Greetings from “The Home” front …
Forget about dieting and just throw away the scale!! We are celebrating Christmas in a big way here at LMH! Wednesday was our 24th annual Cookie Sampler and you should have seen the trays of cookies that our staff provided for our residents to taste test and enjoy! The residents really look forward to this event every year and this year was no exception!
We had lots of other events happening this week too! Monday was Christmas Music Reminisce featuring those all-time favorites from our childhood and later several residents painted small wooden Christmas trees. There was also Bunco and then Bingo in the evening. Tuesday brought Newscurrents, Rhythm Band and Cabin Categories. Before our cookie sampler on Wednesday, the residents sang carols at our Christmas Choir in the morning and Molly went shopping for them in the afternoon. We had a fun game of left/right holiday story on Thursday morning – there was lots of giggling as residents passed a gift around right/left while trying to follow the story line. There was also Pretty Nails in the afternoon plus Reminisce and then Bingo in the evening. Pastor Deb was here for Church on Friday morning and later our resident crafters made darling mice ornaments with candy cane tails! We have Sit and Be Fit on Saturday morning – after all those cookies we definitely needed to get back in shape, plus Bingo in the afternoon and then a movie matinee.
ChiChi will have everyone singing at Karaoke on Sunday afternoon. Riverside Church is also having their Festival of Songs on Sunday evening. Our go to guy for video and tech problems – Chris Larson is planning to help live stream the performance so our residents will be able to view it in their rooms.
On Monday we will learn the story behind some of our favorite Christmas carols. Did you know that Little Town of Bethlehem was written in 1865 by Phillip Brooks, and Episcopalian minister? He rode a horse from Jerusalem to Bethlehem where he participated in the Church of the Nativity’s five-hour long Christmas Eve celebration. Returning home to England, this experience proved so profound that he channeled it into the song now sung in churches everywhere. Its first public performance was held three years later, performed by the Children’s choir of his church on December 27, 1868. In the afternoon there will be Christmas cookie decorating (YUM!!!), a Resident Council meeting and Bingo in the evening. Tuesday brings Newscurrents, Jeopardy and Reading. We have a fun memory quiz planned for Wednesday with Finish the Christmas Lyrics activity, then Crafts in the afternoon and resident shopping. Pastor Deb will lead Bible Study on Thursday, followed by Pretty Nails in the afternoon and Bingo in the evening. Pastor Deb is back for Church on Friday and then we celebrate TGIF with Happy ½ hour.
Our staff are also getting into the Christmas spirit with our annual Deck the Door contest. Staff members sign up to decorate a resident’s door and believe me – they can get quite creative. When you walk down the hallway it is fun to see all the doors decorated – it really livens up the place@! We also are having an UGLY shirt contest on December 21. Staff will be wearing their ugliest t-shirt, scrub top or sweater – with prizes for the worst one!
Other events on our Calendar are the Blue Christmas memorial where we honor our residents that have passed away this year and also our Tree of Lights will adorn our lobby. Special thanks to all of you who have contributed to the Tree of Lights and your name will be on one of our special angel ornaments – because of your generous donations you really are an angel to LMH. If you still wish to contribute to our Tree of Lights, forms are available at the receptionist desk. We also have the resident Christmas Party with Santa and later in the week we will deliver Angel Tree gifts. There is certainly lots to look forward to in the coming weeks.
There are no resident birthdays this week and only one staff birthday – Happy Birthday Francisco Smukalla on December 26th. After 19 years with us, Vonda (Gunderson) Bring is retiring. Best wishes to you Vonda on your next big adventure. You will be missed.
Until next time … a thought for the week … Focus on the step in front of you and not the whole staircase …Mask Up and Make it a Great Week …