December is the time for cheer, and what better way to do that than with many visitors? This month has been special, not only from the many visitors but from the warm seasons greetings and correspondence the residents are enjoying. Here’s a picture of our current residents with their names.
Esther Wahlin and Ruth Henderson came from a workshop that took place in Dallas. Kathy and her sister, Pat Johnson, joined them for a Minnesotan photo along with one of our resident Minnesotans, Joyce. Marilynn missed out on the Minnesotan picture.
Several other visitors are shown below:
Carl Hamilton, Leslie Pulley,
Clarence Mounce
Jim and Sheri Morton 
Fe Gatan, Karen Cleveland 
Alisha, Summer and Autumn Trobaugh
For Christmas Eve we were visited by three friends from the Valley who know Marilynn, Alice, and Ronald well: Lolita Chavez, Nathaly Cabrera and Daniel Chavarra. Lolita was a companion to Marilynn and Alice long ago and they enjoyed reminiscing about their time together. Here they are in front of the piano with some of the residents.
On Christmas Day we had quite the crowd including Mona Reese, Fe Gatan Candace Sandon (Elsie’s granddaughter), her three kids AJ, Miles and Bryanna, and Diane Craighton, Salena’s mother. Here is a picture of the puzzle table and its participants, and a couple candid shots of the Christmas dinner table.
Diane, Salena and Kenny 
Mona helping Gwen and Elsie with the puzzle 
All smiles on Christmas 
Christmas Lamb Dinner
The Potters visited from Mountain Peak. Scott’s co-worker, Ethan, and Rachel’s co-worker, Colleen, were with them. Rachel is responsible for Shawn and Anita being here.
Resident Journals
Ronald Elliott
Ronald turned 96 this month! 96 years young, we would say. He had many letters congratulating him and a special birthday lunch with his friend, Wendall Wilson. Here he is being taught about the cellphone by Brynna Sandon.
Here’s how you do it… 
Look! 
Marilynn Frye
Marilynn has had a tough go of it again this month. She came back to us briefly at the beginning of the month, but caught a bug that had been going around. That, plus her already over-taxed immune system and exhaustion, caused her to have too much anxiety for good rest or appetite. It was decided it would be best if she returned to the hospital. So she was taken back to the Methodist hospital in the Woodlands, where she was diagnosed with bronchial spasms and atrial fibrillation. We’re glad to see her so much better now! Here she is in her kitchen with Mona, and posing with the Sandon boys, AJ and Miles. In the last, she is rewarding herself with a personal favorite, Special Beef Pho, after learning from her lung doctor that she could go off of oxygen!
Marilynn and Mona 
Marilynn with AJ and Miles 
Beef Pho for the Weary Soul
Elsie Schroeder
Elsie has been adjusting well to Louis’ passing. She gets a lot of encouragement from friends and family. Eileen Weiss came for a long visit and stayed back in her room with her. They reminisced about the past when Eileen was being cared for by Elsie and Louis, and walked in the sunshine at times with other residents. Here they are on one of those walks. And here she is playing Scrabble with her granddaughter, Candace Sandon, and great-grandson, Miles.
Eileen Weiss and Elsie
Happy to be together for a while
Elsie, Candice and Miles
Words make for lasting memories
Gwen Farmer
Gwen and Elsie have bonded over puzzles and walks. Here they are out in the sun after visiting a memorial park.
Elsie and Gwen
Puzzle ladies out in the wild
Alice Oetken
Alice has been doing well, she especially enjoyed the Spanish visitors she knew from long ago. Her cat “Kitty Kitty” is becoming a local celebrity and is always camera-friendly. Here is a picture of Alice with her old companion Lolita, and another of Kitty on the lawn.
Lolita and Alice
Long time friends
Kitty Kitty
Elton Cleveland
Elton always enjoys when his daughter, Karen, comes for a visit. He also loves to have an audience who appreciates his piano playing; it always makes him smile. When the visitors from the valley came, they took interest in his playing and even tried learning a duet with him! Here he is walking with Karen and Anita back to the car after Sunday morning meeting.
Joyce Naber
Joyce has been in good spirits. Ty Nordic recently put three horses in the pasture behind the dam. Joyce really loves horses, and watches them from across the pond with great amusement. Here she is treating herself to some after-lunch coffee.
Esther Duncan
Esther has been great. She loves a good cup of tea in the morning with breakfast. Several of the visitors had not seen her room and wanted to see her new Irish calendars, which she was delighted to share with them. Here she is demonstrating how she makes her morning tea.
Marie Mounce
Marie has been doing well. She enjoyed the visits from the sister workers and even went shopping with Mona. She also went to see Gilbert and Fern with Esther and Mona, seen here posing with Fern.
Fern Duncan and Gilbert Reese
Fern and Gilbert are at the Park Manor nursing home in Conroe TX.
Fern has not been doing so well. She has a lot of pain in her legs and knees and is often medicated to help deal with it. This means that for most visits she is too tired to keep her eyes open. Gilbert is doing well for almost 100! He still enjoys visitors and is up and around most days. Here are Fern with Marie and Esther, and Gilbert with Mona, Marie and Esther.
Happy to have visitors on Christmas 
We just closed 2023 with supper and fireworks at the residence.
Happy New Year to all! We sure appreciate your continued interest in the residents here. They enjoy all the visits and correspondence. Best wishes for 2024!
Kenny and Ken