Living at Lakeside News

The month started off with National Old Stuff Day, so we took the opportunity to bring some more treasures for a show-and-tell afternoon. One of the most interesting items was a Carroll County sesquicentennial history book from 1972 with a commemorative coin that was minted for the occasion. It got us all talking about the 250th celebration our country will be celebrating this year.

Our group made several outings this month. We went to the Monday Breakfast Club at Hometown Clinic where we crafted jar lantern night lights, played Bingo, did exercise and had a speaker–Respiratory Therapist Darryl Jones–who gave us lots of information for better health and opened afterwards for Q & A. His 33 years of experience really showed with his knowledge. We painted flowerpots and planted some seeds. If you would like to join us, we meet at 9 a.m. on Mondays. We attended the St. Patty’s Day Dance at the Carroll County Civic Center. We would love to have you join us every month, on the first Tuesday night of each month.

We had Errand Day and went to Dollar Tree, Dollar General, Save A Lot and the Amish Grocery Store. A big outing was a trip to Milan to eat at Lee’s Chicken and then on to Jackson to the University of Memphis at Lambuth to the Planetarium.

Residents were thrilled to invite the Bethel Lady Wildcats to lunch at Lakeside. The residents helped prepare a meal of Grilled Chicken Alfredo, Roasted Vegetables, Garden Salad and a Roll. Lonnelle McMillin made her award-winning Tiger Paw Cake. They also set the table with personalized Bethel University Wildcat placemats. The Players brought their fan club some new Bethel shirts to wear to the first and second rounds of playoffs. Volunteers Richard and Sonya Ozment made sure they made it to the games where the girls won both nights and were off to Sioux City to continue playing in the NAIA Championship Games.

Employee Appreciation is recognized in March and residents put on a program using the theme, “No one man can whistle a symphony, but an orchestra can play it harmoniously.” They read some inspirational words regarding teamwork and what the team means to them. The ladies had wrapped gifts of bluetooth speakers and boxes of mints for each employee. Manager Cris Stafford also treated staff to mini massages for the day. For refreshments residents served cupcakes, fresh fruit and fruit tea. Their thoughtfulness and kindness really touched the Lakeside employees.

We immersed ourselves into the saying, “Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day,” as we celebrated with Pass the Shamrock Left Right Stories for prizes, Pick a Four-Leaf Clover game, a Lucky Leprechaun Dice game with lots of winners and a photo fun backdrop with green accessories for pictures. We had dining table décor with green tablecloths, green and gold dishes and flatware and an Irish meal of shepherd’s pie, salad and chocolate mint pie was served by the kitchen staff.

Here at Lakeside, we think of ourselves as family, but, a few times a year, we have a true Family Day where we welcome residents to invite their families and friends to join them for a special event. This month we hosted the Lakeside Pop Up Art Gallery where guests were shocked to find that they were the art. Months ago we took headshots of the residents and asked them what their favorite pastime was or what their career had been, and with the help of Activity Director Sheila Willis, volunteer Matthew Page and a bit of AI, we transformed those pics to watercolors of them doing their favorite things. Check out our Facebook page to see the pictures at Lakeside Senior Living. Volunteer Rhonda Swafford framed the masterpieces, and a group of Bethel Delta Phi Nu Sorority girls volunteered their time and talents as door greeters, serving refreshments and performing at the end of the evening. We paired this event with a Mary Kay basket raffle donated by Ira Cunningham and an opportunity to donate for the framed artwork as a fundraiser for employee Cathy Phillips, who is on extended leave caring for her husband, who suffered a debilitating illness. Our prayers are with the family for a speedy recovery.

We celebrated one birthday this month, Robbie Adams. We said farewell to resident Sue Blow, may she rest in peace, said goodbye to residents Cynthia Brewer, Earl Ray Kee and Joan Williams and welcomed new friends, Mary Ann Melton and Ruth Mann.

Until Next Time…