December 31, 2013

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Dear Friends,! Happy New Year! Hope this letter nds you in holiday"recovery mode and anticipating many new adventures in 2014! The past year has been so full of blessings and memories that I couldnt help but give you an update. !

My Year in Review!
In September of 2012, I left Fallbrook, my home for two years, and moved to Loma Linda. Well, kind of. I actually unexpectedly ended up in Tennessee for almost 6 months. This

Happy New Year !om Elise!

surprise ended up being a blessing" reconnected with family, worked on online BSN classes, and helped put the nishing touches on Goodbye Diabetes, a book I co"authored with Dr. Wes Youngberg. Funny how God empowers us to do things we arent capable of without Him. Thankful for the opportunity but more thankful that the project is over! #www.goodbyediabetes.com$ ! In February I moved to Loma Linda #for real this time$ for seven months of my second"childhood. Had so much fun. Made many wonderful friends, hung out with my bro, and stayed busy with a variety of projects, all while trying to get a nursing job. ! Helped my dear friend Diana Santos move out west, driving across the U.S. in late June, 102 degree Texas weather with no A/C. Soon after that we headed to the Light Bearers Campmeeting in July. Climbed beautiful Mt. Hood, got sucked underwater and drug through all kinds of trees on a white"water tubing misadventure, and wished I could move to the northwest. ! Ran my second marathon on my 25th birthday in August on a stress fracture which is still healing. Cant wait to run again! ! As much fun as I was having all year long, I was under a bit of stress, because the job I had been promised did not materialize. I was left to face the harsh reality of Californias super"saturated nursing market, as well as the disadvantage of being 3 years out of school with zero nursing experience and little nursing passion. !
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My Family

Birthday Marathon

December 31, 2013

After hundreds of prayers, months of uncertainty, penny pinching, failed interviews, and countless rejections, I was at a loss to know! what to do. I celebrated one year of unemployment #besides a few freelance projects$ in September.! Providence saved the day by opening up a dream job for me at Life and Health Network, a health media ministry which is part of AMEN #Adventist Medical Evangelism Network$ in Auburn, California. Such a miraculous story of how it all fell into place, but Im better at telling it out loud, so call me if you want to hear! #760$468"7709. My o%cial job title is Creative Producer/ Development Director for AMEN and Life and Health Network. !

Life and Health Team

Was sad to say goodbye to my Loma Linda friends, but havent had much time to look back. Spent 11 days in the Philippines over Thanksgiving for AMENs medical relief trip. Read about it at www.amensda.org. Such a sobering yet spirit"lled trip. ! I love my job! Feel super blessed to be working with such a wonderful, creative team. From helping with free clinics in underserved areas #i.e. Chinatown, San Francisco$, to relief work in the Philippines, to writing articles, appeal letters, etc., to brainstorming new promo materials and future media productions Im having fun. Glad I couldnt nd a nursing job. ! I love my new home on the Weimar campus: the mountain trails, the clean air, actually being able to see the stars without smog, new friends, and so many new possibilities. I feel very blessed.! Graduated a few weeks ago #in absentia$ from the University of Texas online RN to BSN program. Glad thats over!! Most of all, Im thankful for the many spiritual blessings Jesus sent my way in 2013. My prayer this year was to see His glory, to better understand His character, and to experience His love in a fresh new way. He has answered this prayer in so many little and big ways and I am healthier and happier for it. ! So thankful He has helped simplify my life and given me time for what matters most " time with him and with people. Cant wait to experience more of Him in 2014. !

Trip to Philippines

Tender Tennessee Christmas

Last but not least, so thankful for all my wonderful friends and family, including you! My New Years wish for you is: !

May you see God more clearly, love Him more dearly, and fo"ow Him more nearly in 2014. #
Love,
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