. Roll dough into 12-inch circle on well-floured counter. Roll dough loosely around rolling pin and unroll it onto 9-inch pie plate, leaving at least 1-inch overhang around edge. Ease dough into plate by gently lifting edge of dough with your hand while pressing into plate bottom with your other hand. 5. Trim overhang to 1/2 inch beyond lip of plate. Tuck overhang under itself; folded edge should be flush with edge of plate. Crimp dough evenly around edge of plate using your fingers. Refrigerate dough‑lined plate until firm, about 30 minutes.
Ingredients • 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled, divided • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided This is Hillary’s favorite pie crust recipe, but you can also use your favorite or even a grocery store pie crust.
• 1 tbsp sugar • 1/2 tsp salt
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INSIDE THIS EDITION 2404 Park Ave. W., Mansfield, OH 44906 419-LAW-2020 BeSmartLegal.com
1 The Best Time of the Year
2 The Traditions Behind the Trees
3 Old Fashioned Pecan Pie
4 Take Care of Yourself
Winter Wellness: Staying Healthy During the Holiday Season The holidays bring joy but can also
Local Wellness Resources
Mansfield • Mental Health & Recovery Board: 419-774-5811 • Third Street Family Health: 419-525-2555 • Catalyst Life Services: 419-756-1717 • NAMI Richland County: 419-522-6264 • OhioHealth Urgent Care: 419-520-3111 Columbus • Mental Health America of Ohio: 614-221-1441 • NetCare Access (24/7 Crisis): 614-276-2273 • Columbus Public Health: 614-645-7417 • OSU Wexner Medical Center: 614-293-8000 • Southeast Healthcare: 614-225-0990 Winter Activities • Snow Trails (Mansfield): Skiing/Snowboarding • Franklin Park Conservatory (Columbus): Holiday Lights • Kingwood Center Gardens (Mansfield): Christmas Display • Columbus Zoo: Wildlights • COSI (Columbus): Indoor Family Activities
• Get adequate sleep despite busy schedules. • Wash hands frequently during holiday gatherings. • Take vitamin D supplements during darker winter months. Enjoying the Season • Plan ahead for holiday activities to avoid last-minute stress. • Create a realistic budget for gifts and festivities. • Make time for meaningful traditions. • Connect with friends and family in simple ways. • Remember it’s okay to adjust or simplify celebrations. Remember: Taking care of yourself allows you to fully enjoy this special time with loved ones.
create stress and health challenges. Here are practical ways to maintain wellness during this busy season: Mental Health • Schedule “quiet time” between holiday events. • Set realistic expectations for family gatherings. • Learn to say “no” to excessive commitments. • Continue regular exercise routines. • Practice mindfulness through brief meditation breaks. Physical Health • Stay hydrated (holiday drinks don’t count!). • Keep healthy snacks available during shopping trips.
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