"If we only we knew where we are going from here" by: John Sample

I made it through the Thanksgiving holiday with little or no damage.    Black Friday provided a bit of change with in-store sales lower than last year, but online sales more than making up for the loss.

PSA: Advice can help with charitable gifts

It’s the holiday season, so gifts are probably on your mind – including gifts to charities.    You could write a check, but is there a more productive way to give?    One possibility is to donate investments, such as stocks, that you’ve held for a long time and that have increased in value.

"For Abraham to give up what he loved, he had to remember what God had given him" by: Caleb Gibson

Why did God ask Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac?     This is a difficult question to answer.    In the Bible, we read how God told Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a burnt offering to the Lord. Abraham believed that God was going to resurrect his son.

"Diet changes mean new food adventures for whole family" by: Jessica Shepard

Thanks to the power of Google and being able to pester mom – we finally made homemade French Onion Soup last week.

PSA: COLA is sweet for Social Security recipients

If you receive Social Security, you’ve probably already heard that your checks in 2023 will be considerably bigger.    In fact, there’s an 8.7% cost of living increase, known as COLA.    How should you use this extra money?

"Reel reviews: Estranged siblings make upcoming wedding almost flop" by: Jessica Shepard

Since we’re poised on the edge of the “Christmas Movie” season, I’ve been struggling to find a new movie that doesn’t involve sleigh bells, mall Santas, screaming children, or boring family flicks.    Luckily, a new flick dropped on Amazon Prime last Friday – “The People We Hate at the Wedding.”

"Hitting a broken leg milestone isn’t that exciting by: Jessica Shepard

When I initially accidentally broke my leg, the doctors had given me 6-8 weeks off my feet.    But, I’ve reached the 8-week milestone this Friday and I’m still in a cast.    We’re unsure of what happens next exactly – though I do know that it’s dampening my holiday spirit!

"Crypto had its own Halloween a couple of weeks later" by: John Sample

We had quite a week with the election, CPI and the failure of crypto trading platform FTX.    Of most importance, the various averages and indexes put in a positive week as the earnings season comes to an end.    We are not that far from the holidays.

PSA: Is a Donor-advised Fund Right for You?

You can find many ways to support charitable organizations.    One method that’s gained popularity in recent years is called a donor-advised fund.    Should you consider it?    It depends on your situation.    But you might at least want to know how it works.