LITTLE BIG THINGS; Coalinga-CA

Truly = grateful for this day.

Brrr … grab your coffee and stay warm! 🔥☕️🥶

It's cold: 35-degrees.

Hot coffee on a cold morning is sheer bliss … and hot coffee is good for asthma, too - it helps relax the muscles around the airwaves & reduces chest tightness = I get to breathe a little easier. Big plus 👍

My asthma is acting up 😟; yesterday was pretty sketchy. I mostly slept a lot 🛌, whistled when I breathed, spit mucus so much Holland & I laughed and swapped hillbilly woman jokes; even though I could barely speak 2 words without running out of energy ⛽️ I was exhausted 😒 all day long.

Staying alive is hard work 🔌

All my Life.

Holland's COPD is new to him, so coming to terms with limitations frustrates him. A lot. But, I've struggled to breathe all my Life. I've learned to live with death so long … I only know how to live, and make every second of every Day count for maximum benefit.

Yesterday. Holland drove into downtown Coalinga, to exchange empty propane tanks for full ones; & exchanged my winning cards for new ones - I don't win big, but revealing a winning line makes me smile. It's a small pleasure.

Yesterday, he came home bearing gifts. He is a good man despite the macho bad boy persona: and, in all the ways that count, he is good for ME - he is always thinking of me, even when straining against restraints.

While he was gone, I prepped for tonight's supper & emptied the remaining garlic-honey I had in a quart jar, into a smaller pint jar - that was all the energy I could afford to expend.

Cooling baked potatoes to cube; thawing frozen turkey meat. And I scooped my remaining Garlic Honey into a pint jar, from a quart jar.

Daily reminder = every Day. And it's good to have a man in my Life that understands, and says on bad days … "Lemon Laws do not apply" ♥️

My goal today is to enjoy morning coffee, breathe easier 🌬️ & be grateful 🙏 for another Day's extension on a Life to enjoy with my husband 💎🦁 - who brings out the best (as well as the worst, sometimes) in this Life we have been gifted to live 💞 - it is never boring 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨 Life is a gift ✨  that neither of us take for granted: by the sheer grace of Almighty God ☝️, both of us have beat the odds so far 🤞

Even when it hurts …

We were hoping time would favor us, and my lungs would cooperate ✌️ so we could enjoy a Day out-of-house 🚘🎶; but that did not happen

And that's okay. There is always tomorrow.

Today, we enjoyed together time, in-house; while I monitored oxygen intake and slowly regained lagging energy (I was able to work a couple rows on MOD over-size afghan, in progress) … and we ate a comfort-food-casserole for supper in our small, comfy home.

In all things I trust Elohim's Plan for my life & Yeshua's healing power.

I just celebrated 69 years on Earth.

December 2025; Coalinga-CA

My life has been enriched by the love of 2 men Elohim placed in it.

I wake up every Day: even if I go to bed sometimes wondering which side of heaven I'll wake up on.

Elohim has been good to me all my Life & I am grateful for Yeshua's hand of blessing over me - I know He has the power to heal … I've seen Him do it, other areas of my body have been miraculously healed: why my body continues to struggle with asthma, only Elohim knows: I never question His Will.

Where once love was stripped from my Life … it now flourishes - granted, sometimes with struggle also; but it also continues to waken every Day.

I can truly say my Life is blessed.

And I am grateful.

When I lay down & rise up, I feel highly honored & greatly blessed.

Truly.

Despite the struggles, my Life really is a very good one.

Monitoring, crafting, & watching a Gene Hackman movie.

Baked Turkey Casserole; with garlic bread on the side.

VAL'S BAKED TURKEY, POTATO & BROCCOLI CASSEROLE Recipe; Coalinga-CA: 

(https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2026/01/vals-baked-turkey-potato-broccoli.html)

The little things are really big things 😘

A TRANSITORY LIFE; Coalinga-CA

September 17th: This afternoon, we drove to the Save Mart grocery store in Coalinga: it's the largest grocery store in the town, kinda like an Albertson's store. We went basically for a loaf of bread (the kind my husband prefers - he really is a name brand person; if it's a house brand, he turns his nose up at it) … and came home with $170.00 of more - $25 dollars of that was a meat variety combo.

But before we went for that loaf of bread that morphed into a little bit of everything; we stopped at Taco Time for a couple crunch wraps, and pulled over alongside a side road curb to eat them. While munching, I watched a few locals enjoying the sunny day, visiting over fences, and car pooling … and I mentioned to Holland, "Every time I watch people that have grown up in the same town for generations interacting, I think how nice that feeling must be; I've never had that. There have been places I've lived in and enjoyed, throughout my life - but I never felt like any of those places were truly 'home'. Even Cathlamet-WA, where I lived for 3 years with my parents, and 18 years with Bob; and Longview-WA, where I lived with Bob for 23 years, & 4 years solo lobo. I always felt like like those places were transitory; there was no real permanency about those places. No real roots. I wonder about these people's connections to the towns they grow up in, live their whole lives in … and I can't identify on any level." Holland swallowed his bite, and said, "Maybe that's because, as a Christian, you know this Earth is not your home - it is transitory: this is not your Home."

I think maybe my husband has a point 🤔😘; I never thought of my transitory musings in that way - but, it makes sense.

A Coalinga local walking with an umbrella, to shade the 98-degree sunbeams.

A colorfully tiled house …

This conifer tree looks like overgrown dillweed - I don't know what it is, because nothing the internet was coming up with, matched it; Taco Bell drive through; Coalinga-CA

This tree with a pretty, frilly flower; is a Mimosa tree.

Yellow Trumpetbush & Fan Palm sprouting in a hedge - Taco Bell drive through.

Coalinga Save Mart (internet pic).

We walked 1.5 miles today - in the grocery store.

$25 Meat Combo - broken down at home.

And, on the way back to Independence after buying our expensive [loaf of bread], we talked about our pick up & move to Brookings-OR the end of this month, with Holland saying, "I really don't know where else to go. So, we're going to Brookings … and we're gonna stay there until God tells us it's time to move on." I agreed, saying, "I agree: after all the research yesterday, it's really the only place that seems to suit our lungs. That's what internet wool gathering says, anyway." Then, Holland asked, "And if God says WA - you'll go?" I replied, "I know where you're going with this … and I already said I would do what God wants me to do; I'm not a Jonah - I'm not going to argue with Elohim's directive for my Life. But, I want to be sure it's His prompting, and not a redmill enforcement." He said, "You'll 'do what God wants'? You have the temperament of a goat …" And I interjected: "Yes, I am a goat - I was born in the Capricorn season, but I don't argue with Elohim. I won't like going back to WA; because I can't take an easy breath, there, that's a fact …. and I'll probably dig my heels in if He specifies that he wants me back in WA, but I'll go even while resisting the thought of returning. I don't have to like going Holland; but I will do it. I just want to be sure it's a God thing, and not a redmill babysitting thing - not a husband insistence thing. We're leaving here because you are seriously struggling to breathe here - all I'm asking is that you have the same consideration about my struggling to breathe in WA. That said, I'm with you in regards to not knowing where to go from here."

When we got back home, we ate a light Supper.

I relaxed by relaxing my body with toning exercises.

1 hr. workout combined with in-store walking.

And Holland petitioned Elohim for guidance, wisdom, and clarification 🙏 - we don't know where we'll end up after leaving here the end of the month: but, He does, & He will direct us to a place where both of us will be able to breathe comfortably at the same time 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨 And in that we trust 🕊️

I have enjoyed out transitory Road Gypsy lifestyle - and my husband has been a good sport about ferrying me from place to place, making my 'Tour America' Dream, a Reality 💖

Neither of us control the weather - Yeshua has His own reasons for the dustups; and the demonrat governors 👹 will have to answer for themselves as to why they are letting their States go up in flames … either by poor eco-freak-text book-forest mismanagement, or by terrorist groups setting cities on fire in angry protests just for the Hell of it 🔥

Holland has actually even been enjoying the lifestyle himself, too: seeing scenery, and have adventures, he was never able to when he was a 9 to 5 working man; the retirement life was finally being embraced.

Even today, he said, "We can still be Road Gypsies, Baby - we just have to try a different approach." 

So, that's what we're going to be focusing on … a different approach 😎

*September 16, 2025~WAITING OUT DISASTERS; Coalinga-CA: https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2025/09/waiting-out-disasters-coalinga-ca.html

I'LL BE HOME & I'LL BE FREE~Introspection; Ocean Park-WA

I like this song; it sums up my thoughts so well 👍

With every passing day, I feel "it" creeping up on me.

With every asthmatic episode, I feel "it" trying to claim me.

With every angina squeeze, I feel "it" hovering … and I wonder if someday I'll dismiss an actual heart attack, because an angina squeeze feels like a heart attack: angina backs down and settles down - a heart attack doesn't,  it will just stop you cold. Dead cold.

I carry my DNR Papers with me at all times - and burial arrangements were made in the winter of 2018; Holland will honor all my directives.

Living with in the shadow of the Grim Reaper is weird: my poor husband!

And I'm not off the emotional hook either, in regards to Holland's COPD  issues. He doesn't have - or carry - a DNR; and I will honor his medical requests as well as his "resting place" wish. But he needs to make that known to his family members also, so I do not end up in the same situation with his siblings … as I did with Bob's mother, siblings, & extended relatives when it came to the Grim Reaper's collection, and the laying to rest of remains.

Our bodies are just clay vessels: the treasure is the spirit that will someday find release to return Home ❤️, beyond the clouds.

All My Tears - 'Jars of Clay' lyrics: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ic0Xx8hHvs&list=RD-ic0Xx8hHvs&start_radio=1)

'ONE MORE DAY'; Barstow-CA

We stayed 2 days; Skyline RV Park, Barstow-CA

April 11th: We had rested, but I still woke with a sore chest and aching ribs the next morning (from all the choking activity the day before); so, we paid for another day's stay here at Skyline RV Park - and we're going to do nothing but take it easy … and recoup our energy.

Last night, Holland & I made a decision to forgo all of the places we had planned to see in CA, due to the high altitude - we've visited a lot of high altitude places already, and have both been feeling lethargic, winded, and a little ditzy.

We have visited with Aunt Gaye, but we will not be visiting with Holland's Colorado cousin: 6,000+ elevation just is not doable for us; Holland has COPD, and I have severe asthma flareups - we have noticed that high elevation causes our lungs acute stress; not just in AZ & CA; but also in other various elevated places we have been touring.

It was my thought that if we drove across America so our lungs would have time to acclimate … our lungs wouldn't cause our bodies too much stress. Apparently that is not true - Holland has been coughing up a lot of thick mucus, and I've been having severe asthma flareups.

On our way to Barstow from Kingman, I had the worst flareup I have ever experienced; not only did I feel like a plastic bag was tied over my face … my heart felt like it was about to burst; my arm and chest hurt for a good half hour after I was finally able to use my emergency inhaler (if I can't suck air in, I can't use it - all I can do is stare at it, knowing it's my link to life or death). Holland was driving and there was no place to pull over, so he put his left hand on my chest and prayed: that's what I needed more than anything.

But these flareups are coming more frequently, and they are scary for him to go through with me. They are a course of life for me - and I know where I'm going if my breath actually is stopped … but I'd rather not KNOW that I am dying, and I'd rather Holland not watch my body go into the struggle to live: it's horrible.

It's horrible to experience.

It's horrible to watch.

It's a helplessness that grips a person (asthmatic person, and the stander by) until breath is restored.

Diamond Rio - 'One More Day' lyrics: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuE1XJ_uqOs)

It's 11:41 PM … and my face still looks like it's gone through a meat grinder; it will look like this for a few days until the strain marks disappear: these are the worst my face has ever looked after an attack.

I'm praying for relief - for myself, and for my husband. I know Yeshua is able.

I know my healing was secured 2024 years ago: please join me in prayer that it becomes a reality in my New Life, with my new husband. I do believe 100% in divine healing, and Elohim knows my Life is His to do with as He Wills.

********************

April 12th: I was enjoying my morning coffee, and liking what I saw on my Peak Flow Meter reading: I was in the {safe zone} this morning; so, I didn't need to use my emergency inhaler :-)

My Peak Flow Meter & Asthma Relief Plan.

Peak Flow Meter: 

(https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma-attack/symptoms-causes/syc-20354268)

But I did check it periodically during the day, so Holland wouldn't be unduly concerned (I promised him in Yuma-AZ that I would be more vigilant; and I will be): 

'DESERT HOLIDAY RV RESORT; Yuma~AZ' Post: (https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2023/10/desert-holiday-rv-resort-yumaaz.html)

A wind storm kicked up as Holland was getting his morning coffee:

A huge windstorm blew through.

I don't think we'll be going outside today … and Holland said he'd prefer I didn't flirt with flying sand grit either, given Friday's scary episode.

Even though the flow meter gave me a good reading this morning, I agreed - and apologized, pulling my head back inside & closing the front door firmly.

Holland sipped his coffee, and said, "We should be breathing a lot easier tomorrow when we get out of this high altitude; we'll be dropping from 2,000 ft. to 200 ft., in Bakersfield."

The elevation of Barstow is 2,178 ft.: this portion of the San Bernardino County, is Mojave High Desert region. The area around Barstow has an elevation range from 2,051 ft. to 2,919 ft.; depending on where you go … and we've been all around Barstow, in every corner of the Mojave desert region, at much higher elevations.

No wonder our lungs are in full-out revolt.

CA High Desert: (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Desert_(California)#:~:text=The%20region%20encompasses%20various%20terrain,and%20Little%20San%20Bernardino%20Mountains.)

Touching on another topic while I finished off my coffee, I mentioned to Holland a.g.a.i.n. that I seriously need to lose weight. I said, "either I need to stop eating the delicious fatty meals you lovingly cook … or I need to share kitchen time, and prepare some leaner, healthier meals": He said he needs to lose weight too, so he'd be happy to share kitchen time with me ;-)

I also researched COPD because I don't know as much about his lung issues, as I do my own. We agree that we will make sure each of us stick to our inhaler relief plans given to us by our Dr's. (mine given with my 1st severe asthma attack in 1996, that landed me in ER after I passed out and nearly took out a glass storefront-door; & Holland's given to him in 2012, when he ended up in ER fighting for his life)  … and we'll include natural home remedies, too.

I'm finding that the safe guards for COPD is similar to those for Asthma.

Natural Remedies for Asthma: (https://www.webmd.com/asthma/natural-cure-asthma)

Natural Home Remedies for COPD: (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323649)

(1) Work towards a healthier body weight. The heart is a muscle: I need to get back to walking again - at least a mile/daily … this is hard to do living on the road, as we are; but where there is a Will - there is a Way, and I'll find it.

Holland can't walk a mile a day - but he says he will walk as much as he can, as far as he can. Daily.

(2) Consume omega-3 fats (EPA+DHA): I need to get back to eating more fish; Holland likes beef and pork … and lots of sugary snacks: but my body NEEDS fish in my weekly diet, and he is consenting to including tuna and salmon in our monthly meals - I'm not crazy about salmon, but I will choke it down if it will relive asthma stress.

Holland loves both … and wants to can both; to take with us when we go South, again.

He makes a delicious tuna steak; and recently made a tuna-egg sandwich that I raved over. He is a marvel in the kitchen; and cooking relaxes him - I don't mind sharing kitchen time with him. When he cooks, I'll just scale back on what I eat and drink before suppertime :-)

(3) Eat more plants: I'm cooking more, and doing more grocery shopping - green leafy items are coming home and getting included in our meals.

And Holland is finding out that {diet food} does not need to be "yucky", or "boring rabbit food" ;-)

(4) Reduce intake of bad fats and sugar: we're working on this - Holland is a big-time-snacker: cutting back on empty calories, and sugary toxins, will take time.

(5) Exercise regularly: again, this is hard to do living on the road, but I am working on it - and I hope Holland eventually joins me, at least in the weights department ;-)

(6) Bleu has been rehomed, and is enjoying his new digs … so pet dander is no longer a concern for either of us.

Early on in our new marriage, Holland set up a air-filtering thing in the bedroom to keep the air flow as clean as possible (we need to get one for the livingroom area, too); and we bought a mattress lifting bed frame for the RV, to keep our heads elevated when we lie down - this benefits both of us (I had a electrified bed in my previous marriage, so I didn't have to sleep sitting up in the recliner).

Air Filtration System

Electric adjustable mattress lifting bed frame base.

'OREGON~OUR NEW BED & Hudson-Parcher County Park' Post:

 (https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2023/05/oregonour-new-bed-hudson-parcher-county.html)

Around noon, I went back to bed: my poor body was totally exhausted.

Staying alive is hard work.

I think I slept about an hour and a half, when I was shaken awake by whistling winds slamming against Independence's sides, and rocking her so hard I thought she'd be forcefully moved off the stabilizing legos - if she wasn't still hooked to Betsy; we left them connected because our stay here would be short-lived.

The whipping wind gusts shook Independence - and woke me from a refreshing, and much needed nap.

Watching the sand being whipped up and blown across the Park's landscape, I wished the desert's beauty wasn't so deadly.

Hopefully tomorrow will be clearer, and we will both be breathing a whole lot easier ;-)