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Insurance Products
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Trivia Question of the Month:
"Who Wrote It?"
Each year at this time we hear
readings of the poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (T'was
the Night Before Christmas). Who wrote this holiday classic?
A.
Henry W. Longfellow
B.
Mark Twain
C.
Clement Moore
D.
Robert Frost
E.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Click here to see the
answer!
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Testimonial:
"Professional and Informative"
"Both
my wife and I were very pleased by Ron's professional as well as
informative, yet simple, explanation of the insurance options
available after turning 65. Telephone solicitors simply can't
compare!"
Jim & Chris Cannon
Buford, GA
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The Shipwreck
The only survivor of a shipwreck
was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly
for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help,
but none seemed forthcoming.
Exhausted, he eventually managed to
build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements
and to store his few possessions. But then one day, after scavenging
for food , he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the
smoke rolling up to the sky.
The worst had happened; everything
was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger. "God, how could
you do this to me!" he cried.
Early the next day, however, he was
awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It
had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?"
asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke
signal," they replied.
It is easy to get discouraged when
things are going badly. But we shouldn't lose heart, because God is
at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering.
Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground--it just
may be a smoke signal that summons The Grace of God.
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Legend of th e Candy Cane
A Candymaker in Indiana wanted to
make a candy that would help us remember who Christmas is really about.
So he made a Christmas Candy Cane. He incorporated several symbols
for the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ.
He began with a stick of pure
white, hard candy. White to symbolize the virgin birth and sinless
nature of Jesus. Hard candy to symbolize the solid rock, the
foundation of the Church, and firmness of the promises of God.
The candymaker made the candy in
the form of a "J" to represent the name of Jesus. It also
represented the staff of the "Good Shepherd".
The candymaker then included red
stripes. He used three small stripes and a large red stripe to
represent the suffering Christ endured at the end of his life.
The candy became known as a Candy
Cane - a decoration seen at Christmas time. The meaning has faded,
but still gives joy to children young and old.
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Dear David,
HAVE A
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
It's hard to
believe that we're coming to the end of another year.
I hope you will get into the Spirit of the holiday season this
year. Christmas is a season of joy, peace and hope.
It's a time to remind ourselves of the awesomeness of life.
I look
forward to another year and hope that at some point we will find an
opportunity to speak with each other.
Let's keep
in touch. Take a moment to find us on Facebook by
clicking the logo below:
Sincerely,
Ron Dutton
678-464-8602
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Why The
Gifts?
The question often seizes our
brains in December, somewhere between the shopping
mall and the outlet stores: "Why do we give gifts this time of
year?"
Some trace the practice back to
the "Magi," who gave gifts of gold, frankincense and
myrrh to the Christ child. These three kings from the East
followed a new star to find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and
lying in a very rudimentary manger. The Magi's arrival was
originally celebrated during the "Feast of Epiphany" on
January 6th, but over time it came to be more associated with
Christmas than with Epiphany. If you count the days from
Christmas to January 6th, you'll note there are 12 "Days of
Christmas."
Prior to the end of the Middle
Ages, Christmas was not celebrated as we do today. To be
sure, it was "observed," but the gift-giving that has
become such a part of the tradition didn't take hold until the
modern era. By the time the pilgrims arrived at the new
world, gift giving was a common practice. Early Dutch
settlers actually introduced St. Nicholas, or Santa Claus, to the
new world.
As the nineteenth century
began, various popular writers did much to entrench a spirit of
gift-giving during the holidays. Included among them were O. Henry,
Charles Dickens, and Thomas Nast. Today, we are as much
involved in gift giving as a culture could ever be. This
year, "Black Friday," or the day following Thanksgiving,
was recognized as a stellar success in the retail world. Some
$12 billion dollars were spent to kick-off the holiday
season. Have you completed your shopping?
It's one thing to reflect on
why we give gifts, but it's more important to know why YOU give
gifts. Take a moment to reflect on YOUR reasons for
gift-giving. What does it mean to you? How does it make
you feel? What can you change about this tradition to make it
more meaningful to you?
Copyright 2011, Charles J. Chamberlain
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7 Toy Safety Tips For a Joyous Holiday
 The American Academy of
Pediatrics offers tips to keep children safe during
the holidays. Among them are toy safety tips:
- Select toys to suit the age,
abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child.
Toys too advanced may pose safety hazards for younger children.
- Before buying a toy or allowing your
child to play with a toy that he has received as a gift, read
the instructions carefully.
- To prevent both burns and electrical
shocks, don't give young children (under age 10) a toy that
must be plugged into an electrical outlet. Instead, buy toys
that are battery-operated.
- Children under age three can choke on
small parts contained in toys or games. Government regulations
specify that toys for children under age three cannot have
parts less than 1 1/4 inches in diameter and 2 1/4 inches
long.
- Children can have serious stomach and
intestinal problems - including death -- after swallowing
button batteries and magnets. Keep them away from young
children and call your health care provider immediately if
your child swallows one.
- Children under age 8 can choke or
suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons; do not allow young
children to play with them.
- Remove strings and ribbons from toys
before giving them to young children. Watch for pull toys with
strings that are more than 12 inches in length. They could be
a strangulation hazard for babies.
All it takes is one
tragic moment to lose a child. Grandparents can
make a difference. Be on the look-out for any unsafe
toys around your grandchildren. The organization W.A.T.C.H.
(World Against Toys Causing Harm) provides a list of the worst toys.
Take a moment to review the list with your children as
they shop for your grandchildren.
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Cigna Now Offers Value Plans
Cigna is now
offering Open Access Value Plans in Georgia. These plans are
designed to provide quality coverage at affordable premiums. A
Cigna Open Access Value Plan may be right for you if:
- You want high
quality coverage
- You want a flexible
plan to meet your needs
- You want a national
network of doctors and hospitals
- You want lower
monthly premiums
- You want access to
more than 29,000 Georgia doctors
If you would
like more information, or a quote, on Cigna's Open Access Value
Plans give us a call at (678)464-8602.
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Christmas
Video - The Gothard Sisters
With beautiful vocals and elegant strings,
these award-winning Irish dancers-turned-singers from the
Pacific northwest offer a holiday treat for your enjoyment.
Turn up the speakers and let the "First Noel" bring you a
very Merry Christmas.
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Elaine's
Recipe of the Month
Cookie Truffles
 Ingredients:
1 18-ounce package chocolate
sandwich cookies with white filling, finely crushed.
1 8-ounce package cream cheese,
softened.
1 pound white baking chocolate,
coarsely chopped.
Colored sugar (optional)
Directions:
1. Line a baking sheet with
waxed paper; set aside. In a large bowl combine crushed cookies and
cream cheese. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until well
mixed.
Shape mixture into 1-inch balls
and refrigerate for 45 minutes.
2. In a large saucepan cook and
stir white chocolate over low heat until melted; cool slightly.
3. Dip each ball into melted
white chocolate; let excess drip back into pan. Place dipped
truffles on the prepared baking sheet. If desired,sprinkle with
colored sugar. Chill truffles about 1 hour or until
firm. Store, covered, in the refrigerator.
Enjoy!
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