"My Life Could Be Reality TV Show."

This is what Tyler said a few weeks ago when he woke up on a Saturday morning, lifted up his head and saw the sillouette of our 11 year old Chinese neighbor girl in his bedroom doorway. "Where are the hidden cameras following our every crazy move?"

He's right. The last few weeks have been extraordinary and entertaining.

But if our life is a reality TV show, then last night was the Season Finale Cliff Hanger!


1. [EXTERIOR. Void Deck of HDB building. First floor cement courtyard of government housing apartments. KIMBERLY stands with OLD MAN who offers his dog to her.]

OLD MAN: 

Ni yao ma? Wo gei ni. [Do you want? I'll give you.]

[He next holds out a can of nutrtional supplements to KIMBERLY.]

Ni yao ma? Wo gei ni.

2. [INTERIOR. Knock at the door, KIMBERLY answers. YI HUI is standing there smiling.]


3.  [EXTERIOR. School. KIMBERLY meets another mother who loves dogs and dog sitting]

KIMBERLY: 

You guys serious about getting a dog? I met a man the other day who wants to give away his Beagle.

CANADIAN LISA: 

Uhhh. Sure. We could meet him. Why not?

4. [INTERIOR. Knock at the door, KIMBERLY answers. NEIGHBOR PANSY standing outside.]

PANSY: 

Hi! I found the old man with the Beagle is serious. He does want to find a new owner for his dog. I told him to come over since you have a friend who might be interested.

5. [INTERIOR. Knock at the door, KIMBERLY answers. YI HUI is standing there smiling.]

6. [INTERIOR. Knock at the door, KIMBERLY answers. OLD MAN WITH BEAGLE  standing outside]

OLD MAN: 

Xing Chi San? 5 dian. Hao [Wednesday, 5 o'clock. Okay.]

7. [INTERIOR. KIMBERLY dials. Phone rings. CANADIAN LISA answers]

KIMBERLY: 

Hey Lisa! My neighbor, the old man with the beagle wants to meet you. I'll come along to translate.

It wasn't for the doggie date that I got dressed up that particular day. It's just that I was tired of seeing myeslf wearing flip flops, shorts and old t-shirts everyday. In the early afternoon I'd gone to get my hair cut and styled downstairs, so I had put on a pretty little white dress and after getting my hair done, I even met up with a friend later to get pedicures.

By 5PM I was looking pretty feminine and not at all like a heartlander Auntie. CANADIAN Lisa, her children THISBY (12) and EMMETT (10). The OLD MAN and his BEAGLE. My dog JACK and our little neighbor friend, my constant companion, YI HUI all met in the playground downstairs from my apartment. Talked about the dog's personality and his routine. Tried my best to translate. THISBY is eager to have him. LISA's husband is traveling and she's not ready to make a commitment.

OLD MAN says to LISA, "Okay, never mind. You want to take him overnight for a trial?"

LISA balks, knowing that to do this is as good as a commitment with the kids. I suggest we walk over to the man's home so he can show us more of the dog's routine. Everyone thinks this is a good idea. It's only 2 buildings away. The 9th floor. We arrive to his home just as his WIFE and MAID are coming back.

We all take off our shoes and enter the spartan white walled living room, or "hall" as it's called here. Marble tiled floor. White walls. Traditional Chinese furniture: cherry wood framed marble seats and backs to the "couch" and chair. virtually nothing on the walls, except a chinese watercolor of a flower and a digital clock with a picture of a Budda over it.

We hear about the food: just give him any leftovers you have. he eats anything. We hear about discipline: "Just use this bamboo stick I keep on the 'fridgerator to whack him if he gets out of line."

OLD MAN demonstrates the whacking.

We hear about the sleeping arrangement: "Just lay down some old cardboard on the floor. He sleeps on that."

The children are having fun watching my dog JACK and the BEAGLE romp around the cold stone living room floor as he tell us what a good natured and easy dog she is. Barking and giggling bounce off the bare walls. He invites us to sit and goes into the nearby kitchen for a short while. LISA and I take in the surroundings. "Cozy." I comment. LISA tries not to laugh.

OLD MAN returns with the canister of the nutritional supplement. FitSolution, Swiss made "cell nutrition." Asks if I'd like to try some while Im there at the house. Sure. Why not.

Moments later he returns with a small tupperware plastic cup (vintage 70's) stirring some powder that makes bright orange juice inside. LISA is finding it hard not to laugh. The children continue to sit on the floor and clap their hands at the dogs who vacillate between making friends and getting into a brawl.

I'm finding it a challenge to adequately understand, let alone translate for LISA. This solution is supposed to absorb immediately into the bloodstream and is not hampered by digestive system. Energy goes directly to the blood stream to increase circulation and seek out the weak or sick parts of your body and provide the nutrients needed to fight diseases. I sipped the juice and think about how I'm overdue for a complete physical and how lethargic I've been not doing regular cardio exercise. How the past year I've had erratic heart beats and dizzy spells. I wonder if I'm understanding the OLD MAN as he shows me the places on his head where hair has grown back, tells of his daughter who no longer has headaches or low blood pressure, and talks about how fit he and his family have been the last 6 months they've been using this product.

The OLD MAN rinses out my cup and gives a sample to LISA who begins to sip, but sneaks a few tastes to her children while the OLD MAN is not looking.

"No, no!" he proclaims. "You must drink it all yourself." He goes to get some pamphlets on the product, LISA sneaks another sip to the kids. By the time she's finished her portion (potion?), we've been shown articles and brochures and had more lectures which I only partially understand. One of us starts to suggest we "make a move" as we say in Singapore, which means: LEAVE.

I started to feel warm and LISA and the KIDS stare at my face, wide-eyed.

"Kimberly! You should see your face! You're turning bright red!"

The MAN helps me find a mirror in a nearby room to see my face looking like I've been on a tanning bed for an hour and a half. My hands are tingling as the man keeps repeating,

OLD MAN & WIFE: "This shows that it is working!" 


LISA: "Kimberly! Do you feel okay?" "Why are you laughing? I'm starting to freak out!" "Do you want me to call James?" "Is this going to happen to me in about 5 minutes?" "Oh no! And I've given some to the kids!"

It's actually cracking me up to be in such a situation. I've lived in China and around Chinese people so long that I'm not really scared about what's happening to me. They are always so confident when it comes to health and remedies, and they are such a cautious people that I figure I must be okay. But I do look like I'm turning into a beet! Especially against the bright white dress I'm wearing.

I look down at my hands and the palms of my hands are also bright red. The bright red color on the palms of my hands stops at my wrists which have remained natural colored. I'm feeling a bit light headed.

"I don't think I'm quite able to go home just yet." I say, as I find my way back to my chair and sit down. The others are talking to me. My head starts to spin and I feel nauseated. I just need to rest.

I hear LISA. What's James' phone number? Does he know where we are?

The next thing I knew I was waking up from a dream. My head on my orange juice stained front of my white dress. I was wretching. The others ran to get a pail and a wet cloth. Both smelled bad, and it made me wretch more.

The kids and LISA told me that I had leaned over and put my head between my knees, and she'd thought, "Wow, Kimberly really knows what to do in this situation." Then I had sat up, placed my hands across my chest and stared, wide-eyed, but not seeing. "Your eyes were open but you were clearly not there." is what LISA said. Then I let out a huge sigh and slumped over. Only for a moment, though, 'cause that's when I'd thrown up on myself and woke up. They were clearly freaked out.

The OLD MAN explained, and then he got his daughter who speaks English on the phone to explain that this is a common reaction when using it for the first time. The nutrients and energy were attracted to the part in my body that is sick and bringing healing. The next time I take it, the reaction won't be as severe.

Groggily I translated "next time." for LISA who said, "Next time. Yeah. Right."

While I talked on the phone with his grown daughter (in English), the OLD MAN excused himself to the kitchen where he and his wife commenced eating their dinner. LISA and I were starting to feel like this was about the most surreal experience we'd ever had after years of living in multiple cross cultural contexts.

As I mopped up the mess on the front of my dress I didn't realize that this episode was only PART I of this incredible evening.

I'll have to wait to finish later, so let's call this the season finale cliff hanger of my Reality TV Show. I'll write out PART II another day.

Freedom from Being Grieved Beyond Grace | Hearts Set Free Blog

Freedom from Being Grieved Beyond Grace | Hearts Set Free Blog

A distant cousin in Florida is a gifted writer. I love reading her posts. This one is especially good for our Asian culture that likes to sweep hard and deep emotions under the carpet.

Let's all learn to mourn better so that we can know and be blessed by the comfort of God.

Friends praying and encouraging through facebook messages...

MONDAY status:

Kimberly Creasman 's sad...no MAD in Clementi. The Chinese-immigrant-absentee-mother-of-the neglected-autistic-neighbor-stray-girl told the impotent-and-ignorant-physically and mentally crippled grandparent-guardians that she cannot come to my house and I should not speak to her in the common areas. Just let her continue to fail forward in school and live in her cage. Super. Now what?

WEDNESDAY note; I do need wisdom! And more grace. As of Tuesday afternoon, the school teacher and counselor had not been able to reach the mother by phone yet, but I've met with them for advice on the matter and have hope for the future. 


In the following 24 hours i went downstairs only 2 times; and both times God orchestrated it so that the little girl 'happened' to be down running and errand or waiting outside the grocery store while grandma was inside. I was then able to tell her that we will "obey her mother's wishes and pray and ask Jesus to help change her heart about Yi Hui coming to spend time with me." Last week, Yi Hui was with me when I prayed to Jesus about having lost my nicest purse - left it sitting open for 4 hours in a public place - and together we found it with everything there. She also was here when I was praying together with a friend last week. I think she understands some, but today even my dog is depressed missing his little friend who gave him so much attention. I was just SOOO mad the other day. The dad and grandparents and I agreed on a plan for boundaries and rewards for good behaviour with her, and then the unreachable mother made such a fierce verdict on the following day, the eve of a school holiday week.

LAST First Day of School Photo

LAST First Day of School Photo
Originally uploaded by K!Mberly

Tyler's Senior year. It's been a great summer.
Goodbye to the Xbox Controllers...even the DOG looks sad!

Neighborhood Strays

I've written about what life is like in the suburbs of urban government housing in Singapore before. So many wonderful things about it once you get over some of the smells, sounds, and sights that could potentially offend. Here's a little article about a new development:

Stray cats.

Every housing estate in Singapore has them. Yeah verily, probably every neighborhood of the world has them. Every neighborhood also has the people who care about animals who loiter around the block. It's easy to spot little piles of cat food set out show signs that someone in the vicinity cares about these homeless. I've known since childhood that giving a little care and affection to a stray is an invitation to have them a regular feature on your doorstep. I've never much liked strays.

But this one I'm beginning to love. We first noticed her 2 years ago when she'd sometimes follow us at a distance. Just observing. Refusing to speak. More than a year ago, because of the irresistible power of our puppy JACK, I discovered she spoke. Only Chinese. A little incoherent.

She'll disappear for months and then we'll see her again. She learned to stop sticking her tongue out at us if she was unhappy with us. Usually when we said it was time to go home.

Last week she was around quite a bit. Even in the middle of a school day. Seemed to be waiting and watching for me to be home. It was her 11th birthday. Developmentally she seems to be about 5. She ate 2 meals in my home. She agreed to go to school the next day. I wonder how can this girl be in 5th grade? School must be torture for her. She told me her parents live in China, and she stays with her grandparents who work until late at night. I'm not absolutely sure that I understand her, or that she's telling me the truth. She doesn't know the difference between a piano and a guitar. She has no friends and I've never seen her with any family as she loiters around our neighborhood, but she LOVES to take Jack for walks, or give him treats; and it seems she's beginning to feel quite at home at apartment #05-277. This week I hope to find her grandparents, or visit her school.

For months at bedtime Cameron and I have prayed for God to give us a way to show God's love to people who don't know him. To give us a larger heart and opportunities to serve the poor. She's one of the answers to this prayer.

I'm keeping track of what transpires: CHRONICLE of interaction with this child: 

https://docs.google.com/document/edit?id=1LmzFRRynWUFHxt9kwHRq7_LLHPTFDR0DshnLS2KyYT

Creasmans: What's New(s) August 2010

Around the World in quite a blur! There's never enough time back in USA, and this trip June 9-July 12 only afforded one week at our home church, and a few precious days with our families.

This time back was focused on a whirlwind College Road Trip. We returned to Asia mid July to attend CRM's Worldwide Conference in Langkawi, Malaysia. Along the way this summer spent time with friends we don't normally see when we return only to Southern California. Thanks to all who helped and hosted along the way as we drove both West and East Coasts! We even made some new friends, and continued to see God's had of provision and leading along the way. 

Hope you're enjoying the dog days of summer, and we pray that God is providing for you in all your needs and you are making the world a better place wherever you are! We'd love to hear how we can be praying for you. 

Here's what's on our hearts for life here when we spend time with God this month: 

Prayer This Month:

Getting back into routines. Lord thank you for a full and enriching summer. We pray for Kimberly and the boys on the homefront, that they'll be "GAME ON" for a new school year. We pray for Jim's ministry too. Mentoring and Coaching and Friday Staff meetings for our growing CRMS staff. Vision. Leadership. Authority. Wisdom. Not by power, not by might, but by your Spirit Lord!

Men's, Women's and Couples Bible Study and mentoring groups are getting back underway upon our return. Bob and Shirley Trott, senior members of CRM US are here to serve Christian leaders in offering a good listening ear and wise mentoring for the month. Staff member Andy Lim has a big hand in many of the coordinated Youth Olympic Outreach events (see below). We look to you Lord for using us in building others up.

9  NATIONAL DAY Thank you Lord for your work in this Nation and how you have used Singapore to be a blessing to other nations as well. As we celebrate our 45th Birthday, we pray that you would continue to bless this nation. Raise up Godly leaders in all aspects of Society. Thank you for the many years of favor you've given Christians in this society. We pray that you will stand against those who are seeking to bring dishonor to your church and your name through the government and media. 

10-13  GoFest Conference + various outreaches going on with different groups. (YWAM is hosting the GoFest Conference for equipping, working with YMTG=Youth More Than Gold is the name of the umbrella organization of Youth Pastors and Para-Church groups who are working together to have outreaches in Singapore during the Olympics.

14-24 Youth Olympic Games.  A new initiative of the International Olympic Committee and the first ever are being hosted in Singapore. Jim and Kimberly, volunteering with SYOG as Liason Officers. They will be assigned to accompany a foreign dignitary coming to the Olympic Games. Lord, shine your light of love, grace, hope and kindness through your servants J&K as they mix with whomever it is you will assign them to serve during the Games.

16  Football starts. Woohoo. Another season of American Football in Singapore! Lord, give us favor and grace among the expat community as we volunteer and cheer for our boys! There are needs among expats and their kids with their unique challenges of overseas living. We crave opportunities to support them and share with them the hope and help we've found in knowing you.

17  School Starts! Boys first day of 8th and 12th Grade. Everyone starts the school year as an "A" student. Lord we pray for our boys as they grow in grace, maturity, godiness, knowledge, and leadership. It's going to be a challenging fall. They've given their hearts to you. Inspire them to be good role models and provide Godly mentors to help them continue to grow.

21 Edge Games - Community Outreach hosted by Campus Crus for Christ. We've pulled together a team of teenagers from the boys international school to assist CCC with the event targeted for youth 17-21. Lord, we pray for this event and the many other outreaches hosted by Christians during the Olympic Games this month. We pray for you to guide those who are planning and executing, for the people you will bring to participate, and through great fun together, people will all experience your presence and learn about running this race of life with you as our coach!

More Updates on Summer:

Tyler will soon be submitting 8-10 applications and see how the Lord leads and provides from there. He's undecided in what he'll major in, but after the many college tours, he knows that it's pretty typical for a 17 year old to not be sure what he wants to do for the rest of his life. He is also now pretty set on doing ROTC which seems to suit his personality and interests. (BTW: The grand Finale College Tour was one Jim insisted on: UCLA!). Photos on Flickr.

CRM Worldwide Conference  

It was a taste of heaven on earth. Honestly, it could not have been any more perfect. Idyllic location, inspiring people and sessions, impeccable service. The personalities, languages, genders who added their touch to the programming joined with the Lord in giving all of us sweet refreshment and empowering to get back to ministry in our countries of calling.

My dream is that the next time around some of you would be able to join us wherever it is! President Sam Metcalf wrote a great pre-conference article for staff on the theme: Leadership in Word+Power+Deed. Be INSPIRED HERE:  The Dimensions of the Gospel

Tyler and Cameron have grown up in CRM and it was a delight to watch them mingle and have meals with other MKs and CRM staff. They felt comfortable to be their own persons and take advantage of the opportunity to meet other missionaries. I think their favorite activity was the dance party on two of the evenings! That was suprisinglyl when Jim and I were most proud to be a part of CRM: Our boys can experience a group of Godly people that are also seriously having fun!

"Leadership in Word+Power+Deed" 3 short theme videos which were shown at the conference. Click on the link if you want a taste of having been there.

Singapore Immersions

CRM staff & friends coming through before and after the conference in Malaysia had a chance to learn about the diversity of cultures, history, and wonder of this wonderful city/state. It was exciting to plan a walking/public transportation tour of Arab Street, Little India, Chinatown and the Commercial District. Full and fun days to show off and pray for our city! 

Photos on Shutterfly

Let us know how we can be praying for you too! Fondly, The Creasmans What We've Enjoyed Reading Recently:  (Though Not the Newest of Publications!) Kimberly - Blue Like Jazz: Non Religious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality, Donald Miller and Have a New Kid by Friday, Kevin Lehman James - Sub-merge: Living Deep in a Shallow World: Service, Justice and Contemplation Among the World's Poor, John Hayes Tyler - Hamlet (for AP Lit summer homework)  Cameron - Seen Habits of Highly Effective Teens, Sean Covey *This is copied from letter sent by email. Charitable Giving thru CRM (Thank you for making our work here an extension of your heart for Asia. We 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!) www.crmleaders.org Donation questions (in USA) 1 (800) 777-6658 "Creasman-acct 5651" CRM- 1240 N. Lakeview, Suite 120, Anaheim, CA 92807-1831

College Road Trip: DC to New York

We're finally safe in Newburg, NY. It's a town near the Military Academy at Westpoint (took a few detours - including a serendipity to drive thru Rutgers NJ - unexpected to see where my borther Kevin went to Law School a million years ago!) this was quite a day! We are ready to hit the hay after fighting some other little fires in Singapore or making plans for RHCC the 11th (nothing nearly as dramatic as credit card and identity theft which is what we dealt with by phone all afternoon on the road)


Tomorrow Tyler has his meeting at Westpoint. Wish we'd had time to get him a hair cut but we rolled into town via the catskills at 9:30 PM. Wish he had better shoes than tennis shoes.

We hear that the Hankins and Cameron are also back safe and sound in Fullerton. I'm sure Lynn and Howard are exhausted. What troopers! We did Arlington Cemetery in over 100 degrees... The 3 days was an awful lot of walking for a 48 year old. So I can only imagine what it did to this dear couple well into their 80s. God give them them strength as they recover from this adventure in the capitol for their grandson Cameron!

Samoan Cookhouse 180degree

Samoan Cookhouse 180
Originally uploaded by K!Mberly

The boys loved the nature today, but I was really into the homemade bread and butter in tonight's dinner.

Creasmans: What's New(s)! May 2010

Family Trip to Turkey in March

"The intent of our visit was to be able to spend time with some of our heros. It was an honor and joy to be with these families! What a treat to witness first hand who they have become over their 13 years together. We've known this team since the 1980’s and their days at Rolling Hills Covenant Church where my husband served as their missions pastor. Like many of you, we have followed their journey. If you have not, here’s the short form of their adventurous and arduous 13 years..." [Read More on my recent reflections of the trip in the unsolicited letter I wrote to their supporters.]

Asia Sports Coalition 

Andy Lim, one of our CRMS staff members is the chairman of the Asia Sports Coalition. Jim joined Andy in Seoul last month when this group held their annual meeting with sports ministry people from every country in Asia. It was a great opportunity for Jim to meet ministry leaders from across the continent, and gain a deeper understanding of the church in Korea because every meeting of the week was scheduled in a different mega-church.

Broadcast Ministry Exposure Tour 

Recently, talking with an intern who is interested in broadcasting/media ministry, I thought: Hey! I know a few folks who do that sort of thing! ....So, in my spontaneous "oK!-let's-make-it-a-party-style," I started setting up appointments to visit a some local offices and studios located in Singapore..... [Read More! Articles about what happened last week]

Personal News. The things we've been praying about.

Tyler took a break from his studies for AP and Finals and SAT exam prep to shoot part of an episode for Discovery Channel with Ian Wright. More opportunities falling in his lap because of his unusual gifts: Singlish and a quit wit. The show will be aired sometime in December. 

Cameron and his parents are spending a lot of time working on getting the grades up so that he can enjoy life without restrictions (nuf said?). He is enjoying the rare freedom he has in his 2 outlets of basketball and youth group, and we all have hope. More or less.
Jim
"Don't we all go around thinking that the "old ticker" is a walking time bomb? None of us really know if and when it's going to go off." [Read more about Jim's day at the hospital that turned out with sober relief]

Kimberly's enjoyed more free time with 2 semesters off from teaching the drama club and theatre courses for TCA college. More time to invest in individuals and their personal and spiritual growth. Kids. CRMS. Artists. Women. It's been nice.

Coming Up. Pray with us for these things. 

6 May National Day of Prayer observed in Singapore in the Colonial Room of the American Club. 7:30PM No charge, but advance registration requested by the Club. Let Kimberly know if you're interested in attending. This was always an important day in our year when we were at RHCC in California, now we have the honor of helping host it here. Oh Lord, the needs are great! We ask that you not only hear our prayers for America, but you teach us to pray in faith and to truly believe you are Sovereign in the affairs of men.

6, 13, 18, 27, 31 Jim leads mentoring networks.  J & K also hope to start a new mentoring group together this month for four young couples.

In all these opportunities, plus personal mentoring appointments and other meetings, Lord we ask that you speak through Jim to bring real spiritual growth.

7,11 Tyler takes AP tests and gets ready for finals and SAT in Singapore on June 5th. We are exploring colleges in the US this June, then will be in SoCal July 3-11 before flying back to Singapore.

Lord thank you for what you've taught Tyler this year in his challenging courses. Continue to guide him as he looks to you for his college years. Its a big decision and a big world. For Tyler and all teenagers who have the blessing of being able to go on to university studies, we pray your divine guidance and inspiration and provision.

8, 15, 16  Jim teaches two seminars at churches on the Bible and Mentoring, and preaches in a church on discipleship.

10 CRMS says goodbye to The Webb family who've been CRM colleagues with us here for the past 5 years (and in Asia for 15). It's been a delight to see their Core Coaching Skills program really take off while they've been based here. Many mission organizations are adopting it and sending senior staff through the training. Lord, thank you for your provision of sweet friendship for us through the Webbs. We're eager to see where God leads after their year in Seattle. Refresh them and inspire them while they settle in US and bless their families and friends in this gift of being able to catch up and benefit from having them nearby for a season.

14 May Focused Living Seminar full day intro to the mentoring process of helping pastors hear from God, rediscover new passion for their calling, finish well. Lord, fill us with your Holy Spirit, that as we mentor others they will not see our sinfulness and shortcomings, but that they will see you in us. We pray that we will have your wisdom in encouraging, exhorting, training and empowering others to live wholeheartedly and whole for you.

Ever thankful for your friendship! Let us know how we can be praying for you too!

What I'm Reading:

Kimberly - When Godly People Do Ungodly Things, Beth Moore. Matthew, and Wee Sing Bible Songs (I'm trying to learn how to play the piano!)

Jim - Bill Hybels, Axiom and Psalms

Tyler - US History and Psych Textbooks

Cameron - 100 Wonders of the World: The Finest Treasures of Civilization and Nature on Five Continents

PS And Finally...

18-24 July CRM Worldwide Conference, Lankawi, Malaysia

Still debating on your summer vacation plans? Have the resources to travel? Consider joining us in Malaysia for this! I believe there's still space available, though not so sure about flights! But check it out!

If you've read the Lenten Devotions, you know what kind of folks we serve with around the world. Here's a chance for you to learn first hand about the movement and feel a vital part of it through your informed prayers and financial giving. And it's in a beautiful location so it makes it a vacation with a purpose! Also, 2010 will be the first time CRM Singapore staff and partners will be participating. The Creasmans and CRMS are also holding ministry exposure tours of Singapore before and after the conference for people who want to make their travel plans through Singapore.

Unusual Shooting Chest Pains

A little health excitement that happened here late Thursday night and Friday.

But before you start to worry:

at the end of the day on Friday,

the last doctor we talked with told Jim that he could confidently say that, 

"The chances of him having any kind of heart disease in the next 5 years is ZERO."

ZERO.

Everything about his heart is normal, and there is not the least bit of blockage in any arteries.

Who over 50 gets the privilege of knowing such a thing?!!?

Don't we all go around thinking that the "old ticker" is a walking time bomb and we don't really know if and when it's going to go off?

For me it started after his announcement about these strange shooting pains, into his shoulder, under his arm... I was more than a little concerned that the warm hand I held as we went to sleep at bedtime would be attached to a dead man who didn't think he should go in to A&E the night before. 

Jim said, "Well, you didn't lose any sleep over it..." (I didn't! slept like a rock! But so did he!)

Then we had a day filled with 2 doctors and 5 tests and a remarkable sober calm that ended with huge relief that our lives didn't drastically change with the news of the day. We couldn't help thinking all day, and since then, of so many friends we know, or others who shared the Cardiologist's or CT Scan waiting room with us on Friday. You just never know the turns life's going to take.