American House at Jenison - Assisted Living 8001 Cottonwood Drive | Jenison | Michigan | 49428 americanhouse.com

February 2016 Our Staff Darren Tigelaar Administrator Judy Boven Nursing Director Love Is Patient, Love Is Kind Mary Hoogenstyn Culinary Supervisor LouAnn Kloostra Housekeeping Supervisor Kati Wiersema Life Enrichment Director Rick Deemter Maintenance Supervisor Christie Lubbers Admissions Director Kimberly VanDis Admissions Assistant Bobbi Sall Administrative Assistant Julie Ann Mesman Administrative Assistant Steven Faulk Chaplain Important Phone Numbers Main Office (616) 457-9815 Beechwood (616) 457-1660 Maplewood (616) 457-3576 Cottonwood (616) 457-0965 Cherrywood (616) 457-8066 Willowood (616) 457-5869 Random Acts of Kindness Sandalwood (616) 457-2663 Of all the observances that fill the calendar, one of the most meaningful takes place the second full week of February—Random Acts of Kindness Week. This week is a time to promote the warmth and kindness people can bring to one another through small and simple gestures. What can you do? Ideas are limitless. Ask a new resident to sit with you at mealtime or join you for an The Latest! activity. Offer to read to a friend or neighbor who is Stay up to date with what’s happening at visually impaired. Leave some treats at the door of a American House at Jenison by “liking” our friend or neighbor who has a pet. Make it a point to page. Pictures are posted weekly and smile and offer a sincere greeting to everyone you reminders of events on our campus. meet today. Thank a caregiver or volunteer for their help. 2

Pioneers in Black History Celebrate Black History Month by paying tribute to some firsts in African-American history: Published poet. Brought to America as a slave, Phillis Wheatley was only about 13 years old when her first poem was published in a Rhode Island newspaper in 1767. Six years Villas A Peek at the Presidents later, she published a book of Mason L. George probably didn’t poetry, which earned her 2/9 chop down a cherry tree, and his worldwide admiration. dentures weren’t made of wood, but of Governor. P.B.S. Pinchback, cow teeth. More presidential tidbits: the son of a white plantation Beechwood (1801-09). A owner and a former slave, briefly Helen S. prolific inventor, he designed or served as Louisiana’s governor 2/1 improved the spherical sundial, from December 1872 to January dumbwaiter and swivel chair, among of the next year, after the elected Mary P. other items. governor was impeached. The 2/10 John Quincy Adams (1825-29). country’s first elected African- Swam in the Potomac River each American governor didn’t come Willowood morning. until more than 100 years later, Janis S. Ulysses S. Grant (1869-77). Received when L. Douglas Wilder became 2/27 a speeding ticket while driving his ’s governor in 1989. one-horse carriage in Washington, D.C. Olympic medalist. After James A. Garfield (1881). breaking records running track Cherrywood Ambidextrous, President Garfield could for the University of Wisconsin, Norm V. write a sentence in Latin with one hand George Poage competed in the 2/9 and in Greek with the other. 1904 Summer Olympics in Warren G. Harding (1921-23). During St. Louis, where he became Jack G. a poker game, he lost a set of White the first African-American to win 2/14 House china to Gen. Douglas an Olympic medal. He placed MacArthur’s first wife, Louise. third in both the 220- and ~Staff~ Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-45). After 440-yard hurdles. Laurette Brady President Roosevelt told guests about a TV show host. From 2/9 mystery story he’d imagined, it was November 1956 to December made into a novel and movie, called 1957, NBC aired “The Nat ‘King’ Tawnya Elders “The President’s Mystery.” FDR Cole Show,” the first national 2/9 received a “story by” credit. variety TV series to be hosted by Gerald Ford (1974-77). He and his an African-American. The Carrie Molero wife, Betty, had been models. He even popular jazz pianist and singer 2/11 appeared on the cover of Cosmopolitan was joined by guests such as magazine. Ella Fitzgerald and Mel Tormé. 3

~Staff Cont’d.~ Valerie DeBoer 2/14

Happy Allison Mahaney 2/15

Cindy Vander Ploeg Day 2/16 Jo Ann Steinbach 2/19

Sally Plooster 2/20 Valentine’s Day 2016 This year we’ll be celebrating Amanda Walcott Valentine’s Day on our campus with 2/23 many different activities! • In the beginning of February, Miguel Negron each resident has the 2/25 opportunity to take part in a card exchange. We’ll place Liliana De Vries envelopes on the doors of 2/27 those who wish to participate. Cards are available in your building to write notes to one Teatime another. Use these cards to As we move forward into 2016, be Blowing out another encourage, thank, and build up aware of some new activities taking your fellow residents. candle should mean place. “Teatime” will happen at least that you have lived • On Friday, February 12, a once a month in most buildings. We’ll “Love is Ageless” dance is another year of joy bring out fancy teacups and saucers and that you’ve made taking place. Come to and enjoy conversation around the Beechwood at 2:00 p.m. for a this world a better table. This is a great opportunity to place. Make every dance, sweet treats, and get to know each other better! fun time! day of your life, and • Look for ballots the first week every candle, count. of February to place your vote “In the sweetness of friendship let Have a delightful for the campus “King & there be laughter, and sharing of birthday! Queen.” The winning duo will pleasures. For in the dew of little be announced at the things the heart finds its morning and Valentine’s Day dance. is refreshed.” —Khalil Gibran 4

Keep your mind sharp! Enjoy these Out & brainteasers from brainden.com. First Dates Ponzo Illusion It’s February, a About popular month for One of the best visual illusions is sweethearts. Do you On Friday, February 5th, we will definitely this one. Both green lines remember the first venture back to Sprinkles Donuts for have the same length. This Ponzo time you were struck a tasty treat. Sprinkles is located in illusion uses the fact that the human by Cupid’s arrow? Hudsonville and is a growing sweets brain interprets the image with Use the questions business! Donut runs are a hit, so sign perspective, however, it’s just a below to start a up right away to get a seat. In the simple 2D image. discussion about afternoon, we will have a Ride Out for your own dating Beechwood, Maplewood, experiences, as well Cottonwood and Willowood. as those of your On the 19th, the Lunch Bunch will friends and resume. This is a chance to get out neighbors. and meet residents from other • Who was your buildings. Be sure to let the Life first date with? Enrichment staff know if there are any Did you ask places in particular you’d like to go for them out, or did lunch. We usually pick the place, but they ask you? we would love for you to help us • How old were decide. Bring your money along for you then? Did this outing. you have to get The last Friday of the month, the your parents’ 26th, the bus will be going to Barnes permission to & Noble Bookstore at the Rivertown Stroop Effect go? Mall. You may not be a reader, but • Where did you don’t let that stop you from coming. If Try to say the color of the words, go on that first you like coffee, then be sure to sign instead of actually reading them. You date? Maybe a up for this outing as well. While fellow will find it surprisingly difficult. The dance, pizza residents are perusing the books, right half of your brain is trying to say parlor or movie? others sit at Starbucks and enjoy a the colors, the left half is trying to say Did it lead to fresh cup of coffee. the word itself. (by J.R. Stroop) other dates? • Did you ever double date? If Severe Weather Policy: In the case so, with whom? that area public schools are closed, • What was, or we will cancel all bus outings. In the would be, a event that the schools are not closed, “dream date” but we are experiencing inclement with your special weather, the staff may choose to someone? cancel an outing if the conditions are deemed unsafe. 5

Staff Christmas Party

In appreciation of our staff, we treated Guess Who? them to lunch on December 17. We wouldn’t be who we are without The previous month’s these, and many other, amazing Patriot included hardworking people. Don’t forget to pictures of our thank the staff for all they do! residents in their younger years! Did you recognize any of them? These are the answers for January’s pictures:

• 1st picture- Edna V. • 2nd picture- Al B. • 3rd picture- Skip F.

This month’s featured picture.

We’re all out of pictures. Please submit a picture of yourself to the Life Enrichment Department if you’d like to be featured in this “Guess Who?” column. 6

“It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.” —Laura Ingalls Wilder Pretzel M&M Hugs • square pretzels “Sweet is the • Hershey’s hugs (12 oz. pkg.) memory of distant • milk chocolate M&Ms friends! Like the mellow rays of the DIRECTIONS departing sun, it falls • Preheat oven to 200°. Align tenderly, yet sadly, pretzels on cookie sheet, then on the heart.” top each pretzel with one

—Washington Irving Choir concert by Baldwin Street Middle School Hershey’s chocolate. Bake for 4-5 minutes, until the “Love planted a rose, This past Christmas season chocolate is shiny and soft. and the world turned multiple school and church groups • Remove from oven and sweet.” came to spread holiday cheer with carefully place one M&M in the —Katharine Lee us! Thank you for the choir concerts, center of each Hug. Place in Bates gingerbread house making, refrigerator and allow to rest Christmas songs and puppet show. until chocolate has set, about “A poet is a We appreciate the community’s 5 minutes. Store in an airtight nightingale, who sits involvement in American House container. in darkness and sings Jenison. www.cookingclassy.com to cheer its own solitude with sweet sounds.” —Percy Bysshe Shelley

“That it will never come again is what makes life sweet.” —Emily Dickinson

“Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music.” —Ronald Reagan 7

You Get What You Expect For this coming year, are you expecting to find joy or discouragement? In a big way, we Expectation is a synonym for faith. So Songs of Faith often in our lives, we lack hope don’t get what we deserve but what we expect. If you want to raise your because we lack faith in something Henry Francis Lyte good happening by putting a limit on level of hope for the coming year, raise your expectations. (1793-1847) was an what is possible. Consider the Anglican clergyman following quotes from people with An attitude adjustment that raises God honoring expectations begins who served nearly limited expectation. half his life as vicar of “I think there is a world market with changing your definition of • a church at Brixham, for maybe five computers.” possible. Like the examples above, a fishing village in -- Thomas Watson, chairman of we can miss out on many of God’s blessings by us limiting God’s power Devonshire. IBM, 1943. During the last “There is no reason anyone in our lives. • years of his life, Lyte would want a computer in their And Jesus said to him, ... “All things suffered from home.” -- Ken Olson, president, are possible for one who believes.” Mark 9:23 (ESV) tuberculosis, the chairman and founder of Digital disease that would Equipment Corp., 1977. eventually take his “This ‘telephone’ has too many Edited by Steven Faulk and adapted • life. A few weeks shortcomings to be seriously from Ray Johnson, HQ: The Hope before his death, he considered as a means of Quotient, Measure it. Raise it. You’ll preached his last communication. The device is Never Be The Same, 2014. sermon at Brixham. inherently of no value to us.” He rested that -- Western Union internal memo, afternoon, and upon 1876. arising took a walk on “The wireless music box has • the beach. He then no imaginable commercial retired to his study, value. Who would pay for a and emerged with his message sent to nobody in poem, “Abide With particular?” -- David Sarnoff’s Me,” in his hand. associates in response to his urgings for investment in the radio in the 1920s. “Abide with me: fast • “It will be years -- not in my falls the eventide; time -- before a woman will The darkness become Prime Minister.” deepens; Lord with -- Margaret Thatcher, 1974. me abide; When • “There will never be a bigger other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of plane built.” -- A Boeing “May the God of hope fill you with the helpless, O abide engineer, after the first flight of all joy and peace as you trust in him, with me the 247, a twin engine plane that so that you may overflow with hope holds ten people. by the power of the Holy Spirit.” In life, in death, O Romans 15:13 Lord, abide with me.” February 2016

Special Events

• Sprinkles Donut Ride- Friday, February 5th, 9:30am

• Ride Out for MW, BW, CTW, WW- Friday, February 5th, *1:30pm

• Bible Stories at BW- Wednesdays, February 10th & 24th, 10:30am

• Chris Sloan- performing at CTW Thursday, February 11th, at 1:30pm

• Valentine’s Day lunch and “Love Is Ageless” Dance- Friday, February 12th

• Martin Zyla- performing at BW Monday, February 15th, 2:30pm

• BINGO Bash- at BW Thursday, February 18th, 2:15pm

• Lunch Bunch- Friday, February 19th, 11:30am

• Bookstore & Coffee- Friday, February 26th, 1:30pm

Arrow Heart Candy Hug Card Kiss Cupid Love February Red Flowers Roses Friends Sweet Groundhog Valentine