Lakeside Senior Living News

Greeting, When I say we were blessed the month of December I mean it. We had so many people donate their time, talents and gifts. I’m almost scared to mention them all in fear I will forget someone. If so, please charge it to my head and not my heart because we truly appreciated every gesture.

First let’s talk about our outings as there were many. We went to the movies and watched The Christmas Pageant and yes, we all teared up. Such a good holiday film. We ventured to Discovery Park in Union City and had such a good time we drove through twice. We went to the Senior Citizen Christmas dance and party in Huntingdon.

We were treated to the Renaissance Program at Bethel College and had a group of students come to the building to perform as we had our tree lighting ceremony. Such a talented group of students. 2 of our young workers were in that production: Alyssia Fields and Kelly Krack. We washed our bus, adorned it with wreaths, gathered baskets of candy for the kiddos and joined the McKenzie parade. We also went to First Cumberland Presbyterian to drive through the live nativity and our shopping day took us to Save A Lot, Dollar General and Wal-Mart.

Our biggest outing, however, was when we visited Huntingdon Health & Rehab, Harmony Hills, AHC McKenzie and The Waters to share a Holiday Program with their residents. Lakeside residents dressed in holiday attire topped off with Santa and elf hats, lights and jingle bells. We sang 3 classic carols, had a reading by Lonnelle McMillin of “The Week Before Christmas, a reading by Thelma McCain of “The Night Before Christmas. Lena Morgan and Thai Saul presented gifts of Candy Cane Seeds and Santa Kisses along with a poem by Sheila Willis and we closed with a Prayer Blessing by Clark Brown. We are always happy when people come to see us, and we hope we touched the lives of those we went to visit.

We also performed the program at the Lakeside Resident Christmas Party for other residents and staff. On National Mitten Tree Day, December 6th, we collaborated with Partners in Care and the ladies of Beta Sigma Phi to fill a tree with items of warmth that we took and donated to a local shelter.

We completed most of our remodel with all new furniture this month, so we were extra excited for our Santa Sweet Shop Open House that was held on the 22nd. We had so many friends and family stop by for a visit. If you missed this opportunity to visit just know you are welcome anytime.

We love showing off our beautiful home. Visitors entered a raffle, and it was won by Juleyanne Weatherford. Speaking of raffles, we had a couple more of those as well. Lisa Carroll Ellis donated a spectacular winter wreath that was won by Mrs. Mary Lacey. We had a Surprise Mug giveaway on national Cocoa Day and each mug had a raffle ticket for a very warm throw won by: Thai Saul. There is nothing cozier than a cup of cocoa and a warm blanket on a cold winter’s day.

McKenzie Book Club donated a month’s worth of BINGO prizes for residents to play their favorite game and win, win, win. Giesla Hodges hosted her retired Sunday School Class ladies for a Holiday Tea Party. Six of those ladies reside here at Lakeside, what a treat for them to all get together and reminisce about the many years of service and friendship. Judy Mehan, a Mary Kay consultant, organized an Adopt A Grandparent Program and through donations gifted products to every resident.

Willodean Long crafted tissue box holders and included a tissue for each resident. McKenzie Church of Christ, 1o Baptist of Gleason, Bethel Baptist Church and First United Methodist of Gleason all brought gifts for each resident when they came a caroling along with the Little Rebel Singers each group visiting and filling the halls with music as they performed familiar Christmas songs. Santa stopped by and passed out all the gifts at our Lakeside Resident Party.

All our regular monthly volunteer churches, performers and clergy came to see us and the residents worked on gifts and cards to present as a gesture of how much we appreciate the acts of kindness and giving not just during the holidays but all the year through.

We celebrated 3 birthdays this month: Cynthia Brewer, Birdie Johnson & John Waters. Ted & Evelyn Coleman celebrated their 71st Wedding Anniversary.

We treasured every annual Christmas tradition: candy canes, decorating, drinking boiled custard, eating gingerbread, visiting friends and family, wearing ugly Christmas sweaters, sending and receiving cards, but most of all we valued the reason for the season Jesus Christ born in Bethlehem...Until Next Year.