LIVING PRAYERS

One Month Wedding Anniversary: (https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2023/02/one-month-wedding-anniversary.html)

I needed to go into town to the Bank to reorder more checks - I am down to my last batch; so I said to Holland that this would be a good time to go in with me and have his name added to my account. He has been reluctant to do this, but I explained how important it is that his name also be on my account. He finally agreed, so off we went. Next week sometime, it will be my turn to be added to his accounts.

We needed to go the DMV and get our Driver's Licenses updated, too. That was scheduled in.

I hoped we had everything we needed, as we left the carport - but I was pretty sure someone, somewhere, would burst that hopeful balloon.

We're a month and a half delayed in this process due to one reason or another, but the timing was right for today, so we tackled it- we'd get in, get it done, and get back home before noon so Holland could get back to work running a product down to ship to Europe ;-)

And miracles of miracles ... HOLLAND LET ME TAKE HIS PICTURE!

Holland & Me.

I explained to him the other day how important pictures are to me. I'm glad he's becoming agreeable. He says he looks retarded in pictures. That is not true, and I want him to become comfortable and allow the camera to become his friend, so I said to him after seeing a picture of his mother about a week ago while we were at his SIL's house: "Do you think your mother looked retarded in that picture, in Lana's house?" He, of course, said: "No." I replied, "Neither do I. You have your mother's face, Holland. She was a pretty woman. You are a handsome man. You would take good pictures if you'd just relax."

He is learning to relax; and I am happy with the results :-)

Getting legalities of Name & Address Changes in place ...

We talked all the way into town. We talked about different things.

Unintentional Hurt:

(https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2023/02/unintentional-hurt.html)

We laughed.

We held hands.

We were enjoying each other.

When Holland parked the Highlander in the Bank's parking lot, he squeezed my fingers, smiled, and said, "A happy wife is a happy life. I love you, Baby." And I smiled, too, and said: "Yep. You understood the concept before, but now you are beginning to understand the reality." And we both laughed.

It is an old joke with a bite of truth in it - and Holland knows that I also believe in meeting him halfway so he is also happy :-)

We will be spending the rest of our life together. We've got to meet each other in the middle.

Diamond Rio - 'Meet Me In The MIddle:

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

Once inside, we were ushered into a cubby room to get the process underway. It didn't go as smoothly as anticipated. We were told we needed to go to the DMV (which we had planned to do after the Bank) and come back with our updated licenses - mine with a Name Change, Holland's with Change Of Address; Holland also needed proof he was living with me (was that talking head serious???)

For Pete's sake :-(

So we backtracked back home and grabbed a bill with his name on it ... raced across town and into Kelso to get that documentation; and wasn't sure we'd be able to get back to the Bank before the doors closed. The DMV gets pretty busy after 'noon.

We got there before noon, got our tickets, was called forward in turbo time ... and was told we needed to show our Marriage License: the {real} one, not a photo copy.

UGH!

I knew someone would tell us we didn't have the required stuff needed.

So, back home we drove to retrieve that.

Everyone was determined to make this process as difficult as possible.

I was starting to stress a bit.

We'd been running back and forth, trying to make the legal beagles happy; we'd been burning up the road for hours with nothing to show for it but a burning of fuel >;-(

Holland had things that needed to get done at home, too; and the crazy people covering their asses (the asinine legalities are for them - not us) were making our day frazzled.

Holland took it all in stride: "Just relax, Baby. Nothing happens except God allows it to happen. Look at it this way - you're out of the house. You're taking a drive. We're spending time together. We're talking things over." And he squeezed my hand with every point he was making ;-)

I said, "I know. But you have that thing that needs to get done, and this running back and forth is eating time up."

He said, "This is important, too. I love you."

And I managed to snag another video of my handsome man without hearing him snarl about that :-)

Holland brings a calmness into every situation.

On our third trip back and forth over Industrial Way, Holland said, "It's okay, Baby. Think of it this way ... you're getting a 150-mile drive today without even leaving Longview; we're making a loop drive through Cowlitz County."

I had to laugh because it was true; absurdly true, but truth just the same.

But, in all honesty, if I had to get a 150-mile drive today, I'd rather have left Longview altogether ;-)

However, Elohim had other plans. And my handsome husband and I spent the day together :-)

Everything did eventually get done: Holland was added to my Bank Account - which is now OUR account. Our Licenses were updated: $40 was forked out for the updates (I had already paid $50+ in December '22 to renew the darned thing!).

Driver's Lc Name Change

Bank Name Change

And we are back on track with each other - that's the main thing.

Holland will do his work thing tomorrow while I'm spending time with Chrystal.

I sure hope March (tomorrow) comes in like a lamb because I'm really tired of dealing with the lion ;-)

UNINTENTIONAL HURT

My luv hurt me.

I hurt him.

These hurts were unintentional.

Thankfully we both know this, and the zing is subsiding.

Simon & Garfunkel - 'Bridge Over Troubled Waters' song:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0n-mYqB9WQ)

We are still learning about each other: triggers, body language, emotional depths, ways to read unspoken/unknown expectations, ways to willingly sacrifice parts of ourselves that do not benefit the totality of "US", ways to soothe each other while remaining true to our own selves; ect.

We only been married for 50 days. You don't really know someone until you spend serious time with them - dating is fun, you put your best foot forward. Marriage is the commitment plunge, scary but embraced happily. Living together for extended periods of time under one roof gets a bit more dicey ... the fun is still there, but it can get mangled in the day to day scary plunges of exposing a bit more of yourself - your inner self - to someone who is still basically a stranger in many ways.

NF - 'Time' song: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw0tno1iAL8)

Unintentional hurts happen.

One of my ways of dealing with hurts is to withdraw; either by shutting myself off in an other room; or jumping in the car and taking a soothing drive - before talking {it} over after I've had time to think the situation over, and cool off.

One of Holland's way of dealing with hurts is to blow {it} off, withdraw, and eventually make his way to the river, watching the lapping water and running things through his thoughts. He prefers to escape, calm down, and never discuss {it} again ... unless he feels {it} needs to be interjected into a convo a week later.

This annoys me. I wanted to discuss {it} when it happened, work it through, and bury it. Rehashing it a week later breathes life back into {it}, rips the scab off, pokes the subsiding pain ... and renews a healing process all over again.

We both want peace at this stage of our lives.

We both seek peace in our own way.

Love is strong. Love is passionate. Love is messy.

Unintentional hurts happen: usually over small things that seem bigger than they actually are when dealt with individually.

Getting out of the house gets us out of our heads and activates our retired bodies - we are finally coming out of the winter blahs (draining and constant colds, gray weather, inactivity funk, ect.). So, this morning we looked out the livingroom windows and saw that the predicted {severe winter storm} apparently bypassed us; but it was nippy and the river winds would be downright cold ... we bundled up and went to the river.

The 'severe winter storm' barely dusted my strawberry jar and parsley bed.

A little more Mr. Frost across the street ...

Hardly worth mentioning. So much for the 'winter storm' severity, here.

Talking Heads - 'Take Me To The River' song: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RHZEzVUBPk)

My throat hurt, but I was glad to get out of the house; I was glad we were doing something together.

Holland's shoulder still hurts (his driving arm), so this was a love act on his part that we could both benefit from.

Kenny Loggins - 'Meet Me Halfway' song:(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFF3k_mHuNk)

We enjoyed the fresh air.

We talked. I like the sound of Holland's voice.

Rod Stewart - 'Have I Told You Lately That I Love You' song: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKOkUWjC0JU)

We laughed. I like the sound of Holland's laugh - I haven't heard it much lately.

We watched the wildlife: sea lions, seagulls, ducks, and fishermen ;-)

The sea lions were very energetic this morning.

Alston Corner in Oregon, across the Columbia got more snow than we did here in Longview, WA

The sea lions are avoiding the camera this morning - just like Holland.

A small young sea lion made a big catch ...

Apparently hail pounding the water surface makes sealions playful.

We relaxed and enjoyed each other.

Unintentional hurts happen ... but love overrides hurts ;-)

#1 SUNDAY~FUNDAY 2023; Live & Learn - Seminary Hill, Centralia Daytrip

Oy.

Marriage: the blending of two into one.

It gets dicey at times.

Love always triumphs ... but the hurdles that need to be leapt can hurt like hell.

I've been solo lobo for four years - no dating. No one to answer to but me-myself-& I.

Holland has been solo lobo for seventeen - no dating. No one to answer to except him-himself-& he.

There are people, and things, I do not want in my life.

Holland like Bob, makes room for everyone and everything.

This is causing some issues. The issues are being ironed out - they will take time, but they will get settled. Until then, the hurdles are a hinderance along the path to happiness.

Holland is a Christian; so am I. Christians deal with the same {life issues} as everyone else ... we just handle them differently.

Since we are currently not going to Fellowship following the ridiculous blowout fiasco at Oak Point two months ago started by jeanne paulson (and the current hurdle needing laid to rest permanently; MPO), I decided to enjoy a Sunday~Funday out-of-house yesterday morning.

It's been a while since my last Sunday~Funday adventure, and sitting around the house wasn't setting well with me given the current mood :-(

I reached for my Ambitions Jar, plucked a folded piece of paper out, and read it. Perfect! I needed to walk the knot in the piriformis muscle out anyway, and today's adventure would help me do that :-)

My Ambitions Jar was started in November of 2020 to beat boredom; and continuously filled with fun local Daytrip suggestions.

Today's 'suggestion'. From last year's Columbia River Reader ...

Holland was invited to join me, but he opted to stay home. His shoulder was hurting (it's really painful); and he doesn't make a very good passenger - that's pretty much a man attitude ;-)

He agreed it would be good for me to get away for a few hours - I told him I'd probably be gone most of the day; he kissed me and said "You probably need a break to relax (aka: I don't want to argue with you anymore about my OP 'friends'); it's okay Baby, I know you gotta get out and about. And you will probably spend your driving time talking to God."

He was right.

And I did.

Holland knows I don't want anything to do with those devils from Oak Point - I don't want them in our relationship in any way, shape, or form: anyone who treats your spouse horribly (as jeanne, luroy, dan, dawn, heva, betty, perry, ect.; HAVE DONE TO ME) should not be in your life. He agreed. He has reneged. I am justifiably upset. And he doesn't understand why - like I said, he's been a solo lobo for quite a while; being married is an adjustment he's lagging behind in ... when it comes to those devils on the hill, herded by jeanne paulson.

This is a serious hurdle. Honesty is a BIG DEAL with me. Hiding things from me so I "don't get upset", will upset me! Hiding things is equal to lying = not okay in a marriage.

Billy Idol - 'One Breath Away' song: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlvuyTFPUww)

While it is true that we have agreed not to change each other ... I still insist he be trustworthy in all respects - specifically in regard to the people we agreed should not be in our lives; so, I am sic'ing Elohei on Holland, and HE can change my husband's heart and mind.

Elohim knows best how to handle the hurdle jumping we are both engaged in, as we live and learn.

I didn't get gussied up for my walkabout - I was just plain old me. There's no point in dolling up to go walking in the misty rain.

I assured him that I would not be hiking in the wilds: "Hon, the address given is a street address, so I'll be okay." I told him the route I'd be driving: he worries about me hiking alone.

Then I hopped in the Highlander and headed out of Longview.

Heading out after gassing the Highlander at Baker's Corner.

My first stop along the way was in Lexington to watch the sealions swooping and dipping into the Cowlitz River waters - I make a lot of stops on my daytrips, and that is why it takes me all day long to get back home ;-)

Sea lion's barking up a storm, on a sandbar in Lexington; Cowlitz River.

Flag Vendor on Westside Highway; I thought of Holland when I read the white flag.

Tracy Byrd & Mark Chesnutt - 'A Good Way To Get On My Bad Side' song:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XISmfc7YZyk)

My next stop was not the stop I had planned in the morning; Plan A didn't work out, and Elohim rerouted me to Plan B, later on in the afternoon.

I was missing my husband. I was missing his presence, even though he does not make a good passenger. I was missing his gentle voice. I was missing his sexy laugh. I was missing his hand reaching out to hold mine.

I wasn't missing the hurdles ... but I was missing Holland.

I know he loves me, and he knows I love him; the hurdles will eventually disappear - we know that what we have together is "a God thing" - and we are both familiar with the Book of Job: nothing, or no one, is going to divide us as we forge a life together and learn about each other. We know that blending two lives together successfully will take time. Neither one of us are going anywhere; when we said, "I do", we meant "I will" no matter what.

Holland would have driven the freeway; I avoid the freeway, driving N Pacific Highway, towards Castle Rock.

Pretty horse seen on Bond Road; backroad nearing Castle Rock.

Text to Holland, crossing overpass towards Toledo.

Billy Idol - 'Rebel Yell' song:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdphvuyaV_I&t=198s)

'Dr. Pierce' remedies barn; coming into Toledo.

'Making Memories; Roadtrip to Huff & Puff' Post:

(https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2023/02/making-memories-roadtrip-to-huff-puff.html)

Upcoming Meat Sale in Toledo; Proverbs 31:14 came to mind.

I am not familiar with the streets in Centralia, so I had punched the address into GPS before leaving the carport at home: as usual GPS took me on an unnecessary wild goose chase - if I had known how simple it would have been to get from A to B, I could have skipped this hurdle jump. But I didn't know ...

Seminary Hill is a very small pocket-Park. IN NO WAY did it fit the reporter's "small piece of Paradise" description :-(

GPS took me a round-about-way to my destination, downtown Chehalis.

My thoughts about GPS: had I known, I would have just stayed on the road I was on - it would have been quicker, and straighter!

 Park entrance; Centralia. I seriously doubt the 'surveillance' notice - the Park looked very derelict/abandoned.

I didn't hang around the Park - I didn't like the vibes surrounding the area.

Holland's understanding, "all was not lost; you enjoyed your out-of-house drive", reply eased my disappointment.

So, I aimed the Highlander towards Napavine, to begin my drive back home on the backroads.

That's when Plan B came into play :-)

Walking is back on track ...

Gotta love Spell Check - it's as good at screwing things up as GPS is. LOL

I'm guessing this is the middle portion of the 'familiar walk'.

A good amount of foot traffic today ...

Right off, I spotted swans in the field. Seeing swans is a good omen. Swans symbolize love, devotion, romance, inner beauty, grace, and elegance. Swans mate for life, and stay together all their lives; swans are "lovebirds" in the truest sense of the word - seeing them signifies peace and contentment.

I felt blessed twice: a walk to work the kinks out ... and a clear view of the swans. It was like Elohim was telling me, "I hear your heart. I will help you two clear the hurdles as you live and learn."

And I know He will. People may let me down, but Elohim never does :-)

A bit further into the trail walk, I figured I must be in the middle portion of the hike because none of it was familiar to me of the trailhead: the metal green bridge was nowhere to be seen, and that is at the trailhead - this portion is nothing at all that I recognize. But that's okay; it was still a nice walk :-)

White Swan couple; zoomed in.

Spring's announcement - frogs.

Another Proverbs 31:14 thought, along the trail.

I'm glad I got out and about today ...

Hmmm

Abandoned railway car.

I've done the trail-head end & the tail-end; today I'm doing the middle portion.

Heading back to the Highlander, from here.

Paul Revere & The Raiders - 'Fever' song:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkNm8Rt6oOM)

I never walk alone.

Psalm 121.7-8

When I got back to the parked Highlander, the mile meter reading was right where it should be. I headed the Highlander towards home. I had fun on this Sunday, but my big bear of a man was missing me as much as I was missing him ;-)

A bit over what the doctor recommended last time I spoke to him; a 1-mile limit was suggested.

Almost home; Westside Highway, Vader.

Delicious Supper; toasted sandwich, deep-fried chicken hearts, and mixed pineapple salad.

Eating the supper my handsome husband made for me, I smiled thinking of a song Holland mentioned the other night as we turned in.

It fits ;-)

Barbara Mandrell - 'Crackers' song:(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIbQcC-IbUM)

We are living and learning as we blend our lives together.