January 2, 2011
Dear Friends,
Can you believe its 2011 already? You’ve probably been asked that question dozens of times in the last month or two, but it just keeps hitting me how quickly time is passing these days. I pray this letter finds you beginning your new year with joy, happiness and love in all areas. Aren’t you excited for 2011??? I know I am!! But because I haven’t been in contact with many of you regularly, here’s an update.
2010 was … interesting:
1) After 6+ months of dealing with back pain, I went to a clinic called Active Life Health & Wellness. X-rays showed things were a lot worse than previously thought, and I began treatment there in April. By October, my lower back was in a perfect curve, cervical spine had lost the backward curve, midline was straight, and I entered stabilization care. In this phase of care, we will get the cervical spine curved correctly. :o) Unfortunately, there’s a bit of arthritis in the mid-back that will never go away, but we can definitely stop it from progressing. :o)
2) In June I moved into an apartment. This has been a definite adjustment, to put it mildly. After living with YWAM (while on staff and after) for 6.5 years, living alone has been strange. It’s weird to not have 2 or more people hanging around. :o) But I do like it!
3) In August, college started. I started studying at UNLV, and finished my first semester with a 3.94 GPA. :o) I’m currently majoring in Kinesiology, but am likely going to switch to Nutrition Science. If possible, I’ll minor in Education. Or something like that. Put it this way: I want to be part of the fight against childhood obesity. Somehow. Some way.
4) Work: I just passed my 3-year anniversary of working at The Palazzo, part of the campus that includes The Venetian and Sands Convention Center. We had a really BUSY year. I don’t know how the financial end came out for the company, but my department worked overtime from February through September. Because of my back issues, I didn’t see any of it, but they have promised that this year is more of the same. We start the year off with the CES (Consumer Electronics Show), and don’t slow down again until September.
5) Las Vegas. **sigh** I remember watching March Madness many years ago, and UNLV was playing. I remember thinking, “It’s just weird that there’s a university in Las Vegas! Nobody even lives there, do they?” Like so many, I thought Vegas was only for partying, and that The Strip was pretty much the entire city. Like so many, I was completely clueless! :o) I remain in a love-hate relationship with this city, even after 7 years. However, real life happens here. I think most importantly, God is here. He moves and works and succeeds in transforming lives daily. That in and of itself is enough to make those “I hate Las Vegas” days fewer, and so much more bearable.
2011 – more school, more work, more change, more progress, more LIFE. I highly expect 2011 to be the best year of life, thus far. I have great expectations!! It’s not that the path ahead is fully lit – it’s just that I know Who’s walking with me. :o)
Happy New Year!! And may God Bless you and your family abundantly!!
