Village News December 2015

VILLAGE NEWS Morris, MN 56267 Volume 15. Issue 2

www.sfhs.org Saturday, December 19, 2015

A publication of West Wind Village EOE/AA

Pictures are from the Resident and Family Christmas Party held Dec. 5

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Monday, December 21 Christmas Sing-Along with Jenny Mecklenburg at 2:30 p.m.

Tuesday, December 22 Santa visit, mint ice cream, and music by Country Couple at 2 p.m.

Wednesday, December 23 Triangular trees craft at 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, December 24 Ecumenical Christmas Eve service at 10 a.m.

Friday, December 25 Merry Christmas! Coffee social and Bingo at 2 p.m.

Tuesday, December 29 New Year’s party with music by Sonny Bartell at 2 p.m.

Thursday, December 31 Happy Hour and Bingo at 2 p.m.

Friday, January 1 Happy New Year! Relaxing New Year’s get together at 2:15 p.m.

WEST WIND VILLAGE ADVISORY BOARD Steve Poppe Karen Long Paul Rentz Carla Riley Cami Peterson-DeVries

The Administrative Desk Paula Viker, Administrator, West Wind Village I was born: Crookston, MN My Family: I am married and have a son who is 20 and twin daughters who are in 7th grade My Pets: Two dogs (Mango and Lulu) and two cats (Mr. Kitty and Fanta) My interests include: Spending time with my kids, time at the lake in the summer, reading and biking

My favorite food is: Cheese, which I can no longer eat!

A favorite place I’ve traveled to is: Huatulco, Mexico

The most disagreeable thing I’ve ever eaten is: Escargot

The person who had the greatest influence on me was: My grandmother

A favorite book is: Bible My favorite kind of music is: ‘80s rock and Christian music My favorite season is: Summer

Some of my favorite movies are: Chick Flicks

A perfect day for me would be: Biking and a picnic with my family

One of my favorite performers is: Robin Williams

My first car was: Little yellow Chevette

Season’s Greetings!

For those of you who I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting yet, my name is Paula Viker, and I have been the administrator at West Wind Village since midAugust. If we haven’t m et , p l ea s e sto p in and introduce yourself.

A huge thank you to residents, families and staff for welcoming my family and me to the community. We have purchased a home on the southeast side of Morris. Our daughters have adjusted well to a new school, and I am enjoying being back into long-term care administration.

There has been a great deal going on here at West Wind Village this fall; there is never a dull moment! As a result of the legislative increases in funding to nursing homes, we were able to implement changes in health insurance and increases in wages for our employees. Staffing is very challenging in the nursing home industry throughout the state and country, but this area of Minnesota has been hit a little bit harder than most of the state.

These new incentives are helping; however, staffing still proves to be very challenging. We are always investigating

new strategies to recruit and retain staff and are interested in any ideas out there.

West Wind Village is continually striving to update our physical plant so it is appealing and c omfor table for our residents. Wells Park opened last spring, as you already know, and is currently accommodating twentyseven residents. This fall, the new parking lot was completed. Families are encouraged to park in the back and use the south door when visiting residents living in Wells Park.

I n N o v e m b e r, w e began another building

Shelly with Barb Stevenson (top) and Peter Heck (above) showing their horses in September 2015.

When I was younger, I remember paying: A penny for candy at the neighborhood store One of my favorite childhood memories is: Spending lots of time with my grandparents

project renovating the We s t W i n g ( Pa c i f i c Avenue). Construction is underway; it is projected to take six months for completion and is expected to be finished May 2016. Renovation is always inconvenient and messy, so we thank you for your patience and understanding during the construction process.

When the project is c o m p lete d, t he new resident rooms will be larger and each room will have a private bathroom!

As the holiday season approaches, I would like to share the “Christmas Prayer” that I found in St. Francis Health Services’ Book of Prayers:

“Eternal God, we wait now for Christmas. We want Christ to be born anew in our heart. We hope it will all mean more to us than ever before.

Do not let the meaning of Christmas slip away into the night after the songs have all been sung and the stories told once more.

We know we cannot keep the expectance alive the year round, but can we not keep the meaning war m?

K n ow i n g o u r s e l ve s , we ask how the Christ Child may be real to us not only in the days immediately ahead, but in the days that follow the celebration of his birth.

Let us so receive him that we may believe in his continuing presence. Let us not let love go. Let us not let faith fade. Let us not let hope slip away.

May open-heartedness be our way of life, and an abiding joy be an aspect of our very being.

But let us remain aware that Christmas also means generosity and forgiveness, openness and renewal. It means commitment and restoration, worship and wonder.”

Have a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

Paula Viker, Administrator

Fern Rasmussen (above), Melvina Larson, Florence Loher, and Lorraine Wade (top) shucking sweet corn.

(Above and top right) Melvina Larson, Rita Peterson, Pat Hanson, and Bertha Anderson enjoyed a pontoon ride on Lake Minnewaska in June.

Pictures of fun events throughout the year planned for residents, guests, and employees

Melvina Larson shows her sewing in the talent show.

Shelly Heck and Kenny Lindor share a dance with music by Steve Samek.

(Above and bottom right) Cyrus Jr. Royalty perform talent and serve floats to the residents in June 2015.

This edition of the West Wind Village News covers both November and December. Both months have many moments in them that should bring to mind the need to be thankful and truly grateful for the blessings we have received, not only from God, who has given us so much, including eternal life with him, but also the blessings from family, friends and many people who have crossed our path in life. That is why I like November so well.

Yes, December has Christmas and is a joy-

ful season, but it can be over-run by the commercial aspects of our society. November has Thanksgiving and the culmination of another growing season, with another bountiful crop to give thanks for. Also there is little that can be done to commercialize a turkey and time spent with the ones we love, with little expectations other than a good meal.

One of the joys of being the Chaplain at West Wind Village is that I get to take time to just visit, get to know and pray with our residents. I often notice how grateful

many of them are for the very simplest of things; a smile, a greeting, just an acknowledgement that they exist and are loved by family, friends and staff. They have had to give up all the “stuff� that seems so important to the rest of us, yet most of them seem happier than the rest of society.

They are wonderful role models who are an inspiration to those that have the privilege to know and serve them.

May we all be very grateful every day.

Deacon Stan Hennen, Chaplain

Jeanette Wolfmeyer, DiAnn Mithun, Lila Estenson, William Peterson, Nicole Peterson, John Inman, Rita Peterson, and Bertha Anderson all went to the Stevens County Fair.

RESIDENT PROFILE: ROSE CARLSON I was born: At home in Stevens County on July 16, 1918, to my parents John and Anna Leuthard. I was the youngest of 10 children, with 4 brothers and 5 sisters. We grew up on our family’s farm south of Chokio.

My brother, Charles, was killed in World War II and the VFW post in Morris is named after him.

My occupation was: I was a homemaker, a busy wife and mother.

Length of stay at WWV: I’ve been here for about six years.

My family: I was married to Glen Carlson and we raised our family of five girls and one boy – Joan, Richard, Julie, Kim, Lori and Peg. The family has grown now, of course. Glen had a heart attack and died about 30 years ago, and I’ve been alone since that time.

John DeLong and Lillian Heinrich were crowned West Wind Village’s King and Queen (top). Miss Morris Teen, Miss Midwest, and Miss Morris Area (bottom) helped with the coronation.

Pets I have enjoyed: We usually had a dog outside on the farm.

My interests include: I always sewed for my family, especially the girls, and I liked to cook and bake. Glen and I went out on Saturday nights on a date, usually to dance. I went on daily walks at home and still do my best to walk here.

Favorite movies: I have always liked “The Sound of Music”.

One of my favorite performers is: The figure skater, Sonja Henie.

My favorite food: A BLT sandwich.

The most disagreeable thing I’ve eaten is: I don’t care much for ham.

A favorite book: I don’t read books any more but I read the newspaper. I enjoy writing in my journal. I write every day and have for many years. I often refer to it to when I want to know something. I have always enjoyed writing.

My favorite kind of music: I often have the music channel on with different kinds of music. I especially like Tony Bennett’s “I Left My Heart in San Francisco”.

My favorite season: Spring, watching the growth and new life.

A perfect day for me would be: I enjoy being here and having live music makes a good day.

My first car was: Glen did most of the driving, but after he died I had to learn to drive.

An unusual event in my life: My oldest sister, Agnes, walked every day and she died when she was hit by a car in Chokio. She was crossing the highway when it was still dark. She was 90 years old and never took any medicine. I was walking at the school when I found out.

A word or phrase I’d use to describe myself: I always try to see the good in people. Most people are good.

A favorite place I’ve traveled to: Vermont. I went there to visit my daughter and thought it was so beautiful.

A person from history that I admire: President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR). He was an outstanding president.

The person who had the greatest influence on me: My niece, Pat Quackenbush.

One thing I marvel at: People who go through a lot and remain good people.

When I was younger, I remember paying: I remember paying 79 cents for a pattern. I bought a lot of patterns with my sewing. I think they cost about $7 today.

One of my favorite childhood memories: I remember when we were going to a park for a picnic and my father was driving the car that could not make it up the hill. It rolled back down. I think it was near Ortonville. It was so funny, we laughed and had fun. I think we eventually made it. I also remember the car didn’t have a trunk but had a side rack where we put things for the picnic.

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Merry Christmas! What a wonderful time of year that we can celebrate our Savior’s birth freely and trust Him. The Christmas season is the perfect time to visit family and friends, and we hope all of you get a chance to visit us here at West Wind Village. However, we understand with the cold weather, snow and ice visiting can be difficult. If you do decide to visit please remember these winter safety tips: dress for the cold weather, wear several layers of loose fitting, lightweight clothing, wear mittens instead of gloves, wear a hat and wear waterproof boots. Avoid overexertion because the strain from cold temperatures and heavy labor such as shoveling, pushing a car or walking in deep snow, may cause a heart attack in older and less physically fit individuals.

Winterize your automobile, keep your tank greater than half full to avoid gas line freeze ups, make sure your tires are inflated to the right pressure and that they have good traction, make sure your heater and defroster work, make sure your battery can carry a full charge, make sure you have adequate antifreeze and have a good ice scraper available. Please check the latest forecast and weather conditions before you head out. If the weather allows, we hope to see you for the holidays!

Jody Cunningham, RN/DON

HOLIDAY CANDY TREAT RECIPES MOUNDS BARS • Melted milk chocolate or dark chocolate • 3 cups coconut flakes • 1 cup condensed milk Mix the shredded coconut with condensed milk, mold into oblong shape, put in freeze for 20 minutes and then dip in the melted chocolate. Add an almond for almond joys if desired.

CHOCOLATE NO BAKE OATMEAL COOKIES • ½ cup butter • 2 cups sugar • ½ cup milk • 4 tbsp cocoa • ½ cup peanut butter • 3 ½ cups quick cooking oats • 2 tsp vanilla Add the first 4 ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil, and boil for one minute. Stir in the next 3 ingredients and drop onto wax paper.

Let it cool until set.