December 23, 2022
The Holiday Season is upon us and at Rock Creek Senior Living, we are celebrating in a big way! Many of the residents who call our community home spent decades of their lives creating memorable holiday traditions with their families, and it is our goal to celebrate all sorts of traditions to make our residents feel at home. Moments like these are what make the holiday season extra special.
We kicked off the 45 Days of Holiday Cheer on Thanksgiving with a Gratitude Book that allowed residents and staff to share thoughts on what they are most grateful for. In the weeks since, we have gathered to light the candles of the Advent Wreath to reflect on its blessings, enjoyed a cozy hot cocoa happy hour, polished our shoes for St. Nicholas, and learned about the Yule Lads, among other things! Our December Story Corner featured the children’s book, “A World of Cookies for Santa” and cookie recipes from around the world.
While many of the days are now behind us, the holiday cheer will continue through the end of December and into the first week of January, allowing our residents to enjoy plenty of classic Holiday traditions as well as new and exciting moments created by Arrow Senior Living and our own community team. To round out the 45-day extravaganza, the culinary team will take us on a special daily dining experience to highlight dishes themed around the 12 Days of Christmas!
It is so difficult to choose a favorite of the 45 Days of Holiday Cheer, but my first favorite is always Decorating Day! Seeing faces light up as all the sparkles and bling of the season give life to the Christmas trees fills me with joy. As the indoor scenery changes, you can feel the anticipation. Singing Christmas carols together would have to be my second favorite. There’s something about the excitement of Deck the Halls or the gentleness of Silent Night that unites us all in moments of wonder and beauty.
One important tradition for my family is the making of the “Candies of Christmas” for everyone’s holiday baskets. Creating something homemade that is delicious and covered in dark chocolate and candy sugar has always been an expression of Christmas love for me. Passing those recipes down to my adult children is a way to connect us throughout the years and create traditions of tastiness. On Christmas morning, after everyone has already snacked on the candy, I put on our favorite BB King Christmas CD, we open presents, stuff ourselves with a Christmas brunch, complete with mimosas, and then watch Jimmy Stewart in It’s a Wonderful Life.
We hope you have been following along on Facebook and Instagram as this joyous holiday adventure has unfolded, but even if you haven’t, it’s not too late to start!
Rock Creek Senior Living in Ankeny, IA offers senior villas, independent senior apartments, assisted living, and memory care with a variety of services and a range of floor plan options. Amenities include restaurant dining, 24-hour bistro, concierge service, housekeeping, events and entertainment, personal care, transportation services, and more. Centrally located near Mercy One Medical Center with convenient access to major shopping centers and attractions, including Briarwood Golf, The District Shopping Center, Saylorville Lake Marina, Big Creek State Park, and Ankeny Community Theater.