Santa Claus Is Coming To Serenity

Serenity Assisted Living welcomed two very special guests this past Saturday; and what an exciting visit it was! Since this is a busy time of year for both of them, their surprise stopover was unexpected; but Santa and Mrs. Claus decided to take a break from their seasonal festivities to catch up with all of us here at Serenity. Indeed, Santa had been watching us and saw that we had been pretty good over this past year; and it was nice that we even had some milk and cookies to share with the unexpected visitors. Santa spent the afternoon giving all of us a few early gifts and asking us what we wanted for the holidays. It was a blast to hear his jokes and laugh with Mrs. Claus as he sat us one by one on his knee. Now we know we’ll have to keep on being good so we get more treats!

After spending the afternoon, it was finally time for Santa and Mrs. Claus to head back to the North Pole; but we were able to take a few pictures to share with you! Take a peek above at Santa and Mrs. Claus as they surprise Esther Olson, Muriel Kaercher and Henrietta Van Dyke last Saturday. To the right is Florence Tingum who is laughing as Santa surprises her with an early present. And take a look to the left as Santa makes John Grubb sit on his lap before he gives John a gift. Pictured below is John who is helping Mary open her present after all the excitement of the day!

Serenity's Bell Ringers

As all of us at Serenity know all too well, Henrietta is just one of those people who always wants to help out; and this is exactly what she did this past week. Michele Schuering and Henrietta took a short trip to K-Mart in Moorhead where they volunteered as bell ringers for the Salvation Army.

For those of you who may not know about the Salvation Army, it was founded in San Francisco in 1891 and has significantly grown over the past 100 years. Last year more than 25,000 volunteers earned the organization over $130 million; and the money was used to purchase food, clothing and toys for nearly 30 million people in need!

You will see the bell ringers until December 24th this holiday season; and all donations are used for needy citizens around the United States. So do a good turn and help out those in need through the Salvation Army!

Take a peak above at the picture of Michele and Henrietta volunteering for the Salvation Army. To the right is a picture of Henrietta actually ringing her bell!

(Source: www.salvationarmyusa.org)

God Bless Carol Thompson

Feeding America

Pennies for Chairty collected $23.21 this month for the 'Feeding America' organization. Thanks to everyone who brought in their pennies for this cause!

4th Annual Holiday Baking

Save the date for December 12th! Join us at Serenity on December 12th for our 4th Annual Holiday Baking Day! Just R.S.V.P. to Denise with either your recipe or needed ingredients and a time you are planning on coming.

Everything else will be ready for you! Don't forget to bring some empty containers to bring home your goodies in!

Operation Christmas Child

Shoe boxes, wrapping paper and toys were EVERYWHERE on Wednesday, November 18th. Youth from the churches of Dilworth Lutheran and St. Elizabeth's churches joined forces to pack 153 boxes for Operation Christmas Child at Serenity Assisted Living.

For the past month, members of these churches and communities have been donating empty shoe boxes, hygiene items and toys for this cause. It is an event grass rooted by Samaritans Purse and these wrapped boxes get delivered to needy children all over the world. Just think of how a box you could have wrapped changed the life of a little girl in the Middle East!

Last year Dilworth got 146 boxes and this year we surpassed that amount with 153! I think we should try for 200 next year! The organization alone sent over 8 million boxes to destinations all over the world!!

Samaritan's Purse | Operation Christmas Child | OCC Impact

Samaritan's Purse | Operation Christmas Child | OCC Impact

Hay Bales?!

Even though we have been enjoying the nice weather, we all know that winter will eventually arrive in all its freezing glory. Because we’re hoping to construct our newest building in the near future, we have been busy getting hay bales on the land where we will eventually build. As Tim informed me, once the bales are scattered, the hay will help keep the ground from freezing thoroughly so that digging can start earlier in the spring if need be. Bonnie has also been wondering about the process and informed us that there are 47 hay bales out there!

Exercise Group

We all know the importance of exercise, and we aren’t the kind of people to miss out on healthy physical activity. This afternoon a few of us gathered in the dining room to have a little fun with a beach ball – and we soon found out that some of us are regular soccer players! It was a blast to just kick the ball back and forth to each other and have a few good laughs in the process.

Pictured above is Henrietta, who put quite a bit of force on that ball! To the right is Mary who would definitely be our forward if we had a Serenity soccer team!

Enjoying the Weather

Winter in Minnesota

It's winter in Minnesota
And the gentle breezes blow
Seventy miles an hour
At twenty-five below.
Oh, how I love Minnesota
When the snow's up to your butt
You take a breath of winter
And your nose gets frozen shut.
Yes, the weather here is wonderful
So I guess I'll hang around
I could never leave Minnesota 'Cause I'm
frozen to the ground!

-Anonymous


Yes, Minnesota can get down right cold in the winter; and all of us here at Serenity know it. That’s why when we were blessed with some pretty nice weather this week we weren’t about to waste it. Every warm day this week we have been enjoying the weather by taking short walks and simply lounging outdoors. Esther Olson and Abbie Moe have really been enjoying the wonderful weather and have been outside as often as possible. Just take a look at this picture of the two catnapping together in the courtyard!