Community Matters Aberdeen Village
September 2015
Chaplain’s message:
Stand, stare & wonder One of the most tragic features of life is the loss of wonder. As we grow older, we begin to live in a world that The Rev. Dr. has grown gray Larry Thornton and commonplace. But the change is not in the world, it is in ourselves. Somehow, we must keep the sense of wonder alive, but so many of us are living a life in which there is no time to contemplate how great and how big God is! As a poet expressed it, “What is this life if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare?” The more we know about our astonishing world and universe the more we are bound to wonder…to stand and stare. Did you know? • There are more stars in space than there are grains of sand on every beach on Earth. • A Blue Whale’s heart is so big, a small child can swim through the veins.
Residents collaborate to help Monarch butterflies Everyone loves the Monarch—a beautiful orange and black butterfly that performs one of the most astounding migrations of any insect. After spending winter in the mountains of central Mexico, the butterflies head for the Gulf Coast in March. Here they breed, leaving their offspring to migrate north as summer progresses, producing several generations along the way.
• There’s enough water in Lake Superior to cover all of North and South America in one foot of water.
The individuals flying south in the fall find their way unerringly to a place they have never seen! But Monarchs are in trouble—their populations have declined by 90 percent over the past two decades. Much of the decrease is due to loss of habitat, especially the native milkweed plants that feed their caterpillars.
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Longtime teachers share love of learning If you ask Cheryl Reynolds to name the love of her life, her answer may surprise you. “Teaching.” She began her teaching career in Wichita, then moved to Topeka, and finally retired from the Shawnee school system after 35 years of teaching. She started off teaching kindergartners, and then first grade, on to a third/fourth combination, and ended her career teaching first graders again. “My favorite thing about teaching was seeing children learn,” said Cheryl. Cheryl grew up in Junction City, and got her teaching degree from Emporia State University. She and
her late husband John had two children, and enjoyed retirement at the Lake of Ozarks before Cheryl Reynolds Cheryl moved to Aberdeen Village two years ago. Even though Cheryl gave up her full-time teaching career, she could never give up teaching. She pursued substitute teaching for many years. Even though there were challenges such as getting students to pay attention, Cheryl recalls several funny times with a laugh. “Once when I was subbing, I stopped on the way home to get
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is published monthly for residents and friends of Aberdeen Village by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at: PresbyterianManors.org.
If you dug a hole to the center of the Earth and dropped a book down, it would take 45 minutes to reach the bottom.
To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Suzanne Willey, community relations director, swilley@pmma.org. Telephone: 913-599-6100 Fax: 913-599-3810 Address: 17500 W. 119th St., Olathe, KS 66061-9524 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
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Community Matters September 2015
Cheryl had no qualms about getting students to listen, and even had a time when it was a parent who didn’t quite follow directions. “For one of my first grade classes, I had a Thanksgiving gathering for the children, and we made soup. It was modeled after the ‘Stone Soup’ TEACHERS, continued on page 4
Community Matters
Tim Allin, executive director
a Coke at the filling station. A gentleman came up to me and asked if I was Mrs. Reynolds. He then asked if I was a substitute teacher. He then asked if I was the meanest teacher in the world! I looked over and there stood this gentleman’s daughter. She was a young girl I’d just taught in one of my classes I was subbing for. She told her dad I was the meanest because I made the kids listen. He congratulated me!” said Cheryl.
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• There are more atoms in a glass of water than glasses of water in all the oceans on Earth.
we are lost in wonder, love and praise…that God who is that big, cares about you and me. The more we know of the love of God—so amazing, so divine—the more we must stand astonished! How is God mindful of little old us? Psalm 8 says God made us a little lower than the angels and crowned us with glory and honor.
• Light from the closest spiral galaxy takes 2.5 million years to reach This wonder has a way of raising big Earth. We would not be able to see it if that time had not already passed. questions, such as, “Who am I? Who is God? What should I do with the • Did you know that since Pluto was few years I have on this planet?” discovered, it has not yet completed I just want to say, “Thank you Lord!” its orbit around the sun? It will In the midst of all this greatness, complete it in 2178. God created and loves us each one. • When we look at God’s world, we What an awesome God we worship. can only stand and stare, but even Give thanks and praise. Stand and more when we look at God’s love, stare and wonder!
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Diane Stoakes, daughter of Aberdeen Village resident Larry Kohler, noted the number of enthusiastic gardeners and nature lovers on the campus and proposed building a “Monarch Waystation” to help the butterflies. A “Monarch Waystation” is a planting that supports Monarchs throughout their life cycle, with milkweed plants for caterpillars and various nectar flowers for adult butterflies. The idea was eagerly embraced by the Residents’ Council, and many people gave generously of their time and money to make the garden a reality.
Above: Resident Larry Kohler and his daughter Diane Stoakes admire the Monarch Waystation.
Ed Duman and Don DuTeau built raised wooden garden beds, which were placed along a path near the Right: A sign marks the Monarch lake and the established community Waystation at Aberdeen Village. garden area. Some staff members helped transport the beds and fill them with soil. By mid-May the beds and Marilee Fenton continue to were ready for planting. volunteer time to water and weed Evelyn Bergmann, Kenneth Minter, the garden. and Jody Furman planted three types of milkweed and flowers such As of this writing, the plants are growing strong and waiting for as Bee Balm and purple daisies. the Monarchs to arrive in the fall. Jean Griffith took photos to The garden will soon be formally document the project. Norman registered as a “Monarch Waystation” Steel built the butterfly house and with MonarchWatch, a conservation will add another one to the second organization based in Lawrence and bed. Ed installed the boxes. Don devoted solely to the preservation made the butterfly cutouts. Evelyn, and study of these butterflies. We Kenneth, Jody, Esther Minter hope the Waystation will thrive for
years to come, providing enjoyment for Aberdeen residents, habitat for the Monarchs, and encouragement for all to support butterflies and other pollinators in their communities!
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story. Each student was to bring something to add to the soup and we would have it at lunch time. One little boy told his mom he needed to bring hamburger. So, she brought it in halfway through the morning, wrapped in a McDonald’s wrapper. ‘Here’s the hamburger!’ she said. I gave it back to her, but boy did I get a good laugh!” said Cheryl. Even though Cheryl no longer substitute teaches, she’s found a way to enjoy her love of learning right here at the Village. “I like many aspects of [living at Aberdeen] Village. I like the convenience, and I like meeting people and learning about what others have done. Art class is another great advantage. I go and learn something new for two hours on Fridays, and have participated in the Art is Ageless program,” said Cheryl. For some, their life’s passion is apparent at an early age, even if it takes years before they’re able to pursue it. That’s how it was for Verla Thomas. “Basically, I always wanted to be a teacher. But, I got married and
had kids and had to put of schooling for a while. Over the years, I kept taking Verla Thomas extension classes until I got enough hours to get certified. From the time our children were in junior high until they got out of school, I was in school, too. I loved it,” said Verla. Verla was fortunate to be able to take classes right where she lived in Paola. “There was a Catholic girls’ school, and they had room for classes. KU, Ottawa and Pittsburgh Teacher’s College all came and offered extension classes. I eventually got my license from Ottawa,” said Verla. “Aspiring teachers in the area could go there for classes and at the time, Kansas was in desperate need for teachers.”
she relishes this memory, she considers another experience the apex of her teaching career. “I was given a great opportunity when Kansas offered a program in gifted education. I entered that program and could teach kids who really wanted to learn who were very bright. From that opportunity, I was given a chance to go to the World Gifted Conference in Hamburg, Germany. I went with my husband Artie. It was so fun,” said Verla. After she retired, Verla and her husband continued to enjoy traveling, and also are enjoying their time at Aberdeen Village.
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Verla taught several different age levels, and she especially enjoyed teaching 7th and 8th grade social studies. Her passion for teaching shone so bright she got a Master Teacher award in Paola. And while
Coming up in Community Matters We will be thinking about Thanksgiving in an upcoming issue of Community Matters. Does your family have a special recipe that is made each Thanksgiving dinner, one that it’s not Thanksgiving unless it’s on the table? What about a special Thanksgiving tradition? Share your Thanksgiving memories by contacting Community Relations Director Suzanne Willey, and your memories, traditions or recipe may be selected for an upcoming issue of Community Matters.
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Community Matters September 2015
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