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.
Wishing you all the very very best – sending you a cyber hug!
Oh Rhoda, as others have said, the hurt will heal. God is faithful! I’m so glad you have some potential projects to tackle in your parents’ house, and just getting yourself settled will keep you busy too. When you get around to planning an Atlanta blogger’s gathering, let me know! I’m in Marietta and would love to join in and meet you!
Hey, girl!
So glad the move is over for you. You’ve been in my prayers. I’m flying into Birmingham in May. Going home for Mother’s Day. I’ll let you know the next time I’m in Atlanta. Hopefully we can get together.
Love you,
Rhonda
Rhoda – I read every word and am so happy that you have come through with true friendships, a wonderful support system and a new lease on life. I absolutely do hope you keep on blogging — it has been a pleasure to “talk” with you on Twitter and read your beautiful blog. I will never forget the kindness in sharing your advice with me when I asked a few months ago. Thank you — and may we continue to share this journey right beside you.
Rhoda, I have been reading your blogs, enjoying your garage sale finds and all the neat things you shared with your readers for quite a while. Sometimes, it’s in the darkest times of our lives that God’s presence becomes so real to us. Remember……………..God is a God of restoration!!! You have a wonderful gift! God bless!
Rhoda,
It is so hard when someone you trusts betrays you, but you have many blog friends in your corner that are rooting for you and sending you love and hugs. It is such a blessing to be able to have your parents with you, please enjoy them each and every day.
I am so happy you will still be blogging. I love your blog!
What a sweet post. I’m so glad you have wonderful family and friends around you during this time of transition. And, your faith is a great testimony.
Bless your heart! I promise to be a pray support for you each time I read your blog posting! I married at 14 years of age and was married for 41 years before divorcing. God was with me through all of it and has continued to grow me into a more whole person. Remember that saying…..Please be Patient – God is not Finished With Me Yet!
You will be fine…..there is just a lot of surviving and grieving on the way there!
Hi Rhoda, you are stronger than you think sweet lady..I for one will follow your blog as it and your life takes on a new journey..and hey, if you want a working vacay in Palm Springs, CA anytime, come on out..I could really use your decorating expertise and show you some of my world out west!
hugs
Barb
Rhoda,
You continue to inspire us all in many ways. Thank you for taking the high road as you go through this season of turmoil. You are certainly modeling for your younger readers how a Godly woman should react when facing a personal tragedy. I will continue to pray for you and will look forward to some great updates of your parents house!
http://www.lifeatlydiashouse.blogsot.com
I have never commented before, but just want to tell you I will be thinking of you and praying for you as you enter this new season of your life. It’s quite a journey, but you are right when you say you will be ok. God will show Himself to you in ways you never thought possible. He is good–always–even in this.
Three years ago I was a stay-at-home mom (for 20+ years), with a son still at home–and my husband of 23 years left me/us two weeks before Christmas. He literally left and never came home. I didn’t know what hit me. He had been having an affair and living a secret life and I had no idea. I lost my marriage and the wonderful (or so I thought) life I had. It was devastating–emotionally, spiritually, financially.
But…here I am, years later, married to a man that loves me like I have never known love before (he had been a family friend for 22 years), in a new town, with a job I really like and happier than I have been in a very long time, if not ever. And I have an amazing relationship with my children, friends that I love (both real life and bloggy), a wonderful church and 3 great stepsons. It’s been a long journey and I continue to heal–but I made it. And so will you! : )
Hugs and blessings to you Rhoda!!
Thanks for sharing this part of your life. I recently had to move after the bank illegally foreclosed on my home of 8 years when they I had an agreement that they would not. I had to quickly purge my items and find a new place to live. My parents came up to help with everything, it was a tremendous blessing.
I am now resettled and enjoying a fresh start. I remember how very stressful the move and surrounding circumstances were. Things will get better.
I am so happy to hear that you will continue to blog.
Your blog is one of my favorites. It doesn’t matter, what you
blog about, I enjoy it all.
Just by reading this post, I can tell you have a
wonderful family, that would do anything for you!
I am so glad you have them in your life. I am so sorry to
hear what happened to you. I know you will get through.
God Bless you!
Rhoda.
No words.
Other than I am so very proud of you.
I love you.
Here’s to the rest of your life… let the symphony begin.
Always,
Kim
Oh Rhoda, I love you. You are such a strong and wise lady, and I feel truly blessed to have been able to meet you. Your parents sound like complete gems and you are so lucky to have them. But they probably see it as they are lucky to have you back in their home. 🙂 This will be a fun journey and I can’t wait to read all about it!
I found myself in a similar situation ten years ago. I, too, moved back to my childhood home and began the process of rebuilding my life. My faith in my ability to make sound judgements was destroyed and I was certain that I could never learn to trust again. I’m quite happy to admit that I was wrong about that. I’m praying for a happy ending for you as well. I’m so glad that you’re going to continue to blog, and I will continue to follow you, even if you never post anything about decorating or crafting again. Your beauty and warmth shines through, no matter the subject.
Rhoda,
I just wanted to tell you how much I’ve enjoyed you over the years and will be keeping you in my prayers. Your strength and great faith in God will pull you through this and life will be even better than before. I think you’ll have lots of friends along for the ride!
Hugs,
Donna
I love your blog and I am glad you will keep it up. I have learned the hard way that we can’t always choose what happens to us but we can choose how to deal with it. And you have shown grace and strength. I wish you well.
My hubby and I live in a 1965 brick home 3 bedrooms and 2 baths; probably half of America grew up in our type of home. I look forward to any renovations you do at your parents’ home because they will likely apply to our home. I’ll be following your new journey and praying for you along the way.
Just excited that I will hear from you still on your blog. Have started about every AM w/ you the past 2 years. Think of you every time I see your signature green dishware and decorative pieces. Much love to you in your future and may God cover you w/ peace after all the difficult decisions these past months.