HAPPY SHABBAT ~Concerning All Things

Three things of importance happened, today:

As I finished up getting ready to walk out the door, the phone alerted me to an incoming text – and I knew this would be the last time I responded to texts from this source.

It looks like my face got a bit of a sunburn the other day, dinking around in the garden area - note nose area. LOL

Should I stay; or should I go? That is the million-dollar question.

The Clash – ‘Should I Stay or Should I go?’ song:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfEH7uXaGLY)

(1) I'm not sure the Friday mornings in Lexington will work for me ... they're okay people, but I don't feel that I really {fit}; I'm not the "rah-rah!" cheerleader type - never have been & don't want to be. The History of Longview, and the history of the Civil War Era don't interest me enough to stay interested. I'm more of the "in the moment" type of History person.

This morning was my last Friday Lexington drives. I’ll still be friendly with everyone, but it’s time to move on. When you have to scramble for reasons to ‘make it work’ – it’s not the right {fit} for your life.

My last Friday in Lexington; The look of knowing you've made the right decision in a difficult situation ...

Building a New Life is difficult. There are a lot of starts that fizzle out and go up in smoke. I’m still trying to find where I {fit}. It’s a process – no apology forthcoming: I have to do what’s best for me. The Lexington get-togethers have been fun, but they aren’t what’s best for me: there’s something lacking. I don’t like aimless loose ends. I don’t feel the need to be around people just for the sake of being around people.

There’s got to be something deeper threaded through the gatherings; and there doesn’t appear to be so. I am continually asked to return, but there is really no reason to – I don’t play games/small talk just to send echoes bouncing off walls bores me/I have nothing to share about my kids or grandkids/I’m not a globe trotter … and no one is interested in hearing about local Daytrip jaunts/covid and shootings are the highlights of convo – and I’m just not interested in wasting breath on either. I’m wasting gas to get there; and wasting time I feel guilty spending there, when it could be used more effectively elsewhere for more profitable purposes.

There is no real, connecting identification, on any level.

Building a New Life is difficult. I don’t want to waste my time in a fruitless atmosphere. Maybe I’m expecting too much – I don’t know. All I know is that I’m not feeling any excitement to be there, anymore; and I come away more drained than when I arrived. Friendship should feel more uplifting, and fulfilling.

(2) My new sunglasses arrived this afternoon. I received the text as I was preparing to drive home from Lexington.

On my way to pick up my new Sunglasses; they are not as dark as I had been promised ... and I had hoped.

The lenses look great in the frame; but the polarization is pretty see-through! That’s disappointing: Bob wore polarized sunglasses, and I don’t recall them ever being see-through lenses – they were more like opaque reflection mirrors. I hope these new lenses deflect the glare from the sun and oncoming headlights. I'll try them out next glaring sunny day - or nighttime drive. I've never had polarized sunglasses, so I'm not sure what to expect: but I did expect DARKER lenses.

They do look nice, though. I like that 😊

The polarized lens' don't appear to be that much darker than the tint on my everyday glasses.

Pros & Cons of Polarized Lenses: https://connectusfund.org/9-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-polarized-lenses

(3) Later on; at home, while balancing my checkbook, I noticed a significant deficit in both checking and savings tallies - so back into town I drove to find out "why", "how", and "who": it was a mystery, and I was thinking someone had stolen my account info and was skimming, leaving me in dire straits if it continued (bills need to be paid next week! I need that lost $$$$!!); I balance the balances every month, just like Bob drilled into my head for 44 years - there should have been NO glitches in either account.

It turned out to be a freak thing, and was quickly sorted by the girl who went over the details with me - she had a sharp eye that caught the snafu 😊 NO FAULT OF MINE – YAY!

The $$$$ has been recovered, and my deficit balance righted, again. HAPPY!

I decided to treat myself with a splurge, and picked up a pizza on the way home.

Shabbat Supper Splurge; Cheese Pizza.

I am thankful for Elohim's presence and faithfulness in my life this week. I am honored to be loved and favored by Yeshua. I am grateful for every single circumstance, and situation I experience: through them I am 'becoming'; and finding out who gets to share space with me as my Tribe is being formed.

Concerning all things - I'm not getting younger: or richer. Time is of the essence for balances to balance ... 😉

L'Chiam!

ADNA FLORAL SALE ~2022

After I got from my Lexington Coffee Hour, this afternoon (https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2022/04/friday-encouragmentsshabbat-blessings.html); I was – by sight – encouraged by the disappearing snow on the surrounding hillsides … so I checked the weather forecast for the rest of this afternoon – and decided to drive to Adna, after all 😊

Forecast appears favorable for travel northward ...

Aiming to accomplish my annual Adna Goal!

A little late in the day ... but I think I can work the 'time crunch’ 😊

There was some traffic delay along the route because of storm damage that needed to be cleared; but on the whole, the drive was pretty carefree and smooth going.

As I passed Evaline, I decided to take the Pleasant Valley Road because it would get me where I needed to be quicker – and time was of the essence. I wanted to get there … and get back home … asap.

Decided to drive Pleasant Valley Road to Adna.

No GPS - no Cell services; I know the route, though :-)

No evidence of snow anywhere along the roadway.

I arrived, and had just pushed my cart into the tented area – when the sky cut loose with a thundering hail storm.

I didn’t waste anytime fooling around. I quickly scouted out the tomato and onion transplant’s I wanted; snagged two pretty petunia plants, a fuchia start, and a ferny trailing parrot’s peak plant for a hanging basket. And I grabbed two vintage ceramic planters to add a bit of color and charm to the house.

As I was paying for my purchases, the fellas working there (that know me because I am a faithful customer) told me to be careful getting home on the freeway. I said, “I’m going home the backroads; I avoid the freeway every chance I get to go around it. I prefer the backroads.” The guys echoed each other with, “Good girl!” Backroads may be dicey in foul weather, but in the type of weather we’ve been having, the freeway floods between Chehalis and Napavine’s I-5 corridor (I would be driving Napavine’s backroad to Vader, so I’d be relatively safe – if tree limb debris was cleared).

The hail backed off enough to allow me to stash my goodies on the front passenger side of the Highlander, before it started freefalling again: the hail was so much larger than usual, that it backed up on the windshield when I flicked the wipers on. And falling with such ferocity, that trying to keep the windshield clear was practically a wasted effort. I sat for a bit – then decided to go home through Napavine; it wouldn’t be that much longer, and the road to Napavine would be wider than the skinny Pleasant Valley country road.

If Bob was watching me from his lofty cloud perch, I’ll bet he was plenty surprised to see how quickly I got my shopping done 😉

I arrived; so did the soybean-sized hail.

Quick grabs, and OUT of there!

Goodies stashed on passenger side of car; I bought so little, it all fit comfortably.

Rain, sleet, and hail means a homeward trek via Napavine.

Safe passage, & I'll bet Bob was surprised at how fast I accomplished my goal 😉

But there’s just me now … I have to think/act differently, now that my backup man is noticeably and permanently gone.

Driving through Lexington, I glimpsed the hills on the opposite side of the Cowlitz River; so, I pulled over, and zoomed in a photo shot to kinda gauge the accumulated snowfall. The dusted hills appeared to be encouraging for travel – but that could change overnight: tomorrow’s afternoon and evening forecast will be the deciding factor.

I filled the gas tank (only a quarter down) ‘just in case’ there’s a possibility Elohim gives me the green light to drive to Vancouver, tomorrow. I’m not going to be stupid about it and go off half-cocked, but I will pray about it, and keep myself open to the possibility. I am not Bob. I do not have Bob’s knowledge about snowy hillsides and high-altitude road travel.

But I do have a God that loves me, and protects me from ignorant harm 😉

Elohim gave His ALL for me: through Yeshua’s redemption, Elohei owns me (willingly, through my freewill choice). And I’m so happy to belong to Him as joint-heir with His Son - my Lord God, Advocate Savior, and Faithful Husband!

S.M. Lockridge – ‘It’s Friday, But Sunday’s Coming’ message: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYVZKdK1pgU

If he says ‘go’ – I go; if he says ‘stay’ – I stay. I won’t know until tomorrow what I’ll be doing; and I probably won’t know until the last possible moment needed to get ready to get to the Seder on time, if I will be attending.

Pulled over in Lexington, to check out the hillside across the way; snowy view looks encouraging.

Gas price dropped another 2-cents from yesterday's cost.

When I got home, I watered the plants and set them in front of a sunny window (moving them back from the chill of the window glass, in the evening).

Plants watered.

Placed in carboard boxes protected with plastic bags.

And placed in a sunny window.

Full moon on the rise.

L'Chiam!