Writer
I've scheduled time for writing on blogs and our newsletter at least 4 hours per week. Usually it turns out to be much more than that if I get on a roll! It has been so rewarding to get comments from people around the world responding to what I've had to say in an article.
In November/December wrote the script for WORLD OF NARNIA.
Carving out 1/2 days at least once a month for working on script writing.
Have been plugging away at YOU ARE SPECIAL, but the wind is a bit out of my sails when I recently saw a completed draft with music of the same story written by another colleague here.
Anna Tan’s friend Averyl called ME last week. She’s in Singapore again for a few days, and this time is ready to meet me…after all these years! October was the 5th Anniversary of her death. http://annatan.blogspot.com
Have met more with Dawn Fung this year. Helping her with her magazine Create le Voyage, talking through issues, and doing some editing. She is a great student and very bright girl. www.createlevoyage.com
Teacher/Director
I've been scheduling more time to teach with various drama groups.
Have had a great time teaching a directing and script writing course this year. Held a workshop on Enacted Prayer and explored more it at a Drama Retreat in November. Started a Drama Club for 3rd-8th graders at the children’s new school. (http://ourtheatrecompany.blogspot.com). Directed more than 70 actors with the help of 2 co-directors for the Main Tent show for WORLD OF NARNIA the week leading up to Christmas. More details on http://spicetolife2.blogspot.com (this is the site I use for teaching. It has all my workshop outlines, feedback, homework that the students do on line!, etc.)
Performer
Spent the year exploring Playback Theatre and Enacted Prayer as a healing ministry and means to draw closer to God in worship. Playback met once a week and performed bi-monthly. I sang a few times commercially, for the Asia Children’s Festival Opening Gala, and in church, and Tyler and I lead kindergarten worship for 2 services once a month. In December Tyler and I got to perform together! The scene of White Witch & Edmund for the World of Narnia. That was really fun!
STUDENT
Along with joining a Focusing Leaders Network, This year learning took a personal growth turn as I learned from Marcus Buckingham about the Gallup Organization’s Strengths Finder, and took 2 counseling courses with Grace Institute (at church). Now I’m more familiar with the DISC personality profiles and have some basic counseling skills. I'm considering the course that Danny ho offers next year to get a certificate.
I’ve listened to a lot of books on tape and Mars Hill Audio this year. Our supporting church sent a compillation of sermons on CD for their 50 year anniversary. Those have been pretty good listening, but even still, the best of EVFree Fullerton’s pastors and famous guest speakers feels a bit like “same old, same old.” I’m VERY bored at church and find that worship for me is more focused out doors or in private.
I need to spend more time in prayer about how God wants me to continue learning...if I'm to take up anything that is more formal for Theatre Studies or Writing. I am very diligent and content with my independent learning, and have earned credibility among those who get to know me. For those who don't know me, or if I'm writing or working in the marketplace, I don’t have much authority in my field without the advanced degrees behind it. What does God want?
FAMILY
Wife
Intentionally speaking to Jim in his love languages of touch and affirming words. Asking him real questions (digging deeper), writing more little notes/dropping a line, compliments, massage... speaking up what I'm thinking more (when it is positive things I'm thinking!)
Date nights faithfully on the Fridays we are both in town.
Joined a Mentoring Network with Jim leading it. He felt like I got the short end of the stick since he only met with me once individually.
Took the Faciltator Training course.
New Hobbies we’re sharing: We’ve enjoyed getting to know mac computers together and sharing the photos we take.
Mother
Being firm and strict with the boys about Responsibility. Our transition to the new home and school has been exciting to see a big jump in their maturity, with new chores and expectations. The example from some really neat older kids at the new school has made an impact on them.
I love our Sunday evening reading times together and bedtime prayers. A sweet ritual. Our boys seem so secure in our love for them.
In June we moved to town, changed schools – a major transition which has been great for all of us (except our bank account!). We still need to plan how to keep up with Chinese. That investment has fallen by the way-side.
Homemaker/Host
Oh how wonderful our new home is! Thank you Lord for your provision and the fun it has been to NEST here. I've really enjoyed taking time to sew, and make things for the new home and making it beautiful. I'm so THANKFUL for God's provision! It has been sweet to have many MANY guests coming through that we'd have never been able to host otherwise. The new home is being WELL used!
Daughter/Sister
This has been a sweet year of letting myself miss them and feel lonely for them. If pangs of yearning hit me about living so far away, I have not shoved them aside, but I've stayed with it to allow myself to feel. Different close family friends have had tragedies, been ill or have died this year and I feel very far away. I’ve I've spent a lot of time organizing favourite pictures, making them part of our new home. I need to find ways to love my parents and Kevin's family in their love languages. It's been a good year to spend time with family (July in the states) The In laws came out in December and my parents in end of January 2006. I look forward to having them here and loving them in person.
MINISTRY
Mentor:
Meeting weekly with 2 groups of Artists for spiritual growth and personal development. One has finished (COOS Creative Arts Staff), http://journeyofdesire.blogspot.com
another is starting soon (Salvation Army Creative Arts Staff).
Five Stars has continued again this year. We’ll meet at new years to decide about 2006.
I’ve been meeting regularly with the editor of Create Le Voyage (a Christian Arts publication here) to mentor her in professional development and talk a lot about writing and editing and her future. Was invited to a Drama Retreat in Cameron Highlands in November. The blog I use for writing about Drama as Ministry is http://spicetolife.blogspot.com. The sidebar of most of the blogs has links to the other ones.
Metoree
This has been a year to learn more dependence on others. To ASK for help. It has been a sweet learning experience to see how willing people are to help me. I need to make this a conscious discipline since I am so self-sufficient and always wanting to help others (a trait I’ve picked up from my parents!). It’s mostly been simple things, like asking a 5 star to help me figure out how to redeem points for gifts on-line, or help in shopping to pick out a dress to buy for singing in a Gala, but I even asked a friend if she’d be willing to help with decorating my house and she really did!
Having the Webbs here is wonderful. Lori is a good friend, and we are able to talk openly on nearly every subject. When I’m stuck about something, she’s been a great friend to ask good questions and help me figure out the answers. We had good times talking in March when I visited her in Bandung, but now that we’re neighbors, we’re practically family.
Also, a good friend I knew in China has moved to Singapore this fall. Her 3 boys are older and I really respect her spiritual life and the way she lives her life. Spending time with her will give me a personal outlet to learn parenting, godliness, and help in my character formation of taming my tongue and mastering my critical spirit.
Having these 2 women/peers move here this fall has been a real answer to prayer for this relational vacuum in my life!
Ministry to Supporters
A Scheduled Day of Prayer for them 1-2 times a year.
Writing notes and writing out prayers to people when they let us in on their concerns. This has been a fun practice.
Also need to start scheduling time to call people and talk to them on the phone. I don't do that enough. Rethinking this! I really don’t like calling people on the phone for any reason…so this will probably not happen!
Sending a monthly email I pray that the Lord uses it to encourage our friends. I’ve realized however, that many of our financial supporters don’t do email, but just working on and keeping up with the email list (almost 400) is quite time consuming.
I had great times meeting and praying with supporters while I visited the states in June/July, and Jim had a good meeting when he was there in October. We’ve been lax in sending a mailed newsletter. Shifting to mac in April, I’ve still not got the mailing list converted completely in order to be able to print it out.
BODY
Taking Care of this Temple
Regular Exercise/take a dance class Joined a gym with Jim and the Webbs. We go at least 2 times a week, trying to make it 3. Still wish to take a dance class, but that hasn’t fit in with the rest of life. My kids need to get more exposure to sports too.
See the dentist twice Once for cleaning. Twice for repairs. I’d been very lax about going to the dentist the past number of years, so I’m on the right track now with a dentist here in Singapore. I’ve just learned that I am clenching my teeth at night. I’ve just cracked a 1/3 of a molar off without even knowing it happened, and I broke off a portion of a front tooth this summer!
Get a complete physical exam This needs to be done in 2006. Jim and I both didn’t get to it this year.
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