St. Luke Living Center correspondent
Norma Riggs played a beautiful piano “call to worship” Sunday afternoon while waiting for the arrival of our guest minister, Rev. Carl Helm, of Marion Christian Church.
On Dec. 1, it signaled the removal of turkeys, colored leaves, and pumpkins, changing of our large calendars, and other things autumn. We did a bit of prettying-up and began the construction of a large, holiday wall wreath made from used Christmas cards.
After lunch, the card table was placed on four legs and soon was surrounded by Marie Navrat and our pitch players — five-handed, ten paint, “Call for your partner.”
Later in the afternoon, our in-action exercise group was the focus of Carole Davies’ camera. She used us in preparation of an assignment for a nursing course project.
As we read more adventures of Marley Tuesday morning, we learned what happened when a 90-plus-pound Lab inadvertently laps up excessive salt water while at the beach. And it was too graphic to share here.
Beautician Bonnie dressed the “shop” in red, green, and silver sparkled, and helped her customers out the door of the little salon, looking equally attractive.
We surrounded a large table after lunch and began in earnest marking our wreath. Ruby was the chief designer while Frances, Amelia, Martin, Mildred, and Lydia manufactured the colorful round cardstock “bulbs.” We also had the unexpected help of Lynne Watts and Margie Stroda.
Dick Pracht lead prayer group Wednesday morning and Lydia, on piano, accompanied the singing of Christmas carols.
The afternoon hummed with activity, occasionally rising above a hum. Frances and Ruby put the finishing touches on the wreath, adding green, paper holly leaves and red, button holly berries.
Franie Turner “blew” through our doors with a pan full of Rice Krispy dream treats (our name for them) and invited friends into our front dining room for tea, coffee, and conversation.
Some helpful staff members assembled our large Christmas tree, moved some furniture, and strung lights on the branches. Then the decorating went into full swing. Melvin, Amelia, and Ruby participated and guided placement. Florence, Josephine, and Barbara added thumbs up or thumbs down (mostly up). The finished product brought nods of approval from our large supporting case and a chorus of “O Tannenbaum” in German was sung by O’Linda.
Lois Winter was here Thursday morning to lead “seasonal” hymn singing.
It didn’t take us long that afternoon to convert seven valentine-themed, red baskets full of white carnations to Christmas red, white, and green-ery arrangement for dining table centerpieces.
We’re very appreciative of the phone calls confirming dates and times of caroling visits, groups who provided door decorations, invitations to Christmas programs, and visitors in general. It’s a blessing to live in a thoughtful, caring community and we ask for your continued support.