Local not-for-profit focused on supporting people in living their best lives
Don Rasmussen, Meadowlark Parkinson’s Program participant and resident at Meadowlark Hills, is feeling good these days. It’s August and for the tenth year in row it means the season for the Speedy Pd Race for Parkinson’s disease is in full swing. The event is the main fundraiser for Meadowlark Parkinson’s Program, which provides services for the Flint Hills region to improve the quality of life for all those affected by Parkinson’s disease (PD).
I remember my grandfather’s mother. She was beautiful, worldly and raised five boys. I recall spending time with her and that I felt happy and engaged when doing so, although I don’t remember a single thing we ever talked about. We called her Grandma Ruby.
We’ve been learning the art of practicing patience at the Duggan household. This new found focus was driven by the annual raising of our family Christmas tree which lent itself to housing wrapped and tempting presents at its base. Murphy is three-years-old and this is her fourth Christmas, however, it is her first Christmas she has started to connect that some of the gifts under the tree are for her.
Welcome to one of the best times of year—the Holiday Season. There are many ways to celebrate, but one of my favorite ways to ring in Christmas is by watching the best of the best holiday movies. Listed below are my top five favorite Christmas movies! Watch the Grosh Cinema Movie Listing for Sarah’s Pick! through the month of December. #5 ~ The Family Stone (2005): This one is a tear jerker and I am a sucker for crying in movies. Holiday gatherings make already functionally dysfunctional families at little bit more crazy and the Stones are no exception.
Getting out the door to go anywhere at my house is an extreme sport played over what feels like several hours. After all the organizing, dog feeding, kid dressing and teeth brushing, I may have five minutes to pick a clean outfit and splash on some make up for myself. It doesn’t seem to matter what time I get up—it always comes down to five minutes.
Meadowlark is the new owner of Autumn Hills Memory Care Home. Autumn Hills, a HomePlus model for senior living with a focus on memory care, currently has two locations; one in Manhattan and one in Riley. Effective Dec. 1, Meadowlark will be the owner and operator of both Autumn Hills locations.
A few weeks ago Murphy went through a stage where she didn’t want to leave daycare and Nanny who cares for her and her sister when I arrived to pick her up after work. Typically I can redirect her gently enough that it doesn’t turn into a fight. I will entice her with seeing daddy at home, playing with her toys or even getting a special treat after dinner.
Summer as we know it is over (the first day of Fall technically isn’t until Sept. 22), and school has started again. This change ignites an almost daily question at my house, “Is it Halloween today?” Fall brings many wonderful things, including Halloween. Beautiful Autumn leaves, cooler temperatures and everything pumpkin. Murphy and Eilish have big plans this Halloween. Murphy plans to be a witch, “Not a nice witch, Mom. A SCARY witch!”
When I told Murphy she was signed up for a race she beamed with excitement, shot a fist in the air and said, “I’m going to get a race shirt! And a medal! And a chocolate milk!” We dream big at the Duggan house. Murphy ran the half-mile family fun run at the ninth annual Speedy PD Race for Parkinson’s Disease last weekend. When I say she ran, I mean she ran. The whole time. When Murphy crossed the finish line, she was grinning ear to ear, “I winned Mommy! I winned!”
Monday this week felt like a Monday, except this week I was particularly achy and foggy. At first I attributed this to our packed weekend full with activities and traveling to see family, coupled with the fact that Murphy slept in my bed half the night because there was a green ghost in her room.