It has been a wonderful year for my mom

It has been a wonderful year for my mom – Shirley Longfield. She's comfortable, stable, and happy. We don't know what we'd do if mom weren't happy....she's always lived in a home of her own, and she still does! I'm so thankful for this "cottage" home concept. She loves her home and every time I take her out, she knows when she's returning home to "the barn", as she calls it! She's a home-grown South Dakota girl. Her horses loved their barn, and so does mom. She truly has a sense of belonging, and truly feels that Cottage 5 is her home. Thank you!

Mom has been a "worker" all of her life. Having "work" to do in knitting and crocheting hangers has been really important for mom. Living in Irvine Cottage 5 really gives her no opportunity to give or work. The caretakers are wonderful, but they take care of everything! Mom does dress herself and brush her teeth herself....but she doesn't cook, clean, do laundry nor even shower by herself. Things/work she's done all her life. We've found that mom's knitting and crocheting give her much purpose and sense of worth. I'm so thankful that her hands remember how! She had a tomato plant in the backyard before it got so cold. I'm thinking of getting her an Aero Garden. They're small indoor gardens! She could grow her own cherry tomatoes or herbs. She was an avid and excellent gardener, and the tomato plant brought back her gardening joy. I think the new indoor patio that Jacque DuPont is planning to add on might be a great place for it, but she'll probably just want it in her room. She's pretty particular about her "stuff". I'm sure all the staff at Irvine Cottages see that a lot.

Jacque DuPont, I want to say thank you. You really do God’s Work! I appreciate you and your program. God bless you.

Sincerely,

Jean Lespier