Littlejohn Law LLC - March 2021

Littlejohn Law LLC - March 2021

WWW.LITTLEJOHNLAWLLC.COM

740-314-4829

03/21

BUILD IT. PROTECT IT. PRESERVE IT.

KEEPING WATERING THE SEED

A BRIGHT FUTURE IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER

Frustrated, he returned to the grandmaster to demand why he wasn’t seeing progress. His master calmly told him to be patient and continue to water his seed. Steve obeyed. Six months went by. Then a year. Then two years. While the other student’s tree was growing up healthy and beautiful, Steve’s tree still hadn’t peaked above the ground. Furious, he went before the grandmaster again and demanded to know why his tree still wasn’t growing. Again, the grandmaster told him nothing other than to keep watering the seed and to be patient. Reluctantly, Steve again obeyed. Soon, those two years turned into three years. The other student now had an actual tree where he had once planted the seed. Steve still didn’t see so much as a leaf above the ground, but heeding his master’s words, he kept watering his seeds. He figured that his master must have some reason for wanting him to be so patient, so even though he didn’t see the results he hoped for, he continued to obey. Then, during the fourth year, Steve’s tree grew 90 feet. It turned out that his master had given him bamboo seeds. Bamboo grows incredibly fast but only after its roots grow deep into the earth to support it. All the time Steve had watered his seed, he hadn’t known growth was happening below the surface or that it would one day lead to such incredible growth above ground. Optimism to me means being patient enough to trust that things will turn out okay. We still live in the greatest country in the world, and even though this past year has been hard, I know if we remain patient and optimistic about the future, it will pay off in the end. *Mic drop*

In a world that’s been ravaged for more than a year by a pandemic and political and social division, I’m glad that certain tools of my martial arts training can help me weather the storm mentally and emotionally. One of those tools is patience. We live in a world where everything is fast — blazing fast internet, instant cookers, fast food, you name it. We want the world and we want it now. But when I practice martial arts, I have to be patient if I want to master my techniques. I think we could all use some patience like that these days. I’ve always liked this one story I heard as a part of my training because of how it illustrates the value of patience, even when it seems like it will be for nothing. The story starts like this: Once, there was a guy — let’s call him Steve — who was learning karate from a grandmaster. One day, Steve’s master gave him and another student seeds. He told them to plant the seeds in their gardens, and that with water and sunlight, they would one day grow into mighty trees. Both students thanked their master and left to do as he had instructed them. After about a month of faithfully watering his tree, Steve still hadn’t seen anything sprout from where he’d planted the seed — even though the other student’s tree had just poked above the surface.

–Edward Littlejohn

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THE BASICS OF WHAT WE DO

AT LITTLEJOHN LAW

PROBATE LAW: THE BASICS When a loved one passes away, many times their estate (a fancy term for the sum of their possessions and assets) will go through probate. Probate is the process by which a judge will review your deceased loved one’s final wishes about who inherits what parts of their estate and ensures that those wishes are carried out. However, depending on the size and details of the estate, that process could be simple or excruciatingly long and drawn out. Littlejohn Law comes into the picture to help clients navigate the probate process, strategizing and drafting all the required documents. We also help our clients plan in advance so that they can avoid probate. I hope this helps anyone who hasn’t been sure about the extent of our services in the past. If you’re still not sure whether we can take on your case, don’t hesitate to call our office at (740) 314-4829 for a free consultation.

A few months ago, something kind of remarkable happened. Someone I know told me that although he reads my newsletter every month, he did not know what I did — or rather, what my law office does. This shocked me a little bit, but it made me realize it might not be a bad idea to answer the question of what we at Littlejohn Law do for our clients as plainly as possible. In short, we’re a real estate and probate law firm, and I’ll tell you what it means to practice those types of law. REAL ESTATE LAW: THE BASICS Practicing real estate law means we assist with real estate transactions (e.g., buying property) and litigation (e.g., settling a property boundary dispute). Both types of processes come with a host of complexities, and we can help you navigate those. We’ll see your case through every step, from the initial review of evidence (which, in the case of a property boundary dispute, means reviewing relevant documents and photographs you provide for us) all the way to the trial, where a judge and jury will hear each side of the case and reach a verdict.

LOCAL BUSINESS PROFILE: THE BEST YOU BOUTIQUE

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The Best You is for ALL women. Their goal is to make everyone who walks through their door feel comfortable and beautiful. With women’s clothing in all sizes, let them help you be the BEST you! Visit their shop located at 2401 Pennsylvania Ave., Weirton, WV 26062. Or call (304) 914-4173.

You can also find them at: Facebook.com/bestyouboutique2401

2 | 740-314-4829 This newsletter is for informational purposes only and no legal advice is intended. Be sure to consult with this law firm if you have a specific question about your situation. And remember, Edward and Jeff don’t take any unplanned inbound telephone or in-person meetings. We believe each case deserves our undivided attention.

FEATURED RESOURCE OF THE MONTH It’s time to get out of the house and get moving again. This

WHAT’S NEWWITH ME AND MY OWN?

Reflection is very important — it makes you appreciate what is going on in life. This time last year, no one knew we were headed into a pandemic. No one knew the entire world would be under lockdown. But taking that time to pause and slow down allowed me to create some great memories with Kyzlee. Here I am playing with Kyzlee and her kinetic sand. I think I enjoyed playing with the sand more than Kyzlee did.

month’s featured resource is our four-part Estate Planning Video Series. In this series, Attorney Littlejohn covers these topics:

1. Everything doesn’t have to go through probate. Why? 2. Avoid pitfalls of the “basic will” and save your family thousands of dollars in probate and nursing home costs. 3. Every attorney can write a will, but that doesn’t mean they should. Choose wisely. 4. What you can do now to protect your family at no cost.

ENGLISH GROUND BEEF PASTIES

Inspired by AllRecipes.com

INGREDIENTS

• 3/4 lb ground beef • 1 medium onion, diced • 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced • 2 sheets store-bought puff pastry dough

• 1 tsp dried parsley • Salt and pepper, to taste • 1/4 cup beef broth (as needed)

Here we are enjoying popcorn and a movie. It’s what Kyzlee loves to do on a Saturday evening.

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat your oven to 400 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. In a large bowl, combine the beef, onion, and potatoes. 3. Roll out the pastry dough into roughly 10-inch circles or squares. 4. Spoon 1/2 of the beef mixture onto each sheet of dough, then top the mixture with parsley, salt, and pepper. 5. Fold the edges of the dough over the filling, pinching each pasty shut and tucking in both ends. 6. Transfer the pasties to the prepared baking sheet, then cut several small slits in each pasty for ventilation. Bake for 45 minutes. 7. Remove the pasties from the oven and reduce the heat to 350 F. Spoon 1 tsp beef broth into each slit, then bake for an additional 15 minutes. 8. Serve and enjoy!

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352 FRANK LAYMAN BLVD. WINTERSVILLE, OH 43953

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1

DON’T LOSE HOPE IN A BRIGHT FUTURE

2

THE TYPES OF LAWWE PRACTICE

LOCAL BUSINESS PROFILE

3

WHAT’S NEWWITH ME AND MY OWN?

FEATURED RESOURCE OF THE MONTH

ENGLISH GROUND BEEF PASTIES

4

THE BEST CLEANING TOOL CAN BE FOUND IN YOUR KITCHEN

WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS ...

Lemons don’t just add a tart flavor to your favorite desserts or cool you down in a refreshing drink on a hot summer day. In addition to bold flavors, lemons also have powerful cleaning properties. Their acidity and oils cut through grease and can sanitize many of your household items. The best place to clean with a lemon is in the kitchen. For the microwave, simply juice a whole lemon into a bowl of water, then plop the used peels into the bowl. Microwave the mixture for a few minutes, let the bowl cool before removing it, then wipe away the grease in the microwave. You can also use this method for your oven. For odor-blocking properties, you can use a lemon as an air freshener. Leave half of a lemon in your refrigerator to trap and block potential smells and toss old lemon rinds down the garbage disposal. Run the disposal to clean the blades and freshen up the sink. As for your kitchen tools, don’t toss them out without trying this lemon trick first. Start by sprinkling salt on a wooden cutting board, then slice a lemon in half. Using half the lemon (flesh-side down) like a sponge, scrub the board really well. Wipe and remove the leftover lemon juice and rinse the board before using it again. Not only will the board appear cleaner, but it also won’t smell as bad, and the bacteria will be gone. You can also use this method to polish dining ware, spruce up copper, and even remove stuck-on food from plates.

Now, here’s the real secret: Once you master kitchen cleaning a la lemon, you can use these same principles to clean other parts of your house. For example, salt and lemon can be used to scrub grimy sinks and faucets, while a few squeezes of lemon juice in a cup of water makes an excellent cleaning solution for mirrors and windows. You can even make your own reusable cleaning spray by fermenting lemon peels — and the peels of other citrus fruits — in white vinegar for two weeks. Remove the peels after two weeks and spritz the mixture over surfaces you need to clean!

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