Plan. Protect. Preserve.
OFFICES: Brighton | Bloomfield Hills | Livonia | Novi
If you’re a regular reader of this newsletter, you probably already know that I got a pellet smoker this year. A good bit of my summer was spent experimenting with ribs, brisket, and other cuts of meat that lend themselves to a low-and-slow approach. Just because we’re entering the holiday season doesn’t mean I’m ready to give up those smoky flavors just yet. After the first snow of the year, my wife, Rochelle, will be making fun of me for shoveling a path straight to the smoker. I bring up the smoker yet again because, while we haven’t finalized our Thanksgiving plans just yet, smoked turkey will be on the menu no matter where we end up sitting down to break bread. Turkey, famously, is hard as heck to roast. By the time the dark meat reaches peak succulence, the breast has already dried out. There are all sorts of tricks to avoid this sad fate — basting, tin foil, stuffing, those little plastic things that pop out — but I’ve been told countless times that smoking the turkey solves the problem without the need for constant monitoring or gadgets you use one time per year. I’ll give it a trial run before the holiday itself, but I’m hoping it’s all it’s cracked up to be. At the very least, I’ll have fun giving it a go. Of course, Thanksgiving is as much about family and gratitude as it is about feasting and football games — especially in a year, like many, when the Lions will be out of contention well before November. A few weeks back, I was watching our AND THANKS ARE BETTER SHARED TURKEY TASTES BETTER SMOKED
kids participate in a fun run at their school when I felt an overflowing sense of thankfulness for my family. Madison, our youngest, was flying around the track with reckless abandon. As I watched, remembering the days when she was wobbling around our house, I welled up with emotion. It’s just unspeakably cool to see the kids grow up and to share these moments with them. In addition to the gratitude I have for my own family, I’m lucky to work in a profession where I have the chance to provide assistance and support to other families as well. There are no words to express how rewarding it is to help people plan for the future. Not many people have their dream jobs or work with amazing clients on a daily basis. I’m one of the lucky few, and I don’t take it for granted.
Speaking of those amazing clients, I need to take a moment to say thanks to everyone who helped make 2018’s Brighton Walk to End Alzheimer’s the most successful yet. As a firm, we set a goal to raise $11,000 — $1,000 more than we did in 2017. We ended up raising $12,500! In total, the Brighton walk raised $178,000 to fight Alzheimer’s and dementia, which is another all-time high. The fact that our community of clients, friends, and family was able to contribute to this cause to such a degree humbles me extremely. I am honored to work and live among such inspiring and giving folks. As you sit down with your family for Thanksgiving, whether you smoke your turkey or not, I hope you have plenty to be thankful for this year. I know that I do, and that, in and of itself, deserves an acknowledgement of gratitude.
“Of course, Thanksgiving is as much about family and gratitude as it is about feasting and football games — especially in a year, like many, when the Lions will be out of contention well before November.”
– Christopher J. Berry
888-390-4360 • 1
Plan. Protect. Preserve.
HOW TO HELP A CAREGIVER DURING National Family Caregivers Month
Check In: Almost 2 out of every 3 caregivers said that feeling isolated or alone was a significant challenge in providing care for someone with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. What’s more, half of all caregivers felt like they couldn’t talk to anyone in social settings or work about what they were going through. So start the conversation — make a phone call to check in, send a note, or stop by for a visit to make a big difference in a caregiver’s day and help them feel supported. Tackle the To-Do List: Ask for a list of errands that need to be run — pick up groceries or dry cleaning or even offer to shuttle kids to and from activities. It can be hard for a caregiver to find time to complete these simple outside-of-the-home tasks that we often take for granted. Be Specific and Flexible: Open-ended offers of support (“Call me if you need anything” or “Let me know if I can help”) may be well-intended, but are often dismissed. Try making your offer of help or support more specific (“I’m going to the store; what do you need?” or “I have free time this weekend; let me stop over for a couple of hours so you can do what you need to do.”) Don’t get frustrated if your offer of support is not immediately accepted. The family may need time to assess its needs. Continue to let the caregiver know that you are there and ready to help. Help for the Holidays: Holiday celebrations are often joyous occasions, but they can be challenging and stressful for families of those with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. Help caregivers around the holidays by offering to help with cooking, cleaning, or gift shopping. If a caregiver has traditionally hosted family celebrations, offer your home instead. Join the Fight: Honor a person living with the disease and their caregiver by joining the fight against Alzheimer’s. You can volunteer at your local Alzheimer’s Association office, participate in fundraising events such as the Walk to End Alzheimer’s and The Longest Day, advocate for more research funding, or sign up to participate in a clinical study as a healthy volunteer through the Alzheimer’s Association’s Trial Match. Joining the cause can help families facing the disease know that they are not alone in their fight.
November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month. The Alzheimer’s Association is marking these events by recognizing and honoring the more than 16 million family members and friends across the U.S. who are currently caring for a person living with Alzheimer’s. According to an Alzheimer’s Association survey, people overwhelmingly agree that caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia should be a group effort among family or close friends, yet 1 out of 3 caregivers do not engage others in caregiving tasks. More than 4 out of 5 caregivers would have liked more support in providing care for someone with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, especially from their families. With 16 million Alzheimer’s caregivers across the country, that leaves a lot of people in need of support. This November, during National Family Caregivers Month, the Alzheimer’s Association is encouraging people to lend a hand to caregivers. Here are just a few of the ways that people can help caregivers this month. Learn: Educate yourself about Alzheimer’s disease, its symptoms, its progression, and the common challenges caregivers face. The more you know, the easier it is to find ways to help. The Alzheimer’s Association has a vast amount of resources and information available at alz.org. Build a Team: The Alzheimer’s Association care team calendar is a free, personalized online tool to organize family and friends who want to help with caregiving. This service makes it easy to share activities and information within the person’s care team. Helpers can sign up for specific tasks, such as preparing meals, providing rides, or running errands. Users can post tasks for which assistance is needed. Visit the care team calendar here: alz.org/care/ alzheimers-dementia-care-calendar.asp. Give a Break: Make a standing appointment to give the caregiver a break. Spend time with the person with dementia and allow the caregiver a chance to run errands, go to their own doctor appointments, participate in a support group, or engage in an activity that helps them recharge. Even one hour could make a big difference in providing the caregiver some relief.
2 • www.MichiganEstatePlanning.com
Should Last Beyond Thanksgiving AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
HOW TO PRACTICE GRATITUDE In the above quotation from Dr. Emmons, he mentions the practice of keeping a gratitude journal. This activity is a great way to start seeing the world with a more positive, appreciative eye. As often as you can, take a few minutes to write down the acts, people, and moments that you’re grateful for. Some will be big, others small — but all will have an impact on your mood and bring a smile to your face. Before you know it, you’ll have an entire book full of good memories and warm feelings. While keeping a journal is great, there are other ways to go about cultivating and expressing gratitude. The easiest one is simply to say “Thanks” whenever you can. It may seem insignificant, but you’d be surprised what a difference it makes. When you approach the world with the perspective that every day is Thanksgiving, it’s only natural to be grateful. We all have moments when we want to curse the world, especially as we get older, and those experiences are perfectly normal. Just as frequently, though, we have moments that are worth celebrating, often with people who are worth appreciating. Which will you think about more?
Taking the time to acknowledge who and what you’re grateful for is a Thanksgiving tradition far more important than turkey or football. It’s the cornerstone of the holiday and the reason we feast together in the first place. But when you really think about it, should expressing our gratitude and appreciation for others be limited to one day every year? Of course not! WHY GRATITUDE MATTERS As we get older, it’s easy to succumb to negativity and pessimism — “Kids these days,” “The world isn’t what it used to be,” etc. The crabby grandparent and angry old neighbor are archetypal depictions of later life. But these fictions don’t have to be your reality. Recognizing and acknowledging gratitude will help you take stock of the positive aspects of your life and dwell less on unhappy thoughts. Being grateful has also been linked to significant health benefits. According to gratitude expert and author Dr. Robert A. Emmons, “Preliminary findings suggest that those who regularly practice grateful thinking do reap emotional, physical, and interpersonal benefits. Adults who keep gratitude journals on a regular basis exercise more regularly, report fewer illness symptoms, feel better about their lives as a whole, and are more optimistic about the future.”
Chris’ Paleo Corner:
PARSNIP & TURNIP PURÉE
Thank You!
For us to be able to help family and friends just like you, we depend on referrals.
Thanksgiving is a pretty paleo-friendly holiday, but mashed potatoes can be hard to resist. This year, swap out the starchy tubers for parsnips and turnips.
Thank you to the following people for your support!
Jennifer Abner Doug Bidinger Bonnie Cremer Jennifer Sullivan Edward Williams II Mike Witzke
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large stock pot filled with 2 quarts water, bring parsnips and turnips to a boil. Cook partially covered for 15 minutes, until fork-tender. 2. Drain vegetables and transfer to a large bowl or food processor. 3. Add broth, butter, salt, thyme, and
• 1 pound parsnips, peeled and cubed • 1/2 pound turnips, peeled and cubed • 1/2 cup chicken broth • 3 tablespoons butter or ghee • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme • Pinch of fresh ground pepper
pepper. If using a food processor, purée until smooth. If using a bowl, mash until smooth and fully combined. Serve.
Inspired by Against All Grain
888-390-4360 • 3
Plan. Protect. Preserve.
8550 Grand River Ave., Ste. 200 Brighton, MI 48116 888-390-4360 www.MichiganEstatePlanning.com
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
INSIDE This Issue
Gratitude for Family and Clients PAGE 1
How to Help a Caregiver During National Family Caregivers Month PAGE 2
How to Give Thanks Year-Round PAGE 3
Parsnip and Turnip Purée PAGE 3
How Thanksgiving Became an Official Holiday! PAGE 4
SARAH HALE
How Thanksgiving Became a National Holiday
Thanksgiving is one of the most popular holidays celebrated throughout the United States. One of the first documented
Thanksgiving became a national holiday more than 200 years after its first celebration. It gained this status largely due to the persistence of a woman named Sarah Josepha Hale. Hale was a successful magazine editor, prolific writer of novels and poems, and author of the famous nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” which was first published in her 1830 collection entitled “Poems for Our Children.” In 1827, Hale began a campaign to make Thanksgiving a national holiday. For the next 36 years, she wrote numerous editorials and countless letters to state and federal officials expressing her desire that it gain official status. In 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln finally declared it a national holiday, hoping that it would help heal the wounds of the country. Lincoln decided that the holiday would take place on the last Thursday of November. It was celebrated on that day until 1939, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving a week earlier in the hopes of increasing retail sales during the Great Depression. However, this plan was very unpopular, and in 1941, the president reluctantly signed a bill making Thanksgiving the fourth Thursday in November. Without the efforts of Sarah Hale, we might not have the pleasure of the Thanksgiving feast we know and love to this day. This year, give thanks for family, good food, and the resolve of one woman who recognized the importance of Thanksgiving as a national holiday.
Thanksgiving celebrations took place in 1621 when Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared a feast together. But the banquet, which
celebrated the colonists’ first successful harvest, wasn’t just one large meal, nor did it last for only one day; in fact, the feast lasted for three days.
In later years, Thanksgiving also lasted for longer than a single meal. During the time of the
American Revolution, the Continental Congress chose several days throughout the year to celebrate giving thanks. Then, in 1789, George Washington made the U.S. national government’s first Thanksgiving proclamation. He used this to speak to his fellow American citizens about the Revolution’s satisfactory conclusion and encouraged them to show their thanks for the freedoms they gained.
4 • www.MichiganEstatePlanning.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online