It’s the most wonderful time of the year…Christmas in the Woods! The trees will be lit, the halls will be decked, and hot chocolate will be steaming. Mark your calendar for Thursday, December 8th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. It will be a night of good holiday fun.

“This year’s Christmas in the Woods has some exciting additions,” said Irene Brown, Life Enrichment Coordinator. “Also, everyone’s favorite, amazing food from the Trinity Woods chefs. There will be so much for everyone to see, taste, experience and enjoy!”

Over the years this has become a tradition for everyone – residents, families, employees. Christmas in the Woods is a campus-wide celebration. In addition to great food at several venues, horse drawn carriages, live music, and the beautiful living nativity, there will also be a candy shop, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and a huge Christmas train display!

“This event is the core of who we are as a community and brings everyone together is a special way,” said Steve Dickie, CEO. “Christmas in the Woods is a wonderful way to expand your Christmas traditions.”

To purchase an admission wristband, visit the Crestwood Concierge or Holliman Center Receptionist –$12 members, $15 guests, and $7 children ages 3-12. Children under 3 are free. Wristbands will be charged to your member account. For more information call 918.346.6614.

By Weldon Tisdale, Chaplain

It has been said that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. However, that is only partially true because the distance ultimately depends on the geometric shape of the object. In life, the shortest distance between your starting point and destination is not a straight line. Though you may be able to see your destination, there may be many paths you can travel to arrive. Life is filled with uncertainty. What road do I travel? Will it be straight or filled with many twists and turns, hills and
valleys, smooth and rough patches, U-turns, circle backs, and on and on? In the end, it is important to decide to move forward knowing that, at times during the journey, moving forward may mean backtracking.

Author C.S. Lewis said, “Progress is not simply moving forward. It is moving closer to the desired destination.” Here are a few Biblical examples, which demonstrate that life is not a straight line:
• When the children of Israel were freed from bondage in Egypt, they turned an 11-day journey to the Promised Land into a 40-year expedition. Why? Primarily, because they would not follow the direction of God. Yes, they eventually arrived but not without some major struggles and several rough patches.
• Abraham received a promise from God, if he would leave his homeland, his people and his father’s household, that God would make him into a great nation and bless him. His journey took 25 years before he received the ultimate promised seed. In between, his life faced many challenges, twists and turns
before reaching his destination.
• Joseph had a dream which took 13 years of ups and downs, twists and turns before it came to fruition.
• David was anointed king but it took several years of trouble, struggles and victories before he was eventually crowned king over all of Israel.

“Progress rarely happens in a straight line. It typically unfolds in loops. Day by day, it can feel you’re spinning your wheels. If you look back on your trajectory over months or years, you can see forward movement. Major growth is the result of many seemingly minor turns. ” ~ Amy Grant

Life in each of these stories was moving forward but not in a straight line. Even though you could say that life always moves forward, forward doesn’t always mean in a straight line. Enjoy the journey ahead of you even if you need to take a detour at times.

The holiday season is upon us and if life isn’t busy enough the holidays can bring on extra stress. In order to stay on top of your health during holiday season it is important to stay on track with your health goals. If you don’t have health goals or you need some tricks to get back on track, here are a few things to remember and programs to take part in at Trinity Woods.

Practice Gratitude – Gratitude is a simple tool that is at our disposal to improve our well-being all the time. Practicing gratitude increases positive emotions and encourages you to reflect on what is good in your life. It helps you shift your mindset from the bad things going on to look and appreciate the
good in your life. “Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity. It makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” – Melody Beattie

Senior Fitness Test: Measure It so you can Manage It. The Senior Fitness Test (SFT) is a series of seven tests that assess the functional fitness of older adults. Taking the Senior Fitness Test helps to set physical and personal goals. Please join us on Thursday, November 18 as we shoot for 50% participation
in the 2022 Senior Fitness Test! Call Delisa Gray at 918-346- 6642 to sign up!

Maintain Don’t Gain Challenge
Just in time for the holidays, we are hosting our Annual Maintain Don’t Gain Challenge for employees and residents of Trinity Woods. This six-week challenge runs from November 21 to January 2. It encourages weight maintenance and healthy habits during the holiday season. The goal is to help you stay motivated
and on track when all of the goodies and temptations are always around during the holidays. Call Delisa Gray at 918-346-6642 to be a part of this challenge!

Veterans Day is a time to honor those who served, those who still serve and especially those who paid the ultimate price for our freedoms in our country’s wars. Military veterans have a special place in the American heart and definitely the hearts of the Trinity Woods community.

“Armistice Day” was started in 1919 as a way to commemorate the end of World War I. In 1928, Congress passed a resolution to make an annual observance. November 11 became the official date for the observance and a National Holiday in 1938. In 1954, the holiday officially became Veterans Day to celebrate the service of all veterans living and dead.

Thanking veterans for all they do and have done is a way to express our collective gratitude. The sacrifices they made deserve our recognition. America’s veterans have done everything asked of them in their mission to serve our country and it is never too late to celebrate their dedication and service. As Veterans Day approaches a quote by George S. Patton Jr. comes to mind. “It is foolish and wrong
to mourn the men who died. Rather, we should thank God that such men lived.”

Each year Trinity Woods takes time to celebrate and thank these very special people, both men and women who have served, with a special program. We encourage you to attend this annual service. This year’s service will be held Friday, November 11 at 2:00 p.m. in the Fleming Center.

By Jennifer Rawlings, VP of Wellness

Tranquility is the state of being calm and at peace.

This was the goal for what people would experience when they visited the Tranquility Wellness Spa on the Trinity Woods campus. When we envisioned bringing the multiple salons on campus together, it was very purposeful. We wanted the spa experience to be available for everyone at any level of care. Our dream has been exceeded and the Tranquility Wellness Spa has been a perfect avenue to bring the whole campus together for a tranquil experience.

The Tranquility Wellness Spa is a state-of-the-art space that allows residents to freshen up their hair style, receive a manicure or pedicure, or truly relax with a massage, all while never leaving campus. The Spa has licensed cosmetologists who are ready to style, cut, and color your hair as well as provide waxing services. The licensed nail technician is available for hand and foot treatments and the massage therapist can provide consistent quality treatments for tired or sore muscles. The team is led by a spa coordinator who’s main objective is to make sure each client receives a high quality experience.

“The Tranquility team is so passionate about making their clients look beautiful on the outside and even more importantly, help them feel beautiful on the inside,” said Jennifer Rawlings, VP of Wellness. “The ladies in the Spa take pride in genuine, personal relationships and want to make each client feel special the minute they walk into the Spa.”

If you or your loved one haven’t experienced the Tranquility Wellness Spa, now is the perfect time. Each month there are specials and, with the holidays approaching, a gift certificate just might make the perfect gift! For more information on services or to book an appointment call 918.346.6659.

Spiritual Wellness is generally considered to be the search for meaning and purpose in human existence, leading one to strive for a state of harmony or contentment with oneself and others, while working to balance inner needs with the rest of the world.

The path to spiritual wellness can involve meditation, prayer, affirmations, or specific spiritual practices that support your connection to a higher power or belief system. Having compassion, love, forgiveness, altruism, joy, or fulfillment, helps you to enjoy your spiritual health. Your religious faith, values, beliefs, principles, and morals define your spirituality.

Taking care of ourselves spiritually can help us approach life more positively and build a resilience that can help us through many of life’s challenges, which in turn can help us to age more healthfully. Across different religious backgrounds, the strength we fi nd from our faith is universal. For many, faith has
often been the anchor that reminds them that no matter what storm comes their way, they will not be broken or completely overcome.

Spiritual wellness is important for many reasons. First, it allows you to think about your purpose in life and really establish your “why”. We’re all put on this earth for a reason. Some of us discover that reason earlier than others. However, taking the time to explore your purpose and why you do the things you do
is a strong foundation for living a meaningful life.

Create a life that feels good on the inside, not one that just looks good on the outside.

Another reason spiritual wellness is important is it allows us to connect with a higher power through religion and faith. Personally, I am a Christian and therefore believe in an all-powerful, all-knowing and ever-present God. Therefore, I pray daily, read the Bible and attend church/worship services in
order to grow my relationship with Him.

Lastly, spiritual wellness allows us to clear our minds and learn to accept the things that are out of our control. The reality is, we live in a fast-paced, crazy world that is only getting more complicated by the day. Having the ability to detach from the world and accept that what happens is often out of your control
is a powerful life skill.

For my spiritual wellness, I choose to adhere to what the apostle Paul said (paraphrased), “I have learned contentment in every situation.” Philippians 4:11-13

By Jim Ginther, Senior Vice President of Finance

Before you put your hard-earned cash into an investment vehicle, you’ll need a basic understanding of how to invest money the right way. However, there’s no one-size-fi ts-all answer. The best way to invest
your money is whichever way works best for you. Here are some tips when considering investing.

Your Style – Active or Passive
Active investing means taking time to research investments yourself and constructing and maintaining your portfolio on your own. Passive investing involves putting your money to work in investment vehicles where someone else is doing the hard work for example a mutual fund.

Your Budget
How much money do you have to invest? You don’t need a large sum of money to start. You can begin with just $100. The amount of money isn’t the most important thing. It’s making sure you’re financially ready and that you’re investing frequently over time.

Your Risk Tolerance
Not all investments are successful. Each type of investment has its own level of risk. This risk is often correlated with returns. It’s important to fi nd a balance between maximizing the returns on your money and finding a risk level you are comfortable with.

One important step to take before investing is to establish an emergency fund. This is cash set aside in a form that makes it available for quick withdrawal. Most financial planners suggest an ideal amount for an
emergency fund is enough to cover six months’ worth of expenses.

We are excited to introduce the newest member of the Trinity Woods Sales Team, Alec Davis. He is originally from Bixby, OK. He is a graduate of Northeastern State University in Tahlequah with a degree in
business administration. While he is new to senior living, Alec has over 18 years of experience with his last employer where he was in sales for eight years, then promoted to acquisitions. Alec is married to his wife, Jenny, and they have two sons, who attend Union Public Schools. He spends most of his spare time getting the boys to their music lessons and lacrosse events. Alec enjoys his family time and loves to run, bike, remodel his home, and work on his 1977 Datsun (his first car). Please feel free to reach out to
Alec and welcome him to the Trinity Woods neighborhood.

Favorite Sport: Lacrosse
First Job: Chuck E. Cheese
One Meal Forever: Pizza
Friends Describe: Enthusiastic, dynamic and loud
Favorite Holiday: Easter
Collects: Bison
Favorite Quote: “Be curious, not judgmental” Walt Whitman (via Ted Lasso)
Fun Fact: He was a background actor in Killers of the Flower Moon.

We are excited to showcase the newly replaced putting green located southwest of the Spann
Wellness Center. We worked with Celebrity Greens to completely redesign the area. The slope of
the green has been adjusted for a more enjoyable putting experience. Additionally, the entire area has
been relandscaped and a sitting area has been added. We are also looking forward to the addition of
the indoor golf simulator that has been ordered and will be installed in the coming months. The golfers on
campus are sure to enjoy hitting the links all year long.

By Rev. Weldon Tisdale, Chaplain

” When opportunity comes, it’s too late to prepare.” John Wooden

John Wooden was one of the most successful NCAA Division 1 basketball coaches the sport has ever seen. He worked not just to win games, but to develop young men into personhood. He was
relentless in his practices, emphasizing the basics of basketball, all the while developing the character of his players.

Coach Wooden knew a 60 second time-out was not enough time to teach, practice, and implement a new play or strategy to take advantage of an opportunity in the game. He knew that it was the daily, dedicated practices that honed his players into individuals that could adjust, adapt and take advantage of a game situation and work it for their benefit.

Preparation must be done before the opportunity comes…thorough preparation.

Are you prepared? Your response is probably, “For what?” Good point. If we don’t know for what we are preparing, we will not know how to prepare.

So, for what are we preparing? As Believers, God told us in Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” God, by His grace, brought you into His family to do the good works He has prepared in advance for us to do. Do I know what opportunities He’s going to give you and I to do today?

I don’t. But I know He wants us to be prepared for every good work opportunity He puts before us. Will it be a person in distress that needs someone to listen? A child that will challenge me as a parent? A spouse who needs extra love? A job that challenges our patience and/or abilities? Or is it simply being prepared to deal with life’s challenges? So how will we be prepared?

In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 it says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

So how will we be prepared, or should I say, “thoroughly equipped”? By connecting daily with the God-breathed words of Scripture. Through them God will prepare us…for every good work. So, when opportunity comes, we will be prepared!

Adapted from CrossPoint Church

By Jacob Will, VP of Health Services

The concept of the Trinity Woods CNA Student Internship Program began back in 2019, just when COVID-19 had just started to create interruptions. And while the program has faced obstacles, we are proud to say that after more than two years it is going strong and changing lives. Initially when Trinity
Woods collaborated with Nathan Hale High the objective was to provide an experience that would certify students as Nursing Aides (CNA) and provide a paid internship in our Healthcare Households during a semester.

We now work with two different schools – Nathan Hale and Union High Schools. This year we plan to offer four students (per semester) this internship opportunity but there is always space to expand if needed. The internship is divided into two parts, the certification class and then the onsite training here at Trinity Woods. Over the 10-12 week period the students work side by side with their mentors in the Health Center.

The immediate goal of the program is to introduce the students to the person centered care model at Trinity Woods and inspire a career path that will encourage them to advance their clinical education from CNA to Certified Medication Aide and ultimately to Licensed Practical Nurse and Registered Nurse. The long-term goal of the program is the development of a dedicated workforce committed to improving the quality of care of elders. We hope to empower students to explore their passions through individualized
educational opportunities supported by meaningful relationships. The strategy enables students to work outside the school walls and to guide students to develop self advocacy and self-reliance.

Since the beginning of the program Trinity Woods has hosted 19 students into the program. Of those 19, 10 students completed the program and were offered positions at Trinity Woods. Seven of those elected to accept positions at Trinity Woods.

As we look ahead, we are filled with gratitude for the donors who funded the internships. This program has been fully funded by the generosity of others. If you are interested in sponsoring an intern for the Fall semester, the cost is $2,800 and the results are priceless. For more information on helping
these amazing young people contact Bonnie Polak at 918.346.6639 or bpolak@trinitywoodstulsa.com. Truly, the best is yet to come!

New Faces at Trinity Woods!
Jerome Steele has joined the finance team of Trinity Woods as the Director of Finance. Originally from
Alabama, Jerome came to Tulsa in 1983 to attend Oral Roberts University where he received an undergraduate degree in Theology as well as an MBA in Business.

Previously Jerome served as Vice President of Finance and CFO of Bacone College in Muskogee where he was responsible for the business office, which included developing and implementing financial and accounting policies. His previous leadership experience includes serving as Chief Executive Officer of a Tulsa company that manufactured a medical device that treated diabetic neuropathy.

“We are so excited for Jerome to join the team. He brings 34 years of experience that will benefit the
mission of Trinity Woods,” said Jim Ginther, Senior VP of Finance. Jerome Steele Joins the Finance Team.

Jerome is married with four children. He and his wife, Yourlunda, founded Amazing Grace
Christian Center, a multi-cultural congregation located in west Tulsa.