What had seemed easy in imagination was rather hard in reality.

Lucy M. Montgomery

We had imagined our move to Waco would have been an easy one. It was easy in the beginning when John started working for the VA here. But as the weather changed in the fall and winter, John’s migraines increased. For years, John has struggled with migraines due to changes in barometric pressure. Medication never completely helped. Once his doctor put him on Vitamin B2 a few years ago, the frequency and intensity decreased. It was a huge relief! In El Paso, the air pressure stays mostly the same year ’round and his migraine ‘situation’ seemed better. After moving here, though, where air pressure changes due to more rain, some snow, and cooler weather in the fall and winter, it became a different story.

Another issue with our move here is that his job, while a great one, involves being on the phone and computer all day sitting down. After his two hip replacement surgeries almost two years ago, he really needs to be up and moving around. The positive side of this is that he is getting his ‘foot in the door’ in the work field again. We were in the ministry full time for fifteen years, he went back to college and graduated during that time, and now we are moving forward in a different direction.

So what’s the plan? We know that a drier climate is a must for John to feel less head pressure, so we are moving back to El Paso where Jonathan is in his last semester of college before he graduates in May. My dad, too, is still there. John has applied for several jobs within the VA and has had one interview so far. Our lease at the apartment here in Waco ends the last day of February. Sometime between today and then, we will be packing and moving back. We enjoyed being here for the most part with all the grass, trees, the lakes and rivers, but it is, in reality, not a place where John feels is best for him. We are at peace and know that God has something in mind. We just need to trust and take one step at a time.

Here is the continued stray gifts list from December and the beginning of January (description below photo collage).

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Top Row: Stray gifts in a well working iron skillet. I’ve had trouble treating it correctly, even though I’ve followed directions. I guess with frequent uses and oiling consistently after each use has helped because I was able to cook scrambled eggs in it with minimal cleanup afterwards. I’ve never been able to do that before. Usually the pan is a mess with eggs stuck to it making the cleaning difficult.

While the Christmas tree was up, I had a great view of a glass ornament a friend sent me last year. It was such a surprise to receive the gift in the mail. The poinsettia ornament means a lot to me.

John surprised me with flowers when he came to visit me while I was in El Paso.

Middle Row: A long time friend of ours makes quilts and quillows. A quillow is a quilt that has a pocket to tuck your feet in. Also, you can fold the blanket up a certain way and tuck it in the pocket so it is in the shape of a pillow. Carolyn made Jonathan one when he was two years old and he wore it out through the years. John and I each received one years later and John wore his out. She made Jonathan and John new ones in the last year since both blankets were in shreds. Mine is still in good condition! We love them and use them often in the cold months!

On the way back from El Paso to Waco after Christmas, we saw snow! After living in the desert for fifteen years, I thought it might be nice to live in a place where I could experience all four seasons. After feeling the bone chilling freezing temperatures closer to Waco and the snow, I’ve changed my mind. El Paso gets cold, but it never sticks around for very long. We saw many deer out in the snow which was a pretty site.

Speaking of snow, I have a friend in Pennsylvania who sees snow every winter. She often sends me snow photos and I like that I can look at it, but not feel the below freezing temps!!

Bottom Row: While I was in El Paso helping my dad and Jonathan reorganize after the September flooding in the house, my dad made me a pegboard for my craft room. I love it and it will help keep stuff off the work space for when I make my greeting cards.

My banana succulent was reaching for the winter sun. It’s always nice to see a bit of green in the winter.