Christmas at Monette Manor

The staff and residents at Monette manor celebrated the holidays throughout the month of December with several activities.

Monette Christmas parade kicked off the season on Dec. 2. Revis Stewart drove the church bus belonging to Monette First Baptist Church to the parade. Five staff members and 13 residents of Monette Manor were able to ride the bus and view the parade through the big windows while remaining warm and comfortable. Monette Manor appreciates the act of kindness provided by the church.

Stockings were hung on Dec. 5 and Christmas decorations were out for all to enjoy. Each resident had a stocking to be filled by staff, family, visitors and friends. Residents enjoyed watching their stockings grow bigger and bigger daily and anxiously waited for opening day.

Monette Manor staff receiving service awards are, from left - Pat Tune, Penny Smith, Wendy Carpenter, Linda Knapp, Joann Guge and Teresa Hembrey.

Dec. 4-6 were Christmas picture taking days. Pictures were made in front of the beautiful Christmas tree. Each resident was given the opportunity to have a picture made as a 2013 keepsake for them and their families.

The annual Monette Manor Christmas party was held Dec. 9. Mel's of Harrisburg catered steaks, corn on the cob, rice and toast for the staff at Monette Manor. The facility provided desserts, including cheesecake and brownies.

Service awards and money were given to the employees who have worked for Monette Manor five, 10, 15 and 20 years.

Monette Manor Employee of the year, Robbie Skaggs

Robbie Skaggs was honored as Employee of the Year, for her outstanding work ethics and leadership at Monette Manor. She received $100 and her name was engraved and posted on the Employee of the Year plaque, which is displayed in the dining room.

Families and friends gathered at the facility for the residents' Christmas party at 6 p.m. Dec. 9. The facility prepared a feast for all to enjoy. Ricky Copeland Robert chambers played Christmas music and Monica Owens lead in singing Christmas carols.

The "Grinch" made an appearance to the facility but Santa Claus outshined him with gifts for each resident.

Monette Manor residents Thelma and Orville Morris enjoyed visiting with their sister and brother-in-law, Alice and Keith Brown, who were among the visitors during the Christmas holidays.

Five women from the Buck Donic Church, located at Cardwell, Mo., blessed the residents and staff on Dec. 16. The activity director received a call in March from Marion Sparkman asking how many residents lived at Monette Manor. Mrs. Sparkman asked if she and the women from the church could bring residents lap blankets for Christmas.

"At the time, I did not realize the blessings these ladies would bring to Monette Manor," Wendy Carpenter, activity director, said. "Marion Sparkman, Mildred Langston, Sherry Oden, Fredia Baker and Evelyn Ellington presented each resident with a lap quilt and a Christmas bag of goodies. With each gift came a pleasant smile and holiday greeting. The women made the quilts by hand. Each stitch represented care and love. These women brought a ray of light into the lives of our residents. Words cannot express the appreciation we all feel for their kindness."

The women had each staff member to choose a gift from a box of jewelry before departing the facility.

Second grade students at Buffalo Island Central entertained Monette Manor staff and residents on Dec. 17. The students sang Christmas carols and wished everyone a Merry Christmas. Residents presented each student with a Christmas bag of candy.

Pictures and stockings were handed out Dec. 20. The residents enjoyed reading their cards, eating candy, and looking at the small gifts inside each stocking.

Barbara Arnold and Martha Gilpatrick played Christmas bingo with the residents of Monette Manor on Dec. 23. The residents received a token each time they won bingo. The tokens were turned in for prizes. There was a variety of prizes to choose from such as bracelets, games, word search books, back scratchers, calendars and more.

Dec. 25, arrived. "Strummers with a Beat" sang Christmas music from the Golden Years to bring back memories of Christmas past. Families visited the home and their loved ones throughout the day. New Christmas memories and stories were made as they ate lunch and shared each other's company on Christmas Day.