It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

As 2015 winds down and comes to a close, we are making some exciting plans for Creation Health in 2016, as well as counting our blessings & thanking those who have done so much for us this past year!

We delivered these gorgeous poinsettias to our Creation Health Coaches, thanking them for implementing the program on the front lines in their departments, to their co-workers & patients. In fact, this Christmas season they are focusing on O - Outlook by creating opportunities for the people in their units to count their Christmas blessings. Some have made bulletin boards, others have set out collection jars/boxes and others have decorated trees/wreaths, anything they can use to allow people the chance to write down & display the things they are most thankful for this holiday season. Counting our blessings is one way to keep a positive outlook on life, which has a direct correlation to good health. 

We have also had the opportunity to participate in 3 different community events over the past few weeks!

We set-up a booth, passed out materials & gave away door prizes at both the Town of Greeneville Wellness Fair for employees & the Takoma Diabetes Fair. I also had the privilege of speaking at the Roby Center again, this time giving them tips for a healthy holiday season, while Joanie Scott (Takoma dietician who happens to be one of our awesome coaches) let them taste test healthy holiday recipes. It turned out to be a fun little holiday party!

Since this is most likely the last time you will hear from me in 2015, I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year! See you in 2016!

About the Author: Erin Franklin is the Creation Health Coordinator for Greene County, the Head Volleyball Coach at Greeneville High School and the Founder/Director at Worthy of the Prize Sports Ministries. Erin has a BBA in Marketing and Management from TCU and a Masters of Christian Education in Church Recreation from Southwestern Seminary. She is a published, award-winning author and poet. Purchase her book Worthy of the Prize Sports Camps: A Church's Guide to Implementing an Effective, Community-Reaching Christian Sports Camp to be used as an outreach tool for your church or mission organization, and her ebook find joy in the journey: how 12 women could face tomorrow just because He lives for inspiring stories of women who found overwhelming joy despite their circumstances. Erin is the wife of Aaron, the Minister of Music & Senior Adults at FBC Greeneville, and the momma of 2 sons, Anderson and EJ. Click here for full bio.

Fall Happenings!

Now that volleyball season has come to an end, I am hoping to get back into a more regular blogging routine again. For now, I wanted to give you an update of some of the things Creation Health as been apart of in Greene County this fall.

In August, I had the privilege of speaking to the Christian Women's Club @ Cumberland Presbyterian Church about Creation Health. I simply gave them an overview of the program and what the letters in the acronym CREATION stand for, C - Choice, R - Rest, E - Environment, A - Activity, T - Trust, I - Interpersonal Relationships, O - Outlook and N - Nutrition, as well as how each impacts our overall health and well-being.

In September, we were apart of several events. In fact, on two different occasions in September, we had the opportunity to present an overview of the Creation Health program and pass out materials to the youth and adults involved in the Greene County Partnership Leadership program, as we do each year. I also had the opportunity to share with the Diabetes Support Group about A - Activity, how it affects our health and well-being, and how it specifically relates to diabetes. At the end of the month, we hosted our 3rd retreat for hospital leaders, to give them an update on Creation Health happenings in Greene County since our last retreat, as well as upcoming plans. Here are a few pictures...

At the end of October, we wrapped up another successful 8-weeks of seminars for the City of Greeneville employees. So far we have had 55+ participate, including police officers, fire fighters, town hall, parks & rec and public works!

And these first few days of November have been spent taking inventory, so that we can order new materials for all of the exciting things we have planned for the end of 2015 and 2016. Thanks for being apart of our journey to a healthier community!

About the Author: Erin Franklin is the Creation Health Coordinator for Greene County, the Head Volleyball Coach at Greeneville High School and the Founder/Director at Worthy of the Prize Sports Ministries. Erin has a BBA in Marketing and Management from TCU and a Masters of Christian Education in Church Recreation from Southwestern Seminary. She is a published, award-winning author and poet. Purchase her book Worthy of the Prize Sports Camps: A Church's Guide to Implementing an Effective, Community-Reaching Christian Sports Camp to be used as an outreach tool for your church or mission organization, and her ebook find joy in the journey: how 12 women could face tomorrow just because He lives for inspiring stories of women who found overwhelming joy despite their circumstances. Erin is the wife of Aaron, the Minister of Music & Senior Adults at FBC Greeneville, and the momma of 2 sons, Anderson and EJ. Click here for full bio.

Wrapping Up 2014

Today, my main focus is wrapping up the year 2014. It is my kiddos' last day of school and I plan on enjoying Christmas vacation with them, which means this is my last official workday of 2014, not that I won't do any other work from home over the next few weeks, just nothing major. All Creation Health events for the year are over, all that remains is a little planning and preparation for 2015.

That being said, I need to fill you in on what I have been up to the last several weeks!

In early November, I had the privilege of speaking at the Diabetes Dinner @ Friendship Baptist Church. We enjoyed a delicious catered meal from Ella's Catering (seriously, highly recommend) and then I gave an overview of the Creation Health material as it relates specifically to diabetes.

Before Thanksgiving, I hosted a Coaches Appreciation Breakfast at both Laughlin and Takoma, to thank my coaches for everything they do for Creation Health at their respective hospitals. We gave each coach a complimentary breakfast in the cafe as well as a small gift. It was a joy for me to have the opportunity to spend some time catching up with each coach and to wish them a happy holiday season!

At Takoma's breakfast, we were able to take part in the Thanksgiving Board that Janie, one of my fabulous coaches, created so that all employees could write down things they are thankful for as they reflect on all that God has done in their lives.

Last week, I set-up a table at the Takoma Diabetes Fair for the 2nd year in a row.

This event is not only a great time to share Creation Health with the community, but to learn and share with colleagues as well. I always find new healthy recipes, hear about great programs and learn new health ideas/tips from the other vendors.

This week I was so excited to set-up our brand new CH pop-up banners @ the General Morgan Inn for the Takoma/Laughlin joint physician's dinner. We lined the hallway so that as guests arrived, they would see each of the 8 banners in order as they made their way down the hall to the banquet room.

Here are a few more pictures from the event. The decorations were so pretty, I just have to share!

Looking back, it has been another great year for Creation Health and I am excited for all that is in store in 2015! If you need a speaker or vendor for your upcoming event, be sure contact us ASAP...as always our calendar is filling up fast!

Hope you and your loved ones have a very merry Christmas and a happy new year!

About the Author: Erin Franklin is the Creation Health Coordinator for Greene County, the Head Volleyball Coach at Greeneville High School and the Founder/Director at Worthy of the Prize Sports Ministries. Erin has a BBA in Marketing and Management from TCU and a Masters of Christian Education in Church Recreation from Southwestern Seminary. She is a published, award-winning author and poet. Purchase her book Worthy of the Prize Sports Camps: A Church's Guide to Implementing an Effective, Community-Reaching Christian Sports Camp to be used as an outreach tool for your church or mission organization, and her ebook find joy in the journey: how 12 women could face tomorrow just because He lives for inspiring stories of women who found overwhelming joy despite their circumstances. Erin is the wife of Aaron, the Minister of Music & Senior Adults at FBC Greeneville, and the momma of 2 sons, Anderson and EJ. Click here for full bio.