11/30/2009

Joy Journal


from JUNE 2009:

Though I’ve been working hard the last few years to figure out how to do a paperless existence, I still love keeping a handwritten journal. There’s something humanizing in our techno world about the feel of your hand across the page as you make note of significant (or insignificant) thoughts, events, insights and quotes that crop up in our otherwise ordinary lives.

In the fall of 2008, exhausted after one too many international moves,  and facing the reality of life in our 21st century Depression, I found myself having less and less on my mind that I wanted to write down and let anyone, even if it's just me, remember. The handwritten journal turned into one long chronicle of a pity party. Among other physical issues, I was having a losing minute-by-minute losing battle with “taking every negative thought captive” and was diagnosed with depression.

One of the antidotes for this was starting an exercise of "choosing joy." I bought myself a little 2009 week at a glance and made a pact with myself that everyday I’d write only the highlight, or even multiple highlights, of each day. When I look back on this year, I don’t want to remember any of the doctor visits, disappointments, frustrations of living abroad, or just living.

I want to remember the good. I’m sticking in the business card from the nail shop where Lori took me for my birthday manicure. The theatre or movie ticket from a night I got out of the house (Jim Carrey’s “YES MAN” was one of those outings!). The rare note from my 12 year old son that says “you are awesome.” It’s becoming a little treasure book. I’m letting go of the fact that I irretrievably lost my journal from last year when I was back in USA. It was a significant year of growth and healing with loads of written down wonderful lessons sorting out the past that I was hoping to ponder. I’m choosing joy. God has new things for me.

Scripture says his mercies are new every morning. With this joy journal, I’m keeping track of it.

At the end of every week, I pick the highlight of the week and put it in red pen over the week. Verses from Scripture which have significance also make it in red, along with any other insights I hear or have about what a joy it is to be alive and called by God to be his hands and feet and physical presence in this word.  He’s got a reason to wait on setting up that “all things new” kingdom. Who am I to think I know better than him? He’s got me here, and now, for a reason.

Already I can flip through the book to celebrate what a good year it’s been. And at this writing, we’re just at the halfway mark. The theme of my year has become “His strength is made perfect in my weakness,” as day after day, week after week, I get tangible evidence of Jesus’ mercies also at work in the lives of those I cross paths with, and see him working through me  despite (or maybe because of) my weakness.

K!Mberly

BTW: I put the "!" in my name in 2001 to remind me to "choose joy" when I was in another valley of depression. My doctor here believes it may be a chronic problem of low seratonin levels in my brain, but now I'm choosing joy. I'm just grateful I live in an era where there is medical help for a person with my condition!

December 2009 update: I'm still writing the daily/weekly highlights, but one week in November, every day of the week reads,
"I'm so convinced of and secure in God's tender, amazing love for me, that any other highlight pales in comparison."
It's true. You know, as a believer that the worst days of life here are the closest we'll ever get to hell and that we have nothing but joy to look forward to eternally, life is a breath and we can put up with ANYTHING!

11/25/2009

IDEA! Family Storytelling at Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Family Activity: Pass the Talking Fork! - FamilyEducation.com


We have a few younger guests coming over tomorrow, and a majority will not be Americans. I like this link with the idea of story telling around the table before everyone runs off to do their own thing. Also, remembering our holidays in 2007....I think I'll get some mahjong paper and start something new. I'll have guests make a doodle on the paper and later turn it into an iron-on transfer to a new holiday table cloth.





FAMILY HIGHLIGHTS HOLIDAY TABLECLOTH 
(2007, Yorba Linda, California, USA)
After hearing from a friend Ginni Lee about how their family does this (and grandma embroiders the drawn designs), my mom tried it that year. We all drew something on the plain white tablecloth. I don't know if she's gotten around to the embroidery yet. We've not been together these past 2 years, but I think we can send her the iron-on transfer if I scan what we draw and print it in reverse.


Have a great Thanksgiving!

(mom got her iphone when they came to visit here in October!)

11/09/2009

Teacher Poll for Weekend Privileges



Last Thursday, this little poll went out to the teachers of my son, who's in the 7th grade. I'd asked them at the beginning of the week to keep an eye on his behavior in class and wanted him to have some accountability. I got 100% response from them, and upon reading them all, my son and I celebrated that all were in the top three categories! Reply below is from the Math teacher. Thank you Mr. Ditzenberger!



If you've the time today, would you comment on cameron's behaviour in class this week? It will help us know how to move into the weekend with privileges, or not. 
_x__ exceptional 
(One of these definitely. I would lean toward exceptional. He has done a really good job!)
__x_ exceptional for Cameron
___ had problems with self control but upon reminding, he self corrected without demerits
___ still needs a lot of improvement
___ time to consider boarding school
Thank you so much for helping us stay on top of this with Cameron! He still is coming home with VERY little work to show us, and I've told him that if he's finishing and turning it in during class that I want to see the graded papers before giving him any spending money. 
(Yes, he is rushing through still. I have warned him, but he doesn’t heed my advice. Imagine that!)

11/05/2009

A Helpful List

Parent Advice - Rules of the Road for Parents in a Digital Age - Common Sense Media

As much as we'd hate to have to use it, we've asked our kids for passwords to their accounts online, and the password to cell phone if it get's locked.

When he balked, I told Tyler that I don't expect his FB wall to be squeaky clean from his friends' posts - if it was all just Bible verse quotes and perfectly clean language etc posted by only teenaged followers of Jesus, then he'd not be doing very well as being Salt and Light - He'd be stuck in the saltshaker!

Praying for our wisdom in parenting this morning! May we all make wise choices in raising our kids and preparing them to love and honor God into adulthood.

11/02/2009

Tyler's in "The New Paper" & Other News from Here (emailed newsletter)

Look what hit the newstands yesterday...
(Search "singlish" on youtube, you'll find what got him noticed in the paper. 
Email me - or comment below - if you'd like to read the larger copy. Not on our email list?
What are you waiting for? sign up!)


Tyler Creasman: The New Paper Article



Dear Friends:
Here are the highlights from last month and some prayer requests for November! 
Thank you for partnering with us as we serve the church by building up stronger leaders in Asia.




October highlights 
Finished up with 2 championship football games. Both boys grew a lot from the experience.
Still can't believe we have a league here! Met a whole batch of new people and enjoyed cheering with other parents in the stands!
From Jim... 
The two highlights for me last month were the Executive Committee Retreat on the 8th and the launch of a new mentoring network on the 14th.  All eight members of the Executive Committee were engaged and enthusiastic about dreaming and listening to where the Lord is leading us as a ministry, and how we can expand to be a blessing to all the churches in Singapore.  We came up with some clear priorities that will guide our decisions in recruiting staff, and decided to meet again in November to talk about expansion to other countries in Asia.  There was wonderful rapport and responsiveness at the new mentoring network, and I sensed the Lord had brought together the right members.  All of them were sending a flurry of emails in the week following our first one-day meeting.  This is only the second time I have had women in one of my mentoring networks, and they add a delightful touch!



From Kimberly...
The CRM women's conference (16th-24th) was genuinely encouraging and empowering. 
I am so blessed to be a part of an organization with Godly leaders I so deeply respect as the years deepen us all. It was a unique privilege to be a part of this pilot group, and I look forward to opportunities to pass on what I've gained. Besides The Gospel of Ruth (photo above), another good read for this retreat was: COURAGE & CALLING, Gordon Smith


Please Pray for us in November 
It's a big month for James, while Kimberly is mostly behind the scenes supporting others' big events:

5-7 CRMS Focusing Leaders Networks: Facilitator Training

11 CRM Coaching Workshop

12 Hosting a table at a dinner for our local Young Life. 
Lord we're so thankful for the Young Life staff and families who are here and invest in our children!

17 CRMS Executive Committee meets for 1/2 day prayer & planning retreat

18 Helping start a weekly Home Group at Redemption Hill Church 
Thank you Lord for Leading us here and our growing relationships with You and one another. It's exciting to be part of a new church with so many passionate young believers.
20 Youth training for outreach during the Youth Olympics. 
Lord, guide and bless this is a massive undertaking to recruit 5000 Christian volunteers to help in this first ever Youth Olympics next August.
20,21 "The Habitudes Experience" Equipping Youth Leaders with author Tim Elmore. 
Lord, I pray that the sketches to support these dynamic lessons will hit the target and be a good growing experience for the youth who are cast! 

21 Jim teaching church leaders on Mentoring while Kimberly has a Parade Rehearsal (will the boys be involved? the jury is still out!)

22 Jim Preaches 2 services in a local church.

23 Kimberly's Performing Arts in Ministry students have their final class for the term. 
As you have in the past Lord, inspire these students to take what they've learned about many forms of theatre and build upon this simple 
foundation to creatively reach the Nations and bring hope and meaning to life through your good news: You're alive and we can know you!

26 Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
We've so very much to be thankful for, and yet, Lord we still get homesick and our parents are lonely during the holidays. May we keep our eyes on you and look forward to the precious times we will have together this coming June.

As always, we treasure news from you and the opportunity to be praying for things close to your heart. We're blessed to know you and believe God is doing and will do wonderful things in and through you as we head into the holiday season.
 
Fondly,

Kimberly & Jim Creasman
(and the child of some friends!)

"And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is."
-Ephesians 3:18

Here are links to our other news & articles: DRAMA MINISTRYCRM SIngapore

What I'm Reading:

 YEAR END GIVING...
We'd love your partnership in this way,
and pray that you'd have great joy 
in these kind of investments!
(whether is it with us or with other good work around the world!)
Charitable Giving thru CRM 
for the Creasmans' ministry based in Singapore:
Donation questions (in USA) 1 (800) 777-6658
"Creasman-acct 5651"
CRM- 1240 N. Lakeview, Suite 120, Anaheim, CA 92807-1831