LEARNING TO BEND

"Learning to bend kinda sucks" is what Holland says.

I agree.

But bending is better than breaking … so, we are both learning to bend in several areas of our lives ;-)

I don't mind bending so much in my personal life because I know that my husband is accepting the {bending for peace sake}, also.

But I am beginning to resent being held hostage by picky house hunters and their silly agents >:-P

Every other day it's another demand; and I'm getting tired of them.

WE NEED TO GET ON WITH OUR LIFE.

We are still newlyweds - this is supposed to be a happy time for us. The stress of waiting is taking it's toll on our relationship: I'm no good at inactive waiting - I am bending … but I'm not bending smoothly, and Holland feels trapped with my impatience. The house is pretty much packed (and in a storage unit) except for the stuff we need for our day-to-day living: there isn't much to do right now, but wait. I need to be active. If I inactively sit around for too long, I get antsy; when I get antsy, I start snarling like a caged animal.

I know I am not an easy person to live with when I start snarling.

I am even snapping at Shay - and she's a gem; she's stayed with me these past 6 years, helping me with the sale of the house on Sparks Drive (which Bob and I used to secure & upgrade this place), and was a real support to me during those hellish months I was sitting death watch as Bob prepared to leave this world and walk with Yeshua beyond the clouds. She helped me in ways I can never thank her enough for, as I learned to walk alone the first year of widowhood. She patiently listened to me, and listed this house for sale the Winter of 2018 and every Spring since: last year came real close to selling, and I was even doing walk throughs on a couple houses … but I didn't want to rebuild another house, so I eventually pulled this house off the market a.g.a.i.n. Even though I am sure she was impatient with me every Spring for the past five years, she never snapped at me. I am ashamed to say that I cannot make the same claim: I feel like a heel for snapping, but I don't like feeling like a hostage to asinine buyer demands.

I just want this thing sealed and done.

Holland and I are learning to bend when it comes to our relationship; but I still do not bend well to the demands of strangers.

Another ridiculous hoop the strangers are insisting we jump through … I'm losing my patience with them: their agent's nitpicking is really annoying me.

Got Social Security reroute done.

Snowflakes changed the schedule … after the Social Security reroute my dentist office called with a cancellation reschedule; Holland opted to go home, and stay there with Shay.

Looking out the window at the bright building colors (while waiting for my cleaning appointment), I thought, 'I can't wait to enjoy SW colors'. I like COLOR in my life.

Evening order: we are preparing for 'Our Journey' YouTube recordings; this will be easier for our friends to keep track of our wanderings :-)

THURSDAY afternoon's Scappoose purchases, after I dropped Goodwill donation bags off; these things went into a gallon-size Ziploc for traveling.

Thursday evening we ate in Kalama, at the Golden Dragon; I liked my {encouragement}.  I'm drawing a straight 'F' in the patience end, though.

FRIDAY MORNING - 'Gentle' eyebrow; 'Tango' eyelid; 'Green' lid accent & liners; 'Winner' inner eyelid accent; 'Auburn Brow Gel; 'Deep Green' Mascara; 'Corail Ardent' Cream Blush & 'Coral Crave' Lipgloss.

We chose how we bend …

I like this blouse (mainly because it has shiny sequins on it ;-)) but it will not stay in my clothes cache. It doesn't really work for me.

We saw an 'Outback' in Beaverton-OR, that fit the length & weight we're aiming for; to satisfy every State's 'requirements'.

We liked this layout; the Queen bed & shower are doable, and there is 1-1/2 baths; we'd have to rig a wardrobe though, in the back end.

It was actually pretty roomy with the push-outs.

The price wasn't too steep, either. We like this layout, but if we can find it for less cost somewhere else … we'll go there to purchase it.

As we were leaving the RV lot, I got this text: I hope & pray this will be the END of the buyer's demands; I'm glad Shay loves me and overlooks my red-head-temper.

We visited a Beaverton truck lot on our way back home. Red is a color we agree on; regular 4x.

Punched in a Vancouver address to check-out on the way home … and Holland was stubbornly rerouted while I laughingly told him, "My GPS knows me well, honey - it wouldn't dare defy me with a freeway route": my GPS is set up to reroute around the freeway ;-)

Strong-willed GPS took us on a merry ride, Friday afternoon. Holland gamely favored the reroute because he knows I prefer backroad travel, but we had no idea the route would take so long from A to B: halfway through, Holland was regretting not taking the freeway exit.

Holland held up well in the upper hills of Portland where the roads were steep, winding, and tight: I was proud of him … and thanking Elohim for His grace & faithfulness. Holland's kidney stone medication makes him nauseous on sharp turns.

Coming down out of the upper hills took us  through the Pearl District & over the red Broadway Bridge. This bridge has old-fashioned looking lamps on it; pretty cool in the evening.

At any point leading to this crossing, Holland could have jumped on a freeway exit; he is bending.

The bridge lifts to allow large cruisers and ships to easily pass through the channel.

 Holland turned onto a freeway entrance at the end of the bridge - I was bending. And Holland found out that I spoke truth when I told him "freeway traffic puts me to sleep" - I went out like a light … and woke up when we came back to Longview.

Toyota lot in town.

SATURDAY MORNING; I was so out of breath after getting the house {clean enough} for the buyer's approval, my spelling was horrible - and my annoyance was showing: I didn't even bother fixing it. While the appraisal was asking place, we went house/truck shopping in Chehalis & Centralia. We found nothing we were even remotely interested in.

That's 'The Plan' as soon as this house actually SELLS :-); Industrial Way at Lewis & Clark Bridge.

Please Elohim! Let this deal be sealed sometime this coming week.

LIFE ENRICHMENT

My life has been so enriched since November 2022 - and it just keeps getting better :-)

The house is pretty much packed up now; all we have left to do is grab and box the few things we still need day-to-day, until the house sale closes.

Still downsizing, & packing things up; I cleared 3 large garbage bags of clothing from MY side of the closet … 'clothes horse' days are over.

We took periodic breaks between packing up, and stacking boxes to be hauled to the storage unit tomorrow morning. I like the curls in Holland's hair as it grows out a bit - he'll probably have me take the clippers to it sometime soon, but for the moment, I am enjoying running my fingers through the lengthening curls … and I'm really liking the headband effect when he's working ;-)

Love permeates the premises.

Excitement edges our convo's.

Joy is enriching both of our lives.

We are happy fun-loving weirdos ;-)

I am always asking, "How did I get so lucky?"; and Holland always replies, "It's not luck Val - it's a God thing; God planned me and you a long time ago: you just finally gave in." Then he laughs, grabs me, sits me on his lap - and says, "I know we're real busy right now Baby, but do you think you squeeze me in for a few minutes?" And I said, "I can. And I want a picture: you are wearing the bandana" ;-)

I burst out laughing when I saw the clowning smile he shot the camera. I didn't care that it was a smart-ass move: it's the bandana, and the crinkly eyes I want memorialized :-)

He'll eventually get comfortable with the camera.

A downtime moment, and I wanted a pic of Holland - he was grousing while lining up the shot; I told him 'I want a smile from you' - THIS mock-up is what he gave me … followed with "And that's enough of that"; he hates having his picture taken.

Garth Brooks & Trish Yearwood - 'Honey, Can You Squeeze Me In?' song:

 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRj3CwWpc3k)

Holland is good for me.

I am not grieving anymore.

My heart is happy again.

And I thank Elohim every minute of every day, for this man He prepared for me :-)

It is such a pleasure to share the joy of a New Life unfolding :-)

How to Find Joy in Your Everyday Life: (https://www.forbes.com/sites/nomanazish/2023/04/08/how-to-find-joy-in-your-everyday-life-according-to-psychologists/?sh=79369bae4199)

The Pursuit of Pleasure: (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/understanding-hypnosis/202303/the-pursuit-of-pleasure)

BLESSED SABBATH/COUNTDOWN TIME

This has been a busy weekend.

This has been a blessed weekend.

The house sale cleared Wednesday afternoon, and escrow was in full swing Thursday afternoon.

THURSDAY; escrow process is started.

Friday morning found me loading the back of the Highlander up again, and divvying up some things among my gal pals

Headed to my last Graysriver Sleuth Sisters; with gifts; Flower Pots for Linda; Silk Flowers & twig wreaths for Ramona; Terra Cotta Pots & Craft Ribbons for Becky.

A happy, yet bittersweet 'Goodbye WA!'

New experiences on the horizon.

The South is calling … Texas, in particular.

I intend to go full cowgirl. LOL

I'm already gone.

On my way home from Ramona's, I was excited to be getting back home - I never felt that way before Holland came into my life: since December 14th of 2018, I put off coming home as long in the day as I safely could. Then, I just came home long enough to fall into bed and repeat the process all over again the next morning. But since Holland and I married January 7th of this year, coming home feels good. Knowing there is someone at home that loves me, and looks forward to seeing me; makes my heart happy.

Holland is good for me. We share the same goals. Our mindset is similar - most often in sync. Our purpose parallels. Our life vision lines up.  We like being together. We laugh a lot together.

Holland is good for me.

Holland is my Home.

I can't wait to get home now :-)

Since we got happy news Wednesday, we've ramped up looking for a Coach we can personalize, and make our Home. We kicked around the idea of trading in both our vehicles on a new one … but circled back around to selling the pickup and keeping the Highlander to tow behind the coach; so, our total length will be 60 feet long (with tow vehicle) x 18 feet tall. And I will learn to drive the coach with vehicle in tow.

And we will avoid calimexarabia all together. Holland has pretty strong opinions about the place - and since it has embraced barack hussain obama as god and boasts being a gang and terrorist hangout, I'm in agreement with avoiding it.

I'm also in agreement about Texas ;-)

I've never been there, but I am curious. And I like Governor Abbott.

Holland is excited to be going back to Texas.

Holland making clear that calimexarabia will be avoided at ALL COSTS.

calimexarabia had it's moment in our life - and that blip was IT.

Reno is a repeat.

I'm proud of Holland: he is getting comfortable with the camera trained on him :-)

This afternoon we had an appointment downtown; so while we were out and about, we checked into a few things we are considering for our new lifestyle - it's happening.

Even though we can't do a whole lot until the $$$$ crosses our palms, it's countdown time:

Checked out a mini freezer at Manchester's, downtown.

And an electric bed - we WILL find a way to incorporate this into our motorhome.

Also checking into  flexible solar panels for the motorhome.

We are also researching best internet and cell server for our road gypsy lifestyle; we'll basically be {homeless} with no rooted address. We know living a full-time RV lifestyle can be done (we've both done that throughout the years) … we just have to tap into wise decisions while we set out to enjoy our freewheeling life ;-)