Life Style FEBRUARY 2026 PARK PLACE OF ST. JOHN
Life at Park Place of St. John
Welcome to February 2026!
Americans spend a sweet 18 billion dollars on candy, cards, chocolates, flowers, and jewelry. Enough candy hearts are produced in a year for everyone in the world to have one! 2. South Korea and Japan – Pamper the men It’s the men who are pampered. Women buy chocolates for their male partners, family members, and coworkers as a token of affection and appreciation. 3. Finland – Celebrates friends In this country, it’s all about celebrating with your friends. The day is even called ‘Friend’s Day’ in Finnish, not Valentine’s. 4. Peru – Opts for orchids Due to countrywide Carnival celebrations, most Peruvians are on holiday on February 14. Instead of exchanging roses, many opt for orchids – a native flower to the country. They even hold mass weddings to accommodate all the couples saying “I do” on the most romantic day of the year. 5. Brazil – Celebrate in June instead Brazilians skip the February 14 celebrations and instead commemorate Saint Anthony, the patron saint of marriage and matchmaking, on June 12.
It is hard to believe that we are already entering the second month of our new year. This month, we have some exciting opportunities coming up. Just to name a few, we have a trip planned
to Morkes Chocolates to dip some strawberries, and we have a book signing with a published author who resides here at Park Place. And let’s not forget the infamous holiday this month, Valentine’s Day. Since the inception of Valentine’s Day, traditions and celebrations have evolved around the world. Most of us spend February 14th celebrating our loved ones, while others believe they have no one to celebrate. John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” So, celebrate this Valentine’s Day knowing you are worth dying for! Here are a few interesting Valentine’s Day traditions: 1. The United States – Goes all out The United States goes all out in displaying its fondness for each other: Every year,
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Life Style PARK PLACE OF ST. JOHN
February Activity Highlights All activities are subject to change – watch the weekly calendar for changes to this newsletter. Some of the following Activities will require Sign Up and you will see that noted next to the Event.
Great Courses Lecture Series: Scientific Secrets for a Powerful Memory with Professor Peter M. Vishton Wednesday, February 4 11:30 a.m. — Community Room This course will focus on improving memory at any age through scientifically validated techniques. It teaches that memory is not a perfect video recorder, but a reconstruction process. The course highlights three key steps: perceiving, encoding into long-term memory, and retrieving information.
Shopping Trip: Walgreens & Rise ‘n Roll Bakery Tuesday, February 3 9:00 a.m. Bus Departure Sign Up Required Book Club Discussion: The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon Wednesday, February 4 11:00 a.m. — Creation Studio
Bus Outing: Morkes Chocolates — Chocolate Dipped Strawberries Thursday, February 5 12:00 p.m. Bus Departure Sign Up Required
Entertainment: J. Jay Brook Friday, February 6 2:00 p.m. — Café
Our next book discussion will explore The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon. Residents are also invited to pick up our upcoming read, Lake Waterton by Annette Calhoun. Whether you’re joining the discussion or getting a head start on the next title, we look forward to sharing another great reading experience together .
Wii Bowling with Cub/Boy Scouts Saturday, February 7 2:00 p.m. — Café
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Sign Up Required
Bus Outing: Brothers Breakfast & Lunch Tuesday, February 10 9:30 a.m. Bus Departure Sign Up Required
Fat Tuesday Tuesday, February 17 10:00 a.m. — Parlor Donuts will be served in the Café Entertainment: Frank Rossi Thursday, February 19 12:30 p.m. — Café
Valentine Craft Wednesday, February 11 12:30 p.m. — Creation Studio Sign Up Required
W ho ’s My Neighbor? Thursday, February 12 1:00 p.m. — Café
Happy Hour Friday, February 20 12:30 p.m. — Café
We will continue to get to know our neighbors here at Park Place. Come and see how much you know or don’t know about each other, and enjoy some good fellowship together.
Guest Bingo Monday, February 23 12:30 p.m. — Main Dining Room
Book Signing with Annette Calhoun Friday, February 13 11:00 a.m. — Café Resident Birthday Party Friday, February 13 12:30 p.m. — Main Dining Room Entertainment: Mary Beabout Saturday, February 14 6:00 p.m. — Café Men’s Breakfast with Pastor Mark Tuesday, February 17 9:00 a.m. — Main Dining Room
Entertainment: Harmony Handbells Monday, February 23 6:00 p.m. — Café
Incredible Eats Wednesday, February 25 12:30 p.m. — Creation Studio Sign Up Required Resident Lunch Friday, February 27 12:00 p.m. — Main Dining Room Sign Up Required
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Corn Hole Mondays 12:30 p.m. — Café
Park Place Book Club Lake Waterton Rising by Annette Calhoun Our next book selection is available in the Creation Studio. A single moment changes everything. After a tragic school-bus accident leaves young Leann Wilson and Troy “TJ” Thomas Jr. fighting for their lives, their families form an unbreakable bond. But when TJ’s father is murdered, a grieving mother relocates her son across international borders, tearing the children apart. Years later, destiny brings Leann and TJ back together in college, where their childhood connection blossoms into an extraordinary love story. But marriage, financial hardship, buried secrets, and a devastating loss begin pulling them into emotional storms neither expected. From Seattle’s bustling city life to the breathtaking mountains of Waterton, this gripping family drama follows two soulmates struggling to hold onto love while their world falls apart. As hidden truths rise to the surface,
We will begin playing Cornhole (Bean Bag Toss) in the Café at 12:30 p.m. on Mondays in the Café. Everyone is welcome to come and have some fun!
St. John Shopping 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Bus Departures Sign up required • Thursday, February 5 th 10:00 a.m. only
• Thursday, February 12 th • Thursday, February 19 th • Thursday, February 26 th 9:00 a.m. — St. John 11:00 a.m. — Dyer Jewel
Great Harvest Bread Company Great Harvest Bread Company orders are
Leann and TJ must confront the past, fight for their future, and discover whether love is truly strong enough to survive the weight of life’s deepest challenges.
due on the following dates: • Tuesday, February 10 th • Tuesday, February 24 th
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Catered Living February Activities
Arts and Crafts: Valentine Cards Monday, February 5 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. — The Study
Veterans Coffee Klatch Monday, February 16 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. — Club Room
Bake Club: Chocolate Raspberry Brownies Friday, February 5 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. — The Study
President’s Day Monday, February 16 All Day — Study
Entertainment: JJ Brooks Friday, February 6 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. — Café
Entertainment: Frank Rossi Thursday, February 19 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. — Café Bake Club: Lemon Mousse Cups Thursday, February 19 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. — The Study Chinese New Year Social Friday, February 20 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. — The Study
Arts and Crafts: Winter Bracelets Thursday, February 12 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. — The Study
Valentine’s Day Party Saturday, February 14 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. — Study
Arts and Crafts: Snow Scene Watercolor Thursday, February 26 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. — The Study
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Chaplain’s Corner Bankrupt I’ve been reading a fascinating study of the
strong, the swim back to shore was exhausting. We were unaware that we were fighting that strong Gulf Stream current. It got to the point that we both were so exhausted that we ran out of strength. I can still remember that panicky feeling: “I’m going to drown!” But, about the same time, my feet suddenly felt the ocean bottom. We were still a long way from shore, so how could we feel the bottom? It turns out it was a sandbar, an area where the ocean waves pile up sand. Shocked but immensely relieved, my friend and I could stand chest high on the sandbar. It was quite a while before sufficient strength came back, but when it did, we were able to swim the rest of the way back to shore. When we got there, we just lay down on the beach for a long time. We were still weak, and we needed to hike a mile back up the beach to get our stuff. I never forgot that near-death experience. That gradual and deceptive drift up and away from shore nearly became a sudden death. We had nearly experienced the quote about bankruptcy, “gradually, then suddenly,” having fun in the ocean. It can apply in all areas of life and is certainly applicable when it comes to the spiritual area, too. Having been both a Pastor and now a Chaplain for about 50 years, I have known thousands of confessing Christians. While a large percentage remained both faithful and devoted
famous Stock Market crash of 1929 and the depression
that followed, written by Andrew Ross Sorkin, a brilliant financial expert and author. Sorkin digs into the famous era with incisive research. At one point, he quotes a 1926 Ernest Hemingway novel where a character is asked, “How did you go bankrupt?” The character replies, “Two ways, gradually, then suddenly.” It’s a brilliant and often-used quote. Unfortunately, the quote doesn’t apply only in the financial area. One of my strongest memories as a teenager growing up in Hollywood, Florida, was when a close friend was visiting from Detroit. We decided to hit the nearby beach. It was a perfect, warm, sunny Florida day when we left our stuff on the beach and headed out into the ocean. We got to playing around and having fun. One of the hidden dangers off the Florida east coast is the “Gulf Stream.” Basically, the water along the coast moves north, and it can carry swimmers along quickly if they aren’t aware of it. But it also carries swimmers away from the shore. And so, without our perceiving it, my friend and I suddenly found ourselves not only nearly a mile north of our stuff, but nearly a half mile from shore. Although we were both young and
Continued
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into their elderly years (and until passing), a fairly noticeable percentage drifted into spiritual lethargy and too many into “spiritual bankruptcy,” far away from Jesus. One of those get-your-attention statements Jesus occasionally made was, “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?” (Luke 6:46, NLT). It echoes the message of Isaiah 29:13: “These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” Honestly, these passages send a little shiver through my soul. They are the Lord’s way of reminding us that a strong and steady faith is not permanent. It takes self-awareness and diligent pursuit of the spiritual habits that keep us close to the Lord and to His purpose(s) for us. Additionally, age doesn’t diminish our importance to the Lord or His purposes for us. It actually enhances it! We have more time to pursue spiritual habits (prayer, Bible study/ spiritual materials, worship, giving, and serving), are more knowledgeable about spiritual matters, and have more opportunities to reach out and touch those around us with Jesus’ love and kindness. Instead of spiritual bankruptcy, because we are rich in Christ, Scripture commends us to be “rich in good works and generous to those in need” (1 Timothy 6:18). Let’s not fear the “gulf stream” of life—aging quickly. Instead, let’s use it to be rich in good deeds to everyone around us.
Staying Grounded When Life Drifts Spiritual drift rarely announces itself. It happens quietly, in the small choices we stop noticing: prayer postponed, worship skipped, kindness delayed. Over time, those subtle movements can carry us farther than we ever intended to go. The good news is that awareness changes everything. When we pause to check our spiritual bearings, we rediscover what keeps us grounded—practices that restore strength, perspective, and purpose. Faith deepens when it is tended with intention, not urgency. There is also reassurance in knowing that renewal does not require starting over, only turning back. A single moment of stillness, a familiar verse, or an act of service can reorient the heart and steady the soul. This season of life offers a unique gift: the time and wisdom to invest in what truly lasts. Staying close to Christ is not about fear of drifting, but about choosing daily to stand on solid ground and live generously, anchored in hope and love. Even small, faithful steps matter. Taken consistently, they keep us near the shore and open to the work God is still doing in and through us.
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The Curious Mind – Brain Matters Tips Senior Fitness with Symbria
y Build friendships, be forgiving, develop hobbies—do not retire; instead refocus and redeploy y Practice smart eating habits and nutrition through healthy food choices and moderation y Engage daily in mental stimulation and problem solving y Align with your inner spirituality through prayer or meditation y Consider crafts, music, reading, puzzles, or games y Strive to learn something new every day, then tell someone so they benefit too y Limit passive stimulus like TV watching unless actively engaged (such as game shows or the History or Discovery Channel, which encourage learning) y Maintain your curiosity by asking questions to gain deeper knowledge y Take time to help others
Lessen the risk by managing the treatable causes of memory issues: y Practice self-care and stress management y Understand medications and interactions and discuss with your doctor y Only drink alcohol in moderation, if at all y Have your physician check for Vitamin B deficiency or hypothyroidism y Practice the art of restorative sleep and utilize a CPAP if you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea Incorporate these brain-training techniques: y Stay socially and intellectually engaged through connections and lifelong learning y Diversify daily routines to challenge memory and stay focused and engaged y Engage in physical activity several times a week, even just taking a walk. Research shows cardiovascular exercise creates new brain cells and provides the brain with oxygen
Sources: National Institute on Aging, CDC, Mayo Clinic
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The Curious Mind – Brain Matters Tips: Practice some of these fun brain games at home
Word Links: How many words can you find using letters that touch? S N E
O R
L F
M
A G M
E A
I
W
C
Source: Total Brain Health Toolkit
Memory Game: Pick 10 objects and place them on a tray. Look at them for 60 seconds. Cover them and write down what you remember. Name That…: List titles of songs or books using the following words: happy, love, sun, star, blessed, beach, dance, moon, dreaming, summer Alphabet Soup: Using each letter of the alphabet from A–Z, name as many animals as you can (A = Ape, B = Bear, etc.) . Try again listing foods or names of people. Number Challenge: Count backwards from 121 by 3’s. Try again by
Color My Word: Say the name of the color, not the word. Try again saying the word, not the color. BLACK ORANGE YELLOW GREEN RED BLUE YELLOW RED BLACK GREEN BLUE BROWN RED YELLOW GREEN ORANGE BLACK RED GREEN BLUE RED BLACK YELLOW ORANGE GREEN RED BLUE BLACK PURPLE Mix and Match: Use the following letters to make as many words as you can: W E O P T H N G H Q U M B V C T O S D F Z L J K E A P O E T H M B V S X T R D P R Story Time: Use these words to make up a story: House, Tree, Ocean, Dog, Sun, Jack, Trail, Mountain, Couch, Rock, Book, Goat, Flower, TV, Bicycle, Dance
4’s, 6’s, and 7’s. Brain Teaser:
You are in a pitch-black cabin. You have only one match. What do you light first: the newspaper, the lamp, the candle, or a fire? (Something else?)
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Life Style PARK PLACE OF ST. JOHN
Sharing Life & Making Memories January offered a cozy start to the new year, filled with connection, creativity, and shared moments. Residents gathered for relaxed socials, embraced winter-inspired crafts, and spent time together in knitting groups where conversation flowed as easily as the yarn. These activities created welcoming spaces to unwind, create, and enjoy one another’s company. We invite you to browse the photos and reflect on the simple pleasures and warm connections that made January a meaningful and enjoyable month in our community.
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Park Place Announcements
Happy Birthday The Park Place family extends heartfelt February birthday greetings to the following residents: Eileen Z. , Tom S. , Bob M. , Ruth G. , Mary L. , Elmer V. , Kathy C. , Susan W. , and Carolyn C.
This month we wish anniversary blessings to Bill & MaryAnn S.
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PARK PLACE OF ST. JOHN 10700 Park Place | St. John, IN 46373 | (219) 351-5200
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