St. Luke Living Center
By SUE GUTSCH
St. Luke Living Center reporter
Taking a holiday from "The Prairie," book clubbers listened to stories from a Guidepost Christmas Treasury Tuesday morning.
Hospital auxiliary members, anticipating more icy weather, delivered refreshments Monday. Due to their forethought, we enjoyed the monthly coffee with one member, Lynne Watts present. The afternoon was quite enjoyable due to conversation with Lynne and her sister, Ann Schaechtel of Washington state, both daughters of Frances Kottwitz. And of course, the always enjoyable refreshments.
Dick Pracht ventured out to lead prayer group Wednesday a.m. Just before noon, a busload of Marion Elementary School first graders came to entertain us with some "little" Christmas songs. Their teacher, Mrs. Hancock even brought a lap harp to enhance the performance. We were happy to meet principal Rod Garman, who accompanied the group.
The pretty-up department was flooded with customers Thursday morning. Perhaps not coincidentally, that afternoon we were treated to another recital of beautiful piano selections by Lenore Dieter. The program was exclusively Christmas-related songs and then was graciously opened up to requests. Adding to the festive atmosphere were three small guests, seven-year-old Rylie, three-year-old Avery, and two-year-old Gage Kannady, grandchildren of hospital nursing supervisor, Linda.
Living center bakers were back to work Friday morning using a recipe for Hershey's doubly chocolate cookies. It was nice to have the company of Donna Kreutziger and Kathy Lunderman, who gave these nutty creations an "excellent" rating. You'd certainly need to like chocolate as the recipe used both chips and cocoa.
Lois Winter "manned" the tables of bingo players in the afternoon, while Bill Schimpf kept things "rollin'" at the far end of the tables.
Our guest minister Sunday afternoon was Bethann Black of the Florence and Aulne Methodist churches who brought a large group of helpers including a pianist and many children. The group, with their wonderful voices, also caroled through the halls after the service.
Monday morning we put the finishing touches on our Christmas cards and dropped them into the mail (on the biggest mailing day of the year).
Later in the day we experienced an afternoon of seasonal violin and piano music by Judy Priest and Shirley Bowers. Mrs. Priest's beautiful singing voice gave words to many of the songs and as a surprise bonus, Les Broadstreet sang "White Christmas," with the duo.
The book clubbers got back to the Ingalls' family on the morning of the 18th and enjoyed listening to the gaiety provided by Mrs. Jarley's Wax Museum at the very popular Friday evening literaries.
