The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW) put a creative spin on fall with a community-wide pumpkin decorating contest. Teammates and residents transformed ordinary gourds into works of art for everyone to admire. Each resident had the opportunity to vote on their favorite pick of the patch and winners were announced during OAW’s Harvest Festival.
The competition featured lots of pumpkins with personality! Assisted Living teammates and residents teamed up to create the winning pumpkin, with “Dolly Pumpkin” taking home Best in Patch. Other winners included “Harley Quinn and The Joker” for Most Creative, “Carrie” for Funniest, “The Scoop of the Season” for Cutest, “The Magnificent Mickey” for Most Personality and “The Perfect Pumpkin Puzzle” for People’s Choice.
Congratulations to all the winners and everyone who shared their creativity. It was a real gourd time!
The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW) welcomed nearly 300 residents, teammates and family members to its Harvest Festival for an afternoon of fall fun.
The event offered a variety of activities to keep guests active and entertained, including bracelet-making and coloring crafts, cornhole, croquet, ring toss and putting green games. The Salt Creek band provided live music, while caricatures and face painting added to the festivities.
Everyone filled their plates at the Harvest Market which offered delicious food stations including the French Dip Slider Shop, a salad bar, a Taste of Texas serving chili and cornbread, the Little Harvesters Mac & Cheese Bar, a dessert cart, as well as lemonade and cider. There was truly something for all to enjoy.
Guests also had a chance to admire the creative pumpkin designs and see which entries took home top honors for OAW’s Pumpkin Decorating Contest. The afternoon was the perfect way for the OAW community to enjoy the fall season.
Dian Knight, Executive Assistant at OAW shared, “Everyone had a wonderful time at the Harvest Festival! The band was fantastic and the food was absolutely delicious, featuring all the warm and comforting flavors of fall. I really enjoyed spending time with our residents and their families, and it was so fun to see all the kiddos enjoying the games and activities. It was especially hilarious to witness the friendly competition between residents and teammates. That’s what community is all about: making memories and welcoming a beautiful new season together!”
Michael Anto joined The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW) team in November of 2025 as Human Resources Manager and was recently promoted to Director of Human Resources. In his role, he oversees compliance and policies related to training, interviewing, hiring and termination, promotions, performance reviews, compensation and workplace safety. Michael works hard to maintain a supportive internal environment for teammates across the community. Read more about this hard-working teammate below.
“I appreciate Michael’s great sense of humor, his attention to detail and his ability to truly listen. He cares about our teammates so much. Michael juggles a lot but knows how to bring a little laughter into the busiest days. I’m excited for his well-deserved promotion,” said Kristen Jordan, OAW Executive Director.
Professionally, I am passionate about: I am passionate about making a difference, solving problems, helping others and adding a little fun along the way.
What do you think sets OAW apart from other senior living communities? After experiencing my parents living at two different senior living communities, I have firsthand knowledge about what makes OAW different. What stands out the most is the care, personal attention and hands-on involvement our team provides to each resident. We also offer a wide variety of opportunities for residents to build relationships and feel at home in our community.
What do you enjoy most about working at OAW? I’ve had opportunities working for many great employers, but I’ve never experienced an organization that puts so much time, thought and effort into recognizing and appreciating its employees. That culture of gratitude starts at the main office, extends to our sister communities and is embraced by everyone at OAW. It reflects a commitment to making sure our teammates feel valued and appreciated.
I am most proud of: This is easy to answer. I am most proud of my daughter, Grace. She was born with a craniofacial condition that prevented her skull from developing properly in the womb, something we didn’t discover until after she was born. At just six months old, she underwent major surgery to allow her skull to grow properly as her brain developed. Since that time, she has undergone numerous additional procedures, including surgeries involving her eye sockets, eye muscles, nose and jaw, as well as an additional surgery on her skull.
Despite these medical challenges and the difficulties of growing up looking “different,” Grace hasn’t just persevered; she’s thrived. Over the years, we worried about potential social anxiety, but she continually surprises us with her ability to make friends and adapt easily to new situations. What could have made her self-conscious in social settings hasn’t held her back. Instead, she has grown into a confident young woman.
Grace is in her second year at Oklahoma City University, majoring in dance after earning a spot in its exclusive program. Her dream is to make it to Broadway, where she can share her passion for dance with as many people as possible. No social anxiety for her! Watching her pursue her dreams with confidence makes me incredibly proud.
On the weekend, you can find me: On the weekend, you can find me enjoying time with my wife Trish, whether we’re trying new restaurants, going on spontaneous adventures, watching our favorite shows or just relaxing at home. I also enjoy spending time outside, hanging out with friends and visiting family.
My favorite foods/restaurants include: My favorite restaurants are Chipotle, Mama’s Pizza in Plano, La Hacienda, Hutchins BBQ and Grand Wok in Carrollton.
In my free time, I enjoy: I enjoy hiking, watching movies and collecting and listening to music. My music collection started with cassettes, moved to CDs (thank you, Columbia House Music Club) and eventually made its way to MP3s. Today, we own nearly 16,000 songs, and I’ve created a playlist for just about every holiday and occasion imaginable. Halloween mix? Check. Poolside playlist? Check. Fire pit mix? Check. If you need a mixtape, I’m your guy!
Share about your family: I’m the youngest of four children, having one sister and two brothers. My parents were in their 40s when they had me. With a significant age gap between my siblings and me, I grew up as the baby of the family and almost like an only child. My father passed away in 2019, and my mother will celebrate her 90th birthday in December.
With Grace away at college, my wife and I are empty nesters. These days, we spend a good deal of time keeping our nine-year-old beagle/Vizsla mix, Winnie, entertained. She still has the energy of a puppy and keeps us on our toes!
How would your friends describe you in three words? My friends would say I’m loyal, witty and selfless.
What’s something that people might be surprised to learn about you? My oldest brother was a Gap regional manager in the ’80s and ’90s, which is how I accidentally became a founding pioneer of children’s fashion. Before launching GapKids in the mid-1980s, their internal Christmas meeting featured a full-blown fashion show to present their new lineup. My modeling career began when my brother told me I was going to be in the show. I’m talking about full hair, makeup and rehearsals. I’ll never forget walking the runway and dancing on stage. Still waiting for a callback…
The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW) residents celebrated the end of summer with a tropical-themed evening of fun at a community luau where approximately 80 residents gathered in The Hall to enjoy food, drinks, entertainment and hula dancing.
The event featured an array of Hawaiian-inspired appetizers, including fresh fruit, coconut shrimp, ham and cheese sliders and veggie egg rolls. A group of hula dancers and talented steel drummers entertained the crowd and invited residents and teammates to join in and learn a few hula moves of their own!
“The OAW luau was a blast and I loved learning the hula! Anytime residents can take to the dance floor, I’m a happy camper. The hula dancers and steel drummers revved up the crowd and ensured a great night of laughs for everyone,” shared OAW resident Amy Vohs.
With music, lots of dancing and delicious food, the luau was a fun way for OAW residents to bid Aloha to the summer season.
It was a sweet celebration honoring grandparents at The Outlook at Windhaven’s ice cream social, held on Grandparents’ Day, September 13. The event was planned especially for Assisted Living (AL) and Memory Support (MS) residents and their families and kicked off National Assisted Living Week. It was wonderful to see families spending a special afternoon together with their loved ones at OAW.
The ice cream bar featured a variety of Blue Bell ice cream flavors, along with fun toppings and sauces. Chocolate Lava Cake, one of the newer flavors, was a popular choice. A basketball hoop game and cornhole gave families another opportunity to have fun together.
OAW family member Janice Whitehill enthusiastically shared, “We had a ball at Grandparents’ Day! Our daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter all came to visit Ed, or Pop, for the big event. And our six-year-old granddaughter, Winter, loved the basketball game.”
“We all picked out different flavors of ice cream to enjoy. Ed’s pick was Rocky Road, his favorite, which is very fitting since he is on the road to recovery,” said Janice with a laugh.
MS Community Life coordinators and the OAW Nursing team helped bring residents to the gathering, making sure everyone had the opportunity to participate. The response to the event was so positive that the OAW team hopes to make gatherings like this a quarterly tradition for AL and MS residents and their families.
“This has been a big highlight of my career at OAW, and I’m so grateful I got to be a part of it,” said Hannah McKnight, AL Community Life coordinator.
To their three granddaughters, Ivy and twins Elise and Camille, Emily Martin and John Thompson are simply Grandma and Grandpa. They also happen to be residents at The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW).
The girls visit OAW two to three times a week to spend time with their grandparents, bringing lots of energy, laughter and fun. From playing with Play-Doh and riding bikes to reading stories and exploring the sandbox, there is always something to do.
“They are just fun to play with! It takes me back to my youth when I used to play,” John says.
Each granddaughter brings her own personality to their visits. Ivy is the mature big sister, Elise loves to climb and explore and Camile enjoys figuring out how things work.
For Emily and John, these frequent visits are about more than just keeping up with three busy little girls. They are opportunities to watch their granddaughters grow, share special moments and create memories together.
Efrem Windom joined The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW) team in July as the Director of Spiritual Life, but many residents affectionately call him “The Outlook Pastor.” In his role, he provides spiritual care, guidance and emotional support to residents and teammates. He also leads Bible studies and grief classes for residents across all levels of care at OAW, as well as manages community volunteer opportunities. We caught up with Efrem to learn more about him, personally and professionally.
Professionally, I am passionate about: I am passionate about spreading the love of Christ, sharing teachings that enhance the lives of others and making a positive impact on everyone who encounters me. I am also passionate about writing books that provide wisdom and insight for daily living.
What drew you to serve in a senior living community? This role is the ultimate opportunity for me to serve in a way that I have never served before. After being a senior pastor for more than 25 years, I had never focused on mainly serving the generation who came before me. Serving the senior community is just like serving my own parents.
What does spiritual care mean to you in the OAW community? Spiritual care means caring for the whole person and not just focusing on their faith traditions or beliefs. It means sharing the practical teachings of Christ. Spiritual care means serving and it means being ready when called upon to pray, encourage, lead and love.
How do you approach supporting residents of different faith traditions or those with no faith tradition at all? I support residents of different faith traditions and those with no faith traditions in the same way, I choose to love everyone just as Jesus did. At the end of the day, we are all humans and deserve to be cared for and loved. I do my part and I leave the rest up to God. If anyone wants to talk to me about their faith tradition or their lack of, my door is always open.
What have residents taught you about life, aging or faith that has stayed with you? The residents have taught me a few things that stick with me daily: 1. Always be your authentic self and no one else. 2. As we age in life, it’s important to share your wisdom with others. 3. Grow closer to God each day.
What do you think sets OAW apart from other senior living communities? I truly believe what sets OAW apart from other communities is the heart of our leadership team, the camaraderie amongst our teammates and the positive, spiritual culture that resonates here. Everyone at OAW believes in the values and vision of Forefront Living. Also, our state-of-the-art facilities and amenities are top-notch!
I am most proud of: I am most proud of being a husband and father, as well as writing five books!
In my free time, I enjoy: In my free time I love to spend time with my wife, travel, read, fish and produce music. On my days off, you can find me working around the house completing my “honey-dos” or watching sports.
My favorite foods/restaurants include: My favorite cuisine is Mexican food, and I love dining at Gloria’s and Mi Cocina. My favorite items to order are burritos, nachos and enchiladas, although my favorite dish is blackened salmon served with rice.
Share about your family: I am married to my gorgeous wife, Alicia, and we have a beautiful blended family, which includes a total of seven kids. Alicia has seven grandkids and I have two granddaughters. One was born on my birthday, September 16, and the newest addition was just born on September 8! Our Aussie Doodle named Prince rounds out our family. I am also the oldest of five siblings.
How would your friends describe you in three words? My friends would describe me as caring, talented and intelligent.
What’s something that people might be surprised to learn about you? People may be surprised to learn that I am an award-winning Gospel music producer and songwriter and that I am very interested in the study of snakes. They may also be surprised that I am an ambivert, a person with both introvert and extrovert traits. However, I consider myself more of an introvert.
What would you love for people to know about the spiritual life of older adults? I would love for people to know that the spiritual life of older adults is SIMPLE! They don’t make things complex, they are just open to receiving love.
Forefront Living is pleased to announce that Angela Morgan has accepted the position of Director of Sales and Marketing at The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW), where she will lead the sales and marketing efforts of the Plano senior living community. She has been part of the OAW team for more than five years, serving as a sales advisor. During that time, she has built strong relationships with residents and future residents and played a key role in helping OAW reach 100% occupancy.
Prior to joining OAW, Angela’s career included leadership positions with some of the city’s most recognized luxury hospitality organizations, including The Ritz-Carlton Dallas, the Meyerson Symphony Center and Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek. Her background includes sales strategy, relationship development, marketing, revenue generation and team leadership, along with a strong focus on providing exceptional service.
Kristen Jordan, OAW’s Executive Director, shared the following, “Angela has been an important part of OAW’s story from the very beginning. For the past five years, she has been instrumental in the growth and success of our community. I am excited to see her guide our sales and marketing efforts as OAW enters its next chapter.”
The tables were set for fun and fortune at The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW) as residents across the community tried their luck at two casino-themed events filled with festive decorations, live music, delicious food and games galore!
Assisted Living residents enjoyed an “Ace of Hearts” casino afternoon featuring Blackjack, Poker and Roulette. Nearly 30 Assisted Living residents and several of their family members joined in the fun. Everyone enjoyed the event so much that residents were already asking when they could do it again.
Later, almost 100 Independent Living residents rolled the dice for a high-roller evening in The Hall at OAW. Residents were feeling lucky as they tried their hands at Blackjack, Craps and Roulette, with each participant receiving starter chips to kick off the evening. Additional chips were available for purchase as a donation to the Teammate Appreciation Fund, raising $1,800 for the cause. The casino action continued until the final chips were counted, with Paul Schrier as the big winner of the evening!
OAW resident, Jane Bowers, summed up the evening sharing, “Casino Night was so much fun. Even though I lost all my chips at Blackjack, I had fun doing it!”
On August 26, there was lots of tail-wagging excitement at OAW as residents and their four-legged friends celebrated National Dog Day.
The morning began with a dog parade around campus, allowing residents, teammates and their pups to enjoy a walk together. It was a paws-itive start to the day!
The parade ended in the courtyard, where Efrem Windom, OAW’s Director of Spiritual Life, led a special blessing of the animals. Residents gathered with their furry companions as each dog received a blessing. After, the celebration continued at the community’s dog park, where residents and their pups gathered for Puppuccinos and pastries. Memory Support residents enjoyed passing out treats especially made by Assisted Living residents during another afternoon parade.
As part of National Dog Day, the community is collecting supplies for the Plano Animal Shelter through the end of the month. Everyone is encouraged to donate items from the shelter’s wish list to help care for animals awaiting their forever homes. It was a fun day to recognize the companionship and unconditional love dogs bring while also helping other animals in need.
