Resolutions & Reflections: JOIN ME!

Kimberly's doing her annual reflections & resolutions. Join me!!

ONLINE:

http://charminfullbloom.blogspot.com

it's where I've put my answers! Post a comment with yours!

or if you're on facebook, copy your reflections to the wall of the event 

(you don't have to be here in Singapore to do it!):

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=41561327621&ref=nf

or send me the link to somewhere else you put them!

LIVE:

talk about them over dinner with your friends, family or small group!

REFLECTIONS:
In 2008 

I learned to…
I grew most in…
Another way I saw myself growing was…
One of my best adventures was…
I saw/knew God was doing something when…
A real gift from God was…
Something I really enjoyed doing more of was…
One of the happiest memories of 2008 I’d like to freeze in my mind…
I was really brave when…
A Scripture passage that meant a lot to me was…
I’m still trying to learn what God wants to teach me through this hard experience…
The best word of advice or encouragement I can remember is…
One thing I’m looking forward to in 2009 is…

"Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, 

to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, 

whether or not you would keep his commands."

from the 5th book of the Bible, the Old Testament which is Ancient Jewish History,

Deuteronomy 8:2

"But they, our forefathers, became arrogant and stiff-necked, and did not obey your commands. 

They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. 

They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. 

But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. 

Therefore you did not desert them,.." 

Also from the Old Testament Nehemiah 9:16-17

RESOLUTIONS
I use post it notes to brainstorm the resolutions. It is my way of saying, "they're just ideas, so if you don't do them, you don't have to feel guilty about it." When we do this in a group, after sharing some of the reflections above, we take a break to individually do the brainstorming, then come back together to share a few. It's fun because we find that some of us have the same goal, and realize that we can do it together. I have 6 categories for brainstorming resolutions:

• Physical
  
• Spiritual
  
• Service
  
• Important Relationships
  
• Professional/Intellectual
  
• Adventure/Risk
  

May you have a wonderful new year, blessed by God the Father, Jesus the Christ the one who "became flesh and dwelt among us" and the indwelling Holy Spirit. GOD. A Trinity who leads and guides and loves you and me, if we just stop arguing with him and let him be God!

In this new year, join us in praying for wisdom in leading & serving both in and outside our family.

Thank God with us for his hand in building CRM in Singapore and our many opportunities to invest our lives in others.

More next month on that!

Praying you'll know God's goodness, blessing and joy in 2009!

The Creasmans

I hope we have your current mailing address:

Please let me know if you don't receive a postcard from us with this message on the back! 

We'll send you one for Chinese New Year! it's just around the corner!

JOIN ME! Reflections & Resolutions

I love this week between Christmas & New Years. I look over those resolutions from last year and realize:

After 5 years of making the SAME resolution, I took a dance class in January, and when it was over took another one. Not just one, but TWO dance classes...and performed in a dance recital where I was featured! HA (see me dancing to ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST uploaded to youtube!) I'm looking into what my options are now that I'm back in Asia and getting chubbier and stiff again...

I taught music two times a week in Cameron's school which was on the list, but a big focus of my spring in 2008 I didn't even make the resolution for: taking vocal jazz lessons and singing in a jazz ensemble or a jazz club!

I didn't get completely on top of organizing my mailing lists, or go through all the old photos with my mom and dad, or start podcasting, or cut out coffee, but i did cut out the sugar, and go to Africa and Austria and a 5 star hotel in San Francisco (all for ministry trips!)!

I also survived the packing/sorting/moving/goodbyes and hellos of settling back again to Singapore again after our year in Pasadena!

The HUGE thing is I finally came to terms with, was the resolution to BELIEVE THAT GOD IS GOOD NO MATTER WHAT. After years of wrestling over my skepticism and lack of a heartfelt conviction that God is good and loving and has me here, now, for His good purposes (I needed more than a belief because of what the Bible says, or knowing it's what I should ascribe to as a Christian). I've finally come to a place where in my deep heart I can trust that he is loving, no matter what the circumstances in my life, or in anyone's life in this messed up world. He grieves deeply over the brokenness in this world, yet he chooses to wait to restore Eden. He is Sovereign and all powerful, his Kingdom will come. From the looks of it, we're not anywhere near it; a time described in the Bible as when "every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord." But God has his own good reasons for waiting and holding back his judgement. When bad things happen, he is not malicious or out to get us. He allows but abhors all the many evils in this world - many of which are due to the freedom he gave humankind to freely worship and follow him...or not. For me to fight him over these issues is pointless. It's a SIN of presumption. I presumed that I know better than HIM! The Eternal God of the universe had me live here, and now, in this generation, with the passions and personality I have, for his purposes, I can stop being upset by it all, and stop questioning his judgement, and get to work!

Many prayers, conversations, books, and even some wonderful words directly from God himself worked together for this resolution to be fulfilled, but reading THE SHACK this past fall was like frosting on the cake.

Yeah! Reflection is so good! Though I've recently had the blues over this move & resettling, looking over the list from the WHOLE of last year I'm reminded of God's favour. It's been a GOOD year!

A number of years ago, with 5 young and beautiful Singaporean theatre friends, I started these reflections and Post it note Resolutions. Last January I had the sweet privilege of sharing the exercise with old friends in California. It's really rewarding to reflect and look over the past years and see what's been accomplished, then look ahead with a sense of expectation.

May you have a wonderful new year, blessed by God the Father, Jesus the Christ the one who "became flesh and dwelt among us" and the indwelling Holy Spirit. GOD. A Trinity who leads and guides and loves you and me, if we just stop arguing with him and let him be God!

As the Ruin Falls, CS Lewis

As the Ruin Falls

All this is flashy rhetoric about loving you. I never had a selfless thought since I was born. I am mercenary and self-seeking through and through: I want God, you, all friends, merely to serve my turn. Peace, re-assurance, pleasure, are the goals I seek, I cannot crawl one inch outside my proper skin: I talk of love --a scholar's parrot may talk Greek-- But, self-imprisoned, always end where I begin. Only that now you have taught me (but how late) my lack. I see the chasm. And everything you are was making My heart into a bridge by which I might get back From exile, and grow man. And now the bridge is breaking. For this I bless you as the ruin falls. The pains You give me are more precious than all other gains.  C S Lewis  (When asked : HOW ARE YOU THESE DAYS? an old school friend Peter Svensk forwarded this to me as his update on himself. Pretty much sums it up for me too.)

A Remarkable Christmas Memory

December 1997. 8 weeks into our 2 years living as language students in China I found myself being asked to teach conversational English in a government university (well, they're all government universities there!). The original teacher had fallen ill and I was asked to take over some of his classes. They agreed to let me teach anything I wanted just to cover the classes for them. So, there I was, in communist China, the drab dingy hospital green walls, still using black boards, and a classroom full of fascinated young people, teaching my first lesson for my series: holiday traditions of the west. I stood there teaching about the original Christmas story and the words to Away in a Manger thinking, "I can't believe it." I marveled. "Communists are paying me to teach this when it wouldn't even be allowed in USA."

Ministry Update: A Refresher Course for Ministry Mentors

Dear Friends, 

A week ago we sent out a specific time related request regarding Jim's FACILITATOR REFRESHER COURSE. We spent a day away, a two hour drive north in Malaysia. It was a significant rallying opportunity for leaders in the ministry of CRM in Singapore.

Thank you for standing by us, for partnering with us, for your encouragement and support over the years as we've seen this ministry develop and grow.

The Creasmans

RIGHT: Cameron turned 12 today, 

Jim preached on Destiny, and 

Sally Wuu was visiting from Shanghai.

Here's Jim's brief report if you've not seen it yet:

Thank you for your prayers for us last Sunday and Monday.  I felt them, and the participants felt them.  I kept telling the Lord I would not be satisfied with a great training course unless there was a sense that he was there ministering to people.  After the four sessions, I kept having participants come up to me saying God had spoken to them about an area in their lives dealing with the issues of destiny and boundaries that I was teaching on.  I know God was deepening them and inspiring them.  There was also great connection as everybody felt a sense of comraderie and learning together.  I felt like prayers were greatly answered in those three aspects, especially.

The harder part that is yet to be seen is the mobilizing them - working together to mentor others.  CRM Singapore has ambitious plans to start 9 new mentoring networks in 2009, and several of these facilitators have volunteered to lead those groups.  It is demanding work, and I am praying that the rest will also agree to help lead new groups throughout the year.  I want all of them applying what they are learning through investing in others.

I also sensed affirmation from God through the participants of my calling to do more teaching like this.  Besides my primary work of facilitating mentoring small groups and personally coaching Christian leaders, I need to find avenues to impart important lessons about character formation, spiritual renewal, and leadership development.

Here are some quotes from emails I received in the hours afterward, and a few pictures below. 

You can also view more photos online at www.flickr.com/photos/crms/

"Enjoyed it immensely and was a blessing in my journey...."

"God said that he is with me right in the midst of the transition I am in. More so, he is drawing me closer to him and is sovereign in working out his purposes in my life."

"Thanks for the opportunity to spend the weekend with the CRM band of warriors! It was indeed a refreshing and timely for me personally."

"God has revealed to me during the retreat that I need to have confidence that He will see me through this transition. Trust Him and come out from all this, stronger for there is no “shame” being a servant leader!"

"I was blessed to have a wonderful time at the retreat. Seeing so many participants and friends there affirmed me of what we are doing is relevant and needed."

"The fellowship was fantastic, the teaching uplifting, and more important, I gathered strength from the Lord and after hearing from some of the other participants their own struggles, that God will always be with us! Thank you, the blessings cannot be counted."

The Humiliation of Still Getting My Act Together

Wrote this a couple weeks ago, just getting it up now...

It's rather humiliating to be months at trying to get my act together and not having a good excuse for not functioning up to par. (a GOOD excuse would be like a terminal illness or something other than "I'm just tired after moving so much, I don't have a car and don't know my way around the neighborhood yet, plus...I'm not used to physical labor in tropical heat") 

 

Anyway, we'll get through this. God has allowed me to be this way. I was thinking a few weeks ago that when I was in my super-got-it-all-together-30's in California, I was EFFICIENT and GIFTED. But I was not EMPATHETIC. My experiences of weakness, being LAME. DISORGANIZED and WIMPY has made me much more sensitive. There was great room for improvement in my sensitivity, so I believe that's part of why I'm in the current situation!

The Lord keeps reminding me that I'm a perfectionist who wants Eden (Heaven) NOW. I may not be doing everything well, but we'll survive no, we'll get through this season. PLUS I'm in constant communion with the Lord in prayer, the students, both at TCA and at ICS have loved what they're learning and experiencing even if I've felt unprepared and behind in planning. The Creasman boys are happy. No one's ready to fire me from any of my roles (yet!..though I have resigned from being a 6th grade room mom!). 

I may be humiliated, but I'm submitted to this season of weakness to let God do what he needs to do in me. With me. Suffering produces perseverance, Perseverance character and character HOPE. Hope is coming.

I'm still getting to do some things that I love at least some of the time and find time every week to spend time with people I have come to love here, and even making some new friends along the way too.

If you can relate...I hope you'll take heart in your current situation! These seasons never last forever...

November News

If you're in the USA and recently voted in the elections, or have been hit by the financial crisis, we've been praying for YOU these past 2 months. We've said it before, but please know that we stand ready to support you in prayer and any other way we can. It is a privilege to stand by you, and our home country USA in prayer. Let us know!

During such times as these, many more people are open to the Gospel or are learning in new ways to put their trust in God's provision and unfailing love. The recent financial crisis, the other election issues, and the change that's coming with our new president elect has catalyzed many of us to fix our hearts on heaven and look to God to be Sovereign and give each of us Godly direction and wisdom. We are all more urgently aware that all of us are on the front line of ministry now! May our relationships with Christ and one another be strengthened as a result of the times we are in.

As for us, we continue to settle here in our new home here and renew relationships, start new initiatives, building on an 8 year foundation.


Jim's been in meetings focused on knowing our Asia Staff better while at a conference in Hong Kong this past week. This month we are adding more staff!
Today Jim is starting a new mentoring network and teaching a seminar to pastors on spiritual authority.
Kimberly finishes teaching her TCA College class Performing Arts in Ministry on the 17th, and the boys have finished up an exciting season of football in Singapore!

Late last summer we wrapped up a promo video about CRM's FOCUSING LEADERS ministry here in Singapore (view it from the link below). It's being used to introduce the ministry locally to Pastors and Christian leaders, but we want to share it with you too since it's a good explanation of why we're here, and what a big part of Jim's ministry is.

As always, we look forward to hearing from you and knowing how we can support you through prayer!



(a recent CRMS staff meeting)

Putting a Little Music Back in My Life! Gotta Sing! Gotta Dance! Gotta Play!*

Other than a couple of tunes for my monday night students, I've not sung since our return.

how abruptly life can make u turns!

Was it really me singing in a LA Jazz Club last May? 

Or at the 5star Sir Francis Drake Hotel in San Francisco?

But I'm gonna get back into it!

This week I've started forcing myself to make music (and exercise) a disciplined part of my day. It started because I got my little electric keyboard back this past week and have set out to spend 30 minutes a day learning how to really play. If i commit to it for a few months, I wonder how much progress i can make.

It's amazing how therapeutic music is for me. MIRACULOUS really.

I've really been fighting yucky symptoms of depression the last month (I suppose who wouldn't, given the circumstances of another international move, and the workload without helper and a car).

But, I have found that if I just take some still time to shut out the rest and listen to worship music and start singing along, or sitting down at the piano to self-teach some lessons and have a go at some simple songs, it has actually TRANSFORMED my outlook.  I can get on with the day with a happy attitude that's not just being the "strong little soldier" who's constantly crying out to the Lord, "Change my heart oh God!" 

(The Thessalonians verse "Pray without ceasing" is especially helpful for the depressed who have an extra challenge of "taking all those negative thoughts captive and giving them to the Lordship of Christ!)

A few months ago I told Jim that all my life I've wanted a real piano, and that if I prove to myself that I'm committed, I'm going to reward myself with purchasing or renting one! I've got the name of a 2nd hand dealer and a rental company.

Regardless of my children's lack of enthusiasm for taking music lessons (yes, with football over, now there's room in their week for other activities), I'm ready to roll! I don't have the emotional energy to force them to complain through their practicing, or keeping them on task with it, while I'm in the kitchen peeling the carrots for dinner.

If they don't want to practice for their music lessons, I'll have THEM make the dinner and I'LL practice!

Entitlement *

Nesting:
HUGE SIGH OF RELIEF: Eight weeks after moving to the new place, I've emptied all the cardboard boxes in my house and things are hung up on the walls. Making progress and feeling more and more at home. It's a good feeling after being in transition for months. We're getting back into the swing of life in Singapore. (Next week: window coverings!)

Conviction:,
Despite the forward progress in nesting, I did have a moment this week while draining all the moisture out of my body and walking down the street (because we have no car, and I took the wrong bus which dropped me blocks from our apartment), I was walking in the middle of the day in the hot muggy equatorial sun, I found myself saying to myself things I might never say aloud, but I dare write on this blog:

"Damn! I CHOSE this life???
I CHOSE this???
This life sucks! [step, step, squint, step]
Sucks! Sucks! Sucks!....[step, step, squint, step]
God...I don't want to respond this way to my life circumstances.
I want to be positive.
I want to be thankful.
What do you want to say to me in the midst of this?
What am I to learn?" [step, step, squint, step]

"I'm listening..."

And a word popped into my head like handwriting on the wall:

"ENTITLEMENT."

It wasn't judgmental. It was just there. As a fact. My middle-class, American, life of comforts and ease and airconditioners...I BELIEVE I AM ENTITLED to an easier life. It was immediately clear. God wanted me to realize that, though I may have left a better lifestyle , though many of my friends enjoy more comforts, I am not entitled to ease. I realize I am angry that Singaporeans who have it better than their geographical neighbors, don't realize that I have SACRIFICED to make this country my home. But today I am convicted of my sin of assumed Entitlement. Who am I to think I deserve a better life than most of the world's population? Who am I to think I deserve a car, cooler weather, health, safety? Who am I to think I deserve more than the neighbors around me, or as much as the expatriates i mix with through sports or Bible study?

Just because I've had a more cushy life before, why should I assume and feel like I deserve it now? Why? Because, even though I CHOSE THIS LIFE, it's humiliating to think that I might be someone's charity case or community service project. I like being on the giving end of things! It's not quite as pleasant being the needy one.

Anyway, as we've been watching the stock market (and our retirement investments) fall in value, in light of the financial worries of so many of us in the world (who are the "haves"), it was humbling for me to have to face this sin in my heart about the assumption of ENTITLEMENT.

In truth, he doesn't owe me anything; and gave up HEAVEN to walk this earth as a beggar and die a criminal's crucifixion for me.

What am I complaining about?

Lord have mercy on me a sinner.

Update for our Singapore September *(needs photos reloaded)

Hard to believe we' been back in Singapore almost 2 months!


There are so many specific prayers which have been answered in detail. Thank you for praying for us in this transition.
God seems very near to all of us as he paves the way for us to get back to life and ministry in this nation we've been serving since 1999.

Settling Again in Singapore:
We sometimes feel like we're free falling and someone changed the location of the rip cord, but we've come a long way since we arrived July 28th.
Despite the tedious details that come along with setting up family and work/ministry life (our 10th home in 11 years!), we have felt joy from the Lord, a warm welcome back from Singaporeans, and a strong bond as a family.

Our new place,
the night before moving in.

A New Home:
After living in a friend's apartment for three weeks, we found an apartment that met our criteria - especially being in walking distance to the boys' school. We've found that this convenience really improves our quality of life (especially when we don't have a car!). Through several circumstances, we knew God directly answered our prayers in leading us to this place. It is a great location and a pretty apartment. It's also our smallest place since moving to Singapore 9 years ago. But we'll still make room for guests of course! ;-)


Boys in Football #12 and #93:
Tyler and Cameron made the quickest adjustment to life back in Singapore. They really loved their year in the US, and were sad to leave. But the moment they got back to Singapore, they were back with the foods they love, the places they are familiar with, and people they know. They also have more mobility here because of public transportation and safety. They quickly got into their routines at the international school, and we discovered the only American football league in Asia. It's right here in Singapore and we never knew it existed! Tyler is starting quarterback and safety on his team (among 4 high school teams). Cameron is starting center and outside linebacker. They ride the subway one hour each way for weekday afternoon practices, and then we spend the whole day Saturday as a family watching their games and the other teams. Many heard last Spring about Tyler trying to get adopted at Maranatha High School in Pasadena so he could play another football season. Well, both boys are reveling in the unexpected gift from God: we didn't have to leave football behind in USA! Just think! Even in Asia, football can dominate our family life from Mid August until Nov 1st!

CRMS Staff Meeting:
Andy Lim, Shirley Trott, Molly Shoo, & Shoo How Beng

CRMS (Church Resource Ministries, Singapore):
Jim's work is transitioning from mentoring Christian leaders to more organizational leadership for the ministry he founded here. He now has five staff members, and has already interviewed two more since our return. He has started a weekly staff training time and is meeting with staff individually for their growth. He envisions CRM Singapore being a team of gifted mentors that are building spiritual leaders in Singapore and throughout Asia. The ministry also had their annual meeting in August, and are blessed with a veteran CRM couple from Arizona (Bob & Shirley Trott) who are visiting for two months to meet with pastors and Christian leaders for personal mentoring from a wiser, experienced couple, which is really valued here.


CRMS annual meeting with the Trotts attending

The Arts:
Kimberly has quickly transitioned back into teaching drama at a local seminary, and is also teaching drama two days a week in the boys' Christian International school. She loves having a small part in our kids' school lives, and the school children's enthusiasm energizes her as she watches them blossom in their creativity. She's realizing that she loves teaching, but is also praying for the right project to be involved in creating something. She enjoys developing Christian artists' and leaders' perspectives and skills in using drama in ministry, and there's no end of opportunities. She is also catching up with many of the mentoring relationships she has with Christian artists, while keeping food in the fridge and the other things that moms do.

TCA College Students preparing for a performance
at the Asia Pacific Theological Association Gathering, September 2008

Pray with us for:
-Perseverance and good attitudes to finish getting our new apartment and lives "in the groove" and fully functional.
-Continued harmony in our family and favour with others as we look for a new church home where we can all be serving and reconnect with Singaporean friends.
-Wisdom and balance for Kimberly as she manages the home, teaches three times a week, and develops mentoring relationships.
-Godly vision and energy for Jim as he mentors the staff and plans ministry events for the coming months, including the launch of new mentoring networks and a training retreat for CRM's mentors who lead the networks.


Elementary DramaWorkout,
ICS Family Fun Day - Carnival, September 20, 2008

Let us know how we can be praying for you too!

Blessing and joy,

Jim, Kimberly,
Tyler & Cameron

Our new Singapore Address:
356 Clementi Ave 2
#05-277
SINGAPORE 120356

Jim Phone: +65-9839-8559
Kimberly Phone: +65-9839-6965
Tyler Phone: +65-9650-9696
Cameron Phone (home): +65-6504-0884

click on the links!
Family Highlights website
Kimberly's blogs:
Living across cultures
Theatre as ministry


Singapore American School,
SACAC Football League,
Ty's first game under the lights. September 20, 2008

Charitable Giving through CRM USA

On Being Attacked by Nits *

We've had more than the usual share of life challenges coming up with the normal stress of moving and settling in a new neighborhood. Little and not so little. Numerous "this-shouldn't-be-this-hard" types of things come up each week. Breaking small and major appliances, physical injuries, a few things lost or stolen. Oh how the enemy has tried to discourage us and make us give up on being here, but we know we are in a spiritual battle so that helps me keep my chin up to know I'm on the winning side and not just "cursed with bad luck!"

The other day, walking back from the market (I'd had to walk to 4 markets last week to get one important item needed for school), I walked by a store just next to our home that sells Buddhist worship items. I started to feel dizzy! Okay, maybe some would say it's the heat and humidity and ALL THAT WALKING. But I do believe it's also Spiritual. Back in Singapore once again, I have thoughts of my being worthless, life being hopeless, suicide is an option, angry and short tempered... It's not pretty.

It's serious business!

It could be worse. At least it's only the weather and the Devil that's getting me down. A missionary we know in Indonesia was just emergency medivac'd to Singapore -- strange symptoms they couldn't figure out. After running tests here, they found a specific diabetic medicine in his blood stream. HE'D NOT KNOWINGLY INGESTED IT. Someone tried to poison him! He's back to Indonesia now...with his family...carrying on in their ministry. That's more than a broken dryer or smashed in the door finger.

The amazing gift from God is that no matter how chaotic, angry, buried or hopeless the thoughts are in my head, I'm trying to stay POSITIVE. And it's easy to get encouragement. My students in the 3 classes I'm teaching are thrilled (even last night when I left for class and don't realize 'till I'm on the hour bus ride that I left my lesson plans and demo dvds at home!). And my unflappable Jim handles the move, family responsibility and growing ministry with grace.

This past week I met an agnostic South African white woman in her 80's. She's visiting the family of a fairly new Christian woman in my weekly Bible study. God's hand was in it. Over lunch we had a nice chat about her perspective on life, and the Christian worldview that God is good even if the world is full of evil. Her son is not a believer yet, but the whole family attends church. My friend wasn't sure at first to invite her to the Bible Study. I told her, "Just give her the opportunity to say NO." But she said yes, and the study that morning was a disucssion of Romans ch 5...basic Christian theology - what we believe and why. I brought up how much I've enjoyed EPIC by John Eldredge.

Over our first lunch, mother-in-law said her bridge partners back in South Africa are all Christians but she thinks they've given up trying to convert her! I told her I wouldn't think of trying to convert her! "If God and the Holy Spirit are real, and if you are open about that possibility and WANT to know, then GOD will reveal it to you. It's not up to ME! It's just so wonderful to know him, that we want everyone to have what we have and sometimes we Christians get a little too pushy!" The next day I was in a meeting where they had extra copies of EPIC on the table. I called my friend who said, "Mom just mentioned she's looking for something to read while she's here." So I went to her house to have lunch with them 2 days in a row, and passed the book on. We shall see what becomes of it.

Back to building my new IKEA bookshelves (did I write that our former bookshelves are on a shipping boat headed to Dallas Texas? Ha! That's one thing I didn't expect in loaning things out last year.)

More Life. *

Life in Clementi...Settling so far...

This morning, I looked to what in my email box was urgently overdue. I ordered Cameron more football gear from the SACAC office here. What he needed was a new protective mouthpiece 'cause he's lost a tooth since fitting the first one, and tailbone pad because I found out yesterday that this item was missing. Later, upon questioning, I learned that he'd dropped this particular pad on the train the first day he got all the pads. At that point, he didn't have his big sport bag yet. He was juggling all the gear in a plastic shopping bag whose handles had broken while he was walking in the rain! SO PITIFUL. 

Oh yes, and I did a few more loads of laundry. 

(WITH A DRYER THAT WORKS! YEAH! My 3rd dryer in 4 weeks!)

I forked out $14 for the convenience of a taxi to downtown and went to Carrefour to return a toaster oven that didn't work and a vaccuum I decided I didn't want.

Then I spent the next 2 hours and $320 (S) to purchase groceries and household supplies at the same store. They deliver for free if you have over $150. IT IS SO NICE to know the ropes about where to buy things! My heart goes out to the families who are new. It's a rough learning curve whenever one moves to a new city!

Yes, I "Know the ropes." For instance, I know that the big giant store called Carrefour has just about everything you need and a no questions asked return policy. OKAY.... what I didn't know is that you need to return within 15 days…I thought it was 30 days... so had to talk to the manager and beg his mercy for the item that was purchased 26 days ago! I'm so grateful he was merciful! Then I was grateful again that the clerk gave me a cash refund for the item purchased with Jim's credit card! PHEW! I could just see myself trudging back to the apartment with both items: one past the return date, the other because I didn't have the original credit card.

OH I AM SO Thankful for the small things!

Right now, at 3:30 in the afternoon I'm grateful for air conditioning in the hall area. This is the first time we've had that in our 8 years and 4 homes. I'm grateful for a glass of iced tea, and that I've made this outing into town SUCCESSFULLY without getting sweaty or dehydrated - which is partly because the $320 worth of groceries is being delivered and carried up to my apartment by the wonderful Carrefour delivery guy! YEAH!

However, having it delivered also means I have to be home waiting for them and I'm not at school to see Cameron. So my friend Lori Webb's passed an important message on to him. 

As I write, I trust that he is following her instructions and currently looking in his locker for an important Physical Health Exam form he'd had filled out by a doctor a few weeks ago. 

I took him to this doctor the night before the move to get it filled out on time. I just went to any old clinic doctor near where we were staying that week. I'd kept the form in my purse for the next week while moving in, hoping to make a copy of it somewhere along the way, or make a copy of it at home, as soon as we could unpack our printer back and get it up and running. For a few days I'd lost it in the piles. I found it again a week+ ago, in a bag I'd been using to cart the stuff around that didn't fit in my purse. The very next day I had sent it into school with Cameron. 

But the school nurse called today to say that no one in the office knows where it is and Cameron must have it on file to attend school. So, if he doesn't find it, it's back to another unknown doctor in a new neighborhood to get another physical, or he's not allowed to go to school!

This ranks right up there in my THIS IS NOT MY PRIORITY BUT I MUST DO IT ANYWAY files - like spending 7 hours last week to have my photo taken with the faculty for the TCA College's yearbook. I left at 7:30 am to get my hair cut and colored, and borrow a suit jacket (This is required for the photo and I don't own one anymore. I'd only just given mine to the Salvation Army in Pasadena, after not wearing it for 9 years). I arrived at what I thought was on time for the photo, only to realize that 12:45 was the FINISHING time. I jumped into the last of the group photos (completely humiliated) then grabbed a bite to eat before hopping back on a bus to get home by 3:45. Over 8 hours after I'd started, it felt like pointless day.

In all these things, I'm feeling like the earth is falling away beneath my feet as try to get a handle on things and I keep losing or forgetting details. I keep telling myself to enjoy the journey… So i did have a nice chat with the hair dresser, and a nice time catching up with one of the other faculty. I learned of a bus that picks up and drops off only an 8 minute walk from school on one side, and goes right by our place an hour later on the other. Up until today, I'd been going on another route, walking longer and changing from the train to another bus. So finding a direct bus makes for a less stress filled commute!

Another plus is that in all this walking in the muggy weather, I'm quickly shedding the weight I'd put on in USA. At first I thought I'll wait to get a car until I'm back to my target size, and am fit again. But...I'm rethinking that idea. Let's get a car as soon as we can find one!

We're getting settled brick by brick *

"We're getting settled brick by brick," is my mantra of the month.

We're so happy with the place we found in Clementi. It's going to be perfect! It has lovely real wooden floors and it’s very clean.

I'm exhausting myself doing so many, too many things. One is shopping for bookshelves because I found out the ones we left behind here all went to Texas with the family who borrowed them! I wasn’t intending to shop for bookshelves.

I'm hanging on to the hope that by the end of September I'll be in the groove again and will know where I put my keys, the checkbook, my bible, my coffee, my camera, or any of the other items my scattered right brain continually misplaces and can't find among the laundry or piles of boxes and books that had filled that three times larger lovely old apartment we lived in 2007. Now we don't know where it all should go in a cozy 1200 sq ft! We make small steps everyday. Mostly onward and upward, but there are also small downward and backward; like having had two broken clothes dryers in a month. I’m using dryer number three. Another issue is that we have found out someone is using our credit card to purchase things on the internet. Bank of America's phone line seems to be down so we can't put an immediate stop to that. Little things like that.

But the boys, ah the boys are so happy to be playing American football 5 days a week! They found a league here in Singapore up at the American School. They are happily commuting an hour each way on the trains. They come home in the evening and fill my dryer-less apartment with stinky sweaty football gear! Cameron, who only has played flag football before, is loving the chance to tackle other kids wearing pads. Tyler had experienced a tough season last year where his opportunities and ability didn’t live up to his expectations. He’d been thinking for a year now that it was his one and only shot at playing this sport he loves. Now? Now in Singapore, having found this league, he is going to be the Quarterback for his team of 9th-12th graders. He’s already had more time holding the ball in practice than he had all last season.

Out of Crisis Mode and Operational *

Monday when I came home from my 4th week of teaching PERFORMING ARTS IN MINISTRY (at 11PM), I found Jim online shopping for a new computer. The one here seems to have caught too many bugs while we've been away. It won't even turn on, so we'll let you know when we get that 714 number up again.

This week I'm saying, "We're out of crisis mode and operational." However, it's the pace of normal life added to these smaller and unusual breakdowns that are keeping us from getting all the boxes sorted or anything hung on the walls.

Yesterday it was a lost shoe! When I went to put Cam's football bag together so that he could go directly from drama club to football practice, ONE CLEAT was missing. He and tyler both saw a PAIR the night before in the kitchen, so the only thing I can figure is that I must have put it too close to the window to dry out. I walked around downstairs at 11:30PM last night, but couldn't find it. So purchasing a new pair of cleats is on my agenda today! Even though it's tedious to get around; and if you do 2 shopping errands, you have to CARRY your purchases around at the 2nd stop.

BUT. I'm very grateful when something like this happens because I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE TO GO TO GET CLEATS!

I KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN THE DRYER BREAKS, or THE WASHER IS LEAKING, or MY HAIR NEEDS COLORING, or ONE CHILD IS REQUIRED TO GET A TETANUS SHOT, or I NEED TO BORROW A LARGE COOLER WHEN I'M ASSIGNED TO BRING GATORADE FOR THE TEAM.

I keep thinking of the new families I've met at school and grateful I'm over the learning curve of so much of the HOW and WHERE's of living here.

Our next door neighbor came over Sunday night with lotus paste and pumpkin seed mooncakes. Jeanette. From Fairfield Methodist Church where Jim preached once. Daughter 16, Son 15 (haven't even seen them!). We had a nice visit. Her kids are both accomplished pianists and in some "accelerated track" at the Anglo-Chinese School. This is due, I'm sure to no small amount of prodding from their mom. 

These Singaporean homemakers give me an inferiority complex.

MY INTERESTING (that's irony) LIFE. *

The selling of moon cakes at Vivo City, Singapore.

Moon Cakes are only sold this time of year. Take some getting used to ... They are definitely an acquired taste for lotus paste and red bean, and other interesting fillings. They are round cakes (like the full moon of our Chinese Mid-Autumn or Lantern Festival). They are 2"- 3.5" big. The "really good ones" have a duck egg yolk inside! YUM YUM!

Vivo City is the largest mall here in Singapore. It's down at the harbor front where people take the boats to Indonesia's islands of Bintan and Batam, and across from Singapore's little playground: Sentosa Island. This mall was finished our first year while living close to the harbor at Teresaville, so we were down there often. The grocery shopping was great! I could park right next to the exit of a GIANT store on the same floor as the parking lot. Ahh! Convenience! A car and handy parking lot!

Holding THINGS Loosely*

Tyler posted this photo as his Facebook profile picture this week. It's one of my favorite photos of him as a toddler, overlayed with The Dark Knight Joker's face, and his now famous quote, 

"Why so serious?"

This is my theme for the day.

A few years ago, my parents worked on putting together a "missionary house" in USA. They wrote to me about it as they worked on it, and really enjoyed the process, then they had the joy of seeing missionaries from their church get to stay there. I was a bit envious of my parents to be able to do that! Even though I'm the recipient of staying in such an apartment these first few weeks back in Singapore, I like thinking about who will come along next, and imagining the ways the owner who's offered it will be a blessing to them too.

The places we stayed this past year in USA were also missionary apartments. Of course there was some rent involved, but it was quite reduced, and they had a number of rules which helped in keeping up the place and making it nice for the next person who came along. There were some community service things we all signed up for, and a few rules in place which helped in keeping costs down. It still was rather trashy. I joked all year about living in a trailer park, and gave up early on the idea I was going to make the garden planters look nice when I saw the children using the leaves to make "salads" in their play. Nevertheless, there were some guidelines. For instance, when we were getting ready to leave, there was a 6 page document for all the items to clean before leaving. We were told by the manager that if it took a cleaning lady more than 2 hours to finish the list then she would be paid from our cleaning deposit, and we wouldn't be approved to come stay there again! Some thought it was harsh. I thought it was smart.

Especially after being in the Singapore apartment. Yes. part of it is me. Individuals from different cultures or upbringings have different values and standards of how to take care of things and keep them clean. No matter what culture we're from, there are some people who don't value keeping nice things nice. Growing up in a Baptist Church, I remember hearing some ladies talk about not wanting to host a certain missionary family, because they break or ruin things! That's probably what has contributed to my over zealous feelings about this (my husband might call it "obsessive compulsive")!

In the previous post I mentioned the kitchen being filthy and that it drew the critters. This "drama" makes for interesting stories for now, and will be forgotten. I am saddened to see that the previous tenants have not kept the place nicer for this generous owner who lets us stay here FOC. It's not really a hardship for us to hunker down amidst cockroaches. We've lived in challenging places before this, but thinking of this owner's generous heart, and this being Singapore and not China, or Romania, or Peru, I'm sorry to see he's been taken advantage of.

In this case, it's not just his home, but our bedroom set and living room furniture have been here for a year. I had noticed on the first day an inordinate number of scrapes and scratches on the wood furnishings, but didn't get disheartened too much by it. But last night, when the flatmate brought out our bedroom dresser from his room to prepare for the movers coming today, we discovered that a large section of the top has been discolored. I thought I'd prepared myself for some damage or wear or loss, but this is more than I'd mentally bargained for.

Of course we'll roll with it. It's just stuff, and I'm reminded again to let heaven fill my thoughts. In the big picture of life, and the smaller one of living here amongst so many we've come to know and love, there are so many other things to be grateful for. I'll just do a bit of whining here in the blog; like King David did in his Psalms. And also like him, I'll come around in the end to proclaiming God's goodness and my trust in him.

The Nomadic Life of Transitions*

When I started packing our luggage the first week of July, I told myself:

Gear up for 3 months of nomadic life. You're not going to feel this settled again until at least the end of September.

I'll be so glad when we've settled. So many details in moving and starting school at the same time! Finding a place to live being the big one which takes 3 face to face meetings before you actually start to move in. View it. Intent to lease deposit. Sign the papers get the key.

For various reasons there are documents to copy (where do you go to get a copy made in this neighborhood?), money to change (the best rates were a 45 minute taxi ride away), obtaining bus/train passes, setting up phones (which cell phone service actually has the best rates?), electricity, gas, shopping for car, arranging movers, getting a medical check up for Cameron, finding where to buy groceries, signing up for sports, a contract for who'll service the airconditioners, finding a handyman to make minor repairs.

Yesterday afternoon Jim and I met in town for lunch and did 3 errands (only 1 was profitable). Since we don't have a car, it took us FIVE HOURS. UGH. It took and hour to get to where we were meeting. With a car it would have been a 15 minute journey!

I also sent a note to Cameron's teachers today asking for grace on the deadline to get his textbooks covered by Friday. This laborious task is definitely not a priority in the next 2 days!

I rode the public bus with Cameron and Tyler the first day of school and then for the second day, I walked to the bus stop and put them on one I thought looked like was faster. An hour later, Tyler called and said they weren't anywhere near school yet. They got off the bus, found a cab and still were 15 minutes late to school. A TARDY on their second day.

Today, Tyler took off ahead of us, was nowhere to be seen, and Cameron was too nervous to ride alone. I didn't have my phone, and was in my lounge pants I'd slept in, and empty coffee cups in hand (I'd told Jim I was going downstairs to sent the kids off and I'd get us both a 70 cent cup of coffee at the outdoor coffee shop on my way back from the bus stop), but feeling guilty about the day before, Cameron prevailed upon me to ride the bus with him. I got back 1 hour and 10 minutes later at 8:45 and told Jim:

"I'm officially starting my day over from right now."

Got in bed, pulled the covers up over my head and prayed for peace. (actually what I said was, "Into your hands I commit my spirit." but it's evidently not my time to go just yet!)

I'm up again now and ready to start fresh!

Found a New Home

Jim's off today meeting with his first Pastors Network. A welcome back lunch.

I celebrated being back by participating in the 24 hour playwright competition last weekend and cranked out a masterpiece.

The boys found out that there is an American football league and practices start Wednesday.

Just a quick note to say,

Thanks to everyone who prayed, or helped us with leads!

We've found our next "home sweet home" in Singapore!

After only 8 days back in Singapore, we got the keys yesterday and will move in Friday, August 15th. 

Boys starts school Monday, so will only have to commute this first week. 

Most important to us was that it be within out budget and walking distance from school.

Tyler clocked it:

The apartment is a 14 minute walk from the back gate of school.

Our new address is:

Block 356 Clementi Avenue 2 #05-277

Singapore 120356

(We're staying in Bukit Batok West for now, where, of the many small things we are thankful for, there is a TV! 

Which means we can watch some Olympics!)

We're so grateful!

Kimberly, Jim, Tyler & Cameron

Also, our phones are all up and running. 

Jim +65 9839 8559 (same as before)

Kimberly +65 9839 6965 (same as before)

Tyler +65 9650 9696

ALSO: a we have a new USA number which rings on a phone connected to our computer: (714) 982-0578

We're 15 hours AHEAD of West Coast USA. It's easy to figure out! If your in the west coast, whatever time it is there, and add 3 hours. 

If it's day for you, it's night for us. Or simply: Evenings there, are mornings for us. 

Believe God loves to spoil you! 

What are you needing to trust him for today? 

If he wills it, he is able. 

And he is good.