Front Porch News Page 4

Pastor Cheryl Siegenthaler

Chaplain

DECEMBER 2014

Front Porch News

Pastor Cheryl

“Sisters, sisters, …There were never such devoted sisters,….”

Irvin Berlin’s lyrics describe our Volunteers of the Month to a “T”. Dee Brunner and her sister Deb Hanson volunteer weekly as Beauty Shop escorts to get our residents to their appointments on time. Deb shares that they started volunteering to help out and get acclimated to Green Hills Community. “Now,” she says, “I think we get far more than we give. Our quickly fostered friendships with the residents, even for the short jaunts to the beauty shop, have blossomed more into family relationships.” Having been raised in Huntsville all of their lives, we thought it would take time to be part of the community. That definitely wasn’t the case. Whether volunteering or joining campus activi-ties, “Everyone smiles and welcomes us,” states Dee. Even while walking their dogs, Chipper and Blondie, Dee and Deb get exercise and spread friendship to those they greet. Green Hills Community is grateful for the sister team of Dee and Deb, who generously lend a helping hand and give generously of their time.

Volunteers of the Month

December Birthdays

Gifting Opportunity

Buy! Buy! Buy! Black Friday deals here, Small Business shopping there, and Cyber Monday for anything you couldn’t find in stores. All the bases are covered for your Christmas shopping. But while Christmas music has been piped through out retail establishments all through November and radio stations have been playing the same since Halloween, the church begins to prepare for an extraordinary event during a season called Advent. It is in our worship we hear the stories of Isaiah’s prophecy that a Messiah will be born, of Gabriel’s visit to a young Mary, of Joseph’s confusion about his betrothed, and of John’s cries on the river bank. All these stories lead to the celestial chorus and angelic mes-sage to a group of ne’er-do-well shepherds outside Bethlehem. We sing hymns imploring the long-expected Jesus to come, we prepare a royal highway leading directly into our hearts, we listen for the thrilling voice, and we stay awake through a night that flies by. There is trouble lurking, how-ever, in the shadows of the stable. A trouble we ignore but without which makes all this hoopla ring hollow. While we kneel at a lowly manger, we cannot forget that we will also be kneeling at the foot of a cross. It is there we find the true gift at the center of this season. The word “advent” means “come,” and we fashion it into a season when we wait for the coming of the Christ child. Yet throughout his ministry we hear Je-sus extend the invitation for people to come to him. He tells Peter to get out of the boat and come to him. He tells everyone who works and is burdened to come to him for rest. He tells the children to come for blessing and the fisher-men to come to him for a mission. He beckons for Zacchaeus to come down from the tree and the rich young ruler, after divesting himself of his posses-sions, to come and follow. There is something about any infant that invites us to come and ooh and aah in delight. For this holy infant, however, we are invited to come and give up our lives, to come and follow him every day of our lives, and at the last, to come into the kingdom. And we can sing hallelujah for that!

The Songs of Christmas

Green Hills Community appreciates the commitment and contributions from all of its volunteers. If you would

like to become a volunteer, please contact Natalie Lawson at 650-7121.

#GivingTuesday is Tuesday, December 2. Green Hills can take donations online, why not

join us for #GivingTuesday?

For more information, please call Nita Wilkinson at 937-650-7146.

Joe Fisher Inn 1

Alma Plank Center 1

Peggy Baldwin Apartments 2

Juanita Coyle Center 2

Dahlia Jones Center 5

Leo Heminger Apartments 5

Donald Hostetler Inn 6

Leroy Dowden Homes 12

Jack Harris Apartments 14

Edith Hernandez Inn 14

Sue Hartsough Apartments 20

David Wren Inn 20

Bob Enoch Apartments 22

Carol Campbell Homes 23

James Liggett Center 23

Daniel Purnell Center 25

Joyce Williams Center 31

Front Porch News Page 3 DECEMBER 2014 Page 2

Upcoming Events

Wednesday, December 3rd at 1:30 PM Ben Logan 5/6 grade Choir - (Foundation Hall)

Friday, December 5th at 1:30 PM Ben Logan 7/8 grade Choir - (Foundation Hall)

Saturday, December 6th at 2:00 PM “Fountainaires” Jazz group -holiday tunes

(Foundation Hall)

Monday, December 8th from 6:00 – 7:30PM Christmas Fest- Ben Logan FFA (Foundation Hall)

Crafts, Goodies and Games

Tuesday, December 16th at 6:00 PM Musical Holiday – Steiner Piano Recital

(Foundation Hall)

Thursday, December 18th at 6:30 PM Christmas Candle Light Service - (Foundation Hall)

Friday, December 19th at 2:00 GHC Kitchen Band (Foundation Hall)

Monday, December 22nd at 2:00 PM “Holiday Hits“ - Just Duets - (Foundation Hall)

Work on the hot tub has begun! We hope to have that

up and running in the next week or so. Due to some

Christmas activities, Tai Chi will be in the Chapel beside

Pastor Cheryl’s office on Monday, December 8th

and

Monday, December 15th

. Again thank you for your

patience as we continue to enhance the fitness

programming!

-Nita Wilkinson

Chapel Service On Dec. 4 the weekly worship will be a

memorial service. We will lift up the names of those residents who have died within the last six months. We will remember them for

their friendship and service to this community.

Green Hills Community has formed a book club that meets the third Tuesday each month in the

Chapel.

Join us at 2:30 p.m. (or following the Christmas luncheon) on Tuesday, Dec. 16.

We will discuss the book, Gathering Blue, by Lois

Lowry. This is the second book in the “Giver

Quartet.” Reading The Giver is not

required but is recommended in order to

make comparisons between the two books.

Questions about the book club may be directed to Rebecca by calling 650.7117 or via

e-mail rsmith@greenhillscommunity.org.

Holiday Table Setting Assistance We could use the help of the

Super Setters setting tables for the

Holiday Parties. Please contact

Jessica Shaw at 650-7131 to sign up.

Wednesday, December 10th at 2:00 PM

Friday, December 12th at 9:00 PM

Saturday, December 13th at 8:30 AM

Monday, December 15th at 2:00 PM

We are also in need of volunteers

to help pack up our Christmas decorations

on Monday, January 5th

from 1-3PM.

Eight Strategies For Celebrating The Holidays And Living Well With Diabetes

Make A Plan To Stay Safe And Healthy This Winter

Monitor your blood sugar. Follow your doctor's or care manager's instructions for checking your blood

sugar, even when your days are less than routine.

Observe symptoms and know what to do. When your blood sugar level gets very high (hyperglycemia)

or very low (hypoglycemia), you may experience symptoms such as dizziness, sweats, shakiness, thirst or

fatigue. Know what the symptoms mean and what to do when you experience them.

Follow a healthy eating plan. Balance indulgences with good choices. For instance, eat a nutritious meal

before going to a party to make the treats less tempting.

Engage in regular physical activity. Make time to exercise, even when you're busy.

Manage stress and emotions. Ask for help when you need it and remember to take breaks when you

are feeling overwhelmed.

Deal with sick days, infections and other illnesses. While it may be tempting to "muddle through" cel-

ebrations and gatherings when you don't feel well, it's important to know your limitations.

Use prescribed medications in a safe and effective way. Staying on your daily medication schedule

can be difficult during the holidays. Remember to always store insulin according the package instructions.

Get necessary tests, exams and immunizations. Don't put off important medical care because of busy

schedules or long to-do lists. Keep your appointments.

http://aging.ohio.gov/news/agingconnection/20141124.asp

Emergency Supplies - Create an emergency kit that contains: a battery operated radio, a flashlight, extra

batteries, a signaling device (such as a loud whistle, horn or bell), food that you can open and prepare

easily, water, extra blankets, and a first aid kit. Make sure you have access to a phone that will work if the

electricity goes out.

Medications - Keep a backup supply of the medications you take every day. Ask your doctors for extra

copies of your prescriptions for your emergency kit. Have an ice chest on hand and keep ice packs in the

freezer for medications that need to be kept cool.

Equipment and Assistive Devices - Make sure your medical equipment and assistive devices (such as

canes, walkers, wheelchairs, lifts, oxygen tanks, etc.) are easy to locate in an emergency. Have spare bat-

teries or non-powered options for any equipment that will not work if there is no electricity.

Readiness - Designate a safe place to go (such as a friend or neighbor's house or shelter) and have a

plan for getting there if it becomes unsafe to stay in your home.

Reasonable accommodations - Be prepared to quickly explain to rescue personnel how to move you or

help you move safely and rapidly (e.g., "take my oxygen tank," "get my insulin from the refrigerator")

http://aging.ohio.gov/news/pressreleases/2014/20141114.htm

The not for profit difference is evident in our therapy services. Not only do we have a state of the art therapy center, but we extend these services through additional programming such as our Restorative Therapy program and our Wellness Program. We know that the recovery includes the mind, body, and spirit. Together, our interdisciplinary team enhances your rehabilitation needs and this helps to expedite

recovery, as we strive to do things differently.