By: Bonnie Polak, VP of Philanthropy and Community Engagement and Editor

Meet Elizabeth Bartlett or, as many people call her, “Mama Bear.” Elizabeth has taken a small gesture, a teddy bear and an encouraging note, and made a profound impact. If you have never heard of the Trinity Bears (or the Manor Bears, as they used to be called) it is a great ministry and service brought about by the passion and heart of one very special lady.

When Elizabeth moved to Trinity Woods in 2009, she was inspired by a group of women who also lived here that made quilts for people who were sick. “This group of ladies were so impressive. Some of them had trouble with their eyesight, some couldn’t sew but they all found a way to be part of the effort.”

In 2010 Elizabeth started making special little bears for the people living at Trinity Woods. She
originally started making them for the birthdays of residents of the Holliman Center and now she focuses her efforts on residents who are in the Trinity Woods Health Center.

When asked why she spends her free time making stuffed bears, she says, “When someone moves to the Health Center, their life really changes and I think people tend to do better when they know other people care about them.”

When Elizabeth first started her passion project, it was just a team of two – she and her late husband Lynn. Now, nearly 15 years later, there is a team of 20 helpers who cut, draw, stuff, sew and deliver the bears to Health Center residents.

Elizabeth says that over 5,000 Trinity Bears have been given out to residents since they started. The bears mean so much to recipients that, even after they leave the Health Center, they or their families often keep their bears as mementoes of the care that was shown to them. She has even shared her pattern and program with people across the country. “A Health Center family member from Alaska once asked if she could start making bears in her community,” said Elizabeth. “I happily gave her the pattern and told her how I did it.”

Each bear is made by hand with a handwritten scripture and note of encouragement. Elizabeth hopes the Trinity Bears legacy goes beyond just individual interactions and contributes to a stronger, more connected community.

If you are interested in getting involved with this group of volunteers, please contact Irene Brown, Trinity Woods Life Enrichment Coordinator, at ibrown@trinitywoodstulsa.com or 918.346.6614.

By Weldon Tisdale, Chaplain

February is the month most often associated with love. We start seeing cupids and hearts in the stores and begin thinking of what to give the one we love. Valentines become available in January for sending to loved ones in February. This is a good month to think about what real love is. There are three kinds of love.

*Eros – This is erotic love. It is the first stage of a romantic relationship. It can be felt when you don’t even know the person who is the object of this love. It is a physical love centered on self.
*Philos – This love is based on a friendship between two or more people. It is based on give and take. It is a love that is centered on self but also others. This is “brotherly” love.
*Agape – This is totally selfless and unconditional love. It is love given without expectation of receiving any benefit in return. This is Spiritual love, and it is the highest form of love.

God is love. Here are examples of God’s Agape love:
*God demonstrated His agape love. Even though we were not worthy of His unconditional love, He sent His Son to die as a sacrifice for our unworthiness. We do not deserve His love, but He loves us anyway. Romans 5:8

*Jesus loves me in the same way that God the Father loves Him. He wants me to feel secure in that love. Jesus wants me to love others in the same way He loved me. John 15:9-13

*I am certain that nothing will ever tear me away from God’s love. Nothing in this life or the next, nothing seen or unseen, not even my own fears or worries, absolutely nothing can separate me from God’s love. That’s indescribable love.
Romans 8:38-39

*God is love. The Bible says that when I live in this love, I live in God and God lives in me. I have seen the ability to love others grow in me. Because I love God, I can love other people. I love because God loved me first. 1 John 4:16,19

*Allow the love of God to overwhelm your life this month and the rest of 2024 and then watch how your love for God and self will extend to loving others.

True love, that is deep, abiding love that is impervious to emotional whims or fancy, a choice. It’s a constant commitment to a person regardless of the present circumstances.
Mark Manson

By Lupina Fry, Wellness Nurse

The month of February is famous for the celebration of Love. It’s a time to celebrate relationships with family, friends, spouses, and connections that make life worthwhile. We spend time finding the right gift to show our appreciation of those relationships. However, we often forget one of the most important relationships—the one we have with ourselves. If we don’t take care of ourselves, we can’t serve those we love.

Love Your Heart month is an opportunity to care for yourself. One of the first and easiest ways to do this is to be aware of what you eat. Food is, after all, important medicine. Eating well-balanced meals with an eye toward fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, and whole grains, avoiding red meats in favor of fish and
chicken, is essential to protecting your heart. Avoid excessive sweets as well as fatty and fried foods. Choose healthy oils for cooking and in your salads and avoid using butter and excess salt.

Getting enough exercise may be a bit more of a challenge but easy to achieve simply by walking. The American Heart Association suggests you participate in 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. A good test of whether the activity is moderate, is to try the “walkie-talkie” test. If you can talk while exercising but are unable to sing, that’s considered a moderate activity. A good 30–40-minute moderate intensity workout a few times a week can include a brisk walk, dancing, swimming, or yoga. If exercise
isn’t already part of your routine, start slowly and work steadily towards that 150-minute goal.

Sufficient sleep, exercise, healthy food, friendship, and peace of mind are necessities, not luxuries.” Mark Halperin

Lastly, make sure you know your numbers. It’s important to be aware of your cholesterol levels, your weight, and your blood pressure. Make sure your blood pressure is under control. High blood pressure is known as the “silent killer” because it can exhibit no symptoms and still damage your heart, arteries,
and other organs. Check your blood pressure often and work with your doctor to make improvements. When armed with knowledge about your health, you can make the improvements needed to love your heart and enjoy a healthier you.

Trinity Woods is a Mission Driven Organization and has one purpose. Our reason for being is clear – we serve the Trinity Woods family in the spirit of Christ. Every year we search for people who are willing to dedicate themselves to advancing our mission by serving on the Board of Directors.

Board members are expected to commit their time, talent, and treasure:
*The time commitment involves committing to prepare and participate in a monthly meeting of the full board.
*The talents of the board member are called upon as they offer their expertise through involvement in committee work.
*The treasure acknowledges the responsibility of board members to include Trinity
Woods as they make decisions about their charitable giving.

We encourage the Trinity Woods community to submit nominations to the Governance Committee. If you wish to nominate someone, you must fill out the Nomination Form and submit by Friday, February 19, 2024. Every nominee that is submitted will be reviewed, if they are not selected for this year, the committee maintains a list of prospective board members for future consideration. To receive a Nomination Form, contact Heidi Garrett, at 918-346-6671 or hgarrett@trinitywoodstulsa.com.