Emporia Presbyterian Manor
DECEMBER 2021
Hope for Christmas Diann Smith reaches 30-year milestone at Emporia Presbyterian Manor On Sept. 11, Home Health Nurse Diann Smith celebrated 30 years of employment at Emporia Presbyterian Manor—although if you were her, you probably wouldn’t have noticed.
People around the world celebrate Christmas with family and friends, parties and gifts, decorations and songs. All of these things are wonderful. However, have we overlooked the baby? We find that the story of Christmas is all about a baby.
“It was just like any other day,” said Diann. “There really wasn’t any big celebration, although Andraya Taber did get me a lovely gift bag.” However, now that the milestone has passed and Diann has had a chance to reflect, the length of her tenure has begun to sink in. “I’ve been here half my life!” said Diann. “My kids were all little when I started here, and now they’re grown.”
Editor’s note: In a nod to our roots in the Presbyterian Church, Greg Spring, chaplain at Wichita Presbyterian Manor, brings our devotion this month.
Home Health Nurse Diann Smith celebrates 30 years of employment at Emporia Presbyterian Manor.
Diann spent the bulk of the past 30 years providing restorative nursing in the Health Center before transitioning over to Assisted Living two and a half years ago, where she rediscovered her true calling. “I love home health,” said Diann. “It’s wonderful working with the residents and taking care of them and meeting their needs.” During her time at the community, Diann has seen a lot of changes, from how it approached the concept of senior living to the physical environment itself. However, she says nothing compares to the changes she has witnessed within the field of nursing.
“The biggest thing that happened was that we went from paper to computers. I’m an old lady, so that was a big change to learn. I took typing in
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We discover that the Shepherds in the fields “…hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.” Luke 2:16 The Magi traveled a great distance with significant gifts because of a baby. Even King Herod, though motivated by jealousy, appeared concerned about the baby. He told the wise men “…Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me…” Matthew 2:8 Why would a baby stir such evil actions in Herod? What moved the angels in heaven to rejoice over the birth of a baby? How could a baby bring hope to a sinful world? The emphasis is not only about who the baby would grow-up to be thirty years later. The significant
Hope – continued on page 4
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Assignment form makes wishes clear With the end of the year rapidly approaching, it’s a great time to check one more thing off your list — make sure your wishes are respected and your family is protected by completing our Assignment of Amounts Due Resident Form (or reviewing your current Assignment form to make sure it is still correct). If you pass away while a resident of a PMMA® Community, this form will permit you to assign all refunds due to you to the persons specified in your form. Completing the Assignment form is simple, and if you pass away while a resident of the Community, it can save your family significant time, money and frustration when receiving a refund of any amounts due to you from your PMMA Community. In other words, it can simplify the refund process and avoid the time and cost of estate administration. This form works like a “beneficiary designation” in that it is effective upon your passing and permits you to designate who will receive all amounts due to you from your PMMA Community (for example, any refunds of your entrance fee deposit or monthly fees). Your
Assignment form is revocable and can be changed at any time, so you are not locked if your circumstances change. Your beneficiaries may include individuals, charities, or others (including a will or trust so that your refund passes pursuant to your estate plan). You may designate the portion of your refund payable to each of them. Some things to think about: • Who should receive my refund — certain named individuals, charities, or my will or trust? • If I have more than one beneficiary, should they receive equal shares of my refund or should I designate different amounts/percentages among them?
entitled to request the refund and receive payment. Unfortunately, that happens all-to-frequently and we want to help our residents and their families avoid that unpleasant (and sometimes expensive and time consuming) experience. This is just a summary of how this important document works. We’ll be glad to provide you with the Assignment form to review and complete, and of course we encourage you to get any input you may desire from your family or other advisors. To obtain an Assignment form or talk with someone about an Assignment form, please contact the Marketing Director or Accounting Assistant at your community. u
• Do I want to designate a successor beneficiary to receive the amount originally allocated to a beneficiary who predeceases me? Absent a valid Assignment form, the payment of your refund may be delayed until an estate is opened or other legal proceedings are completed designating who is legally
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | December 2021
school but that was a lot of years ago, so I had to reteach myself to type fast,” said Diann. As for the secret to her longevity, Diann says it’s simple. “I’ve loved what I do, I love helping people—that’s what kept me here,” said Diann. “This is where the Lord has had me be.” u
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Community Matters 620-343-2613 ◆ Fax: 620-343-9195 2300 Industrial Rd. Emporia, KS 66801-6635 EmporiaPresbyterianManor.org
30-year – continued from page 1
is published monthly for residents and friends of Emporia Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
To submit or suggest articles: ataber@PMMA.org Susan Siepelmeier, executive director Andraya Taber, marketing director
OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
Favorite Things: Taber Family Holiday Desserts By Andraya Taber, marketing director
For Christmas, my family like many others, have favorite recipes! A way to honor the memory of my grandparents is to make their FAVORITE desserts. We are a big pie family. Here are recipes for my grandma and grandpa’s favorite pies. Anna Taber’s favorite was Sour Cream Raisin and Bydus Taber’s favorite was Pecan Pie. u
Anna’s favorite pie:
SOUR CREAM RAISIN PIE 2 slightly beaten eggs 3/4 c. sugar 1/4 t. salt 1 t. cinnamon 2 t. nutmeg 1/4 t. cloves 1 c. sour cream 1 c. seeded raisins 1 8-in. pie shell Combine ingredients; pour into pastry lined pie pan. Bake in hot oven (450°) 10 minutes, then in moderate oven (350°) about 30 minutes, or until mixture doesn’t adhere to knife.
Bydus’s favorite pie:
PECAN PIE 3 eggs 1 c. granulated sugar 1 c. light corn syrup 1 c. pecan halves 1 t. vanilla 1 9-inch pie shell Beat eggs and sugar until thick; add corn syrup, nuts and vanilla; pour into 9-inch pastry lined pie pan. Bake in slow oven (300°) 1 hour.
Favorite holiday recipes from the Taber family Emporia Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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2300 Industrial Rd. Emporia, KS 66801-6636 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Mark your calendar to enjoy the Emporia Presbyterian Manor holiday luminaries The 4th Annual Emporia Presbyterian Manor luminaria display is here! Don’t miss the official drive-thru lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 4th for your first chance to see the display and enjoy some complimentary cookies and cocoa. If you’re unable to attend the event, or would just like to enjoy the luminaries again, the display will remain lit through Jan. 7, 2022.u
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | December 2021
Hope – continued from page 1 point concerns the identity of the baby at His birth. This baby was Emmanuel, God with us, the Prince of Peace, God in the flesh. Joseph learned from the beginning, why this baby was born in such a miraculous event. The Angel communicated that Joseph “…give (the baby) the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21 Today, over 2,000 years later, people are still talking about the baby named Jesus. Some in worship, some in faith, some in disgust and some in only a seasonal greeting for the holiday. This baby is the cure for what ails this sinful world today. Jesus is the only thing that makes this holiday Christmas. The sin in the hearts of all humanity brings despair to the world. The message of the baby gives each of us the way to find forgiveness for our sin, something that we cannot do on our own. This truly is the greatest Christmas gift. With no doubt this baby gives each of us the opportunity for hope this Christmas season. u