HOPE & A PRAYER

We were up bright and early this morning - Holland's ex-BIL was coming over to collect the construction stuff Holland was passing over to him; Holland won't be using the things anymore, and Sonny can; so it is all being rehomed.

I had not met Sonny yet, and I wanted to make a good impression … so, I dolled up. Not in an over-blown way, but more than I normally do on Shabbat weekends.

When Shay called to ask if a 1'noon house showing would be okay today, I was glad I decided to doll up :-)

Today's Slay Kit …

Sparkly 'Cream' for browline; 'Lt. Gray' for eyelid; 'Gray' for liner; 'Charcoal' for liner & Glittery 'Illusion' accent. 'Auburn' Brow Gel; 'Glam Black' Mascara; & 'Neutre Enflamme' Cream Blush.

'Pink Quartz' Lipgloss … and I'm ready to meet and greet.

It looks like I've gained a pound or two: Holland likes to deep-fry foods - ALL foods; apparently he likes me a little on the {fluffy} side.

I was on my way to the kitchen for another cup of morning joy juice, when I got another text from Shay.

My thoughts were happy ones; and I noticed a white pickup was in the spot Holland's red 4x is usually parked. Sonny and his boys had arrived.

I also noticed that Shay had come by, at some point, while I was dinking around with my makeup, and placed her name and Realtor number on the post set in place last evening:

2nd showing scheduled.

Holland's ex-BIL showed up with sons to collect, with Holland's blessing.

Holland's life driving away … a new life direction is being forged.

Second truck being loaded. Holland's 4x bed box also being packed up and hauled away.

Shay put her Name Sign up.

After the shed was cleared and Sonny and his boys drove away, I swept the floors again before Holland and I vacated the house. We drove over to Kelso to eat lunch at the mexican restaurant Holland enjoys. I tried something new after the main course - Holland suggested deep-fried ice cream. I am going to miss this little cozy nook when the house sells, and we hit the road.

Holland was telling me all about the different places he has lived in the south states, and I mentioned that I like the cowboy life - and he said he had been a cowboy for a while on his uncle's ranch. We talked about rodeo's, cowboy boots (he said he knows 'just the place' where I can have custom boots made to fit 'on the spot'), and old west ghost towns to visit.

This man I married is made to order; in every way, Holland is a perfect fit for me and the life I want to live :-)

Fried Ice Cream - DELISH! Cinnamon crusted before deep-frying.

I'm gonna miss this little restaurant in Kelso; Holland introduced me to it a week or so ago, and I LOVE it. Bob and I never ate here - that's a plus for Holland and I.

After we ate, Holland took me to a riverside county park he likes to visit once in a while. The trees - and river - were full of eagles everywhere you looked!

I have never seen so many eagles congregating in one place.

We watched them for quite a bit, and as we were leaving Shay sent another text :-)

Eagles; Gerhart Gardens Park, Longview-WA

SO Many!

Immature Eagles - no white feathers; & a mature eagle - white head & tail feathers. They were e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e.

A 5 PM Scheduling. ((((YAY)))), the house is drawing interest.

With time to kill while strangers walked in and out of our home, we decided to drive to Willow Grove, seat dancing to the music on the radio. I like that we pretty much like the same type of music ;-)

We talked about the exciting adventures we plan to enjoy in the near future.

We discussed the new life we are building together.

We watched ships passing, sea lions frolicking in the water, seagulls swooping and diving, and die-hard fishermen setting line and flinging poles.

We hoped and prayed one of the lookyloo's would be a serious buyer.

'Amoy Sunny' Ship, passing by anchored 'Pacific Honor'; Willow Grove Park. 'Amoy Sunny' is a Bulk Carrier built in 2006 (17 years old) and currently sailing under the flag of Hong Kong. 'Pacific Honor' is a Bulk Carrier built in 2011 (12 years old) and currently sailing under the flag of Marshall Islands.

'Brenton Reef' is a Chemical/Oil Products Tanker built in 1999 (24 years old) and currently sailing under the flag of United States (USA).

Significant waves kicked up - lapped near the 4x's front tires.

Hope & a prayer …

THINGS ARE HAPPENING ~Shabbat Eve

Our morning didn't start off so good; we had a major snafu going on and the problem couldn't be figured out.

It was puzzling.

It was frustrating.

It was eating up precious time we didn't have to spare … Shay would be arriving any time soon - and Holland had to get ready for a dental appointment. This thing needed to be figured out asap.

I finally said, "Let's stop for a moment and ask for Elohim's grace to help us get a  handle on how to handle this situation"; we prayed and asked for Elohim's input, and for wisdom to deal with the situation. We were able to find the origin of the problem, make a phone call, and set Monday aside to take care of the issue. Our thoughts were filled with gratitude :-)

We had both just settled comfortably with cups of morning joy juice, when my phone buzzed with an incoming text:

When I looked up from the phone's message … snowflakes were falling!

This is becoming "a Spring thing" instead of a winter thing, here in WA State. I like snow ((((in December)))), not when daffodils are sprouting and blossoming :-(

A.M. SNOWFLAKES

Fat, fluffy flakes.

My love gift phone, informed me that this unwelcome surprise of white flurries was going to be prolonged:

'Oh goodie' - NOT!

Just the other day we were enjoying a 60-degree day at Willow Grove …

I just want to be in a sunny spot of land, enjoying turquoise waters and  white sand - Holland worked as a contractor, and has worked all over America; he thinks Florida sounds good. I concur ;-)

Shay arrived.

Our day was going much better :-)

We visited for a while; and I gave her the listing papers I had completed last night (buyers info) before she left. I'm glad she and Holland hit it off - Holland is reserved around people, but her sparkle brought him out of his shell ;-)

Holland left for his downtown appointment shortly after Shay. While he was gone, I added a little sparkle to the day, myself {just in case}; with the house officially "on the market", I have to be public ready. I didn't get fancy, but I did get out of my pj's. LOL

Adding a little color to my face … glittery & sparkly 'chocolate' shadows.

Sparkly 'Cream' for browline; 'Mocha' for eyelid; 'Cocoa' for liner; Glittery 'Tango' for inner eyelid accent; 'Soft Brown' Brow Gel; 'Glam Brown' Mascara; & 'Coral Ember' Cream Blush.

Public ready …

ALL of this is being culled from my clothes cache; it's not {working} for me.

Around 4 P.M., the Realtor Sign Post was set in place - and we had looky-loo's right off the bat :-)

The house is officially Listed.

The Info Flyers had barely been placed in the clear envelope when we already had interested drive-by's checking us out.

Please Father!

Let this house sell quickly, and at an agreeable price.

Make a way for us to get a coach we will be comfortable in at a cost we will be comfortable with: Holland is a bear of a man at 6'4"; and I'm no Skinny Minnie, either. Comfort is essential. Cost (all the way around) is also essential.

I really want out of Longview.

I want to enjoy my new life with my new husband in a new location with a new mindset for both of us.

Holland is giving his contractor tools away tomorrow; this is a hard thing for a man like Holland to do. He has worked steady to support himself since he was 14 years old. Retirement is not comfortable for him. But, listening to him talk this evening, I do believe he is gracefully coming around and gratefully getting comfortable with relaxing and enjoying life :-)

We only get one life to live; thankfully Elohim has gifted us with a second chance to enjoy love again - and He has blessed us with a comfortable joint income to satisfy our gypsy souls ;-)

Thank You, Lord.

My heart is filled with gratitude this Shabbat eve for all that You have done for me. For all that You are doing for me. And for all that You will do for me.

I love/bless You & I thank You for loving/blessing me :-)

Thank You for this man you have given me to walk this life with.

Thank You for this Life You will help me live gracefully and gratefully.

1 Thessalonians ~Chapter 4/Thursday Bible Study

This is my favorite chapter of New Covenant teachings - I am enjoying my life with my new husband … but Yeshua is my first love, my ultimate husband, my savior-redeemer-and personal advocate. My soul anxiously awaits His return to gather me to Him, to be with Him forever.

There are those claiming to be Christians that adamantly repudiate The Rapture - all I can say to them is that The Rapture IS a true event that is going to be happening when Elohim decides the time is right to call His Children home. I intend to be in that ingathering :-)

And I truly feel sorry for those who have determined in their minds to avoid it. Why anyone would chose to remain behind is something my mind and spirit cannot comprehend since ALL of the Scriptures - Old & New Covenants speak to the wonderous Rapture taking place.

According to the Old Covenant Scriptures, Enoch and Elijah are the only two people God took to heaven without them dying (aka; they were "raptured" = blissfully taken into their eternal life to be with Elohim forever more).

Enoch: walked straight out of this life and into his eternal life without tasting death. (Genesis 5:24)

Elijah: was walking with Elisha, who was also a prophet, and Elijah was suddenly taken up into Heaven before Elisha's very eyes. (2 Kings 2:10-11)

The end-time Church, who is the living Bride of Christ, will also be lifted up out of this world without tasting death (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

{The Rapture} is the hope of the Saints … it is to be encouraged & taught.

**********

1 Thessalonians ~ Chapter 4/Thursday Bible Study

Exhortation to Moral (principles of right and wrong behavior and the goodness or badness of human character) Purity (freedom from anything that debases, contaminates, pollutes).

"Furthermore, brethren, we ask you and beg of you, in the Name of the *Lord Jesus Christ, that you continue to live in a way pleasing to **Elohim, so that you may grow more and more. What that way is, we have already made clear to you. You remember what directions we gave you by authority of the Lord Jesus? It is the will of Elohim that you be holy. You must abstain from adultery (sexual intercourse between a married person and a person who is not his or her spouse). Let  each one of you see to it that he choses for himself a wife to be held in sanctity (ultimate importance and inviolability = being held in reverence as something that must never be violated; safe or protected from attack, infringement, destruction, or interference) and honor (high respect; great esteem). One must not yield to lustful (having or showing strong feelings of sexual desire) passions (strong and barely controllable emotions), as the heathen (a person who does not belong to a widely held moral stance - especially one who is not a Jew, or Christian - as regarded by those who do) do in their ignorance (lack of knowledge or information) of Elohim. No one should wrong his brother or defraud him in business, for the Lord is the avenger (a person who exacts punishment) in such cases. This we have told you before, and have given proofs from life. Elohim's purpose in His call to us is that our way of living should not be sinful, but sinless. Whoever disregards this course of living disregards something more than some manmade rule: he rejects Elohim Who called us and has given us His ***Ruach HaKo'desh to help us. (vv. 1 thru 8)

Exhortation to Brotherly Love

Then, with regard to brotherly love, there is really no reason why I should write to you about that, for Elohim Himself has commanded you to love one another. Now you are already extending your love to include all the brethren in the whole land of Macedonia. We urge you, nevertheless, to do still better in every way. We trust that you will strive to live peaceably, minding your own business and working with your own hands. This is advice we have given you on previous occasions. You understand that we want you to command the respect of outsiders, and not to be dependent on anyone. (vv. 9 thru 12)

The Lord's Return

Now, brethren, we do not want you to be ignorant in regard to those who have died. You have no reason to grieve like the rest who have no hope; for if we believe that Yeshua died and then rose again, so also will Elohim bring back with Him those who have died in the Lord. And this much we can tell you from The Word of the Lord, that we who may be still living when the Lord returns will not in any way precede those who are already numbered among the dead. With a word of command, at a call from the archangel and at the sound of Elohim's trumpet, the Lord Himself will come down from Heaven. Then those who have died believing in Christ will be the first to rise. Next, those of us still living shall be taken up into the clouds, together with the resurrected dead, to meet the Lord in the sky! After that we shall be with the Lord forever and ever! Encourage and console one another, therefore with these words." (vv. 13 thru 18)

*Lord Jesus Christ (in Greek: Kyrios Iēsous Christos) = the most formal title for Jesus (Yeshua). It occurs often in the New Testament letters.

The word “Lord” has a wide range of uses; it can be a simple respectful “Sir” or a more formal, “Master.” But the New Testament also uses “Lord” of God. The word “Christ” is the anglicized form of the Greek word meaning “anointed one” or “Messiah.” “Lord Jesus Christ” reminds us that Jesus is both the promised Messiah and our God.

**Elohim (Hebrew: אֱלֹהִים, romanized: ʾּlōhīm: [(eloˈ(h)im]) is a Hebrew word meaning "Gods – Father, Son, & Holy Spirit". Although the word is plural in form, in the Hebrew Bible it usually refers to a single deity “Behold, the Lord – the Lord is One”, particularly the God of Israel.

***Ruach HaKo’desh: In Hebrew, the Holy Spirit (רוח הקודש, Roo-ahk hah-Koh-desh) refers to the divine force, quality, and influence (aka, power) of God.

The Holy Spirit (Luke 3:16 & 11:13; 1 Corinthians 6:9; Ephesians 1:13 & 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 4:8; Titus 3:5; and Jude 1:20), is referred to more than 90 times in the Brit Chadashah.

**1 Thessalonians 3: https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2023/03/1-thessalonians-chapter-3thursday-bible.html