Halcyon House News

The First Assembly of God Church shared the weekly service with Halcyon House residents this past Sunday. Reverend W. David Watson shared the sermon titled, ?Beyond our Faults.? He shared scripture from Jeremiah 18:1-6 and 2 Timothy 2:20 with those in attendance. Reverend Watson also shared piano music for the worship service.

Avalon House residents have been enjoying the many Christmas trees and decorations spread throughout campus as they have been spending time going on campus walks. Our sing-a-longs have been filled with Christmas carols. The ?Keota Brass Band? consisting of Tom Hahn and Roger Richardson both from Keota, Stan Knipfer from Keosauqua and Gary McCurdy from Washington entertained the residents with their guitar picking, trumpet and tuba blowing and the brass trombone rounding out the band. This lively group of guys likes playing the old standard jazz tunes in their own unique way. There was a lot of toe tapping during this brass band concert.

Halcyon House residents are all a bustle getting ready for the holiday season! Several residents, Mike and Jane Leyden, Gladys Ferguson, Donna Schoonover, Linda Sturdevant and many others decorated Christmas trees in the lounges and entryways of Halcyon Apartment Buildings I, II and III. Mike Leyden even brought Christmas music to help set the mood for the decorating. Following the decorating residents enjoyed cocoa and Christmas cookies.

The Halcyon House Wellness Department is working hard at keeping residents, staff and greater community members in shape this holiday season. Becky and Mercy are offering, Cardio Fusion, Fusion Flow, Seated Strength, Strength and Stability, Therapeutic Exercise, Line Dancing and lots more! They are also hosting a ?Fitness Finale? incentive challenge. Fitness Finale participants are challenged for the next four weeks to work their way through the Fitness Finale course by completing at least 30 minutes of cardio four days per week, supplementing it with booster activities and then jumping a hurdle by completing a stress management activity. The Wellness Department is wrapping up the year by completing fitness assessments for residents and community members.

Surviving the Holidays- Gina Walton of Washington County Hospice presented a timely and beneficial program on how to survive the holidays recently in the Morrison Center. Gina shared tips on how to cope with grief and loss for those who dread how everything has changed with happy memories from past years that can?t be recreated.

Completion of the new fitness group exercise room is under way with the remodel of two storage areas to keep equipment, sound system and music. Residents, staff and our community members are very excited about all the new changes to the group fitness room.

Mary Meeks spent 10 days enjoying the beautiful trees and 80 degree weather in Arkansas. She spent five days in Prairie Grove with son, Lewis and his wife, Cathi. A lot of time was spent seeing all the beauty around Fayetteville. On the 16th Lewis and Cathi took Mary to Republic, Missouri, to meet daughter-in-law Mary and daughter Leslie and fiancé, Quinn and son, Tom. Mary?s son, Dick and his wife, Malinda from Mountain Home, Arkansas, joined them for a pre-Thanksgiving Dinner at the Italian Pasta Kitchen there. Mary went home with Dick and Malinda that evening and spent two days with them. She arrived home the 26th very happy with the fact that she had made one more trip to see the family there.

There were lots of guests and families at Halcyon House over the holiday weekend. The following residents hosted their guest and families for a wonderful Thanksgiving meal in the Timmins Dining Room: Mabel Lenz, Bob and Peg Gerot, Anna Hysell, Edie Trotter, Grace Egli, Jeanette Vittetoe, Lois Greiner, Isy Flander, Donna Schoonover, Audrey Goldsmith, Rose Ellen Stelton, Jim Jewell, Ellen Perdock, Phyllis Lyle, Shirley Canfield and Bob Swift.

Lee Moore from Minnesota was here for a couple of day to spend time visiting his mother, Frances Moore.

Sybil Thornton hosted her son and grandson recently.

Ellen Perdock had guests for a few days. Daughter Diane, son in law Bob and granddaughter, Laurie Holtaway were in Washington to spend time with Ellen over the holidays.

Leroy Schmidt and his wife were in Washington to visit his brother Carl for a couple of days over the holiday weekend.

Happy birthday wishes go out to Linda Sturdevant, Leo Sueppel, and Laurita Ross.

Halcyon House extends our sympathies to the family of our friend and resident, Lottie Hodgman.