It’s hard to believe it’s that time of year again when our friends and family start heading back to their summer homes. It feels bittersweet, especially now that the weather is at its best. If you’re traveling home, I wish you a safe and pleasant journey. We look forward to welcoming you back in the fall!
This month, our theme is forgiveness. Lately, I’ve had conversations with friends and loved ones who struggle to find joy, because they’re holding onto unresolved anger—toward others and themselves. I hope this inspires you to seek and offer forgiveness, both to yourself and to those you love.
Whether you’re getting your home ready for Easter guests or preparing to leave for the summer, don’t forget to visit the local businesses that support The Grand Season They offer amazing products and services to our community.
Enjoy the beautiful weather while it lasts—I have to admit, I’m a little nervous that those triple-digit temperatures are just around the corner!
Wishing you a joyful and blessed Easter!
Melissa Whitton Editor/Associate Publisher
INSPIRE LEAVE THE PAST BEHIND
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
There is no love without forgiveness, and there is no forgiveness without love.
Bryant H. McGill
The ineffable joy of forgiving and being forgiven forms an ecstasy that might well arouse the envy of the gods.
Elbert Hubbard
The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.
Mahatma Gandhi
Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them.
Bruce Lee
To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.
Lewis B. Smedes
When you forgive, you in no way change the past—but you sure do change the future.
Bernard Meltzer
I believe forgiveness is the best form of love in any relationship. It takes a strong person to say they’re sorry and an even stronger person to forgive.
Yolanda Hadid
We think that forgiveness is weakness, but it’s absolutely not; it takes a very strong person to forgive.
T. D. Jakes
FAMILY-RUN BUSINESS
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LOVE STRONGER TOGETHER
Forgiveness not only heals our hearts; it heals relationships. Often, we think of forgiveness as something we need for big things—but it’s those little things that can lead to resentfulness and bitterness, especially towards our spouses. Forgiveness in marriage is critical if you want to have a healthy relationship. So, when your husband forgets to do something you asked him to, or when he says something in a tone you don’t like, deal with it right then. Tell him how you feel, and then make up your mind to wipe that slate clean and forgive him. If you need help getting started, here are four steps toward forgiveness in your marriage.
1. Forgiveness is a choice, not a feeling.
You may not feel like forgiving. You may want to harbor the anger and hurt and make your spouse pay for what he has done. But, once you decide you want to grant forgiveness, you can begin to work through those feelings.
2. Share your hurt.
After your spouse has apologized and asked for forgiveness, you need to talk about the matter
before you move on. It might be uncomfortable, but you need to share how you feel. Don’t point a finger; just share how you feel so she’ll understand the depth of your hurt.
3. Plan for change.
The goal here is not to punish your spouse with requirements, but to set up guidelines that you both agree to. That way, there will be fewer gray areas that can lead to disappointment later in your relationship.
4. Stop the
video.
Do not replay your spouse’s infraction over and over again in your mind. When your mind starts to wander and you begin to dwell on the incident and the hurt it caused you, tell yourself to stop. It’s one thing to need to talk to someone like a counselor about your pain so you can move past it, but it’s another when you keep inflicting the pain on yourself by dwelling on the hurt.
When you commit to resolving the small issues in your marriage, you’re actually creating a solid foundation of trust for when your relationship may face larger disappointments in life.
U N L I M I T E D G O L F !
1. Is the book of Romans (KJV) in the Old or New Testament or neither?
2. From 2 Chronicles 14, where was Abijah buried? City of David, Jerusalem, City of Gath, Nazareth
3. According to Numbers 33, how old was Aaron when he died? 100, 113, 123, 132
4. Which of these sons of Jesse did not go into battle with Saul? Eliab, David, Abinadab, Shimea
5. From 2 Kings, who was Elijah’s successor? Solomon, Elisha, Nimshi, Nimrod
6. Which of Saul’s daughters loved David? Merab, Michal, Cornelius, Paulus
Olmedo,
James Barlow, MD Victoria Phan, PA-C
Brigitte Sledge, DO Anna Koester FNP-BC
FLASHBACK
1. Who was the first to record “Delta Dawn”?
2. Name the singer who wrote and released “Blowin’ in the Wind.”
3. Belinda Jo Carlisle was lead singer for which band?
4. Who wrote and released “Bad Medicine”?
5. Name the song that contains this lyric: “Your lips on mine are soft as dew, Your kiss is so divine, Your eyes are like the skies of blue, And stars that brightly shine.”
GROWTH
PRICELESS
Although forgiveness brings many benefits, particularly to the ‘forgiver,’ to forgive is not always easy. In fact, many people who would like to let go of anger and forgive are stumped with the question of how to forgive. While everyone may have a unique perspective on how to forgive, the following strategies have been proven effective for many people.
Express yourself
When trying to decide how to forgive someone, it may or may not help to express your feelings to the other person. If the relationship is important to you and you would like to maintain it, it may be very useful for you to tell the other person—in non-threatening language—how their actions affected you. If the person is no longer in your life, or if you have reason to believe that things will get much worse if you address the situation directly, you may want to just write a letter and tear it up (or burn it) and move on. People don’t need to know that you’ve forgiven them; forgiveness is more for you than for the other person.
Look for the positive
Journaling about a situation where you were hurt or wronged can help you process what happened and move on; however, the way you write about it and what you choose to focus on can make all the difference in how easy it becomes to forgive. Research shows that journaling about the benefits you’ve received from a negative situation can actually help you to forgive and move on more easily. So pick up a pen and start journaling about the silver lining next time you find someone raining on your parade.
Cultivate empathy
While you don’t have to agree with what the other person did to you, when working on how to forgive, it often helps to put yourself in the other person’s shoes. Research has shown that empathy, particularly with men, is associated with forgiveness, and can make the process easier. Instead of seeing them as ‘the enemy,’ try to understand the factors that they were dealing with.
Get help
Sometimes it can be difficult to forget about the past and forgive, particularly if the offending acts were traumatic. If you’re still having difficulty knowing how to forgive someone who’s wronged you in a significant way, you may have better success working with a therapist who can help you work through your feelings on a deeper level and personally support you through the process.
Answers on pg. 44
1. Mount Everest is part of which mountain range?
2. Which color film was the first to win an Academy Award for Best Picture?
3. Which planet in our solar system is believed to be the windiest?
4. Where is the U.S. Constitution stored?
5. What is a group of lemurs called?
6. Which city is the setting for the dramatic series “The Wire”?
7. Which country has the most active volcanos?
8. Which character in a Charles Dickens novel famously said, “Please, sir, I want some more”?
9. Which Dutch artist is considered a master of light and shadow, creating dramatic effects in paintings?
10. What is an ectothermic animal?
CITRUS FIZZ
Ingredients
1 part Pinnacle® Citrus Vodka
2 parts Club Soda
Garnish with Raspberries
Garnish with Lemon Wheel
Instructions
ORANGE CREAM MARTINI
Ingredients
2 parts Pinnacle® Orange Whipped® Vodka
1 part DeKuyper® Creme de Cocoa White Liqueur
2 parts Orange Juice
Orange Wedges
Instructions
JUICY SCREW
Ingredients
1 part Pinnacle® Original Vodka
1 part Watermelon Schnapps
3 parts Orange Juice Splash of Soda Water
Instructions
Cocktail: Build over ice, stir gently, and serve. Ice Cubes: Cut fresh watermelon into workable pieces. Remove the seeds and the rind. Puree the watermelon in a blender
GINGER ROGERS
Ingredients
2 parts Maker’s Mark® Bourbon
2 1/2 parts Mango Nectar
1/2 parts fresh Lime Juice
1/2 part Ginger Beer
1 dash Bitters
Cubes, fresh Mango
Instructions
Pour the Maker’s Mark® Bourbon, nectar, lime juice, ginger beer and bitters into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously for about 25 seconds. Strain into a cocktail glass or
FLASHBACK
1. No, it wasn’t Tanya Tucker, although hers was the best known, nor was it Helen Reddy, although she topped the charts with her cover of the song. The first to release the song was Bette Midler on her debut album in 1971.
2. Bob Dylan, in 1962. The song didn’t get much attention when it first came out, but it ended up as No. 14 on the Rolling Stone list of 500 greatest songs of all time and went into the Grammy Hall of Fame
3. The all-female The Go-Go’s, organized in 1978.
4. Bon Jovi, in 1988.
5. “So Many Ways,” by Brook Benton, in 1959. Benton (born Benjamin Franklin Peay) had three songs top the R&B charts that year, and “So Many Ways” stayed there for three weeks.
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MOVE FORWARD
Forgiving yourself can be one of the hardest yet most important steps toward healing and personal growth. We often hold ourselves to high standards, and when we make mistakes, the guilt and regret can be overwhelming. However, self-forgiveness is essential for emotional well-being and a more fulfilling life. Here are some steps to help you let go and move forward:
1. Acknowledge Your Mistakes
The first step in self-forgiveness is recognizing what happened. Avoiding or suppressing the mistake only prolongs guilt. Be honest with yourself about what you did, why it happened, and the impact it had. Acknowledgment is not about self-punishment but about understanding.
2. Accept That You Are Human
No one is perfect, and mistakes are a part of life. Remind yourself that growth often comes from failures. Instead of defining yourself by your past actions, recognize that mistakes do not determine your worth. You are more than your worst moments.
3. Apologize and Make Amends
If your actions hurt others, taking responsibility and making amends can help ease guilt. Offer a sincere apology and, if possible, find a way to make things right. However, remember that you cannot control how others respond—focus on your own growth.
4. Learn and Grow
Instead of dwelling on regret, use your mistake as a lesson. Ask yourself what you can do differently in the future. Growth comes from experience, and sometimes our biggest mistakes lead to the greatest personal development.
5. Practice Self-Compassion
Be as kind to yourself as you would be to a close friend. Practice positive self-talk, engage in selfcare, and remind yourself that you deserve love and forgiveness.
6. Let Go and Move Forward
Holding onto guilt will not change the past. Once you have learned from your mistakes, make a conscious decision to release them. Embrace the present and look ahead with self-acceptance.
Forgiving yourself is a journey, but with patience and self-love, you can move forward with peace and a renewed sense of purpose.
MADERA
MADERA
MADERA + 3CG
MADERA + POOL
MARIPOSA
MISSION
SUN CITY GRAND
PROPERTIES OFF THE GOLF COURSE
CACTUS FLOWER
CACTUS FLOWER
FLOWER
DESERT SAGE
ESPERANZA
HACIENDA + POOL + 3CG
HAMPTON + POOL + 3CG
IRIS KENSINGTON + 3CG
KIVA
19608 N PAPAGO DR 17061 W PEREGRINE LN 17143 W LINKS DR 18747 N SUNSITES DR 15022 W COOPERSTOWN WAY 20888 N CANYON WHISPER DR 19437 N GUARDIAN LN 15893 W ARROWHEAD DR 16316 W WILLOW CREEK LN 17089 W LINKS DR 16426 W SALADO CREEK DR 17770 W CALISTOGA DR 15910 W AUTUMN SAGE DR 19612 N WASSON PEAK DR 19941 N SUMMER DREAM DR 17218 W MAHOGANY WAY
