Do you attend Christmas Eve or a candlelight Christmas service? Growing up we went to the candlelight service which is still my favorite. Recently we've started doing the earlier services (midnight is pretty late these days)!
Over the next 12 days leading up to Christmas, we have 12 polls for you to engage in with us! First up, do you do real or fake trees for Christmas?
We went artificial, pre-lit, many years ago and we will never go back!
Do you have a favorite gift you've gotten or received? I know it’s cheesy… but my favorites are the gifts we’ve given. We still tell stories of the Polly Pockets Jumbo Jet that we drove all over Northern Colorado to find. Some years, there was a scavenger hunt tied with the gifts (which we came up with the night before… usually around 11pm)!
The Friday after Thanksgiving has historically been the day the lights and Christmas deco comes out (while watching college football). This year, thanks to the warm temps and general festive mood... we dug in early and are already all decked out for Christmas. Do you decorate for Christmas before or after Thanksgiving?
Happy Thanksgiving! Celebrating a day of food & family always makes it a special time for me. We don't have many long-standing traditions... other than being disappointed by the Dallas Cowboys!
Of course the meal is the centerpiece, but we've been known to mix things up. Fried Turkey, bacon wrapped turkey, stuffed steak.. we're always ready to try something new. Today's menu.... brisket. Because, you know.... brisket!
Do you have Thanksgiving traditions? I would love to hear them!
As crazy as it may sound, I am very thankful for the multitude of DIY projects Jen & I have completed over the years. From a chandelier, to a custom closet, to a cobblestone path, to wrapping our front porch posts.... it usually starts with Jen asking "do you think we could do something like this?", which is always followed with a "how hard could it be???"
Thankful to have a Joanna to my (Dollar Store) Chip!
I'm grateful for the amazing people I get to work with every day. Kristi Peach is our operations manager and without a doubt, the person who keeps this train running on track and on time. Kristi has been blessed with a mind for organization and makes sure we are seeing who we are supposed to see, when we are supposed to see them, and ensuring nothing falls through the cracks. If you want good conversation, talk to me.... but if you want something done, talk to Kristi!
What you need to know about legacy planning & how to get startedWhy is legacy planning important? Because it gives you the chance to make a lasting impact—supporting the people and causes you care about, while staying in control over who receives what, when and how. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you begin. ↓
This year has truly been a blessing with chapters ending and new ones beginning for the girls. Lauren graduated from Texas State with a degree in Public Administrations & minor in Political Science - she then got her first 'big girl' job and is firmly settled in Austin. Macie wrapped up her Cybersecurity course and after a bit of a search, is getting her start in Fort Collins, keeping her close to home!
I'm grateful for the amazing people that make up the Trail Ridge associates. Erin Hummel is our Front Office Professional, and often the face our of office. Erin's smile is usually the first thing you see when you come to the office and cheery voice you'll hear when it's time to schedule or gather follow up info.
Erin also adds the soundtrack to the office, sometimes it's classic rock (ask her about the 'Stones), sometimes it's Christmas (never too early to start for Erin)! Thank you for all you do!
6 year-end financial tasksThe hustle and bustle of the holiday season can distract us from other action items on our checklist. End the year on a strong note by refocusing on your finances. Take a look at these tasks to complete before Dec. 31.
As we step into November, I am thankful for the opportunity to help coach the JV Baseball team at Loveland High with Gene Elder. What started as an offer to throw batting practice, has turned into a rewarding experience of working with and developing the next wave of Red Wolves ballplayers.
It's a full-circle moment for me, as I had my dad as a coach throughout my high school baseball career (or as some would say... paybacks!) What are you thankful for this week?
Our team attended "Blue Jeans and Blueprints" on Friday night to raise funds for Loveland Habitat for Humanity. If you want us to join us next year, let me know!
Top 7 charitable giving strategies: Maximizing tax benefits and impactThere are ways you can help maximize tax benefits when giving. Learn more about different charitable giving strategies and their tax advantages.
Sequence of returns risk: What it means for your retirementThe market can shift at any time, and big drops early in retirement could affect your savings. The right approach can help keep your savings resilient. Check out this article, then reach out to talk through ways to help protect your savings.👇
As we get into the Halloween spirit, we can’t help but reminisce about some of our favorite Halloween memories!
Lauren has always been the queen of creative costumes over the years.. or some doozies! From Medusa (my fingers are STILL sore from attaching those snakes!) to Si from Duck Dynasty, but our all-time favorite has to be her "Monster Mash" creation. A witch hat, vampire teeth, wolfman arms, and mummy pants—classic!!
These days, we love passing out candy to the trick-or-treaters! Even though I try to guess their costumes, I think I’ve officially fallen out of the loop... but it’s always a fun surprise seeing the creative outfits that come to the door!
Wishing you all a safe and fun Halloween! What’s your favorite costume memory or trick-or-treat tradition? Share with us below! #HalloweenFun #TrickOrTreat #SpookySeason
Help your money last in retirementA long life is a gift—let’s help make sure your finances can keep up. Start by building financial resilience against inflation, market swings, and rising health and care costs.
The 3 advantages of life insurance for childrenDid you know that purchasing life insurance for children while they are young is more beneficial than waiting until they are older? Here are 3 reasons to insure them now. ⬇️
Were you aware you may have Thrivent Choice Dollars that you can direct of your choosing if you are eligible? Thrivent has over 50k organizations to choose from including my personal favorite, "NOCO Humane." We value our connections in our communities and we encourage you to choose where some of this money can be directed if you are eligible!
