Holland & Usry - April 2021

THE REBIRTH OF SPRING

Brings Gratitude

The rebirth of spring is finally here! It’s a joy to experience the earth awakening after the dead of winter. We’ve endured an especially long one as COVID-19 raged, and we witnessed a presidential election with a bitter aftermath of epic proportions. Lately, I’ve been searching for gratitude in everything. Being thankful helps us enjoy life, and it’s easy to do as spring unfolds. More than any time of the year, I sense how the world teems with life — and how we’re not alone. I’m attuned to the fact that a Far Greater Power lives, moves, and breathes among us. That’s why you don’t have to be a golf fan to enjoy the Masters. I’m a baseball guy, but my family is from Augusta, and I grew up around there, so I’ve always watched it. I’ve even been a few times. It’s a joy to see the azaleas explode in the background of the impossibly green grass as warm sunshine radiates all around. I’ve realized there’s another, maybe more critical reason for gratitude, too. It’s a key to resilience through hard times. Research proves it. Here are a few quotes from folks who are way smarter than me:

“Gratitude is the ability to experience life as a gift. It liberates us from the prison of self-preoccupation.”

The worst thing about spring is that it’s awful short. So, before it’s too late, get outside, eyes up, and let the wonder of creation overtake you. May it be the start of a gratitude practice for all of us to get outside ourselves, to enjoy the simple but profound abundances in our lives and the world, and to turn our lives around.

–John Ortberg

“Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.”

–Eckhart Tolle

“When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.”

–Willie Nelson

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3 SAFE APRIL FOOLS’ PRANKS YOUR KIDS WILL LOVE

Every year, a prankster makes headlines on April Fools’ Day for taking their joke too far. In 2001, a DJ in England famously broadcast that he’d spotted a replica of the Titanic floating off the coast. Hundreds of people scrambled to the spot, and their combined weight actually caused a cliff to collapse into the ocean! Luckily no one was hurt, but a Montana man who played a different joke years later wasn’t so lucky. He donned a Sasquatch outfit and leapt from the forest to scare travelers. Unfortunately, he traumatized two teens so much that they lost control of their car and ran him over. If you’re a prankster, you can probably understand what drove the radio DJ and Sasquatch to their doom. It’s easy to go down the April Fools’ rabbit hole and plan a prank that’s too elaborate for adults, let alone your kids. But don’t worry — the internet is full of funny ways to introduce your little ones to the holiday safely. Instead of concocting a potentially harmful prank, try one of these harmless jokes instead, courtesy of Parenting magazine. 1. The Undrinkable Juice You know what looks a lot like grape juice? Grape jello! To baffle your toddler (or even your 10-year-old), make a batch

of jello and let it set in a juice glass. When they try to drink it later, enjoy the hilarity that ensues.

2. Rocks — It’s What’s for Dinner! If you want to confuse and horrify your kids, scatter chocolate rock candy (treats that look like real rocks) in the backyard before dinner. Then, when it’s time to eat, head outside and chow down on a handful of “rocks.” Your kids’ faces will be priceless! (Visit Nuts.com to score this candy for $8.99 per pound.) 3. Stinky Caramel ‘Apples’ Everyone loves caramel apples, but caramel-covered onions … not so much. This April Fools’ Day, swap the tasty fruit for its smelly vegetable counterpart and watch as everyone in the house falls for your trick! These are just a few pranks you can have up your sleeve for April Fools’ — or any day of the week. For even more hilarious ideas, check out the book “Pranklopedia: The Funniest, Grossest, Craziest, Not-Mean Pranks on the Planet!” from your local library.

Testimonials

THANKS TO THE HOLLAND & USRY LAW FIRM

“After experiencing a dramatic illness, we begin looking for help this past summer. My wife and I believed there may have been some medical malpractice that attributed to the final outcome. We did not know where to begin seeking assistance. My wife found Attorney Usry on the internet. He was professional, helpful, and, above all, HONEST.”

“Thanks, Rob, for helping me and guiding me through this time of uncertainty. You have given me the confidence to go forward and know that I have a friend to lend a hand when needed.”

–Penny B.

–Don B.

www.bhollandlawfirm.com

CAN I SETTLE A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT SOLO? Here’s Where You Do and Don’t Need an Attorney

3. Experienced motorcycle accident attorneys create risk to the company. First, a settlement demand to start negotiations contains evidence that’s admissible at trial. Second, there’s an added expense for having a lawsuit where the insurance company must defend itself during trial. On the other side of this: Do you know what you need to prove to win your case? Do you know the rules of evidence? The insurance company knows that you don’t. 4. The deck is stacked. Unjust biker bias is real, because most people don’t ride — and, more often than not, they assume riders are at fault. Insurers will be extra skeptical, and you are more likely to need the services of a good accident expert/ reconstructionist, which an attorney can help retain. Of course, there are many more reasons to call an experienced motorcycle accident attorney and get the answers to all of your questions — as well as learn a few that you might not have thought to ask! To do that, call our firm at 888.230.1841. Your accident allies are just one call away.

After a motorcycle accident in South Carolina, the wise person will ask: Do I need a motorcycle accident attorney? It’s a critical question, and if they get it wrong, their rights could be in peril. For that reason, I’ll get right to the point. There are four big reasons to hire an attorney in motorcycle accident cases. 1. You don’t know what your case is worth. An experienced attorney will be the first to tell you one of the most challenging decisions is determining how much to ask for in a motorcycle accident settlement. Every case is unique, and every settlement requires consideration of many factors, which makes for a highly complicated calculation. 2. Insurance companies treat unrepresented people differently. It’s a sad fact, but the simple act of hiring an attorney makes an insurance company more likely to settle — or at least “play ball.” For many insurers, who are experts at avoiding paying out on policies, they don’t begin to take a challenge seriously until it comes from a lawyer. Is this fair? Not at all, but like “biker bias,” it exists, and it can cripple your case.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body, you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” –Colossians 3:15-16 “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” –1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Good News

SPRING VEGETABLE AND CHICKEN PASTA BAKE

Inspired by TheSeasonedMom.com

Ingredients

Directions 1. Preheat oven to 425 F and grease an 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray. 2. In the prepared dish, stir together cooked chicken, artichokes, asparagus, carrots, uncooked pasta, chicken broth, half the chives, half the parsley, garlic, salt, and 2 tbsp Parmesan. 3. Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake for 35 minutes. 4. Uncover and stir. At this point, check the pasta to make sure it is al dente. If it’s undercooked, cover the dish and return to the oven until pasta is tender. 5. Remove from oven and garnish with remaining Parmesan, chives, and parsley.

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1 cup cooked chicken, diced 1 14-oz can artichokes, drained and quartered 1 cup fresh asparagus pieces 1/2 cup carrots, grated 1 1/2 cups uncooked penne pasta 1 3/4 cups chicken broth 1/2 cup fresh chives, chopped and divided 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped and divided

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2 tsp minced garlic

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided

864.582.0416

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* This newsletter is intended to educate the public about personal injury, workers’ compensation, criminal defense, and family law issues. You can copy and distribute it as long as you copy the entire newsletter. But the newsletter is not intended to be legal advice; you should ask a lawyer about your specific case. Every case is different, and all case outcomes depend on unique facts and laws.

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INSIDE this issue The Rebirth of Spring 3 Safe April Fools’ Pranks Your Kids Will Love Testimonial Settle a Motorcycle Crash Without an Attorney Spring Vegetable and Chicken Pasta Bake

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How Lulu the Pig Saved Her Owner From a Heart Attack

If you no longer want to receive this newsletter, call Pam at 864.582.0416 or email [email protected] .

Man’s Smartest Friend LULU THE POT-BELLIED PIG’S CUNNING PLAN TO SAVE HER OWNER

According to animal experts, pigs are smarter than any other domestic animal, including cats and dogs. That may seem hard to believe, as you probably associate pigs with a pink, smelly animal that oinks and rolls around in the muck. However, the story of how Lulu the pot-bellied pig saved her owner’s life might persuade you to reconsider. Back in 1998 (otherwise this story would have certainly gone viral), Lulu the pig was a permanent fixture at Jo Ann and Jack Altsman’s property in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. They had initially only taken Lulu from her original owner, the Altsmans’ daughter, for a temporary stay, but they ended up bonding with Lulu, and she was with them for much longer than expected. On Aug. 4, Jo Ann suffered from a heart attack. Jack was out of town on a fishing trip, and even though Jo Ann cried for help and even threw an alarm clock out the window, no one heard her cries

from their somewhat secluded home. The family’s dog, Bear, barked and barked to no avail. Lulu, however, knew Jo Ann needed help quickly and waddled into action. Lulu made her way to the nearest road, scraping her skin in the process and leaving it torn and bleeding. Once she reached the road, she laid down as if to play dead. Not long after that, a passing driver saw Lulu and stopped to check on her. Once Lulu was sure she had the driver’s attention, she got up and waddled back toward her home, leading the driver to where Jo Ann lay on the floor. When the driver found Jo Ann, he immediately called 911, and emergency services took her to a medical center for open-heart surgery. Had just 15 more minutes passed without help, Jo Ann would have died.

For her heroism, Lulu received the Tiffany gold hero’s medal from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and made multiple television appearances as her fame spread. Hopefully, she was smart enough to know just how much she was appreciated.

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