Hi 👋 We're Val & Holland Redmill … living our Life Story as silver-haired Road Gypsies in our 5th wheel RV Home~40 months married & 60,000 miles traveled across America; covered in grace every Day & trying mightily not to lose our sanctification during the bad & ugly times. I post everywhere - about everything: and if what I post can help someone else, I'm glad for the experience. But from sunrise to sunset, we live our Life for US. Trusting Elohim every step of the way.
Regarding politics and other "obligations" - I'm taking a hiatus.
I'm not even going to engage with Holland when it comes to politics and self-destructive people (family or friends, both sides of our "tree"): if he wants to moan about politics … or just feels the need to blow some steam off by aimless bitching - he can call his SIL Lana; she's always up for moaning and bitching.
I've already explained this frame of mind to my husband: I'm not upset. I'm not angry. I'm just not going to spin my wheels engaging in a bitching contest over things that are out of my control; things that really don't amount to a hill of beans in the grand scheme of things. I want peace and love and joy back in my life.
I've already put my family on notice that I can't be baited; and I'm clamping down on my itching fingers when it comes to media posts regarding politics. There was a new change of guard, thank the Lord - now, it's time to relax, and enjoy the peaceful vibes that piggy-back on the quick-paced law and order being set in place.
I am exhausted on all levels … emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually: staying alive is draining.
I am in no position to take on other people’s issues.
That is what Elohim is for: they need to go to Him.
Does that make me a selfish bitch?
Maybe.
I don’t know.
All I do know is that I’m going through my own life struggles - and I need a break from the constant shake-ups.
My hard and fast obligations are to Elohim, Yeshua, myself, and my husband. Regarding everything and everyone else … I'm taking a hiatus.
In the wee early morning hours of today, I spent 2 hours on the phone listening, soothing, and trying to give helpful suggestions to a family member bent on self-destruction. When the call was accidentally terminated on the other end, I went to bed with a prayer on my lips and a hurting heart - this person, who I love very much, will end up dying of alcoholism: they will die because they do not really want help. They want a sympathizer … and I cannot do that. I can listen to them. I can offer words of support and encouragement (I steer away from advise, because advise will lead to verbal combativeness); but I cannot - and I will not - sympathize. Sympathy will only complicate an already complicated situation; and I am not going to engage in endless looping arguments where someone tries to justify bad behavior. And I am also not going to rush anywhere to engage in adult babysitting activities with a person who wants to self-destruct.
I'm done with death: I'm not even doing the Angel Babies projects anymore - I stopped that a few weeks ago: all the contact info was deleted from my phones, online accounts, address books, ect. I.a.m.d.o.n.e.w.i.t.h.d.e.a.t.h.
Another morning call came just before noon - when we both woke up; when the call ended about half an hour later, I asked my husband to pray with me for devine intervention, protection, and safe keeping … and sent out a Prayer Line S.O.S. Then, Holland went after a bucket of chicken for supper. He is a good husband.
And we have worked out an agreeable solution to melding our life together: there will be times when we, in our togetherness journey, will feel the need for some personal solitude - and red-head-hot-tempered angst does not have to be the catalyst (we have both had red in our hair, before our heads started sporting all this silvery-threaded-grey 😉)
I have no problem being alone. I was alone much of my life before Bob was a part of my life; and I was alone many times throughout that 44 marriage when job contracts took Bob away from home for 23 days most months - for months on end, several years running.
I was alone much of my life before Holland was part of my life; and I have been alone a great deal of the 2 years we've been married - because Holland had a hard time adjusting to what married life actually means.
Personally, when pain is not spurring the solitude, I enjoy intervals of solitude; so, now when Holland (or I ) feel pressed on by 4 walls and cabin fever … we'll agreeably claim a day or two of solitude, where I will retreat to the spare room. Anger is not the catalyst, anymore - but a building migraine pressing either of our temples, will eventually lead to verbal sparring 😤 Retreat is a good move in that moment of time ✌️
It's an agreeable moment 🤝
Thank the Lord we have finally reached this place 😁
Life is so much better when understanding is understood 😘
The room suddenly feels larger (it isn't, actually; but there is 1 less body in it 😑). Chatter is silenced. He can listen to his head-banging angry degenerate "music" - and watch his chosen YouTube selections … and I, likewise, can listen to my low-key, toned down, love and peace vintage 1960's-70's music … and watch vintage blank-n-white movies that actually have storylines that do not include the 1990's genre of aimless and clueless ho's and ho-down's. I do occasionally watch a vintage 1970's movie, but really by the 1970's, movies were becoming more of a political soapbox arena rather than an entertaining genre. I am selective in what I run past my eyes and through my ears: if I want to be depressed or fill my eyes with bloody gore, I'd skip movies entirely and just surf the {news} channels, like Holland does.
That agreeable moment has put the "happy" back into our relationship ❤️
It's not that I want to be ignorant - I don't: I stay "updated" enough to know what's going on … BUT unless the current "news flash!" specifically involves US, or our current physical location … I'm no longer interested in feeding at the daily news swill bucket that keeps the masses at a constant fever pitch, ready to rumble at the slightest disagreement 🤥 😤 😒 😭
I like a tranquil, peace-vibe, cozy-home environment.
I the comforting companionship of quiet evenings at home.
I like a laid-back togetherness Day; either a mutual "let's stay home and veg all day" … or a spontaneous "my Baby needs to get out of the house" Daytrip.
I like the companionship of planning fun, care-free, exciting, adventurous, exploratory, & informative places to visit; that become amazing experiences to live on in memories: Holland does extensive internet searches; and finds the most interesting things for us to do 😁 👍🥰
But, I also like bumming around the house all day; bare-faced, and in pajamas with my husband – just because we can 👩❤️💋👨
Agreeable moments are liberating experiences.
Today is National Freedom Day - I also like that; I like that We, The People have with the 2025 Presidential Election Vote reclaimed our National Freedom. And, I keep in mind that Elohim is still in control 😁
At the beginning of this week, I posted the first of 52 notes of encouragement for 2025 (1 note for the start of every week). This morning's phone call started this past week's contemplations:
{{This Week: Transition = opportunity to trust Elohim/grow in Faith; Change = Holy; Pray = bold & specific prayers/listen for Elohim's guidance; make diligent Plans = flexible spirit to include Elohim's agenda/His ways higher than mine; nourish my spirt with Ruach HaKo'desh = unconditional agape love; Praise Elohei for my current Season = proclaim hope for the next; accept Elohim's favor, peace, & rest in my life}}
I believe 2025 will be a very good Year, in very good ways, for a very special purpose ❤️ ☝️
I do love my Gift, and I am thankful for Elohim's gifting … but sometimes, Mr. Complication can make the Day a challenge.
Today was challenging.
Neither one of us feel very well at the moment, and testiness was sparking; so, I gathered my stuff and retreated to the spare room that I am using as my {creative space}: where I can shake the challenging moment off 🙏, veg out, listen to some old school tunes (today's selection was 'The Doors', 'Iron Butterfly', 'KC & The Sunshine Band' & 'Wild Cherry'), and keep my hands busy with something productive until the friction settled ✌️
I also watched the Tulsi Gabbard interrogation, where the shameless demonrats highlighted their hypocritical selves to the nth: they intend to make this second President Trump Term, as difficult as they did the 1st. All they are focused on - as they have been with e.v.e.r.y.s.i.n.g.l.e. nominee to date - is angrily grilling the nominee to find out if they are going to be prosecuted the same way they prosecuted President Trump in and out of the White House, the past 8 years. It's sad that this is what the world is seeing of our Government: uncontrolled NWO obamanite brats in full-throttle-bratty meltdowns - the obamanites and rhinos all need to be spanked soundly and sent to bed for long naps (God knows, the majority of them are walking cadavers, only kept alive by the sparking lust of political power that generates those political asses). It was clear to me that the Trump Derangement Syndrome is not going to go away any time soon. I couldn't take any more of the hypocritical hype (with one old fart shouting so furiously at Tulsi, spittle flew towards his hot mic), so I made a lunch sandwich, and found a movie to watch 😊
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I just don't have the time to give to nonsense - we are dealing with real life situations here: I'm not going to get sucked into a political brawl over tarnished crowns: all politicians swim in the same pond - one portion of the pond may be murkier and muddier … but, it's still the same pond. And though I do support President Trump because I believe he really does have the best solutions to what ails America; but I am not happy with all of his decisions. I am nobody's fool. I watch. I listen. And time always tells.
Speaking of time … thank Elohim for the dust storms that kept us from getting to Brownsville-TX!
We have both been watching various news sources for information about gang activities, border jumpers that use power saws to cut through the Border Wall, and drug cartels with itchy trigger fingers: we currently are about half an hour from the border: in Brownsville-TX, where we were wanting to go on our recent Holiday Road Trip, we would have been ON the border … where it is now being reported that drug cartels have placed live bombs, waiting to be triggered by movement.
WARNING ISSUED LAST NIGHT: "Travelers urged to be cautious as Mexican drug cartels plant explosives along Texas border."
A flyer, posted in Spanish, shows photos of the explosives and reads, "Don't touch, don't move, don't manipulate."
Patricia Driscoll, CEO of Cipher Group and a military contractor, expressed her concern.
"It's a shame that those are images I thought I left behind in the combat zone in Iraq and Afghanistan," Driscoll said. "Never in a million years we really thought that we would be seeing that so close to home."; reports also raise questions that the explosives could be a form of retaliation or warning, especially following President Donald Trump's recent executive order designating drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
Thank Elohim for the dust storms that kept us safe - our lungs do struggle, and we are energy-drained; but we are alive 👍
After I finished off my sandwich, I got to work.
I patterned this knitted man's slipper after the vintage, "The Bootie" pattern - with a few modifications of my own, to fit my man 😉
My man likes to wear camo … so, that is the color I used to make this gift for my Gift 😘
This knit slipper set will be good for him to slip on his feet in the warmer months … but, he prefers the heaver crochet Slipper Socks set in the cooler season; so, as I had some leftover yarn, I whipped up a new pair of those for him, too ❤️
Yes, Mr. Complication is a complicated Gift - but, I want every blessing from this gifting that Elohim has for me.
Life is a Gift.
Love is a Gift.
Sometimes both get messy; and that's okay.
I'm going to continue to trust Elohim's Plan as I infuse our home with comfort 🙏 - He knows what's best for me & He' never steered me wrong 😁
I patterned this knitted man's slipper after the vintage, "The Bootie" pattern - with a few modifications of my own, to fit my man 😉
My man likes to wear camo … so, that is the color I used to make this gift for my Gift 😘
This slipper pattern uses a double yarn throughout.
Materials: 1 skein each MC & CC in worsted-weight yarn (I chose Camo & Beige); 1 pair #8 knitting needles; aluminum crochet hook #J; scissors; tapestry needle
Terms Used:
CO = cast on
sts = stitches
MC = main color
CC = contrast color
dec = decrease
RS = right side of work
WS = wrong side of work
EO = end off
Seed Stitch Pattern: Row 1: *K 1, p 1* - repeat across row; Row 2: *P 1, k 1* - repeat across row. Repeat these two rows for the entirety of the pattern.
Slipper Body: With 1 strand of MC & CC yarns held together, measure a 12" length of yarn and tie loosely - leaving a loop to slip onto knitting needle (this will be used to sew up slipper back when work is done) = CO 46 sts.
Work in seed st pattern for 6".
Cuff Shaping: Keeping to pattern, bind of 5 sts at the beginning of next 2 rows; work even on remaining sts, until piece measures 9-1/2" from beginning. CO sts.
Toe Decrease: Keeping to pattern, dec evenly across row until 28 sts remain. Work these sts for 2".
With WS facing, cut a length of yarn that will be used to gather toe sts and whip stitch up slipper upper - leaving 1 " free, for easy pull on. EO yarn, and weave in loose ends.
Untie the loosely tied yarn, and whip stitch the back of slipper; EO yarn and weave in loose ends: turn slipper RS out and fold cuff neatly down. Repeat with second slipper.
This knit slipper set will be good for him to slip on his feet in the warmer months … but, he prefers the heavier crochet Slipper Socks set I made for him last winter, in the cooler season; so, as I had some leftover yarn, I whipped up a new pair of those for him, too ❤️
