American House at Jenison - Assisted Living8001 Cottonwood Drive | Jenison | Michigan | 49428

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February 2016Our StaffDarren Tigelaar AdministratorJudy Boven Nursing DirectorMary Hoogenstyn Culinary SupervisorLouAnn Kloostra Housekeeping SupervisorKati Wiersema Life Enrichment DirectorRick Deemter Maintenance SupervisorChristie Lubbers Admissions DirectorKimberly VanDis Admissions AssistantBobbi Sall Administrative AssistantJulie Ann Mesman Administrative AssistantSteven Faulk Chaplain

Important Phone NumbersMain Office (616) 457-9815Beechwood (616) 457-1660Maplewood (616) 457-3576Cottonwood (616) 457-0965Cherrywood (616) 457-8066Willowood (616) 457-5869Sandalwood (616) 457-2663

The Latest!Stay up to date with what’s happening at

American House at Jenison by “liking” ourpage. Pictures are posted weekly andreminders of events on our campus.

Love Is Patient, Love Is Kind

Random Acts of KindnessOf all the observances that fill the calendar, one of

the most meaningful takes place the second full weekof February—Random Acts of Kindness Week. Thisweek is a time to promote the warmth and kindnesspeople can bring to one another through small andsimple gestures.

What can you do? Ideas are limitless. Ask a newresident to sit with you at mealtime or join you for anactivity. Offer to read to a friend or neighbor who isvisually impaired. Leave some treats at the door of afriend or neighbor who has a pet. Make it a point tosmile and offer a sincere greeting to everyone youmeet today. Thank a caregiver or volunteer fortheir help.

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VillasMason L.

2/9

BeechwoodHelen S.

2/1

Mary P.2/10

WillowoodJanis S.

2/27

CherrywoodNorm V.

2/9

Jack G.2/14

~Staff~Laurette Brady

2/9

Tawnya Elders2/9

Carrie Molero2/11

A Peek at the PresidentsGeorge Washington probably didn’t

chop down a cherry tree, and hisdentures weren’t made of wood, but ofcow teeth. More presidential tidbits:

Thomas Jefferson (1801-09). Aprolific inventor, he designed orimproved the spherical sundial,dumbwaiter and swivel chair, amongother items.

John Quincy Adams (1825-29).Swam in the Potomac River eachmorning.

Ulysses S. Grant (1869-77). Receiveda speeding ticket while driving hisone-horse carriage in Washington, D.C.

James A. Garfield (1881).Ambidextrous, President Garfield couldwrite a sentence in Latin with one handand in Greek with the other.

Warren G. Harding (1921-23). Duringa poker game, he lost a set of WhiteHouse china to Gen. DouglasMacArthur’s first wife, Louise.

Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-45). AfterPresident Roosevelt told guests about amystery story he’d imagined, it wasmade into a novel and movie, called“The President’s Mystery.” FDRreceived a “story by” credit.

Gerald Ford (1974-77). He and hiswife, Betty, had been models. He evenappeared on the cover of Cosmopolitanmagazine.

Pioneers in Black HistoryCelebrate Black History Month

by paying tribute to some firsts inAfrican-American history:

Published poet. Brought toAmerica as a slave, PhillisWheatley was only about13 years old when her first poemwas published in a Rhode Islandnewspaper in 1767. Six yearslater, she published a book ofpoetry, which earned herworldwide admiration.

Governor. P.B.S. Pinchback,the son of a white plantationowner and a former slave, brieflyserved as Louisiana’s governorfrom December 1872 to Januaryof the next year, after the electedgovernor was impeached. Thecountry’s first elected African-American governor didn’t comeuntil more than 100 years later,when L. Douglas Wilder becameVirginia’s governor in 1989.

Olympic medalist. Afterbreaking records running trackfor the University of Wisconsin,George Poage competed in the1904 Summer Olympics inSt. Louis, where he becamethe first African-American to winan Olympic medal. He placedthird in both the 220- and440-yard hurdles.

TV show host. FromNovember 1956 to December1957, NBC aired “The Nat ‘King’Cole Show,” the first nationalvariety TV series to be hosted byan African-American. Thepopular jazz pianist and singerwas joined by guests such asElla Fitzgerald and Mel Tormé.

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Happy

Day

Valentine’s Day 2016This year we’ll be celebrating

Valentine’s Day on our campus withmany different activities!

• In the beginning of February,each resident has theopportunity to take part in acard exchange. We’ll placeenvelopes on the doors ofthose who wish to participate.Cards are available in yourbuilding to write notes to oneanother. Use these cards toencourage, thank, and build upyour fellow residents.

• On Friday, February 12, a“Love is Ageless” dance istaking place. Come toBeechwood at 2:00 p.m. for adance, sweet treats, andfun time!

• Look for ballots the first weekof February to place your votefor the campus “King &Queen.” The winning duo willbe announced at theValentine’s Day dance.

TeatimeAs we move forward into 2016, be

aware of some new activities takingplace. “Teatime” will happen at leastonce a month in most buildings. We’llbring out fancy teacups and saucersand enjoy conversation around thetable. This is a great opportunity toget to know each other better!

“In the sweetness of friendship letthere be laughter, and sharing ofpleasures. For in the dew of littlethings the heart finds its morning andis refreshed.” —Khalil Gibran

~Staff Cont’d.~Valerie DeBoer

2/14

Allison Mahaney2/15

Cindy Vander Ploeg2/16

Jo Ann Steinbach2/19

Sally Plooster2/20

Amanda Walcott2/23

Miguel Negron2/25

Liliana De Vries2/27

Blowing out anothercandle should meanthat you have livedanother year of joyand that you’ve madethis world a betterplace. Make everyday of your life, andevery candle, count.Have a delightfulbirthday!

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First DatesIt’s February, a

popular month forsweethearts. Do youremember the firsttime you were struckby Cupid’s arrow?Use the questionsbelow to start adiscussion aboutyour own datingexperiences, as wellas those of yourfriends andneighbors.

• Who was yourfirst date with?Did you askthem out, or didthey ask you?

• How old wereyou then? Didyou have to getyour parents’permission togo?

• Where did yougo on that firstdate? Maybe adance, pizzaparlor or movie?Did it lead toother dates?

• Did you everdouble date? Ifso, with whom?

• What was, orwould be, a“dream date”with your specialsomeone?

About

Out &

On Friday, February 5th, we willventure back to Sprinkles Donuts fora tasty treat. Sprinkles is located inHudsonville and is a growing sweetsbusiness! Donut runs are a hit, so signup right away to get a seat. In theafternoon, we will have a Ride Out forBeechwood, Maplewood,Cottonwood and Willowood.

On the 19th, the Lunch Bunch willresume. This is a chance to get outand meet residents from otherbuildings. Be sure to let the LifeEnrichment staff know if there are anyplaces in particular you’d like to go forlunch. We usually pick the place, butwe would love for you to help usdecide. Bring your money along forthis outing.

The last Friday of the month, the26th, the bus will be going to Barnes& Noble Bookstore at the RivertownMall. You may not be a reader, butdon’t let that stop you from coming. Ifyou like coffee, then be sure to signup for this outing as well. While fellowresidents are perusing the books,others sit at Starbucks and enjoy afresh cup of coffee.

Severe Weather Policy: In the casethat area public schools are closed,we will cancel all bus outings. In theevent that the schools are not closed,but we are experiencing inclementweather, the staff may choose tocancel an outing if the conditions aredeemed unsafe.

Keep your mind sharp! Enjoy thesebrainteasers from brainden.com.

Ponzo Illusion

One of the best visual illusions isdefinitely this one. Both green lineshave the same length. This Ponzoillusion uses the fact that the humanbrain interprets the image withperspective, however, it’s just asimple 2D image.

Stroop Effect

Try to say the color of the words,instead of actually reading them. Youwill find it surprisingly difficult. Theright half of your brain is trying to saythe colors, the left half is trying to saythe word itself. (by J.R. Stroop)

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Staff Christmas Party

In appreciation of our staff, we treatedthem to lunch on December 17. Wewouldn’t be who we are withoutthese, and many other, amazinghardworking people. Don’t forget tothank the staff for all they do!

Guess Who?

The previous month’sPatriot includedpictures of ourresidents in theiryounger years! Didyou recognize any ofthem? These are theanswers forJanuary’s pictures:

• 1st picture-Edna V.

• 2nd picture-Al B.

• 3rd picture-Skip F.

This month’s featured picture.

We’re all out ofpictures. Pleasesubmit a picture ofyourself to the LifeEnrichmentDepartment if you’dlike to be featured inthis “Guess Who?”column.

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“It is the sweet,simple things of lifewhich are the real

ones after all.”—Laura Ingalls

Wilder

“Sweet is thememory of distantfriends! Like the

mellow rays of thedeparting sun, it fallstenderly, yet sadly,

on the heart.”—Washington Irving

“Love planted a rose,and the world turned

sweet.”—Katharine Lee

Bates

“A poet is anightingale, who sits

in darkness and singsto cheer its own

solitude with sweetsounds.”

—Percy ByssheShelley

“That it will nevercome again is whatmakes life sweet.”—Emily Dickinson

“Life is one grand,sweet song, so start

the music.”—Ronald Reagan

Choir concert by Baldwin Street Middle School

This past Christmas seasonmultiple school and church groupscame to spread holiday cheer withus! Thank you for the choir concerts,gingerbread house making,Christmas songs and puppet show.We appreciate the community’sinvolvement in American HouseJenison.

Pretzel M&M Hugs• square pretzels• Hershey’s hugs (12 oz. pkg.)• milk chocolate M&Ms

DIRECTIONS• Preheat oven to 200°. Align

pretzels on cookie sheet, thentop each pretzel with oneHershey’s chocolate. Bake for4-5 minutes, until thechocolate is shiny and soft.

• Remove from oven andcarefully place one M&M in thecenter of each Hug. Place inrefrigerator and allow to restuntil chocolate has set, about5 minutes. Store in an airtightcontainer.

www.cookingclassy.com

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You Get What You Expect

Expectation is a synonym for faith. Sooften in our lives, we lack hopebecause we lack faith in somethinggood happening by putting a limit onwhat is possible. Consider thefollowing quotes from people withlimited expectation.

• “I think there is a world marketfor maybe five computers.”-- Thomas Watson, chairman ofIBM, 1943.

• “There is no reason anyonewould want a computer in theirhome.” -- Ken Olson, president,chairman and founder of DigitalEquipment Corp., 1977.

• “This ‘telephone’ has too manyshortcomings to be seriouslyconsidered as a means ofcommunication. The device isinherently of no value to us.”-- Western Union internal memo,1876.

• “The wireless music box hasno imaginable commercialvalue. Who would pay for amessage sent to nobody inparticular?” -- David Sarnoff’sassociates in response to hisurgings for investment in theradio in the 1920s.

• “It will be years -- not in mytime -- before a woman willbecome Prime Minister.”-- Margaret Thatcher, 1974.

• “There will never be a biggerplane built.” -- A Boeingengineer, after the first flight ofthe 247, a twin engine plane thatholds ten people.

For this coming year, are youexpecting to find joy ordiscouragement? In a big way, wedon’t get what we deserve but whatwe expect. If you want to raise yourlevel of hope for the coming year,raise your expectations.

An attitude adjustment that raisesGod honoring expectations beginswith changing your definition ofpossible. Like the examples above,we can miss out on many of God’sblessings by us limiting God’s powerin our lives.

And Jesus said to him, ... “All thingsare possible for one who believes.”Mark 9:23 (ESV)

Edited by Steven Faulk and adaptedfrom Ray Johnson, HQ: The HopeQuotient, Measure it. Raise it. You’llNever Be The Same, 2014.

“May the God of hope fill you withall joy and peace as you trust in him,so that you may overflow with hopeby the power of the Holy Spirit.”Romans 15:13

Songs of Faith

Henry Francis Lyte(1793-1847) was anAnglican clergymanwho served nearlyhalf his life as vicar ofa church at Brixham,a fishing village inDevonshire.

During the lastyears of his life, Lytesuffered fromtuberculosis, thedisease that wouldeventually take hislife. A few weeksbefore his death, hepreached his lastsermon at Brixham.He rested thatafternoon, and uponarising took a walk onthe beach. He thenretired to his study,and emerged with hispoem, “Abide WithMe,” in his hand.

“Abide with me: fastfalls the eventide;

The darknessdeepens; Lord with

me abide; Whenother helpers fail andcomforts flee, Help ofthe helpless, O abide

with me

In life, in death, OLord, 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, at1:30pm

• 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

Candy

Card

Cupid

February

Flowers

Friends

Groundhog

Heart

Hug

Kiss

Love

Red

Roses

Sweet

Valentine