Moving back in with your parents when you’re my age is rather daunting, but really there is nowhere I’d rather be at the moment. They are my strong support, still after all these years and now I may have the privilege of looking after them in their older years and that is fine with me.
On the Thursday before our Friday move, I met up with friends, girls I’ve connected with in Birmingham and we met at my favorite Italian restaurant, Joe’s in Alabaster. I’ve blogged about it before and it is a wonderful place to enjoy a good meal. These ladies have all been so supportive to me over the past few months and I couldn’t have made it without them.
With a few pictures to seal the memory, we threw in one of melodramatic efforts just for some laughs. 
A couple more joined us for one last pic. My sweet friend, Janice (in the blue top), got a beautiful picture frame and had everyone sign the mat, which will then be framed with the shot above, so I can remember these girls forever. I have made some wonderful friends in Birmingham and will miss them all dearly, but I do hope to get back for a visit again. 
I had the nightly special, a superb chicken and pasta dish. It was magnifico! 
Doesn’t this look yummy too?
And to finish off the meal, I had to get a large slab of Joe’s famous strawberry cake, which is enough for about 4 or 5 people easily. We were stuffed and happy. 
The next day, bright and early, my family showed up ready to help with the move. We had lots of help from church staff, who brought over plenty of guys to help. We could not have done it without them and I’m immensely grateful for all of them who came out. 
They moved everything out of the house and down on the driveway, where my brother-in-law, Bruce, packed the 26′ truck like a jigsaw puzzle. I was very worried that we wouldn’t get it all in that truck. That worry was well founded and after lunch we had to go get another 14′ truck. 🙁
Here’s a tip for you: Don’t ever move! You will realize just how much “stuff” you really have. This was after I had 2 moving sales too! 
My friend from church, Sharon, was so much help. She has back issues so couldn’t move much, but she showed up early to help me get the big truck back to the house and that was a huge help. She later went back with me to get the 2nd truck. Thank goodness we got everything on the 2nd truck, except my house plants and Sharon is taking care of those until I can get back over to Birmingham to get them.
We took a lunch break and then the real work began.
Saying farewell to the empty house. I will miss it, but it is time to move on. No, the rug didn’t stay, it came with me. 
The 2nd truck got packed to the gills and we were finally ready to pull out for Atlanta, late in the afternoon. It was an all-day tiring job. 
My brother-in-law drove one truck and my dad drove the other one. 
And we had 2 cars too. We headed out around 5:00 Central time and made it home after dark. An exhausting day it was, but I’m glad it is finally over. My sweet dad had a metal storage building built in their backyard to hold all my stuff. I can’t say enough about my wonderful parents. It makes me cry to think about them and how good they are to me.
With bittersweet memories, I’ve moved out of the house we have lived in for 5 years and I am back to the room I lived in when I was 16 and my family first moved in this house. It’s not a fancy house at all, nothing like the Birmingham house, but it will be my new home and home is where those that you love are living.
Yes, I will miss the Birmingham house and the joy of making it a home, but when life changes drastically, we must make other arrangements. This is not something that was planned, but sometimes you don’t plan for life, it just happens when you least expect it. I know all of this didn’t take God by surprise, so I’m leaning on that promise and not my own understanding.
I still cannot share all the details, maybe one day I can, but I will say this:
I need to live with my parents because I have been taken advantage of financially, devastated to a large degree by the man I thought I could trust. It’s been a 3 month journey of dealing with where I thought life was going, finding out the truth, and knowing that I will survive this in spite of the pain of the reality that I now must live in.
That is only part of the story, but the rest will have to wait.
It is not the end of the world. I will survive. I will be OK. That I know.
So, I will move forward and I still hope that all of you will go with me on my new journey. Most likely, I will be getting a full time job again. That is nothing new for me. I have worked most of my life and can do it again.
I will confess that the last few months, I’ve felt that blogland has been passing me by. When you’re dealing with real life issues, decorating and projects definitely take a backseat. Nothing else is important but surviving. I won’t be in that pretty house anymore, doing projects and coming up with creative ideas there. I’ve seen all the wonderful creativity out there in the blogosphere and felt a little sad that I am not a part of it right now, but I know that one day I will have a house again.
The bottom line is this: I plan to keep on blogging, yes I do! I can’t imagine not blogging now, it is truly a part of my life that I still enjoy so much. It will just be different than what you’ve seen from me in the last 4 years. I’ll be sharing friend’s projects and hopefully some creativity along the way. And plenty of decorating ideas!
I might even talk my mom into letting me do some updates in their 1973 house. It’s time! Time to get rid of some mauve carpet in the bathroom I’ll be using AND strip off some dated wallpaper.
So, you might get to see a few projects outta me after all. And I’ll be looking for lots of other decor stuff to highlight for you too.
Thank you ALL so much for your prayers and support these last 3 months. It has truly wrapped me up in love like a warm coat and I so much appreciate you all.
It will be a new journey and where it leads, I have no idea. Finding a new normal will be at the forefront. I know it will be sweet. Very sweet. God sometimes allows trials and pain in our lives to draw us closer to Him.
Thanks again to all of you for your very sweet support behind the scenes of my life. It has meant the world to me.
I would very much love to meet up with many of you bloggers/readers in the Atlanta area for a lunch date sometime soon, so keep that in mind. Le Madeleine is one of my favorite spots, so that just might be a good place to meet. Hopefully, one Saturday coming up will work, so I will set a date and let you all know.
Sounds like you’re making lemonade! (life gives you lemons).
So glad you shared with us – was wondering how you were. Sorry this happened to you but I feel confident bigger and better things are in store for you. God Bless You in all your new endeavors!
Rhoda, I wish you the best as you begin this new season of life. I can’t wait to see what things you do around your parents house. Glad to have you back in GA!
So glad you’re going to continue with your normal…and blog! You are an inspiration to me……and well, sometimes…the best decorating, the best creativity, is done miraculously, when when we’re thrown the pits of dispair in life!!
You’re a winner!!!
As is the opening song of the Mary Tyler Moore show…
“You’re going to make it after all”!
Take care!
With much Love and Prayers!!
Rhoda, thanks so much for continuing to share your journey with us. I can tell you that folks read and follow Southern Hospitality because of the style, class and inspiration of YOU, not just a house. So blog on, pretty lady, and we’ll keep being excited to see what you’re up to! I’m so very sorry you’ve been so undeservedly hurt, but, as you said, God will work it all together for good for YOU! I recently memorized Psalm 103:3 and I think you would love the verse, too. Check it out! God bless you and your family. Much love and many hugs, Laurie from Scene of the Grime
Wow, I can relate to your post. I had to move out of my home that I had worked so hard to make ours 4 months ago and moved in with my parents– back to the bedroom that was mine from age 8-21. It was so hard, and I felt the same way about wanting to blog about decor and reading blogs that made me miss my house even more. It’s neat how little opportunities to use my creativity keep popping up everywhere. Praying for you.
Rhoda, Your strength is an inspiration to all of us out here in blogland who are in a life that isn’t exactly what we planned for. I am a few years older than you & seeing you move forward with such dignity & grace after being forced into a situation is making me really think about the future. Thank you and please keep blogging!
Hi Rhoda,
I love your blog and I now know one more reason why…. the gal behind it all (you!) is a true Steel Magnolia!! Your spirit and integrity are shining through!! I’m a Kansas gal, but if I ever get to Atlanta, I’m lookin’ you up for lunch! God Bless!
Debra
Blessings to you as you begin this new phase of life! I can’t even imagine what you have been through in the past few months, but I pray that you will find healing and restoration in Atlanta. I’m glad you’re going to keep blogging! We would all miss you. 🙂
Rhoda,
I love you and I can’t wait to get together with you here in Atlanta. You have a loyal friend here and I’m here for you however you need. Can’t wait to see you.
♥♥♥
It has been close to a year since I visited your site. I was so sorry to come and find your moving blog,but you do it all with such grace and style. I so wished I could be this positive in life.
I have no idea what is happening in your life,but I do understand change and it not being in our control.The last year has been very hard for me. I so wish I had my mom to lean on and enjoy,but again God is in control. I do want you to know this time in my life has opened my eyes to whom we can trust in life and that is God =) I would like to say that even though we are miles apart you will be in my prayers and I am always here if you need someone.
Brenda
Rhoda, You were my very first decorating blog that I found on the web and I’ve been visiting your blog for some time. I know from your blog that you are a strong, resourceful woman and will survive. My thoughts are with you and know that out in blogland there are many of us who are lending our support to you at this time of trouble. Bless you.
Rhoda,
Wishing you the very best! Your strength is inspirational!
I wish I could have met you, but it never worked out!
I hope you continue to blog-I will keep reading although I have not been blogging a whole lot lately!
You remain in my thoughts and prayers,
Diane
Rhoda
When I discovered the blogging world I found yours. Been reading for a while. You have inspired me in so many ways. Remember you can do anything as you have proven. Keep up your strength you have shared with others.
C
Rhoda, I am so sorry that you have been treated badly by someone you loved and trusted. But you have faith and God on your side, so you will be just fine!
Wishing you well in Atlanta,
Ricki Jill
May God bless you and your family.
Rhoda:
I’m so sorry to hear what has happened to you, but so happy to hear of your wonderful spirit. Good luck and prayers to you my dear as you start a new journey in life.
– The Tablescaper
My heart and prayers go out to you. Sometimes we don’t know why certain things happen in our lives, but knowing God has a better plan for us helps us to accept bad times knowing better are ahead. I see you helping your Mom to update your parents and your home and what fun the two of you will have together on those projects. How wonderful to have good friends and family to help with your moving. Reminds me of my neighbor, she told me the other day, when her husband a Naval Officer didn’t get a promotion and had to retire (30 years or so ago) they thought their world had ended, five children to support etc. But, God had another plan, her husband got in with another and started their own business something to do with computers hardware and software (I never fully understood what he did that was sold out to a bigger group a couple years ago) but life turned out much better for them and their family in the long run. It will be interesting to see what God has in plan for your future that will be so much better than the last few years! Hugs!
Betrayal is so painful and I pray that the Lord will heal your heart. I think it’s a blessing in disguise that you will now be able to spend more time with your parents as we never know how long we will have them. Your parents seem to be so sweet and loving. Wishing you all the best, Fran and Fern from Twice As Nice
Rhoda, best of luck to you! You have survived this and I can’t imagine that things will only get better for you! You have a wonderful supported family that will always be there for you. I’m glad you’re going to continue your blog, because I enjoy reading it so much! You have given me some wonderful ideas! Wishing you the best in Atlanta! God bless!
Rhoda, you know that you are permanently in my prayers. You are such a strong, beautiful person, and I have no doubt that won’t change a bit. Send MUCH LOVE your way…
xoxo
shaunna