Onward to a different path, farewell to Doug

All I can say is I'm kinda glad it was a busy day today, because it provided some distraction from the sadness that loomed over our staff. Today was our administrators last day. He has worked with us for the last five years and has become not just a boss but also a friend to many including the residents.

I've often said we are just good ole' down home folk here so, no foo foo, no frills. We had pizza that our efficient office manager ordered and picked up, a few of staff made salads and we used paper plates and plastic forks but we were sending a member of our team out in style in our own way.

Here you see a man who has spent countless hours working to provide the best care for our elderly as was humanly possible with budgets and rules and regulations to consider.

His lovely wife and children (not all of them were here, he has 5) have also become part of the team in more ways the one. The boys often come to play games with some of the residents and his wife (who has a catering business) has provided us with great food on special occasions. We didn't feel she should have to cater to her own husbands farewell party, hence the pizza.

Doug is a God fearing man and the picture he was given had scripture on it but I failed to write it down so can't tell you what it was. It did refer to the path of life and was perfect for this next endeavor that he is taking on. We also gave him a handmade woven cross by our hospice nurse out of many colors of yarn, along with hand written prayers on colored cards from the staff in the colors corresponding to the cross. That was when he choked up along with many of us. I wanted to show you a picture of that but for some reason it wouldn't load.

We're sad to see him leave but at the same time wish him the best, sending him off with prayers for success in all he does. Now we wait in anticipation to see who will take his place and hope it will be someone with a heart for the elderly. Shucks I might as well tell you were praying big for another Christian to take his place.