NECESSARY EXPENSES~Self-Care 2026; Castle Rock-WA

While in Rainier yesterday morning, we got the bank appointment squared away - then crossed over the river into Longview to get Betsy's oil and filter switched out, made a short stop at Willow Grove (our 1st '"getting to know you" coffee date, was here) … where we noticed that there is now a newly installed fenced-in dog park, at least 2 acres long & wide: it's huge; then, we took the long way home over Coal Creek Road & Delameter Road, to where we currently have Independence parked, in Castle Rock.

Morning stretches~Aim for 21 reps EA, x3

Willow Grove Day Park; #7325 Willow Grove Road, Longview, WA~Internet Pic

A new Willow Grove welcome sign, was recently  installed on June 3rd.

The River was quiet, so we didn't stay long.

It looks like Loowit (Mt. St. Helens) is huffing & puffing again, but updates say 'normal activity w-minor earthquakes'.

Today, this morning, I enjoyed my morning joy juice - thankful to see this lovely, sunny, Wednesday morning … and trusting big that Yeshua would touch my lungs today in a healing way, so my asthma wouldn't be troublesome in the dentist chair: I had an 11 AM dentist appointment concerning the back crown that broke off at the gumline, Sunday evening.

Sending out an S.O.S. to my praying friends.

I know Elohim has already goes ahead of me - before my Day starts.

I know Yeshua has healing for me.

I am grateful to be alive & I have every confidence that I walk in blessedness.

At Twin City Dental, in Kelso, Dr. Anderson (who has been examining my teeth since at least 2001) examined it & removed it -  it came out hard, but oral surgery was not needed to extract it: cost was $400. A replacement for the extracted tooth was discussed and I opted for a partial implement rather than the implant option. The partial will be for 2 teeth replacements, which will also cover the tooth I had pulled in 2019 before my social Security Benefits were approved (basic Social Security - no frills). I'm happy about that decision - I am not happy with the cost, which will take a significant amount of time to save towards: $1,900.

It will take time, because Holland needs his knee taken care of … 

… and that needs to get done first, I am standing firm on that: he needs to be able to enjoy some quality of life with a reduction of his pain level. If this option will not work for him, I don't know what else can be done for him. He was young and foolish, like most young men running on testosterone are prone to be; and between the youthful foolishness, the young adult ego, and the adult to mid-life years of heavy construction work - his poor body took a beating before his brain kicked in and said, "maybe you should rethink that - like, don't". His aging body is now feeling and dealing with the result of those body-beating years. I am praying he can get some relief.

Right now, he's catching up on the sleep he missed last night when my asthma flared up and sent me into a coughing fit that worried him (he never sleeps after an episode). So, when we got back home from the dentist, I said, "My face really hurts & I know I'm going to be a handful to deal with today … why don't you go upstairs and get some sleep. I know you didn't sleep at all last night after that asthma attack." He said, "I think I'll do that. You're right, I didn't sleep - I kept my ears on all night long. I love you & I was worried about you. I waited a long time for you: I don't want you to die on me. I'll make supper too, when I get up - I'm giving you the Day off." Isn't he a sweet guy? I said, "I have no plans to die any time soon. Go get some sleep; I love you, too." 

Back home & thankful.

Self-care is a necessity & we are working on it.

RELIEF

February 22nd: Yesterday while we had been in Longview, we had stopped by Red Canoe to take care of a banking snafu there … and were forced to close that account, and open a new one. This is becoming a habit with this banking company, We were not happy, but we really had no other choice. My woodworker's beneficiary pension is handled through that branch - which meant that I had to contact MetLife and get that straightened out this morning :-(

So, with Bleu sprawled on the floor at  my feet, I called the phone number given me for a MetLife Rep, and talked to a MetLife fella about the woodworker's pension plan widow benefits, and had to refile with MetLife because the woodworker's pension plans had been shifted to them … and they didn't know who I was, and was more interested in legally covering their monetary asses, than they were in continuing with my widow benefits, gifted to me by my late husband, who had thoughtfully provided for me so I wouldn't have to struggle when he was no longer in my life.

I was struggling trying to understand why MetLife was being difficult given that they already had all the pertinent information they needed to process what belongs to me.

UGH

Anyway; before the fella (and he really was very nice while doing a difficult job keeping his boss happy) disconnected, he told me that I had to finish the refiling online: which frustrated me - and Holland just sat by quietly, praying me through the online filing struggle … and occasionally offering words of encouragement, "You can do this, Baby", "Take a deep breath, and start again", "When you get this done - and you will; we'll go for a relaxing drive", "You did it!" And then adding, "What just happened is a real miracle, Baby. Normally things like this take hours on the phone - and weeks to complete: God wrapped this whole thing up for you in a little under an hour. A true miracle."

That was around 10:30 AM.

Around 11 AM, we were both sitting around the house; relaxing and surfing the internet, and drinking morning coffee - when Holland decided to call the referred knee doctor's office to make an appointment for Monday, and the receptionist said there was a 2:50 opening this afternoon, and she could pencil him in if he was interested.

(((YES!)))

Second miracle of the Day :-)

So, we quickly left the driveway for Longview. We were both rejoicing that Holland would finally get relief from the agonizing knee pain he has been suffering. He could hardly walk without grinding his teeth - that would end with the cortisone shots :-)

We arrived in Longview ahead of schedule, so we found a parking spot close to the clinic, and sat talking for a few minutes … until Bleu kept interrupting us with his territorial guardship attitude concerning me (Holland is actually encouraging this); Holland wants Bleu to primarily be my guard dog, but I want Bleu to be as equally protective towards Holland given the current society under the current DC madness, that is quickly spiraling out of control. 

Bleu considers me his personal property - I insist Holland gets equal attention so Bleu doesn't get 'territorial'.

We hadn't been parked long in the clinic's parking lot, when Holland's phone rang: the X-ray results were in … arthritis and age-related degeneration (the breakdown of 'soft tissue' leads to pain and inflammation); shortly after that phone call was ended, Holland went into the clinic to get the patient forms filled out.

Lakefront Clinic; Longview-WA

Togetherness … through a brick wall ;-)

The doctor Holland saw today, was a doctor he'd seen before (doc remembered him, too); and he was comfortable with him.

The cortisone shots were given in both knees, and Holland is feeling much better.

Following that happy event, we  drove across town to visit with his cousin Crystal, for about 2 hours - and I got a tour of the new house layout ;-)

It was evening when we started an enjoyable drive back to Long Beach, under the glow of moonrise.

I like seeing the moon shining brightly in the night sky.

We are happy with the way this Day unfolded :-)