Merry Christmas to our community members, friends & partners!

Saint Therese • December 19, 2019

As a gift for Christmas to our community members, friends and partners, we invite you to enjoy this poem written by our talented care center residents at Saint Therese at Oxbow Lake in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.


The Hilltop


I’ve watched the seasons of my life
mixing together and blending in my heart…

Aspen
leaves quaking in a light autumn breeze
brings my mind to a happy day long ago
when the shining sun feels peaceful…


Evening approaches inviting us on a trip to the Hilltop wagon rides.
With great excitement we get on that hay wagon…
children, family, friends, even a boyfriend.
Everyone is welcomed to join in the fun.


“The more the merrier,” we chant.


The scent of hay bales fills us as we jump on…
departing on a well-worn track
pulled by horses with a skilled guide
Stopping to toast marshmallows out in the field.


Reflections of our younger days,
Of children playing in the leaves after school.
I remember raking those same leaves…Then running through corn rows
Chasing, laughing, falling…
I look around me and notice all the things I have planted
are now growing beautifully.


Strolling and rolling into Anne Marie’s “chat group”,
we are greeted by new friends, old friends….
where we harvest our memories together
with our trusted guide, Anne Marie,
who pushes us to share stories, wisdom and reflections.


“You just know God is here with us.”


We feel so blessed to gather together…it warms our hearts
knowing that no matter the season of life
there will always be someone who cares and through the
busy chatter of the blue jays on this late October day,

We are grateful for our hayride of memories where all are welcomed.


Surrounded by friends this morning,


We sit in fellowship at our chat group…our circle of trust
providing a safe place to bring our smiles, laughter and tears
as we walk this season of our lives
together, sharing prayers and love


And one more trip up to the Hilltop.


Written by Saint Therese at Oxbow Lake residents of the Roadhouse
and Lakehouse neighborhoods (October 2019)

Stay Connected


Search All Posts


About

At Saint Therese, our heartfelt purpose since 1968 has been a people first approach to living well by providing senior care and services where every life we touch feels welcomed, respected, and heard. We achieve this by doing ordinary things with extraordinary love every single day. Contact us to learn more. 

Modern multi-story apartment building with a dark gray exterior, balconies, and a paved entrance area.
A candid photograph taken on a sunny day of the attractive red brick and stone campus of Saint There
By Barb Hemberger June 18, 2026
Senior living Avon Ohio, with independent living, assisted living, rehab, and long-term care. Schedule a tour at Saint Therese Avon today.
By Barb Hemberger June 12, 2026
Most older adults who move into a senior living community say one of the things they enjoy most is the friendships they make. At Saint Therese at St. Mary of the Woods in Avon, Ohio, one resident has turned making connections into an art form. Spend a few minutes with Lois McCreight and you'll quickly understand why so many people know her by name. Friendly, outgoing and quick with a joke, she has a knack for making people feel welcome. "Lois has never met a stranger," said Executive Director Michael Helco. "Whether she's greeting visitors, singing our praises or recruiting a dance partner on a moment's notice, she brings warmth, laughter and a contagious zest for life to everyone she meets." Known for the colorful novelty glasses she often wears perched atop her head, Lois has become something of an unofficial ambassador for the community. Staff members describe her as a jokester who enjoys making people smile and regularly makes her rounds throughout the building to say hello and check in on others.
Group portrait of 13 people seated and standing in a lobby decorated with a Christmas tree and wreaths
By Barb Hemberger April 24, 2026
Celebrate 10 years of the Pioneers of Woodbury. Join us in honoring friendships & community at Saint Therese. Experience vibrant senior living.