This time of year, the Thanksgiving holiday encourages us all to consider what we’re thankful for. For this week’s post, I asked my colleagues here at Immanuel Lutheran Communities to share what they’re grateful for. Here are some of the responses:
“I am grateful for a lot of things, especially my family.”
-Nicole Normandy, HR Assistant
“I am thankful for family.”
-Christie Brown, RN, Director of Nursing, Immanuel Skilled Care Center
“I am grateful for the friends God has blessed me with, both coworkers and friends outside of work. I am thankful for the Lord who is always with me.”
-Pam Andrews, Life Enrichment Coordinator, Immanuel Skilled Care Center
“I am thankful for my family and friends I have in my life. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. I am also thankful for my job and the residents. I love my job and my residents—they put a smile on my face when I get to work.”
-Shirley Pate, PCA/CNA Trainee
“I am thankful to still have my grandfather her with us. I am thankful for the home health aids that go out and care for him when my parents and me cannot be there. I am thankful for the amazing Unit Council team; I’m glad we could get some amazing leaders for the team I’m part of.”
-Lacie Jo Curtin, CNA
“I am grateful for the unending love and effort I see everyone who works here put toward our guests, and to each other, day after day after day. It is inspiring and while it may not happen to every single person every single day, it happens often enough to make my heart happy. In this season of beauty and thanksgiving, let’s count each of us working here in whatever amazing job we do, and count most of all, our guests as our blessings.”
-Kitt Adams, RN, Retreat West
“I am thankful for my boyfriend Reza, the opportunity to see him in Paris, and crépes!”
-Charlotte Vaillancourt, Executive Development Assistant
“I am grateful that I work in a community that celebrates Christmas. I also love working on a team that’s small enough to feel like a family.”
-Dave Garnett, RN, MDS Coordinator
“I am thankful for the awesome teamwork we’re growing at Buffalo Hill Terrace. Departments are working together. Even with growing pains as new spaces open, everyone is coordinating very well.”
-Subrina Hanson, LPN, Assisted Living Nurse Coordinator
“I am thankful for my job. I have the best job in the world.”
-Bo Diaz, Transportation Coordinator
As for me, I’m thankful that I get to spend Thanksgiving with my family. From the time I started college until I moved to Kalispell in 2015, I spent Thanksgiving far away from my loved ones. While I created many great memories with friends during those years, I missed our family dinners, and I’m so glad to be with them. I’m also grateful for the team I work with here at Immanuel. It’s lovely to have colleagues who are always willing to pitch in and help out. We all want to make life joyful for the residents, and it shows, every day.
And the Immanuel Foundation and Immanuel Lutheran Communities are grateful for you, our donors, volunteers, and supporters, who join us in our efforts to provide safe homes in vibrant communities for Montana’s seniors.
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you from all of us!