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 ;-)

TAKE ME TO THE OTHER SIDE

I woke up this morning to my big, tall, man bringing me a cup of hot coffee. He spoils me rotten :-)

Holland will be busy most of the week tracking down a product to ship to Europe ... so, I need something to do: boredom bores me. When I get bored I get antsy; antsy makes me edgy. Nobody wants to be around me when I get edgy - including me.

I reached for my phone and started setting things in motion to skip the hovering boredom ;-)

A good time with good friends would take me to the other side.

Text to Becky; we had to cancel our last lunch date because I had a shingles outbreak.

Text to Chrystal; we haven't had lunch chit-chat, in a few weeks.

Text to Ramona; I haven't spent face-to-face-time with her since October!

I had to drive downtown to the Bank, so I decided to grab a few groceries while down there. I had a list of maybe 10 items. After that, I'd go over to Kelso to track down an address Holland and I plan to visit this weekend; then I'd drive home the long way over Columbia Heights and down over Lone Oak. I'd be out of the house, I'd be busy with "wifey stuff" for about an hour, and I'd enjoy and nice backroad drive home.

Since I was going to be out-of-house for a bit, I put some makeup on:

All Greens today ...

'Cypress' for lid accent.

'Auburn' Brow Gel; 'Deep Green' Mascara; & 'Coal Ardent' liquid Blush; L'Oreal 'Nu Confident' lipstick & 'Coral Crave' Babylips lip gloss.

Holland likes this sweater - it gets to stay in my sweater cache ;-)

The Who - 'You Better You Bet' song:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqPlb5PLBvg)

As I was leaving, Holland said, "Hey - you got makeup on." Poor guy hasn't seen me wearing any makeup for a while ... he's probably wondering where his flashy flamingo went ;-)

I said, "Yep - I'll be out and about today; gotta have my face in place. I didn't get fancy with my hair though because the weather is too unpredictable for that." There's no sense getting fancy with the hair if you have to suddenly flip you jacket hood up and ruin it all in a split second.

There wasn't much I could do about Mother Nature's tempestuous indecisions, but dabbling in the war paint chest would get me to the other side as far as fighting the gray cloud gloominess.

Tall Man Movie, 1955 with Clark Gable & Jane Russell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nas8Y1IW_Tk

The Moody Blues - 'The Story In Your Eyes' song: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9Zr440nXe8)

Things are getting back to {normal} in other ways, too. I'm back to doing "wifey things" I haven't done in the past four years: grocery shopping for two, is one of them.

And Holland is right about the simple application of war paint. I do feel more ready to meet the world when I wear makeup ... it gets me to the other side; it's a psychological boost. He has had sisters, and he has been around SIL's - he knows this ;-)

Grabbed a flavored coffee  at Mr. Bill's on the way downtown.

That said ... I did get a bit of sticker shock when the grocery tab was rung up. Reminding myself that the grocery bill used to be that high when  I was shopping for three, five years ago - and the politically angled covid nonsense that drove prices up for everything in the four years following, helped ease the pain of forking the moolah over.

Add to that reality check the fact that Holland has been doing the grocery shopping every week since we got back from Reno, helped my startled senses get over the shock - and to the other side.

Grocery sticker shock ...

Jane Russell - 'Tall Man' song:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhOd3iW8Mdw)

'Normal' is back in my life, thanks to my tall man.

There was dicey road conditions along the backroad home, but it was pretty much gone by the time I passed Elk Ridge Road, so getting over the hill to the other side went pretty smoothly.

Columbia Heights road still has quite a bit of ice, snow, and slush along the route.

As I was turning onto Coal Creek Road from Old Pacific Highway, I song came on that made me laugh out loud - the song sorta {fit} the marital adjustments of late.

Aerosmith - 'The Other Side' song: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTcf10qeiCE)

Neither Holland or I have had people in our lives on a steady 24/7/354 basis, for years. Generally speaking, having even {close} friends in either of our lives has been spotty.

We both like our 'alone time' while sharing our lives; a week's span (or more, sometimes) away from friends works for us - that does not work in a marriage.

Holland and I have weathered overwhelming situations since the start of December 2022 - it has been one overwhelming situation after another, and those things have taken a toll on the developing US. Thankfully, the gray clouds are dissipating (weather-wise as well as life situations), and we understand what we're dealing with. There was the ridiculous nonsense jeannie paulson spitefully stirred up at Oak Point (still dealing with the fallout of that stressful mess). Holland had to put his dog down while in the midst of moving from Oak Point (very stressful situation; all the way around). Getting married in the midst of an incoming winter storm was hectic (kinda dampened the excitement, though we did enjoy ourselves on the way back home). Three weekly in-home gatherings ate up time we really couldn't spare (we had to drop those for the time being). Legalizing legalities keeps getting side-lined (scheduling issues, as well as unwanted infringing issues). Winter ailments just lingered on and on and on, revealing another side of both personalities (I hope we are finally in the end game of that). The melding of two solitary lives into a busy, lively L.I.F.E. together, has not been easy. Thankfully, our health is returning and Spring is arriving; we will be able to enjoy sunny days again (literally and figuratively): sunshine in any form soothes body and soul.

Remarriage is an adjustment for both of us as we move into our 'new normal'.

But we know Elohim is in the details: there is no doubt in either of our minds that we'll make it to the other side once the adjustments get worked out.

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 ;-)

CHANGE THE WAY YOU SEE

I don’t have crow’s feet, I have happy happy memories of laughing with friends until the tears flowed.

I don’t have frown lines, I have the marks of my frustration and confusion, which I battled through, smiling in the end.

I am not going grey, I have shimmering highlights of wisdom, dashed throughout my silver hair.

I don’t have scars, I have symbols of the strength I was able to find, when life got tough.

I don’t have stretch marks, I have the marks of growth and the marks of motherhood. My womanly evolution.

I am not fat, I bear the evidence of a life filled with abundance, blessings and good times.

I am not just forgetful, I have a mind so full of stories, memories and moments there is scarce room to hold much else.

I am not old, I am blessed, with a life of great length, something not everyone can say.

Don’t change the way you look my friend, change the way you see.

Credit: Donna Ashworth

NEVER TAKE LIFE TOO SERIOUSLY

 

A frog goes into a bank and approaches the teller. He can see from her nameplate that her name is Patty Whack.

"Miss Whack, I'd like to get a $30,000 loan to take a holiday."

Patty looks at the frog in disbelief and asks his name. The frog says his name is Kermit Jagger, his dad is Mick Jagger, and that it's okay, he knows the bank manager.

Patty explains that he will need to secure the loan with some collateral.

The frog says, "Sure. I have this," and produces a tiny porcelain elephant, about an inch tall, bright pink, and perfectly formed.

Very confused, Patty explains that she'll have to consult with the bank manager and disappears into a back office.

She finds the manager and says, "There's a frog called Kermit Jagger out there who claims to know you and wants to borrow $30,000, and he wants to use this as collateral." She holds up the tiny pink elephant. "I mean, what in the world is this?"

(You're gonna love this.)

The bank manager looks back at her and says, "It's a knickknack, Patty Whack. Give the frog a loan. His old man's a Rolling Stone."

(You sang it, didn't you? Yeah, I know you did.)

Never take life too seriously :-)

SPRING SNOW DRIVE

Spring snow is a given in WA State.

Every year.

Every Spring ... just as the tulips and daffodils are breaking soil ;-)

We didn't get more than a dusting of snow (and it was gone quickly), but it was cold here on the lowlands.

So, before Mother Nature dumps more snow on us over the weekend, I went for a loop drive: up Spirit Lake Highway, cut over to Toledo on the crossover road; and came home via Barnes Drive and Columbia Heights - down Lone Fir and along Old Pacific Highway before touching down at home again.

Holland wasn't feeling well, so he stayed home :-(

I grabbed a flavored coffee from Mr. Bill's Espresso, and was off.

The truck in front of me was obviously from a higher elevation location.

Spirit Lake was high, but there was no flooding.

The crossover road is just ahead ...

I noticed on an earlier road sign that Coldwater Lake was posted, 'CLOSED'. The crossover road is left of this road sign.

This end of the crossover road is snowless; Spirit Lake Highway. I had expected to see more snow in this area.

Snow patches as I got closer to Toledo.

Roxette - 'She's Got The Look' song:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YWvH81QFWU)

An interesting way to 'fence in' your country property ...

Toutle had sparce snow - Toledo crossover was snowier.

Barnes Drive; Castle Rock.

Columbia Heights was the worst road the entire drive.

The loop drive was about 3-1/2 hours long, but it was relaxing.