Photos submitted by Lisa Bloomquist

May 26, 2020

JUNE 2020 NEWSLETTER

Life goes on. Each day we wonder if tomorrow will be different, will next week be different, will next month be different? When will be able to have fun as a large group of household members? When will we be able to see and hug our family and friends? When will our wonderful volunteers be able to join us again? When?

In the meantime life goes on. The monthly activity calendar is made with as much information as I have at the time. As residents are in hot pursuit of Bingo, we started playing Hall Way Bingo twice a week to the residents delight. Activity sheets and puzzles are given out daily to residents who enjoy them and are turned back in by Friday each week as we have a drawing for a fabulous prize. The more sheets turned in the better the chances of getting the prize. We have devotions sent up from Bethlehem Lutheran Church; cards of encouragement, notes, and drawings are still coming in. We received some very cute “made with love” window hangings from a Girl Scout troop in MS. We also got a care package with some really fun stuff in it for prizes.

On Monday’s starting in June we will enjoy the scent of fresh baked cookies coming from our kitchens and eat these delectables maybe on the patio? We will start having weekly Happy Hour on Friday’s. One day each week we will have a snack to go with a theme according to our Daily Perk. For the first week of June it is National Cheese Day so we will be having cheese and crackers for our Happy Hour snack. Next is Birthday week and we will be celebrating with National Iced Tea Day and lemon bars room to room of course. The third week is National eat your veggies so we will be having chips and salsa during Happy Hour.  Father’s Day follows with Dad’s Root beer floats on Sunday, June 21rst and surfs up with Pineapple Upside Down Cake on the 26th.

To our family and friends, we can’t wait to see and visit you in person. You are always welcome to call the Activity Department at 218-387-3518 to set up a time to visit with your loved ones Face to Face via Skype, FaceTime, or Zoom. Residents and family members who have taken advantage of these technologies have really enjoyed getting to see each other over the internet. It’s almost as good as being there. Almost. We just received a gift of two FaceBook Portals. These allow residents to have access to facetime with family members at their leisure. Family and friends need the Whatsapp on their phone or computer and you or the resident can call each other anytime. Look these up on youtube if you aren’t familiar with them. Perhaps consider getting one for your family member.

To our faithful volunteers, we can’t wait to see you and spend time with you again. We hope you are doing well.

Thank you so much for your time and generosity for all the cards, games, money, candy, etc. We enjoy receiving these gifts of love and encouragement. Cards are passed out daily. Money for now will be used to purchase supplies to do hallway activities and hopefully even some good old fashioned patio games (socially distanced) of course.

A friend of one of the residents sent her this Irish prayer and I thought it was really meaningful so I’d like to share it.

May God give you…..

For every storm, a rainbow

For every tear, a smile

For every care, a promise and a blessing in each trial

For every problem life sends, a faithful friend to share

For every sigh, a sweet song and an answer for each prayer

On Saturday, May 23rd the sweetest thing happened. One of our resident’s granddaughters’ got married and stopped by in her wedding gown for a hallway window visit with her grandmother Anna B.

TODAY’S FUNNY: Wanting to know if a resident had recently taken a shower so I could curl her hair without it getting washed out right away I asked  her  “When is your bath day?” To which she replied, “1-21-29”   Got to love them and we do!

Last, but not least, we would like to thank Sandy Anderson for all her years of laughs, love, smiles, hard work and dedication to us at North Shore Health. Sandy has been with us “through it all”.  Thank you Sandy so much. We will really miss you. We wish you the best in your retirement and don’t forget to send down some zucchini relish. Salute!

Life goes on!