NEWSLETTER | MAY 2020

SYCAMORE SPRINGS

Message from your Executive Director

Your Administrative Team

Rhonda MitchellExecutive Director

1504 W. Elk AvenueElizabethton, TN. 37643

(423) 518-1077

Helen KellerBusiness Office Manager

Rhonda Taylor Director of Resident

Services

Misty BoutonReceptionist / Administrative

Assistant

Delia AshleyFood Services Director

Jordan BishopLife Enrichment Coordinator

Hello everyone! Warmer weather and flower blossoms are upon us, and I am thank-ful for the spring season. It reminds me that all things can be made new. I know this is a time unlike any other that many of us have had to face in our lifetime. I know it has not

been easy, so thank you for your patience and coopera-tion as we continue to navigate and closely monitor the Coronavirus. My hope is that as spring turns into sum-mer, and as we continue to adhere to advice from the CDC, we will begin to see the virus dissipate.

Myself and the team-members here at Sycamore Springs are doing all we can to assist you and your fam-ilies during this time. I know I have said this before, but your safety and wellbeing are our top priority. If there is anything you need, please let us know.

National Nurses Day is May 6. I am so thankful for our nursing staff and all that they do to take care of each of you. They are working hard to keep you all safe and well, especially during this time. Let our nurses know that you are thankful for all they do on this very special national holiday. Following National Nurses Day is Na-tional Day of Prayer on May 7th.

Mother’s Day is on May 10th, so be sure to honor the mothers that you know. Mothers are wisdom and love personified. To our residents who are mothers, Hap-py Mother’s Day to you! Being a mom is a very special thing, and it is a role you will keep forever.

May also has a few holidays honoring men, women, and their families who have served in our armed forces. May 8th is Military Spouse Appreciation Day, May 16th is Armed Forces Day, and May 25th is Memorial Day. I am incredibly thankful for the sacrifices members of our armed forces make daily. To those of you who have served and to those of you who are spouses to those who have served, thank you! I am grateful for your ser-vice to our country.

I am praying for you all, and I am here if there is anything you need. I will leave you with this quote that describes the month of May so well: “The month of May is the pleasant time; its face is beautiful; the blackbird sings his full song, the living wood is his holding, the cuckoos are singing and ever singing; there is a welcome before the brightness of the summer,” Lady Gregory.

Sincerely, Rhonda MitchellExecutive Director

NEWSLETTER | MAY 2020SYCAMORE SPRINGS SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY

RESIDENT BIRTHDAYS

May 6th Herb Ward

May 7th Linda Greene

May 11th Cat Tipton

May 20th Nora Davis

May 21st Janet Blevins

TEAM MEMBER BIRTHDAYS

May 9th Robert HossKatlyn Boggs

May 11th Windy Williams

May 12th Ed Robinson

May 13thDestiny Little

May 16th Kayla Breland

May 19th Sharon Trivette

Monthly Puzzles Puzzle Answers

Time to GrillCROSSWORD PUZZLE

Hooray for HamburgersWORD SEARCH

WORD SEARCH LIST

ACROSS5. Briquettes

6. Small crustacean

8. Hamburger holders

10. Food cooked on a skewer

12. In the open air

16. Blacken on the grill

17. Charcoal alternative

19. Grill with a turning spit

20. Cob vegetable

22. Sweet coating

23. Burger flipper

24. Jerk _____

DOWN1. Seedy fruit

2. Some are prime

3. Ribeye or porterhouse

4. Sugar and salt coating

7. Cookout staple

8. “Boston” side dish

9. Pinkish fish

11. Type of squash

13. Soaking sauce

14. Lightly cooked steak

15. Plant with edible shoots

17. Hawaiian fruit

18. Grill grabbers

21. Dip choice

• AMERICAN • BACON • BUNS • CHEDDAR • EGG • GROUND BEEF • JALAPEÑOS • KETCHUP • LETTUCE • MAYONNAISE • MUSHROOMS

• MUSTARD • ONION • PATTY • PEPPER • PICKLES • RELISH • SALT • SESAME SEEDS • SWISS • TOMATO

Hooray for HamburgersWORD SEARCH

Time to GrillCROSSWORD PUZZLE

NEWSLETTER | MAY 2020SYCAMORE SPRINGS SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY

Phyllis Edens became one of our residents in January, 2019. She is a retired school teacher hav-ing taught for 35 years in the Carter County School system. Her first two years were spent teaching fourth grade at Tiger Valley and the balance at Hamp-ton High School. Phyllis became

acquainted with many people throughout the Hampton, Tiger Valley, and Valley Forge areas in particular by virtue of her years of teaching and also in the city of Elizabethton from her youth and her marriage to another Carter County School Teacher, the late J. Frank Edens, Jr., who was well known throughout the city and Keen-burg area. Her career as a teacher included many subjects, the primary focus being biology and chemistry, yet equally important to her was her students’ well-being. “My students are my best friends.” This compassion and love for them, for children everywhere, continues to this day.

Phyllis’ youth started in the West Side of Eliza-bethton. She is one of five children including two diseased sisters, Kathlyn Elliott Riddle and Fran-ces Elliott Williams, and also two brothers, Dr. Glen D. Elliott, and the late James R. “Jay” Elliott, Jr. All grew up during “The Great Depression”. Separated during childhood due to an unfortu-nate family break up, Uncle Glen once reflected, “A sad scenario of events best forgotten. Relish the good times. There were plenty. And plenty more to make.”

Feeling abandonment after the family breakup, Phyllis was well blessed to be accepted into the home of her Aunt Maude Street of Tiger Valley, who gave her all the love she would have other-wise missed. That love extended to Phyllis’ two sons, Barton and Kent, who equally loved getting to stay at Tiger Valley at every occasion during their youth.

Always yearning to see the world, Phyllis was keen on taking Barton and Kent to many desti-nations in the U.S. and Europe. She also traveled to Thailand with her sister Kathlyn. As a young child, Phyllis was enamored with the history and culture of Australia and, thus, often enjoyed quot-ing a line from the 1969 James Garner western comedy, Support Your Local Sheriff, “Basically I’m on my way to Australia.” Kent was determined to fulfill her dream to visit “down under” and did so in 2010. It was one of her last big jaunts around the globe.

In addition to her immediate family, her love was immense for her extended family as well, espe-cially her nieces and nephews. Her faith in Christ Jesus is equally genuine and has never waned. Her Christianity began in her early youth with her maternal grandfather, Charles Blevins who was a circuit preacher in the Carden’s Bluff and Johnson County areas.

Against considerable odds Phyllis and her siblings survived individual challenges, issues, and trag-edies along the way. They persevered, brushing adversity aside at every turn.

In spite of her early feelings of abandonment fol-lowing her family’s breakup, a silver lining to her dementia was discovering the colossal amount of love and security amongst the caregivers, nurses, and residents at Sycamore Springs Senior Living. God’s blessings for Phyllis continue.

So, in honor of Phyllis, here’s a challenge to you. Tomorrow and into the future, take a little time to spread good cheer to your neighbor. Offer a helping hand to one who may be in need. Build a confidence. Let someone know you care. And above all, always love the children, just like Phyl-lis. We are very thankful to have Phyllis as a part of our Sycamore Springs family!

Resident of the Month Reading Letters From Pen PalsPhyllis Edens

Welcome New Residents

Wilma Kitzmiller Ron O’Bryan

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

May Day

2

3 4

5

Cinco de Mayo

6 7 8 9

10

Mother’s Day

11 12 13 14

15 16

Armed Forces Day 17 18

Victoria Day (Canada)

19 20 21 22 23

24

25

Memorial Day

26 27 28

Shavuot Begins

29 30

31

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