ARCHIVE

St. Luke Living Center

By SUE GUTSCH

St. Luke Living Center reporter

We did some hymn singing with Shirley Bowers Thursday morning and after lunch. Shirley joined the group headed out on a shopping spree in our large white van.

That evening we utilized two vehicles for the annual Christmas lighting tour. We drove down some city streets on our way to Marion County Lake where we toured the entire lake community.

Friday morning we successfully baked peppermint candy shortbread cookies. The living center "culinarians" divided into five categories — mixers, rollers, smashers, drizzlers, and sprinklers — to create these holiday confections, perhaps sounding more like a hard-hat construction crew.

A delightful diversion during the baking was the visit of Katelyn and Matthew Christensen, their grandfather Bill Stoltenberg, and black cocker spaniel puppy named Cuddles.

We felt the Christmas spirit Saturday afternoon and "let it snow" while making goodies in our warm little kitchen. In a short time, we had turned out peanut clusters, almond bark dipped pretzels, and chocolate kiss topped pretzels.

The "hostile" December weather didn't prevent Brett Huebner, pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church, from being here to lead our Sunday afternoon service. Shirley Bowers, who was here visiting at the same hour, provided piano accompaniment for singing hymns.

Bonnie Plummer was here Christmas Eve morning to provide yuletide hair care. Between beauty shop visits we managed to prepare plates of fruit, cheese, nuts, cookies, and candy to serve that afternoon.

About 2 p.m. Gene Vinduska and his accordion began playing carols and when the music begins, residents are sure to follow.

Santa arrived and of course, knew which gifts belonged to whom. The presents were personally delivered and promptly opened.

We took time to visit with each other, the guests, and staff who had joined us and all shared the good snacks we'd prepared.

Christmas morning a group assembled around a wooden table next to the sunny windows in our large dining room with a pot of coffee, 12-year-old Erin Brooks, and her grandmother, Sue Gutsch. The next one and one-half hours were a potpourri of Christmas related material including a little holiday trivia, some good ol' days, a bit of Baxter Black, several poems and essays from Ideals magazine, and memory sharing. Erin had brought a big, decorated stocking and some contents, including her new iPod with a tiny screen. She explained how the music is downloaded to the little instrument and showed everyone the video being shown.

Many residents had gone to church or were going to family get-togethers. But those who were here enjoyed the delicious Christmas meal we had planned.

Quantcast