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LeRoy Brenna gets a poinsettia made and distributed by the Central Valley Girl Scouts.

Greetings from “The Home” front …

We’re on our countdown to Christmas! The trees are up – the decorations abound -presents are arriving and friends and family are stopping by to visit. It’s a wonderful time of year!!

A special thank you to the Central Valley Girl Scouts who stopped by on Saturday with hand made poinsettias for all our residents. The plants looked so life like and the residents really enjoyed them – and the best part too – no need to water! Thanks again for thinking of us.
We started out Sunday with a delightful holiday piano recital by the students of Rachel Winger performing in the chapel. The children work so hard on their piano pieces and the residents thoroughly enjoyed their efforts. There was newscurrents on Monday morning and in the afternoon, we decorated cupcakes, they sure were good. Some of the residents got together and sang carols throughout the hallways and in the activity room. It was great to hear those old familiar songs. We had Sit & Be Fit on Tuesday morning and we rocked to jingle bell rhythm band in the afternoon. Thank you to Shirley Beck for volunteering her time and bringing everything needed to make sunbuckles with one of our residents. Everyone had fun trying to name that Christmas Tune on Wednesday and later in the afternoon the crafty ladies (and men) made “smores” ornaments – they looked good enough to eat but thankfully no one did! Riverside Church came later in the day to serenade while walking through the hallways. Pastor Dianne was here for Bible Study Thursday morning and our much-anticipated Christmas Party was held in the afternoon. Leonard and Betty Wahl provided musical entertainment, Bethany Church Ladies provided the lunch, and every resident receive a gift from Santa. Friday brought mass and church in the morning and pretty nails and happy ½ hour in the afternoon. Our Saturday movie is “The Christmas Gift”. It the story of a widowed NYC architect (John Denver) and his young daughter who take a Christmas trip and end up in a small mystical town in Colorado where everyone believes in Santa Claus.

On Sunday the 23rd at 2 p.m. the residents will be gathering in the activity room to share their Christmas memories. Molly will be bringing vintage Christmas items to show and talk about. There is also Kaffee Hus from 2-3:30 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday in the dining room. Monday (Christmas Eve!!!) there is a church service at 10:30 and later in the afternoon our resident Santa will be delivering the Angel Tree Gifts. Thank you to everyone in the community who supported this wonderful event by providing gifts for our residents. On Wednesday – Merry Christmas!!!!- Molly will be here at 3 p.m. to play Christmas 5 square. It’s back to work as usual on Wednesday with Choir in the morning and Bunco in the afternoon. We will also have a snowball toss later on. Thursday brings reading with Elaine and then pretty nails and happy ½ hour. After mass and church on Friday the American Legion/VFW will be here to play Money Bingo with the residents.

Resident Carol Moen has a birthday on December 26th and staff member Vonda Gunderson has a Christmas Eve birthday on December 24th. Happy Birthday to both of you and enjoy your special day!

Until next time – MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE and a thought for the week: The three C’s in life are Choice, Chance and Change. You must make the choice to take the chance if you wan anything in life to change.