Go Greene Go!

One of the most rewarding things I have been a part of during my time with Creation Health is serving on the Greene County Health Council. Because of our work in the community over the past four years, we were recently recognized by the White House as a “Let’s Move” Community. We are now working with the State of Tennessee to become a Healthier Tennessee Community (pictured above). There are certain community wellness goals that have to be accomplished to receive this recognition and you can keep up with the progress at 5210tn.org. It has been an honor to work alongside this fine group of people!

I had the privilege of speaking at Takoma's Breast Cancer Support Group again last month, giving them an overview of the Creation Health principles as they apply to their journey. Ann Williams is always such a joy to work with, and these ladies have blessed me more than I could ever have impacted them over the past 4 years!

In fact, I am proud to say that there are SO many in our community who are making a healthy difference and I have been fortunate enough to work with and learn from many of them along the way. I hope that YOU too will continue to make healthy changes and promote wellness principles wherever you are. Happy Summer!

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.

Are You Living Creation Healthy?

As you know by now, CREATION is an acronym and each letter principle affects our overall health and well-being. C is for Choice, R - Rest, E - Environment, A - Activity, T - Trust, I -Interpersonal Relationships, O - Outlook and N - Nutrition.

Click HERE and take the "Are You Living Creation Healthy?" quiz to find out where you are on your own personal wellness journey. It will show you which CREATION areas you are stronger in and which ones need improvement in your life. Once you know where you are, begin making one small change at a time in the areas that you need to work on the most.

My coaches are always hard at work promoting one of these letter principles to their patients and co-workers each month, hoping to encourage them on their journeys. During March and April, they have been promoting N - Nutrition and A - Activity. Here are a few things they have been up to...

Several coaches have been putting up displays in their workplace, such as these two bulletin boards made by Takoma's Dietitian, Joanie Scott. The first one reminds people to make healthy food choices and the second one includes ways that people can get active in our community. Thank you to another one of our coaches, Tracy Green (Takoma's Corporate Wellness Director) for providing the community information!

Coach Cheyenne Bowman created a 30-Day Ab Challenge for her unit, to see who can lose the most inches in their waist. The challenge is displayed on this board that she created, which also contains information about Creation Health and our Nature Trail.

Coach Stephanie Grogan made this cute "Spring into Action" board to encourage people to do something to make a difference physically, mentally & spiritually!

One of the most important things our coaches are collectively doing is handing out wellness materials where they are. Janie Strom gives Creation Health tote bags filled with Creation Health goodies to the people she works with at the Roby Center. She does all sorts of fun activities with them to teach Creation Health principles and to help draw a crowd before the wellness speakers come in to speak to them. 

Joanie Scott hands out Creation Health books and teaches Creation Health principles to all of her patients and to the people in her exercise classes at the YMCA.

Angela Nease has created Creation Health handouts to give to her patients and co-workers to encourage them to make good choices. She also hands out Creation Health bookmarks which contain the letter principle reminders.

Tracy Green has distributed Creation Health materials to every office in her building and has put them out in the lobbies and break rooms for patients and employees to grab. She also offers them to all of the companies that she partners with.

Joyce Mullins puts Creation Health handouts in all of the nursing charts and patient folders in OB. And Jennie Smith sent the "Are You Creation Healthy" quiz link to her entire department.

What are you doing to make a difference where you are?

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.

5 Fun Ways to Stay Active as a Family!

During the month of May, my coaches and I are promoting I - Interpersonal Relationships. Last month, we focused on A - Activity. A social support system is as vital to our overall health and well-being as staying active, implementing good nutrition and getting rest. With school letting out soon and the beautiful weather this time of year, I have come up with a few ways that you and your family can build relationships while staying active together this spring/summer!

1. Play a game of Backyard Football! 
-or another game (tag, Frisbee, baseball, etc)…the possibilities are endless, but the point is to get outside and have fun together!

 2. Go on a bike ride!
 -or take a nature hike…anything that allows you to enjoy God’s creation!

 3. Participate in a local 5K for Charity! 
-or any community race (walk, run, bike ride, etc) that gives you the opportunity to give back while you get fit!

 4. Clean the house! 
-or yard, garage, etc…turn the music on and burn some calories while you work!

 5. Take a camping trip! 
-or a trip to the lake…simply get away from the chaos of life for a day or two, enjoying each other’s company in a new setting!

What is your favorite thing to do together as a family? My family and I enjoy riding bikes together and playing 4 Square any chance we get!

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.

Making An Impact

As always, Creation Health is apart of many different things all across the community! Here are a few things we have been involved in over the past few months...

First off, we have had the privilege of working with the fabulous kiddos of the GMS Devils on the Go program. In January, I gave them an overview of the CH letter principles C - Choice, R - Rest, E - Environment, A - Activity, T - Trust, I - Interpersonal Relationships, O - Outlook and N - Nutrition to encourage them on their wellness journey. Then again last week, I met them out on our beautiful trail, giving them a tote bag full of more CH goodies before sending them off on a little hike. I am so proud of these teachers and students who are modeling the importance of being active during this fantastic after school program!

We recently wrapped up Takoma's Biggest Loser contest, providing 25 CH tote bags full of goodies to those who completed the program. I am so proud of one of our awesome coaches, Jennie Smith (pictured far right) for winning the contest, and am so proud of another one of our awesome coaches, Tracy Green for coordinating the contest!

Over the past several months, we have been weeding out inactive coaches and have completed training for 7 new coaches, which gives us 17 strong, active CH coaches who are promoting and modeling CH principles in their departments to their co-workers and patients. New coaches also received CH tote bags full of goodies to help them get started!

Also, as you know, I am blessed to work with the fabulous kiddos of the Tusculum View Tiger Times program twice a month. In addition to this, I got to hand out CH tote bags full of goodies to the parents and kids who attended Parent Night back in February.

Finally, I had the privilege of speaking at the Roby Center once again, giving them an overview of the CH principles, encouraging them to make small changes that lead to big results. I hope you are staying dry during this crazy weather we have been having! Please let me know if you would like any CH materials (books, bookmarks, coloring books, crayons, pens, notepads, etc) for your organization!

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.

Trail Life

This gorgeous weather we've been having has me thinking about our beautiful trail! I love seeing people enjoying it, there are so many from our community who take advantage of it. Here are a few pictures that people have sent to me recently or that I have collected on my own...

The trail head is right next to the pavilion at Forest Park. Be sure to send your trail pictures to creationhealthgc@gmail.com.

I am looking forward to taking my family out there this spring/summer, as well as some other groups from our community. I hope to see you out there soon!

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.

Outlook Impacts Choice

Choice is the first step toward improving your well-being. Before we can achieve positive changes in any area of our lives, we must first choose to do so. Conscious decision-making is key to experiencing the positive impact of good choices. Every day, often numerous times a day, you exercise the power of choice. Today, use that power to make one small change that will lead to long-term positive results.

This very truth is what our CH Coaches are currently promoting to their co-workers and patients as many employees are competing in Takoma's Biggest Loser Competition. They are encouraging people to commit to making healthier choices in 2017 while simultaneously supporting those who are competing in the contest for cash prizes. All departments have been challenged to make one small change to help create a healthier work environment. For example, making available in their units fruit, nuts and bottled water instead of candy, cookies and soda. Or implementing a 10 minute walking break for employees every hour, or a lunch walking group. What could YOU do to promote better health and wellness in your place of work?

As I make my hospital rounds, I have been so pleased to see some of the creative displays that have been made apart of these healthy workplaces. I just fell in love with this colorful bulletin board the first time I saw it. I had to snap a picture because the bright colors jump out at you and everything about it screams Creation Health. It is located on the 3rd floor, just outside the employee break room. At the top it reads "Shout Out To You For All That You Do" and employees are encouraged to fill out a sticky note with praise for a fellow co-worker and then hang it on the board. Did you know it is a proven fact that people who have an optimistic outlook, a positive attitude are more likely to make better choices which lead to improved health and well-being? What a great way to foster optimism in the work place!

This is another fantastic display which hangs in our OB unit just outside the employee break room, to encourage people to set healthy goals for 2017. It tells them how to set goals, as well as what kind of goals to set. I love how it ties in scripture. Such a detailed, well thought out display that will truly impact lives for the better!

I am so excited to have a great group of coaches on board this year, promoting CH inside the hospital walls and out in the community with me, encouraging people on their wellness journeys. Hopefully some of these ideas will help you think of ways to promote health and wellness where you work, as we are all on this journey together!

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.

Devils On The Go

Last week after school, I had the privilege of speaking to the Devils On The Go students @ GMS, giving them an overview of the CREATION acronym principles C - Choice, R - Rest, E - Environment, A - Activity, T - Trust, I - Interpersonal Relationships, O - Outlook, and N - Nutrition to encourage them on their wellness journey. But really, I am the one who was encouraged by these awesome students and their awesome teachers. They have a really great thing going, that I would love to see happening at all schools!

Basically, each time they are together after school, they enjoy a healthy snack and then spend their time exercising through walking, hiking Takoma's Creation Health Nature Trail or doing yoga. During the fall and spring when the weather is nice, they train for 5K's using the Couch to 5K program. Some of these kids could not even walk/jog for a few minutes when they started, and now they are completing 5K's!

Don't they look great in their shirts? I look forward to meeting them out on our Creation Health trail this spring, but for today, I am off to work with the lovely students @ Tusculum View!

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.

Tiger Times Fun

I have once again been given the opportunity to be a part of the Tiger Times program @ Tusculum View for the 3rd straight year. From January through May, I will be spending 2 afternoons a month with these awesome kiddos, teaching them the CREATION acronym principles C - Choice, R - Rest, E - Environment, A - Activity, T - Trust, I - Interpersonal Relationships, O - Outlook and N - Nutrition as they relate to our overall health and well-being, through the use of interactive games, videos and materials for them to take home with them. Working with students is one of my favorite things to do and I look forward to another semester of fun with them. So far, it is off to a great start!

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.

And That's a Wrap

Somehow 2016 flew away without me wrapping everything up and placing a nice little bow on top. Pun intended. In fact, as I look back over the blog, there are so many things I forgot to tell you about. No worries though, here is a quick synopsis since you last heard from me in October.

As always, November and December were very busy months for Creation Health. At the beginning of November, I had the pleasure of speaking to the Breast Cancer Support Group @ Takoma. I basically gave them an overview of the CREATION acronym principles as they apply to their journey and sent them home with cute tote bags full of goodies. It is always inspiring to be with people who face life's toughest battles with such positive strength and grace, surrounded by their faithful supporters.

I do not have a picture, but I also got to speak to the Greene County Partnership Youth Leadership group as they took their annual tour of the hospital for one of their leadership training days. Again, I gave an overview of the letter principles and gave them books to take with them. Working with students is one of my favorite things to do and this group is the cream of the crop as they have to apply for acceptance into this competitive program.

For the second time, I got to be apart of the Worthington Industries Health Fair. I just loving working with companies who are encouraging their employees to be healthy and providing opportunities for them to do just that. Mostly, I passed out materials and information while promoting our awesome Creation Health Nature Trail located right here in town. 

It was a privilege to have Des Cummings Jr., one of the authors of Creation Health, here at Takoma in November as well. He gave a wonderful presentation on Creation Health as it relates to healthcare & distributed copies of his new book "Live Life to the Fullest" (which is not yet available for purchase) to everyone in attendance. This will be another great resource for all of us who are together on this journey to better health.

In December, I got to be apart of the Diabetes Holiday Health Fair @ Takoma for the 4th straight year. It is always a fun way to kick off the holiday season with friends, as we pass out materials to help people on their wellness journey, even showing them ways to stay on track during the holidays.

In addition to these events, I spent a lot of time the past few months revamping our coaches program (which I will tell you more about soon) and spent even more time working alongside my fellow Greene County Health Council Members to make Greene County a Let's Move community by reaching goals related to physical activity and nutrition, among other things. 

I am happy to report that I hosted a Creation Health Coaches Christmas Breakfast in December to celebrate my new and existing coaches, and got to celebrate with my fellow health council members as we received gold medals in all 5 Let's Move categories, officially making Greene County a Let's Move community and giving us the opportunity to become a Let's Move All Star community. I must say it was pretty cool to have Mayor Daniels present us with a plaque and letter from Michelle Obama, complete with the White House seal!

I'd say it was another successful year for Creation Health! I will be back soon to report 2017 happenings, hopefully in a more timely manner. Hope everyone is enjoying the new year so far!

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.