What's up with us in March...

Accepted!

Excitement mounts as Tyler learns he's been accepted to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Waiting on 7 more Universities as the Creasmans do their taxes early for the first time ever. Motivation? Filling out the all-important FAFSA for Federal Aid needed the 2010 tax info! 

LORD, we pray for Tyler to draw near to you as he makes his first important decisions as an adult: where he will do his undergraduate studies, and what he will study! We thank you for his gift of intelligence and wit, and his many interests. How can he have an A in AP Mandarin when there's not even a sign of any Chinese studies at home? Direct his steps and inspire him for how to use what you have made in him for your glory!

The Prayer of Examen. 

Kimberly joins other CRM women for 2 weeks in exploring the spiritual discipline of what St. Ignatius called The Prayer of Examen. We are preparing to have a series of retreats starting in October for CRM women around the world. Examen is a morning and evening practice of quiet reflection with the goal of tuning our heart and souls to hearing God. Here's a guide for the prayer of examen and the 1/2 day retreat put together by our team leader Jenny Walley if you'd like to look into it for yourself and your own spiritual growth.

What We've Enjoyed Reading Recently: 

Kimberly-

Rest, Keri Wyatt Kent                      

James-

Managing Transitions, William Bridges

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

you may add "preferenced for Creasman-acct 5651"

CRM- 1240 N. Lakeview, Suite 120, Anaheim, CA 92807-1831

A HIGHLIGHT of FEBRUARY:

Tyler as a Singaporean taxi driver emcee'ing his school's international night.  He and a classmate John Griffith made this 

gag video to open the show.

This week he had a surprise debut at stand up comedy at Comedy Masala, Singapore's only  weekly stand-up open mic. They tracked him down thru Facebook. We've joked that he could put "Accents" as a special skill on his college aps!

Best Birthday Card EVER!

It was a good birthday. 

simple yet full of surprises (3 gals from my Wednesday YaYa Sisterhood discovered my 'detox home' and Elaine join us from her work. She's interning this semester as a counselor at nearby ICS. 

Missed a few of the girls who were still traveling. But maybe I can manage a make up birthday date!

After having watched THE DIVINE SECRETS OF THE YA YA SISTERHOOD last night with James, my Seasoned Sisters of Singapore had a discussion today about the real YaYas from Caroline's hometown! They are really named The Hee Hees. And they are quite notorious in a way that my sophisticated and Godly girlfriends don't really want to be. Let me tell you!

Having been so long without on-the-ground girlfriends, I am deeply thankful for my friends and sisters here in my adopted country. Life is delightful when God is showing his feminine side of love for me through my girlfriends.

My boys were also sweet; in their masculine bumbling sort of way.


James showed the boys CORNY video from our honeymoon. 


TYLER: Oh man. It's a good thing you waited 8 years to have kids. You needed some time to mature!" 


I an have audio recording to remember them telling me Kimberly qualities A-Z. 


The best was H="hot", I="indescribable" (tyler) 
and 
J="James' lover", W="winebibber" (cameron).


The actual day was much much better than the previous day. To protect the innocent (and easily embarassed) that post will stay in draft form until the teenage years have blown over.

The Swan Song: SINGLISH

Tyler the Emcee for Int'l Night @ ICS
Originally uploaded by K!Mberly

He'll be off to Uni in June :-( This video was the intro to him coming on stage and emcee'ing ICS international night last night as a Singaporean taxi cab driver. It was fun to see him shine onstage in his "native tongue!" Hard for this stage mom to stay pretty much "hands off" and let the 18 year old do his thang. Should we submit this as a "special skill" to UCLA admissions office?

link to the intro video on FB

CRM USA February Receipt Letter: Kimberly & Yi Hui

PERSONAL VISION for 2011

In a couple's mentoring group we worked on Personal Vision statements this week. A dynamic/ever editing type of statement helps us focus on the important and weed out the urgent.

What's yours?

Tho I don't have much clarity for future LONG RANGE,

I'm very sure the now is to: 

• mix up creative small batches of love to
• feed those who are in my immediate family and close circle of friends, 
• see the boys "launch" well fed and eager to feed others, 
• making sure we're eating a healthy BALANCED diet, 
• and working from a tidy kitchen with clean tools, and a healthier chef (who's not spread it too thin).

That means: Exercise the "no Muscle" on new inspirations by setting them on the back burner for the time being.

Oasis Home Group from RHC
tosses the Yu Sheng for Chinese New Year 2011

Knowing the Bible May Seem Like a Daunting Task, but it’s Do-able!

(Wrote an article for our church blog. Here's an excerpt from the middle of it,)

After hearing some of our histories with the Word of God,  our host lead us in a very practical exercise of how to make a plan to know God’s word over a lifetime. Here’s the condensed version of what he taught.

CORE Books or Passages

Christian leaders usually have favourite Bible books or passages which God has used mightily to spur their growth or solve their problems or guide their decisions. These books or passages form the basis of much of what they share with others, and they do it with added impact since there is a deep personal meaning. Pastors who have invested years in studying the Bible and preaching the Word have the opportunity to master more of the Bible than others, but all of us have some books or passages which we have or are becoming the core for us. God has provided all of us with different opportunities for learning and shaping us through the Scriptures.

Approaching Our Mastery of the Bible in Four Ways

1. Devotional Input - learning to hear from the Holy Spirit as you regularly read the Bible.

2. Mastery of Core - Really set your heart and mind to study and mastery of these sections as God reveals them to you.

3. Familiarity Reading – the sections of the Bible you don’t know as well.

4. Situational Studies – as topics come up that you need to know about, or have the opportunity to learn, God will lead you to expertise in certain areas.

Read the whole article

Reflections & Guilt Free Postit Note Resolutions

It was 2 January 2004, with 5 young Singaporean theatre female friends that I first started these Reflections and "Post it note Resolutions". A couple of them went into it kicking and screaming, and now see it as something that has changed the trajectory of their lives. 

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 anticipation without the dread of feeling guilty about not following through on the ideas.

I've put the reflective questions below, and as a blank document here. If you've got the time, type out what you come up with, and send it on back. You could paste them here (a Facebook New Year's event) or below as a comment, to inspire others! Even if it's a comment on just one of the topics, please let us hear what's on your heart. I've posted mine here.

LOOKING BACK 2010

This year Iearned to..

I grew most in…

A Scripture verse, passage or book 

that was important to me 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 I’d like 

to freeze in my mind…

I was really brave when…

I’m still trying to learn what God 

wants to teach me through this hard experience...

...But I think perhaps, it’s:

The best word of advice or encouragement I can remember:

Something I’m looking forward to in this new year…


(My answers with highlights are here)

LOOKING AHEAD 2011

Brainstorming Resolutions

NOTE: Phrase these as “do-able” not just “wishes” that are out of your control, but something you can do to grow or improve. Breaking it down into small steps you need to take to accomplish it, you can't DO a project, but you can do the steps toward accomplishing it!

Financial/Professional

Health/Physical

Personal Development/Intellectual

Spirituality

Relationships

Adventure Risk

Kimberly's Raisin Toast 2010
ie. Personal Development: "learn to make toast."

As I stated above, I did the reflections part, but I'm still working on the postit notes. I'm finding that though I made a lot of steps toward last year's resolutions, it's not quite done on many fronts!  I'll get them up here when I get them done. But first, I'm listening to Getting Things Done on CD with the boys, and learning how to better start the year even more organized and focused.


Whether or not you do it, I look forward to hearing from you, or spending some time in the new year together!

The Adentures of the Lost Boyz and Girlz of Clementi Ave 2

Having fun planning for Christmas?


Hope your celebrations are wonderful family times and spiritually sweet to reflect on our Saviour's birth!


Today I found the BEST way to run errands!


Put on Christmas hats, give neighbor kids song sheets of Christmas songs, and drive around town delivering or picking up all the things that need to be handed off.
We brought smiles everywhere we went and it was SOOO much fun!


Julie, Victoria's Filipina maid helped me by baking all the gingerbread men for our neighborhood caroling tomorrow. Victoria is back in USA and Julie has some extra time. Bless her for offering to help me out!


The kids helped me decorate today and we'll pass these cookies out as we sing around the neighborhood tomorrow night.


To get ready for the big adventure of Christmas Caroling in Clementi, we sang our way around downtown prepping for the official party. Along with 4 other stops on my errands, we stopped by Annette Foster's and sang for her. If Lyn had been home, we'd have come by next door at the Collonade! We rolled the windows down and cranked the music up. The "Lost Kidz" started wishing people MERRY CHRISTMAS as we drove down the road, and were tickled that so many waved back with huge smiles!


Tomorrow night I have no idea how many are coming to sing. 
Probably about 20, all ages and races. 
Tonight a Malay barber I'd never met before asked if he can come singing with us.
The neighbors who work in the shops downstairs are looking forward to whatever it is...and happy to know that Yi Hui is part of it. I'm praying that it's just the right number. Not to many to overwhelm the neighbors, but a perfect picture of the Body of Christ and what heaven is going to be like. I know that whatever happens is going to be a springboard for a lot of sharing with neighbors in the coming year.

Operation NO NAGGING

At week 3: looks to be an EPIC FAIL so far. EVIDENCE: This little slide show is made of photos taken on Saturday night of week 2 and 3 (after the boys had gone to bed). At the end of week 1 they told me "I DID IT!" when I said I'd picked up the slack on numerous occasions. Figured after that I needed to go CSI with my frustration rather than give in to nagging.

My Parents Christmas Card 2010

Christmas Season 2010

CREASMAN November Highlights:

K!Mberly's Highlights of November:

Yvonne, a new mom has to head back to the office after maternity leave. She said goodbye to our women's bible study with some gourmet cupcakes.

"The YaYa Seasoned Sisters of Singapore" Fall 2010. Studying The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus

Sally and Franklin take a break from settling in their first home in Chinatown to have duck rice with old friends Yvonne, Charles and Kimberly. I sure love these guys and am proud of them!

Jim's Highlights of November:

• Father/Son retreat with Cameron: 4D3N in Bali 1) listening to Dobson's "Preparing for Adolescence" and talking about it, 2) Playing in the pool at Hard Rock Hotel, 3) Water sports on the beach, 4) Walking the shopping streets - he bought an LA cap with flat bill and it was the first time in his life he has bargained for an item! 5) Eating and drinking whatever we wanted whenever we wanted : ) 6) Watching movies.

  

  Thankgiving Open House/Outreach

  
  

• Thanksgiving Dinner: 33 guests at our house and I read past Thanksgiving Proclamations and a short Bible reading on the importance of Thankfulness and where it comes from.
• Facilitator Training: Had a good experience training 4 new facilitators.

Something I learned:

In preparing a network meeting on spiritual authority, I thought of Moses as a Biblical example and looked at some of his life.  I was struck by how many times he met with God.  Although we think of him as the greatest leader who accomplished the most in the Bible, and think of David as a model of intimacy with God, and Abraham as a model of faith, and Paul as a model of missionary and theologian, we can see all these aspects in Moses' life and trace them to his encounters with God.  Meeting with God gave him a mission and a message.  If I want to influence others for God and want a strong vision and message to pass on, they will come out of my intimacy with the Lord where he will reveal more of himself to me and direct me.

Events/Travels this month:
Dec 8 - 16 Flying back to spend some time with Mom and Stepdad in LA (Fullerton, CA).

Prayer Requests:
Strength and encouragement for parents, humility and grace for them to face their situation and make decisions about the future, wisdom for me to talk with them and be an encouragement and support to them.

Family

Looking forward to celebrating our church's 2nd anniversary at 

West Coast Park on 5th December. RHC = Redemption Hill Church

Down by 2 at the end of the game, 

Cameron has to take 2 free throws 
after the buzzer.

Heartbreak at the end of game #1,

even tho he'd made 8 of their 18 points!

Cameron's message to school friend on the front door.

Fake Fire via DVD

Two turkeys.
One cooked in the crock pot!
Just told everyone: carve your own. 

Aunt Kimberly’s Expectation for 

the Lost&Found Kidz this School Holiday:
(local schools are out the ENTIRE month of December until after New Year)

1. Learn about new hobby, skill or subject YOU want to know.
2. Participate in community service (even if it’s just picking up the rubbish you see on the ground! But we will look for other opportunities to serve the community).
3. Learning the words and music to 5 Christmas Carols.
4. Healthy moderate eating
5. Daily heart pumping exercise (even if it’s just taking the stairs to the 4th or 5th storey) instead of the elevator, then riding the rest of the way in the elevator.
6. Improved social skills (manners - such as not entering the house without knocking, speaking with others, confidence, etc)

Our Rules of the CLUB:
1. Honesty. Always.
2. Honor each other. No name-calling or put downs. Listen and don’t talk when someone else is speaking.
3. Honor Creation. No cruelty to animals (especially JACK and each other!!!) or destroying property, or creation.
4. Activities are held in the Creasman’s Hall area only (no bedrooms, no using the TV, no computers, cell phones).
5. Knock before entering house. Ask permission to use belongings which are not yours.

(the kids came up with these rules at our first "club" meeting last Monday)

The Lost (&Found) Boys (&Girls) of Clementi Ave 2 -
School Holiday Activities with "Auntie Kim"
My answer to the potential of having these
bored kids on my doorstep 24/7!

Thanksgiving notes...

Quip of the night: Tyler the Teenager said in front of a few of our 30some guests:


"What? No gravy??...Mom, it's simple, all you need for Thanksgiving are 3 items: turkey stuffing gravy. Period." 


I retorted, "Perhaps I'd have had time to make the gravy if I'd not been busy also doing things on your to-do list." 


The single guy nearby says, "Oh, i get that one!" 


Naw, "the boys weren't good for nothing." I said to another mother of boys, "they were good for very little."