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St. Luke Living Center

By SUE GUTSCH

St. Luke Living Center correspondent

Leading our Thursday morning hymn singing this week was Lois Winter. Joining the residents' group this day was Shirley Bowers, who enjoyed just singing with the group for a change and we were very happy to have them both.

It's been reported by "reliable sources" that it was decided the weather too frigid for a lunch bunch outing Thursday. Instead, the group stayed indoors and everyone enjoyed an ice cream bash. Go figure!

It was evident that the stay-at-home bunch went into a Valentine's Day mode sometime Thursday, as there was an array of decorated hearts on doors and walls throughout the facility by Friday morning.

The living center cookie makers broke out of our rut Friday morning when we mixed, assembled, baked, and decorated snowman cookies. As we worked on these creations, we realized if the snowmen lost their heads somewhere in the process, we would have lots of snowballs.

Pat Smith was here Friday afternoon to call bingo. We're always pleased to see Pat and this trip she brought her sister, Marsha Boes of Carroll, Iowa, with her. On top of that, the sisters brought heart-shaped confections for us all, win or lose.

Saturday morning, Gene Vinduska, his accordion, and sound system provided us with an hour's worth of good entertainment. The halls "were alive with the sound of music."

Our guest minister Sunday afternoon was Brett Huebner of Our Savior Lutheran Church.

Love was in the air Monday, emanating from the chapel as Ellen Darrow played selections of romance and love familiar to those of us over 50, let's say. Ellen also brought candy treats and then stayed to join us for snacks.

On Monday afternoon pitch players, spearheaded by volunteer Marie Navrat, were located nearby and had music to bid by.

We used mental muscle Tuesday morning to play categories which, keeping with the season, were February, Valentine's Day, Abe Lincoln, and George Washington. It helped to relieve the "mental stress" when a couple of apropos jokes were shared by Dean and Amelia.

In the afternoon, we helped the Ingalls family close out their years on Plum Creek and began a new chapter and book as they once again prepare to resettle, this time in Dakota Territory. We cried as their much-loved bulldog Jack was laid to rest, sympathized as Mary lost her eyesight following scarlet fever, and celebrated at the arrival of baby Grace.

Valentine's Day activities began immediately following breakfast Wednesday when Marion Elementary School first graders and Mrs. Hancock arrived and began singing for our enjoyment.

During the day we each received small boxes of candy, gifts from Al and Gloria Ash, and the hospital auxiliary and Shirley Bowers brought homemade sugar cookies. We all enjoyed seeing gifts of flowers, candy, balloons, etc., come through the doors for many of our residents.

We shared some valentine trivia and ended the day by reading the Marion County Record, which included a lovely article featuring Berniece and Les Broaddstreet.

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