Christmas and the Retirement Home Visit

One of the things I like about being home schooled is that once a month we go and visit a retirement home. We have been doing this for three years. At first, I was scared and very shy, I hardly talked, even if I was sitting next someone.

Once we were used to going, Alicia and I made friends with this one lady, she was a very nice, cheerful lady. She would recognize us when we came to see her. She would tell the person sitting next to her that "my girls are here". Then she would ask us what took us so long to come back. We enjoyed going and visiting her. A couple of months ago she got really sick and passed away.

The next month when we returned I met a new lady, her name is Esther, who I now visit with each month. She has a friend who is there taking care of her, and has been for over 10 years. I really like visiting with Esther and her friend.

I think God led me to her for a reason, here is why:

This month we went with a couple of other families. We sang songs, some Christmas
carols and some hymns. Then after wards we passed out Christmas cards
we had made. Each person received at least three cards. I had made a special one for Esther.
She left before I was able to give it to her, so I gave it to one of the lady's that works there.
She went to give it to Esther, while I finished passing out my cards.
A few minutes later, here came Esther with her friend. She came looking like she was ready
to cry. I walked over to her and she gave me a hug and said, "Thank you for the card. I have not received a card in a very long time." It made me sad to think she had not received a card
in a long time. But it made me happy to know I was able to help her in a small way.

I hope a lot of people will help brighten the day of an elderly person. Even if you are just walking past them in the store, you can smile at them and you just might get a smile back.

I am glad that I have been able to help the elderly and remember they have the most interesting stories to tell, plus it is what Jesus would do.

Retirement home

Every 3rd Thursday Mom ,Alicia and I will go visit a retirement home in Stanwood.

When we first started Alicia and I were very shy of them we did not talk to any of the residents very much, but now Alicia and I have made a new friend. We always are excited to go visit
her and she is always excited to see us when we come. We go to the retirement home with several of our other friends so they bring several residents out in to their activity room and we do crafts or play games with the residents.

Yesterday we went and made ice cream in a bag, it was a lot of fun. The residents all got to shake the bag then we all, even the residents, got to have a little bite of ice cream.

We have done so many fun things there. Alicia and I always look forward to going, not for the fun things or the crafts that we do, but because we love to visit our new friend. When we are with her time goes by so quickly that when it is time for us to go she always asks us if we will come to see her the next month. We always tell her that we hope so and then she is happy to let us go because she knows that we will visit her again. We always have fun and always look forward to the next time we go to visit her.

(mom added this)

Hannah

The Retirement Home Visit

Hannah, Kylie, Sarah, Becky and Baby Elayna @ retirement home

The girls made their monthy visit to the retirement home this past week. It is always good to see them interacting with the residents. This time they had a questionaire for the residents. They had to go around to the different residents to get the answers to their questions. They had questions like: Who has served their country in the military? Who had more than 5 children? Who had the same occupation as their father? They went from person to person until they had all of their questions answered. One of the residents really took to Alicia and just sat and talked with her and continued even after everyone else left. When we were getting ready to leave she asked Alicia if she would come back to talk to her again and Alicia assured her that we would return next month. I love seeing the respect that the young people are showing to their elders. We have a great group of young people who come out every month to spend an hour with the residents.

Alicia, Hannah, Little Anna, Stephanie waiting for residents to arrive

Tyler conversing with Jacob while Little Anna loves on her brother, waiting for the residents to arrive

(We didn't take any photos of the residents out of respect for their privacy)