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.
Goodness………..you will get through this! Glad you are going to blog…we all need you………Nancy
Rhoda,
You go girl. Wishing you all the best. Life can turn around and kick us in the rear sometimes. I know you will make it. Remember, there is nothing new under the sun. Many others have been where you are before you and they have survived and so will you. Meanwhile, Blog On!
Hi Rhoda…..I am so sorry for the pain that has come your way, but your testimony to God’s goodness and faithfulness is a huge blessing to all who read it. May He guide your steps and give you a deep sense of His Presence. Glad you have such a wonderful family and a wonderful city to come back to. Blessings to you. Linda
Bless you on this journey! I’m praying for you. The best is yet to come for you I am sure! Hands cannot clasp what God has for us when they are holding on to the past. It sounds like you have let go of the past which puts you in a great spot for God to bless you! Sounds like you have your work cut out for you with your new home.
Best wishes in this next chapter!! I enjoy your blog a great deal, not just the decorating, but how you tell the story of whatever you are writing about. Looking forward to reading about what’s next.
Hi Rhoda, I don’t often comment, but had to today. I wish you all the good things you deserve, and that will certainly come your way. I cannot pretend to know the devestation that you must feel, but I do know that God does, and he will heal you in time. I’m sure you know that, too. I am so happy that you are blessed with parents and a home to go to. It doesn’t matter that it may not be fancy, if it is where the love is, then it is certainly beautiful. Good luck with your transition, and I’ll continue to look forward to reading your posts, no matter what they are 🙂
I wish you the very best of luck in your new journey. I know you’ll be fine. This may be a blessing in disguise.
God’s richest blessings as you make new changes in your life!!!
Hugs~ Tami
Moving is never easy – no matter what the reason. Thank you for sharing and I wish the best for you on this new phase. Since I’ve never been in the Atlanta area, I hope you will feature things about Atlanta on your blog.
I’m fairly new to your blog and also have a blog about decorating and home projects. We moved a year and a half across country and the bottom line is that a lot has happened to change our path also and I am missing all the things I wanted to do decorating wise and to put on my blog also.
Life is rarely like we expect it to be and sometimes the best things come out of change. God bless you and I hope good things come from this.
I bookmarked your blog over the winter so I could return in the spring to copy your fabulous stair project. And now I see your personal world back in Birmingham is raw, exposed and course like the stairs you uncovered to redo. I hope Atlanta brings healing and happiness to your heart and soul in the same way you took raw stairs and made them warm and inviting.
Rhoda,
I have been in the middle of my own move and literally out of touch with everyone and everything for a little while. But I wanted to tell you that you are RIGHT where you are supposed to be. I had a VERY similiar situation with my exhusband and can so identify. It’s devistating. If you ever want to talk, I am here. 🙂
And I have NO DOUBT, you will have great new projects in your parents house and they will be nothing short of fantastic. While your Birmingham home was lovely, I LOVED your old house in GA! I used to LOVE going through your albums and projects at GI. Simply wonderful 🙂
Kristi
You will survive!!! You are a strong woman
and the Lord is with you always.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Beth
xoxoxoxo
As so many have said – its YOU that keeps us coming back not home projects or things! You have done what many strong “steel magnolias” have done- pick yourself up, dust yourself off and make a new future for yourself. Yours is my first and favorite decorating blog so I’m sticking around for whatever you want to write about.
If you’r thinking of changing directions for your blog and working on other peoples homes instead of your own – my little California cottage sure could use some help!
Rhoda,
This is the first time I have ever commented on a blog, but I felt compelled to do so. It’s amazing to me how many women find themselves in your situation. I did — and I not only survived, but am now married to a wonderful man and have a great life. I know that it is devastating now but you will survive and be a stronger person because of it. As you can see from the many comments, life not only goes on but it gets better. I have so enjoyed reading your blog and hope you will continue to blog.
I love your attitude throughout this new chapter of your life but hate to hear about you being taken advantage of financially from someone you loved and trusted. If you get a chance read my friend’s book Luna Tides by Cynthia Cerny. It is an inspiring story about a woman’s triumph when she was financially at the bottom and just a sweet story. I will keep you in my prayers that you continue to keep the strength you have found during all this and that this new page in your book will be a happy and fulfilled one.
Rhoda,
You were the first person to give me a link when I did FranticHomeCook, and you continue to be an inspiration. I’m so sorry to hear about the trial you’re going though, but I’ve seen your wonderful parents and their beautiful country home. I’m sure it will be a peaceful and restful place to think and pray.
So glad to hear you’ll continue to blog. You have a huge fan base, and I’m sure you’ve got great things ahead.
Blessings and grace,
Lisa
Rhonda,
You are a strong beautiful woman. I was thrilled to hear you will continue with your blog. From all of the supportive comments, please know you are not alone. I wish you well in the future with peace. As you so noted… God knows each of your needs. Lifting you and your family in prayer.
Wanda
Rhoda,
I’m so sorry for all that has happened in your life, but love your attitude. I’m believing for good things to come your way.
I have to admit that your being in Atlanta is quite exciting for me. My parents are in Winston near Douglasville and my son is in college in Rome. So…on one of my visits that way I’d absolutely love to meet you!!
Also, feel free to head up to Charlotte and take my house on as a decorating project any time you start missing decorating! 🙂
Praying for you!
I wish you many blessings on your new journey. I’m thankful you have your solid faith in Christ, and know that you’ll be “in His grip”. Please keep blogging. I had such fun following your darling niece’s wedding. As I learned when I had to move, you’ll stay in touch with your dear friends thanks to the internet. I think helping your parents do some decorating projects will be super! You make me want to be from the south!!