Out of the Bubble

Again: Happy New Year, friends!

We’re already rolling full speed into 2025, and with that, some changes and a few surprises!

First, our farm adventures have officially wrapped up. Our dear friends made it back safely from Vietnam, and we handed their farm back in (mostly) good shape. (We left it with some bonus stories, though!) On the very last day, I took their dog, Django, for a quick spin up Mount Barnaby on my friend's fancy mountain bike. It was the perfect little adventure to cap off my time there (though without James on the mountain, but he loves the house and it's special architecture, it made it kind of ok for him)—Django loved it, and so did I.It was a bittersweet farewell, but the barnyard shenanigans will always hold a special place in our hearts.

Now, a little excitement on the horizon! Tomorrow, we’re picking up a package, and if the stars align, it’ll be James’ brand-new shoes! He’s practically buzzing with anticipation—so much so that he tried convincing me to swing by the post office Sunday morning. Stay tuned for photos if the shoe fairy delivers!

Speaking of surprises, we have a big one! James’ longtime friend, a fellow architecture enthusiast from their college days, has gifted us plane tickets to visit them in snowy Kentucky. We’re trading doctor visits for snowball fights, warm hugs, and a little architectural nostalgia. What a blessing to have people in our lives who brighten the journey!

And speaking of blessings, we can’t thank you all enough for being part of our support system. Whether it’s a kind message, a donation, or just thinking of us—you’ve made an incredible difference in our lives. Your generosity and encouragement keep us going, even on the tougher days. We’re reminded daily of the beauty in community and friendship!

Of course, life with Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) and sleep apnea keeps things unpredictable. The CPAP machine is a strange roommate—we’ve nicknamed it “The Alien”—and James’ sleep scores are a rollercoaster. One night, he clocked an impressive 6 hours and 22 minutes (almost a gold star at 7 hours!), but other nights, we’re back to 1 or 2 hours. We’ve found some couch-surfing strategies that help, though: if James sleeps on the queen-sized fold-out, I can catch a few more Z’s, too.

We’re taking it one day at a time, with plenty of laughter and love to keep us going. Thank you all for your continued support, your kindness, and the light you bring to our lives. We feel incredibly lucky to have you in our corner.

Stay tuned for those shoe photos—fingers crossed for a successful delivery tomorrow!

With all our gratitude,
James and Margit