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“Every November I do a Gratitude Challenge on my Facebook wall. It’s something I started years ago. “I chose November as it is an obvious perfect month to begin having a daily gratitude with having the tradition of Thanksgiving anchoring the month. It is also the month of my Dad’s birth; he was a Thanksgiving ‘baby’. I wanted to celebrate the days he lived versus the one day he passed.

“You see, having gratitude is a choice. Some days it is harder to squeeze out that choice, but over time the choice to have gratitude comes with greater ease. Gratitude is something we can hardwire our brains to ‘look’ for.

“In doing, and even when completing my Daily Gratitude challenge — #NovemberDailyGratitudeChallenge is where I post a picture and share what I am grateful for on my fb wall — I notice a shift in my world view. It is softer, gentler, more giving. It looks for the beauty first and is thankful for the little things.

“It has rewired and reset my heart to slow down, to speak more mindfully and with kindness.

“In doing this year after year, I know this has shifted me to be a better person ever so gently. It has also helped me celebrate loved ones I have lost over the years and I am so grateful for the things that I see, or hear — music — that bring them to mind and I have a gratitude and joy in their remembrance.

“I encourage you to do this for yourself heading into the holiday season. Focus on gratitude. We are all different, and yet the same. What a gift that is. “That is something to be grateful for.”

Mona Everson

Webster City

“I have always been incredibly proud to call Webster City, Iowa, USA my home. I felt like I grew up and raised my own family in the very best place on Earth. But, it has only been in the last 20 years or so that I felt truly grateful to live here.

“This community is full of kind, generous, loyal and caring people. My participation in HERO shows that these qualities not only exist in Webster City’s current residents, but also those who have lived here and moved on.

“I have said it thousands of times: If it weren’t for the generosity and loyalty of current and past Webster Citians we would never have been able to re-open the Webster Theater or keep it open, especially during the pandemic.

“They have also shown those same qualities in their participation in Angel Tree while under our watch. Thank you Webster City, I am ever grateful for you!”

Kay Ross Webster City

“With the many experiences life has brought me, I try to be grateful everyday for something. When I look out of my windows to the north, I see children playing in East Twin Park, kids playing on the ball courts, youngsters skateboarding and adults of all ages exercising and playing pickleball.

“Not to mention the trees! They are absolutely gorgeous, especially this time of the year.

“I am so thankful my husband and I moved to this location in 1985. We raised our children in that park. Both of our daughters were in the pool every summer — they ended up being lifeguards. Webster City Parks and Recreation has been a great resource for kids and parents and grandparents.

“One of my favorite parks in Webster City is Kendall Young Park. It is a great park to bike to, picnic in, walk around and the best thing: It has a ‘hidden treasure’. The lodge on the hill (referred to often as the Girl Scout Lodge) became a project for a Gold Award years ago. The scenery is spectacular.

“The more I use our parks, the more I am grateful for them. Thank you to the City of Webster City.”

Sara Trueblood Webster City

“Gratitude. “November is the month we celebrate Thanksgiving, my very favorite holiday. We celebrate gifts of family, friends, shared experiences, and no gift wrap is needed.

“Some community gifts come to us from the beauty of nature around us. Other gifts take a bit of help from people with foresight and vision, or volunteer time or from folks we simply call good people.

“Gratitude for me is being thankful for the coming together of nature, preservation, and enhancements for our many natural areas and leaving a lasting legacy for others to enjoy.”

Mark Dohms Webster City

“Whenever I need to find a moment to settle my mind, I like to walk in a park. I’m fairly certain we all have our favorite type of park. For me, the more nature in a park, the better the park is. “Of course, not everyone likes that type of park. Take, for example, the newly updated East Twin Park. It went from a park that was sort of there to a vibrant and exciting place to be. Every day that I drive by East Twin, I see people using it. It makes me happy to see that because that is what parks are for. Parks are meant to be used, enjoyed, and experienced. “Sometimes we get caught up in life, and we tend to focus very narrowly on things. It may feel as though we are simply going through the motions. Being surrounded by nature is a way to help us get out of these loops. Parks are places where we can go to let our minds relax and let them wander. Where we can play a game or have a picnic with family and friends. Where we can walk, bike, run, or simply explore. Parks are places that remind us that the world is bigger than us. That it is okay to stop for a second to catch your breath and enjoy the moment.

“That is why I love parks. I am thankful to have so many kinds of parks right here in Webster City. I do not have to travel far to find my oasis of peace. And for that, I am grateful.”

Zoami Calles Sosa Webster City

“In gratitude to all who care for and use the parks in our town …

“Yesterday, while in West Twin Park checking on the sculpture signs and the green ‘Park Yourself’ bench, I took the opportunity to ‘park myself’ for a moment.

“Resting on the park bench for a time taking in the beauty of the area, I thought, ‘How fortunate it is for Webster City to have this place for one to sit and enjoy (or absorb) peace and quiet.

“Thank you to all who keep and enjoy this park — and all of our parks.”

Janet Adams Webster City

“I find that with the good health that I have, I would be at a loss if I didn’t have ways to give. So, I volunteer. I’m fortunate that there are people who will give me ways to volunteer. The more I do, the more I learn. I’m more and more grateful to them for letting me do things.

“And I enjoy the young people who let me volunteer. What’s nice is being out and seeing people from my volunteer work.

“People say, why do you do it?

“First off, I love people.

“And the other reason is gratitude.”

Brownell Webster City

Paula

Thankful

LET’S EAT

Our Hometown Recipe Corner

Coffee and cookie combo

Espresso is a concentrated coffee brew that is stronger, thicker and higher in caffeine than a typical coffee. However, since espresso is served in very small cups, it tends to have less caffeine per serving than other coffee beverages.

The word espresso comes from the Italian verb “esprimere,” which means “to express.” Espresso is made by forcing hot water through tightly packed coffee grounds, resulting in a strong, concentrated coffee.

While many argue that espresso should only be enjoyed black in small shots, others like to add milk or even sugar to their brews. One thing that may not be contested is that espresso can be enjoyed with a small bite on the side. Biscotti, the “twice baked” cookie treat also from Italy, can be a perfect pairing to espresso. Enjoy this recipe for Chef John Ash’s “Almond-Orange Biscotti” (www.chefjohnash.com).

Almond-Orange Biscotti

Makes 36

3 large eggs, separated

11⁄2 cups sugar

1⁄3 cup melted butter, cooled

1 cup lightly toasted, coarsely chopped almonds

2 tablespoons Grand Marnier or other orange flavored liqueur

1⁄8 cup chopped, candied orange peel or 3 tablespoons finely grated orange zest

31⁄2 cups all-purpose flour

11⁄2 teaspoons baking powder

Beat the egg yolks with 3⁄4 cup sugar until light and sugar is dissolved. Stir in the melted butter, nuts, Grand Marnier, and candied orange. In a separate bowl beat the egg whites until they just begin to form peaks, and gradually beat in remaining 3⁄4 cup sugar until whites form stiff peaks.

Sift flour and baking powder together and alternately fold 1⁄3 of flour and egg white mixtures into yolks until well combined. Dough will be firm and slightly sticky. If dough is too soft, add more flour. With floured hands, divide dough into two logs approximately 11⁄2 inches in diameter. Arrange logs on a buttered or parchment lined baking sheet and bake in a preheated 325 F oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until logs are lightly brown and firm to the touch. Remove from oven and let logs cool on baking pan on a rack for 10 minutes.

On a cutting board, cut logs crosswise on the diagonal into 1⁄2-inch widths. Arrange biscotti cut side down on baking pan and bake for 5 to 7 minutes on each side or until biscotti are very lightly browned and crisp. Cool on racks and store airtight.

SAVVY SENIOR

by Jim Miller

Daily Money Managers

Can Help Seniors with Financial Chores

Dear Savvy Senior ,

Can you recommend any services that can help my elderly mother with her financial chores? My dad always used to handle the bill paying and paperwork, but he passed away last year, and mom struggles to keep on top of things. And I don’t live close enough to help her on a regular basis.

Dear Concerned,

It sounds like your mom could use a good daily money manager (or DMM). These are financial savvy professionals that can help older adults who have difficulty managing their own day to day personal financial affairs.

The types of services they provide typically includes paying bills, maintaining financial records, balancing checkbooks and negotiating with creditors. DMMs can also prepare checks for clients to sign, help older people organize bank and financial records, prepare and deliver bank deposits, gather and organize documents for tax returns, help decipher medical bills, and review bank statements in order to detect potential financial abuse or fraud.

Where to Find DMMs

Depending on where your mom lives, DMM services may be available through private non-profit elder assistance organizations or government agencies. These agencies often use volunteers to provide basic DMM tasks, such as bill paying at no cost. To find out if this is available in your mom’s area contact her Area Aging Agency. Visit ElderCare. acl.gov or call 800-677-1116 for contact information. In addition to the non-profit DMMs, an increasing number of individuals and private for-profit companies have started offering DMM services for a fee. Cost for these services varies by region but it often ranges between $25 and $100 per hour. Most clients need approximately four hours of services per month, but this too varies according to the complexity of the person’s financial situation.

The best place to look for a professional DMM in your mom’s area is through the American Association of Daily Money Managers (AADMM.com), which offers an online directory that lets you search by ZIP code. All the pros listed there have signed the group’s code of ethics. Some have passed a certification exam to earn the designation of Certified Daily Money Manager.

Before hiring a daily money manager, however, get references from two or more of their clients and check them. Also, find out what they charge and what type of insurance coverage they have. Keep in mind that neither federal nor state governments regulate the DMM industry, so there is little oversight of these services. So before turning over your mom’s bills, make certain it’s someone you can trust.

One other highly rated bill-paying service you should know about that’s specifically designed for older adults and caregivers is SilverBills (SilverBills.com). Available nationwide, this is a secure concierge bill management service that will manage your mom’s bills and pay them on her behalf, on-time and correctly, for a flat fee of $50 per month.

If you opt for this service, your mom will be paired with an account manager who will communicate and work with her over the phone, or through email, text or mail (her preference) – no computer is required. SilverBills also reviews all bills for errors and fraud and provides monthly statements showing the date, amount and manner of each payment.

Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

Loved by Jane Curtis

Parting SHOT

Diabetic

Van Diest Medical Center proudly offers a customized education program for those looking for the tools and resources to control their diabetes. This program, certified by the American Diabetes Association and the State of Iowa, allows patients to better understand the nature of their disease and the actions they can take to manage it. Our diabetic education services include:

Diabetes

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