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Say it with flowers

11/27/2018

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I've said it before and I'll say it again: If you visit folks in a nursing home, there's an easy way to keep the memories you're making alive until you return. And that's bringing each resident you visit a custom-made silk-flower arrangement. They're just like fresh only better, because they'll still look great when you come back; no need to water or deadhead (although one of my favorite little ladies used to water hers regularly.) 

Shown above are some of the arrangements I've brought to my friends in recent months. I typically bring about five new ones each week and then move them from room to room, according to the available display space and the individual preferences of each recipient. 

I get most of my containers at Good Will and Salvation Army stores, usually for $3 or less apiece, and often find bunches of unused silk flowers there, too. But great buys can also be had at the end-of-the-season sales at local garden centers and craft stores. And there's nothing better than amassing donations from friends; most of those shown here were gifts from my friend Tess, and one features flowers from Conny. Thanks, girls!

Of course, if you want to do this in any volume, it takes quite a collection of both containers and silk flowers. My husband was kind enough to build me a wall of shelves in the garage. And he usually manages to bite his tongue as the scene gets more and more chaotic and spills over into the basement -- not to mention the kitchen, which becomes my washing-and-arranging workroom one night a week.  


But I guarantee that it's worth it. My elderly friends  look forward to their new arrangements each week. And between visits, they're reminded that someone is not only thinking about them, but is making something special just for them.  
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Making a joyful noise unto the Lord

11/22/2018

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If you're thinking about volunteering at a local nursing home and happen to be a lover of old hymns, consider offering to do a Christian Music Hour every month or even every week, if you have the time. 

A small group from my church does just that each month at Care-age of Brookfield: we put together the songbooks and the music from favorite CDs (including selections by everyone's favorite singer, Tennessee Ernie Ford). And my friends Nancy and Pam help the Activities aide on duty transport residents, turn songbook pages, and generally make members of our senior-citizen chorus feel happy and loved. 

What's more, the Carrillo family pitches in. Each month, dad Chris delivers an excellent biblical message, custom-prepared and carefully tailored to the needs of those residing in a long-term care facility. And we get wonderful assists from his children Cole, Braden and Danica -- help ranging from sharing sunny smiles with everyone to turning pages, from passing out gospel tracts to helping everyone get to their tables for lunch when we're finished.

Here are the songs we'll be singing this month as we celebrate Thanksgiving and prepare our hearts for Christmas: 

  • We Gather Together
  • Come, Ye Thankful People, Come
  • Now Thank We All Our God  
  • Great Is Thy Faithfulness
  • Come Thou Almighty King 
  • Faith of Our Fathers  
  • O God, Our Help in Ages Past
  • Holy, Holy, Holy
  • Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart
  • It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
  • O Little Town of Bethlehem
  • O Holy Night 

We sing different hymns each month, sometimes focusing on special themes. For instance, every year we spend an hour or two or three singing songs that feature heaven prominently, such as these: 

  • Abide with Me 
  • Rock of Ages 
  • In the Sweet By and By
  • Sweet Beulah Land 
  • Be Thou My Vision 
  • Be Still, My Soul 
  • It Is Well with My Soul 
  • Hallelujah! What a Savior! 
  • Finally Home
  • Shall We Gather at the River 
  • How Great Thou Art 
  • Beyond the Sunset

It's quite a popular event; we usually have anywhere about one-third of the home's residents in attendance. Not many of us sing very well, but we certainly know how to make a joyful noise unto God! 

If you're intrigued and have questions about developing such a program in your community, perhaps I can help; don't hesitate to drop me a note. 
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Laughter really is the best medicine

11/10/2018

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It's amazing how often the comic strip Pickles manages to capture brilliantly, in just a few frames, the experiences of aging. Although its execution is matchless, it's probably not too difficult for cartoonist Brian Crane to come up with his ideas; they're based on problems we encounter every day once we pass 60. Or even 50.  

But what an excellent way to deal with it -- simply laugh at your errors and omissions! Then thank the Lord that you are still capable of recognizing them, that He is there to protect you, and that if you belong to Him, your brain will be restored to perfection one happy, heavenly day. 
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    Kitty
    Foth-Regner

    I'm a follower of Jesus Christ, a freelance copywriter, a nursing-home volunteer, and the author of books both in-process and published -- including
    Heaven Without Her.

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