Rolla Presbyterian Manor
Do it again By Allen Teal, Chaplain
FEBRUARY 2021
Sweethearts spotlight: Paul and Mary Stigall Paul and Mary Stigall’s love story began in a laundromat on a snowy day. “I had started to walk home with my clean laundry, and Paul insisted that he help me carry it,” Mary remembers. Once they were inside, she made In this old family photo, Paul and Mary Stigall are coffee and offered Paul pictured with their daughters Colleen and Claire. some of the stew she’d cooked for dinner. The following day, he returned the favor. “He came over with a shovel and told me he was going to dig my car out of the snow, so I wouldn’t have to walk to work that day,” she said. The Rolla Presbyterian Manor residents say they knew they were right for one another because they had similar goals and interests, plus they both wanted to raise a family in the Rolla area. All in all, the Stigall’s “just clicked,” they said. The campus minister at the University of Wyoming officiated their wedding ceremony, which was held on campus on June 1, 1968. A friend of theirs hosted a reception afterward, and their wedding meal was “somewhat of a snack.” Shortly after their marriage, Paul finished his graduate coursework in electrical engineering and computer science, then accepted a professorship at the Missouri University of Science and Technology.
And now, GOD, do it again — bring rains to our droughtstricken lives so those who planted their crops in despair will shout hurrahs at the harvest, So those who went off with heavy hearts will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing (Psalm 126:4-6, The Message) February 2 shares its name with a famous movie — “Groundhog Day.” The day is about having a superstitious belief in the ability of a groundhog to forecast the weather. The movie is about doing the same thing over and over until it is done correctly. Not too many people really want to relive a portion of their life. However, sometimes we want to see things done more than once. In Psalm 126, we hear the cry of people asking God to bless them again as he had in the past. Practicing is important. People who master performance skills, various crafts, or become proficient in any field must practice. This requires them to repeat the same or similar tasks time after time. This leads to executing a task correctly in a consistent manner. Practice always improves the outcome, whether it is a performance or some type of behavior. Again – continued on page 2
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SWEETHEARTS – continued from page 1 They raised two daughters: Colleen, who lives in Coralville, IA and Claire, who lives in Atlanta, GA. “Paul was always so good with me and the children,” Mary said. “He took time to play with them, and he was always there for us when we needed him.”
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In turn, Paul said he appreciated Mary’s patient spirit. After more than 50 years, the Stigall’s are certainly qualified to give marriage advice. They say the most important thing is to be in “agreement on what you want in life.” That includes having children and where you live in addition to a similar outlook on religious beliefs and morals. u
AGAIN – continued from page 1 Good things deserve doing again. Every home cook has a favorite recipe. These recipes become favorites because of frequent repetition and having others enjoy the food. The same principle applies to how we live life. Good things always need repeating. Pleasant smiles, kind words, gentle
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behavior, tolerance of others and many more things fall into this category. We sometimes need God to do it again. Psalm 126 speaks of God providing the rain for crops planted during a drought. The sowers were without a real hope of harvest before the rains came. When we face times of
crisis, grief, or want, we need God’s intervention. Hearing the testimonies of others or reading a scriptural account of God making a way through difficult times can buttress our faith. With renewed hope, we can lift our prayers toward heaven, expecting God to bless us one more time — even when we may not see how that could happen. u
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Community Matters 573-364-7336 ◆ Fax: 573-364-7495 1200 Homelife Plaza Rolla, MO 65401-2595 RollaPresbyterianManor.org
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | February 2021
is published monthly for residents and friends of Rolla Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
To submit or suggest articles: lfreeland@PMMA.org Ann Caudill, executive director Joelle Freeland, marketing director
OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
Virtual event series with The Alzheimer’s Association kicks off Feb. 17 Rolla and Farmington Presbyterian Manors are joining forces to partner with the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Missouri Chapter to host a virtual event series throughout 2021. The series is part of the Just Ask Lifelong Learning events offered by Presbyterian Manor of MidAmerica (PMMA) communities. They cover informative topics in categories such as property and planning, health and wellness, and general education. PMMA continually strives to be a trusted resource in senior living, which is why the Just Ask Lifelong Learning series was born. “We are here to serve our residents — but we’re also here to help members of the broader community who may have questions about senior living and senior-related issues. This past year has presented many challenges with one being the ability to host on-site educational events. It made sense to partner with an organization like the Alzheimer’s Association to continue offering resources like live, virtual webinars,” said Jennifer McClanahand, senior regional director of sales and marketing for PMMA. According to the Alzheimer’s Association website, 50 million people are living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias worldwide. Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disease and the most common form of dementia. Dementia is not a specific disease but an overall term that describes a group of symptoms.
The first virtual event, “Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia,” will kick off on February 17 at 3 p.m. through the Zoom videoconferencing platform. The series will continue on the third Wednesday of each month at 3 p.m. through November 2021 with special recognition of Alzheimer’s Awareness month. Details of the concluding event will be announced by mid-summer. u
Here is a complete list of upcoming dates and topics: 3 p.m. February 17: 3 p.m. March 17: 3 p.m. April 21:
Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Healthy Living for Your Brain and Body: Tips from the Latest Research 3 p.m. May 19: Effective Communication Strategies 3 p.m. June 16: Legal and Financial Planning for Alzheimer’s Disease 3 p.m. July 21: Understanding and Responding to Dementia-Related Behavior 3 p.m. August 18: Dementia Conversations – Driving, Doctor Visits, Legal & Financial Planning 3 p.m. September 15: Living with Alzheimer’s: For Caregivers – Early Stage 3 p.m. October 20: Living with Alzheimer’s: For Caregivers – Late Stage November: Alzheimer’s Awareness Month – a special recognition event to be announced For more information or to register for an upcoming event, visit RollaPresbyterianManor.org/events-activities. If you have questions about memory care services or attending a virtual webinar using your phone or device, please call Joelle Freeland at 573-364-7336 for assistance.
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1200 Homelife Plaza Rolla, MO 65401-2595 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
COVID-19 updates continue Get the latest updates on visitation status, ongoing safety measures and PMMA’s response to COVID-19 on your community website or send an Art is AgelessŽ greeting to a resident or staff member by visiting RollaPresbyterianManor.org/covid-19. Visitation status is updated weekly on Mondays and as needed as our COVID status changes. Vaccine distribution has begun in our community. Every person who receives the vaccine will strengthen the protection for all residents, staff and the community at-large. PMMA strongly encourages our families, employees and residents to carefully consider obtaining a vaccine for themselves as well as their loved ones. u
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | February 2021