Halcyon House News

The Finley Chapel led our weekly service on Sunday. The sermon was titled ?Sing a new Song.?

Audrey Stark, Alice Edgin and many other residents enjoyed a chair yoga class led by Melissa Turner Friday, July 8, on the lawn just off South Ave B. Following the chair yoga class residents and team members enjoyed delicious smoothies prepared by the Halcyon House Wellness staff. Jude and Jocelyn Carter helped their grandma, Mercy Brinning, decorate a serving cart with grass skirting and flowers to be used for passing out the smoothies around campus. The Carter kids really got into the spirit of things by dressing up in Caribbean outfits. Jocelyn Carter dressed up in a grass skirt with a coconut-shell bikini top, flower leis, and flowers in her hair and Jude worn swim trunks, leis, and a straw hat.

Rosie Stelton, Marcella Reed and other residents enjoyed a Blue Zone Scavenger Hunt, Friday, July 8, as a Move Naturally activity for WesleyLife Week. The residents were challenged to find items related to the Power 9. For instance, for the Power 9, ?Family First? residents had to collect a photo of family and/or friends. Alice Edgin and Bill Chemaler were first-place winners!

The residents, team members, and their families were provided a sneak peek of the new building project on Saturday. Approximately 150 people joined the tours of the inside of one household. Tour participants were amazed at the progress, the natural light in the households, and the spacious feel!

An overflow crowd spilled into the halls from the Day Lounge on Sunday evening as residents gathered for a hymn sing. They were accompanied by the fabulous piano music that was provided by Beth Janecek.

Monday was ?A Day at the Ballpark.? Residents and team members were encouraged to wear shirts or ball caps with their favorite ball team logo on it. Dinner was ?Take Me Out to the Ball Park.? Residents also watched two baseball themed movies that were both filmed in Iowa. The first movie they watched in the afternoon was ?The Final Season? starring Sean Astin and Tom Arnold. It was the true story of an underdog coach from the small town of Norway, Iowa, and his high school baseball team that must defend their legacy against insurmountable odds. The second feature in the doubleheader was ?Field of Dreams,? another made-in-Iowa movie starring Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones, and Burt Lancaster. ?If you build it, they will come.? With these words Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella turns his ordinary cornfield into a place where dreams can come true ? a heartwarming experience that has moved critics and audiences like no other film of its generation.

Tuesday brought a great game of ?Plinko? in the front office areas. Residents and team members were provided with financial questions and allowed to earn ?Plinko? chips. The ?Plinko? chips were then used to win prizes ranging from food and drinks to dollar bills. There was lots of excitement while people tried to cheer their chips to the correct slot.

Wednesday was ?Friendship Building? day. Residents and team members participated in answering questions that would give them a chance to know each other better. There was a lot of laughter with this ?get to know you game.?

Thursday brought some fun with sling shots and paint balls. The target was a large canvas, that slowly became a work of art. This activity was done outside and even a few surrounding trees got decorated!!

Alice Moore welcomed visitors from Denver, Colorado, this past week. Her son, Kelvin and his wife, Sara, stayed with Alice for a few days. While they were in Washington they had a chance to catch up with former classmates.

Carol Gingerich enjoyed a visit from Darlene Sieren last weekend. Carol was thrilled when Darlene?s granddaughters, Kimberly and Chelsea Goudzwaard from Cedar Rapids accompanied Darlene.

Lewis and Cathi Meeks were here over the weekend to celebrate Lewis? 50th-year class reunion from Highland High School. The reunion was held in the Riverside VFW. They had dinner with his mother, Mary Meeks, in the Applewood Bistro on Monday. They returned to their home in Prairie Grove, Arkansas, on Tuesday.