STUDIO PROMO!

Valentines Day at Village

Please check back for information and upcoming events for the Valentines Day Volunteer night - a perfect place to take a date! Paul and I went last year for Valentines Day and we had a blast!

Village Manor - Christmas Volunteer Project

It had been on my heart for years that I needed to spend time volunteering at a nursing home. Finally in January of 2007 I decided to take action. In conjunction with this, I also felt a nagging to do something around the holiday’s that included my friends, to spread some Christmas cheer to the residents at Village Manor, hence the Village Manor - Christmas Volunteer Project came alive. We had approximately 15 volunteers and it was a huge success!

Monday, December 1st, was the first night of VM-CVP (Village Manor Christmas Volunteer Project) and we kicked it off with Jeopardy night along with treats, games and prizes.

My beautful, wonderful, creative mother, the brains behind Jeopardy.

Nick caught flirting with some of the ladies:-) Everyone sat and chatted with the residents to get to know them better. They really appreciate the time we spent just chatting and hanging out with them.

Rachel & Tyler posing with Delmer. Delmer was famous for asking Ria how much it cost her to put those, "stripes" in her hair!

We also played cards with some of the residents.

Ericka, Nick & Ria meeting Leona's bird Chicken! We had to monitor the amount of cookies that chicken was "eating!"

Back Row: Darcy, Rachel, Tyler, Ria, Nick & Ericka. Front Row: Delmer, Leona and Della.

Monday, December 8th. The Bathtub Dogs!!! The Bathtub Dogs were a HUGE hit, the young men are an A cappella group from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. They are a highly sought after group, so we were extremely blessed that they were willing to come and volunteer. One particular touching moment was when a woman wheeled out on her moterized scooter and looked up at them and said, "it's sure nice that you young people remember us old folks around the Holiday's." Another one of the ladies said that it was the best performance they have ever had there! Thank-you Bathtub Dogs, not only are you an amazing singing group but you are also doing great things in the community!

Along with the craze of the Bathtub Dogs we played games, ate cookies and chatted with the residents.

Monday, December 15th was the last evening of volunteering. My cousins Courtney and Maggie helped out by leading "Name that Tune" on the piano. Growing up they were amazing Pianist so I asked them if they would play for us, they did a phenomenal job - Thank-you Courtney & Maggie!!

This was a short simple project, but it went well and those that participated enjoyed it very much, as did the Village residents. Thank-you so much to everyone that gave of your time and your heart. It was truly a blessing to work with you and see how much the residents of Village Manor enjoyed spending time with my precious friends!

Please come back to Village Manor and bring your friends and family to volunteer!

Tales from Home...

I hadn't been into the nursing home for a few weeks, I think my small posse of gray haired friends were happy to see me. I sat down to visit with a few women as they were finishing up supper, and a gentlemen at the nearby table was teasing one of the women. The women and I had a short conversation about how much the men act like 12 year old's and they like it even more when we laugh at them. A few minutes later a sweet old man named John wheels up in his scooter and the conversation goes a little something like this:

(John puts his hands on Eva Mae's head sneakily)
Eva Mae: John you about gave me a heart attack!
John: Well Eva Mae, I hope you don't have a heart attack because then I would have to give you mouth to mouth.

I am currently reading "My Grandfather's Son." There is much to comment about this book; something that stood out to me as I was reading today was this prayer that Clarence Thomas said he recited daily through some difficult times.

A prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi:

Keep a clear eye toward life's end. Do not forget your purpose and destiny as God's creature. What you are in His sight is what you are and nothing more. Do not let worldly cares and anxieties or the pressures of office blot out the divine life within you or the voice of God's spirit guiding you in your great task of leading humanity to wholeness. If you open yourself to God and his plan printed deeply in your heart, God will open Himself to you.