Hay Bales?!

Even though we have been enjoying the nice weather, we all know that winter will eventually arrive in all its freezing glory. Because we’re hoping to construct our newest building in the near future, we have been busy getting hay bales on the land where we will eventually build. As Tim informed me, once the bales are scattered, the hay will help keep the ground from freezing thoroughly so that digging can start earlier in the spring if need be. Bonnie has also been wondering about the process and informed us that there are 47 hay bales out there!

Exercise Group

We all know the importance of exercise, and we aren’t the kind of people to miss out on healthy physical activity. This afternoon a few of us gathered in the dining room to have a little fun with a beach ball – and we soon found out that some of us are regular soccer players! It was a blast to just kick the ball back and forth to each other and have a few good laughs in the process.

Pictured above is Henrietta, who put quite a bit of force on that ball! To the right is Mary who would definitely be our forward if we had a Serenity soccer team!

Enjoying the Weather

Winter in Minnesota

It's winter in Minnesota
And the gentle breezes blow
Seventy miles an hour
At twenty-five below.
Oh, how I love Minnesota
When the snow's up to your butt
You take a breath of winter
And your nose gets frozen shut.
Yes, the weather here is wonderful
So I guess I'll hang around
I could never leave Minnesota 'Cause I'm
frozen to the ground!

-Anonymous


Yes, Minnesota can get down right cold in the winter; and all of us here at Serenity know it. That’s why when we were blessed with some pretty nice weather this week we weren’t about to waste it. Every warm day this week we have been enjoying the weather by taking short walks and simply lounging outdoors. Esther Olson and Abbie Moe have really been enjoying the wonderful weather and have been outside as often as possible. Just take a look at this picture of the two catnapping together in the courtyard!

Homeless & Hungry 2009

If you live in Dilworth, MN...you may have seen a group of people walking around the town with grocery carts filled with non-perishable foods. Though they may have looked a bit ragged, they were actually collecting these foods and items for the area food pantries and shelters. In a short hour, over 100 pounds of donations were collected from individuals living at Serenity Assisted Living and the other residents of Dilworth.

Homeless and Hungry took place all over the Fargo-Moorhead area this last weekend. Over 750 people participated in a 30 hour fast, slept in cardboard boxes in the rain, attended an all-city worship, collected donations, participated in service projects and more. Serenity Assisted Living was one of many host sites in the area, and the first for Dilworth.

A simulation was held at the Oak Grove school where fleece blankets were being made and deliveries to the area shelters were headquartered. Three large groups including people of all ages were either helping at the area shelters, sorting donations, assembling fleece blankets and more!

Three youth from the Dilworth-Glyndon-High School and Dilworth Lutheran church particpated in this great opporunity. They were Amanda Kennedy, Brooke Bjerke & Amanda Heitkamp. These girls, along with leader from Dilworth Lutheran Church (Tara Ulrich) also prepared three meals and delivered them to the Dorothy Day house to be used in the upcoming days.

To finish off the weekend, everyone attended an all-city soup kitchen at the FargoDome. Food, clothing and blanket donations were available to our guests of the community, those who really needed them.

Thanks to our Dilworth crew and EVERYONE else who made this weekend a possibility. We look forward to another succesful year in 2010!

Food Donations

For Homeless and Hungry, our group at Serenity made a few homemade frozen meals to donate to the Dorothy Day house in Moorhead. Here is one of our recipes below:

Home-Style Meat Loaf

• 3/4 cup ketchup, divided
• 1/2 cup quick-cooking oats
• 1/4 cup minced fresh onion2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 2 large egg whites, lightly beaten1
• 1/2 pounds ground round
• Cooking spray

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Combine 1/2 cup ketchup, oats, and next 6 ingredients (oats through egg whites) in a large bowl.
3. Add meat; stir just until blended.
4. Shape meat mixture into an 8 x 4-inch loaf on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray.
5. Brush 1/4 cup ketchup over meat loaf.
6. Bake at 350° for 1 hour and 10 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing.

September Serenade

Happy Birthday, Arlene Tangen!

Happy Birthday, Arlene Tangen!

She looks good for 18 doesn't she?! :-)