QUICK WOODLAND DAYTRIP~Self-Care; Castle Rock-WA

Thanking Elohim for my ordinary Tuesday - and for the quiet blessings that often go unnoticed.

This afternoon, we drove to Woodland - to the Wal*Mart Superstore there, to see if we could find there what we can't find anywhere else: we had found it 2 years ago when up here, and it was really the last chance to find it again.

The trip to Woodland was uneventful on the freeway.

Wal*Mart Supercenter, #1486 Dike Access Rd, Woodland~WA from Toutle River RV Resort, #150 Happy Trails Rd, Castle Rock-WA; via I-5 S, 28 min (30.4 miles)

The item was nowhere in sight.

The item must have been discontinued … or there isn't enough interest in it, to stock it on the shelves; so, Holland is going to see if he can find an online supplier.

But, we didn't come back home empty-handed: except for that one thing, I was able to find everything else on the List and tuck it securely in Betsy's back seat area. Time spent in the store running items down, was quick; Holland opted to stay outside in Betsy, relaxing his knees from yesterday's shopping & listening to his big hair bands … I speed walked through the store - and again, a short workout was in play:

Bodyweight Glute Stepup~In-n-out of Betsy x4

Bodyweight Standing Abs Twist in aisles, collecting items = constant.

Bodyweight Overhead Triceps Extension; overhead reaches in aisles, collecting items = constant.

Bodyweight Floor Calf Raise; overhead reaches in aisles, collecting items = constant.

Hand & Finger Flex~Collecting & paying for items = constant.

Farmer's Walk carrying shopping bags to Betsy, & from Betsy to Independence.

Then, we drove under the overpass to DQ, for individual Blizzard's to enjoy under the shade of the familiar 100+ old Maple tree. We enjoyed the cool, refreshing Blizzards, with windows open and 80-degree warmth feeling good on our exposed skin (hands, arms, face).

Thanking the Ruach HaKo'desh for opening our eyes to the goodness our faithful Father threads through the little things … a warm cup of morning coffee, kind words spoken softly between us, the sunny beauty outside our windows, & the gift of another Day - to simply enjoy, together.

Tomorrow I'm planning a trail walk at Willow Grove & a Keenagers revisit. Thursday, I have a scheduled 2-hr. morning Dentist appointment. Friday, Holland has a 10 AM appointment in Centralia, for a knee injection we are both hoping will help relieve the pain. Neither of us expect perfect in our union … but a steady, gentle, companionship is most welcome.

Thanking Yeshua, as He comes alongside us; reminding us that we don't have to wait for big moments to experience blessed faithfulness - because the Holy Trinity is present in every ordinary moment of our Life.

Thankful that our hearts, in the moment, are filled with gratitude; our minds are at ease with peace, and our Day colored with pleasant & gentle joy.

Some of life’s sweetest blessings don’t come wrapped in extraordinary moments. They quietly show up in the ordinary rhythm of our days, reminding us that God’s goodness is woven into everyday life if we’ll simply slow down long enough to notice.

When we got back home - I put things away, Holland enjoyed a little siesta … 

… & I stretched my lower back muscles to relieve an achy pinch:

Lower Back Pain~Do Sets as instructed, x2

Today has been a beautiful, peaceful Tuesday.

OLEQUA HEIGHTS-WA

July 2nd: This morning I was drinking my second cup of coffee; and six pages into a new novel, when Holland shut his laptop and said, "How about we take a drive to Olequa and explore the power line road, as soon as you finish your coffee and change out of your p.j.'s?"

(((YES - and thank you!)))

We had explored another Olequa road a couple days ago … but this one would be different: this one would be on the backside of familial compound boundaries.

Holland's family ranch is at the end of Olequa Road, and I've been curious about the gravel road that spurs off at the junction just before turning onto the Redmill property.

Holland has talked a lot about the {power line road}, ever since I've known him; I'm more than ready to be included in his special place adventuring - I drained my cup quickly, got dressed in record time, and we were soon pointing Betsy's nose toward the anticipated destination ;-)

New read …

Olequa Heights Rd-WA from Woodland-WA ; 42 min (36.0 mi) via I-5 N and Westside Hwy

Woodland has prepared for this Holiday's festivities ;-)

We drove the freeway to Castle Rock, and took our time enjoying a lazy drive up Westside Highway to Olequa. While driving, Holland gave me a background history lesson on Olequa … and he told me about an Indian burial ground that is there, too (maybe we'll go back and visit that, at another time).

Apparently, Olequa was a hub of activity in it's heyday - but the only reminder that it ever existed is the few places where the Name is highlighted (History notations, street signs, home addresses, the Senior Center, and a Farm, in Winlock-WA).

I was fascinated by the historical tidbits Holland was feeding me - and I researched it when we got back from our adventuring.

Olequa Indians/History of Olequa: (https://www.pacific-hwy.net/olequa.htm#:~:text=There%20used%20to%20be%20a,live%20in%20and%20around%20Olequa. & https://www.pacific-hwy.net/pumphery.htm)

Holland turned off a side road at the lower end of Olequa Road instead of the upper end I was expecting … another surprise road.

I like adventuresome surprises :-)

I am pleased to be included in Holland's carefully guarded Life; Holland does not easily share his private life, and he's slow to include newcomers (aka: anyone who did not grow up with him). I've only known Holland for a short period of time - and we've been married less than that. Basically, he still regards me as a newcomer in his Life.

But today, he is making a serious effort to remedy that. He is sorry that he has made me to feel like an outsider in the Life we are attempting to build. He was surprised when I unloaded a lot of hurt feelings on him this month - and he is sorry that he took his insecurities and withdrawal pain out on me.

We have both apologized - we have both forgiven each other for things said and done in the heat of angry moments during the entire month of June.

He is vowing to be a better partner; less apt to push my buttons or foist unrealistic expectations on me (or US) … and to stop throwing the D-Word into every disagreement. In short, after seriously rereading the FB posts, and viewing the hurt from my perspective of why they were necessary to make known, he has been making every effort to show me that he is serious about {going the Lifelong Distance}.

And, I am vowing to tamp my redhead temper down and be a gentler wife; kinder, and less apt to fight mean and dirty when Holland's attitude triggers mine.

He is working hard to make US a priority; and I am learning to trust (I trust Elohim 100% - it's trusting people that trips me up: Elohim doesn't lie, people do). I can't honestly say that actual trust was broken; what I am saying is that I'm finding out things about him as time moves forward, that I am finding difficult to understand or accept.

BUT

All things are possible through Christ Jesus: and He is Who we are trusting as we come together to repair the cracks that have riddled this marriage.

We love each other, despite the complicated circumstances of this marriage. Our home has to be our safe place - even during disagreements. Our home has to be a place of inclusion in each other's life; Holland is not used to sharing his Life with anyone: I'm pretty sure that even those closest to him, from the Past, aren't as close as they think they are. Holland is the most walled-off person I've ever met.

But he has taken pains to include me today, and I am grateful. This is a serious happening and I am feeling blessed by the inclusion.

Holland is going to show me one of his past favorite haunts :-)

The sound of crunching gravel as we climbed the winding dirt road was music to my ears, the atmosphere was warm, and great swaths of foxglove (purple, pink, white, & bi-color) bloomed along the way.

I love foxgloves … and have planted them in flowerbeds at several homes, throughout the decades.

Two does passed right in front of us … Holland spotted them first, and called my attention to them.

They weren't off the road too far - I quietly urged them to go deeper into the side growth.

A doe with twin fawns … sorry about the jittery vid - Holland kept creeping forward :-(

I'm glad Holland has decided to 'stick'; and I'm glad he is feeling comfortable enough to share his special places with me.

I was in dirt road Heaven; and Holland was relaxed knowing that I was enjoying the ride :-)

We talked, we made plans, we laughed, we listened to Supertramp songs, and we thoroughly enjoyed that forested dirt road.

When we reached the top of the steep Olequa terrain, we got out of Betsy and enjoyed the wild beauty of the area: I understood why this place holds a special place in Holland's Life.

I was glad I was standing there, soaking it all in - the beauty, the sounds, the scents, the sharing.

I'm easily pleased ;-)

Holland's special place is simply beautiful, peaceful, and warmly inviting.

The overlook was engaging; Vader and outlying areas.

Then, as we were settling back into Betsy's cab, Holland's phone rang. He's been busy this past week with a side job. I waited until he read the text - and was prepared to beat feet back to town … but instead, Holland shut his phone off after reading the text, and said, "I'll take care of this later." I said, "You've been waiting for this call - we can go back into town." He looked at me, and said, "This is our time, Baby - just me and you; if I call this guy back and he doesn't answer right away, it will be an all day long phone tag thing. I don't want anything to cut into you and me, today; I'll get back to him later on."

Wow.

He really is serious about "making things right, Baby."

The sounds of the forest - the scent, and the intent; healing rode the gentle breeze.

Supertramp - 'Give A Little Bit': 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_leMA3_maBU)

Coming back down the incline, I noticed something I had missed before, because it was on the driver's side going up - so, I said, "Stop! I want to see this pretty thing, up close!" I wasn't being bossy; I just didn't want to use too many words that would eat up time and get us further away from the pretty thing ;-)

A pretty, wildflower, 'Toughleaf Iris'; it seemed so out of place in this wild place of evergreens, foxgloves, daisies, and dandelions: there were 2 of them, close together.

This forest adventuring was fun - and in a sense, cathartic.

As we exited the dirt road where we made new memories and pledges, we both felt the liberating effects of leaving lingering shadows behind us.

Today's adventure end was really the beginning; I'm glad I came :-)

On the way back to Woodland, Holland suggested we stop by Popeye's and grab some chicken to eat with our supper salad :-)

I had seen butterflies flitting among the wild daisies in the forest; but it wasn't until we were waiting for our meal pickup in Popeye's parking lot that a big blue dragonfly appeared to bolster hope, and drive home a gentle admonishment for both of us …

Relax and go with the flow of Elohim's Plan.

Fried Chicken for Supper - oh, yeah ;- )