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.
Hoping your mom says “yes” to the wallpaper removal. I’d love to read your process reviews. Meanwhile, comforted to know we’re not the only house with leftover 1970’s walls.
Good luck in your new adventures, Rhoda.
Nick
Black Fox Manor Historic Inn
Prince Edward Island, Canada
Rhoda –
You are my hero! Thank you for being the beautiful, honest person that you are. I have always enjoyed you blog and fabulous style, but this may sound strange to you – my favorite posts have always been about your family and friends! I have a very small family and do not live near them, so I can’t express how much I enjoy seeing you and your family and girl friends activities! You are an incredible person and I am eagerly following you into your new journeys!
Bless you. I wish you strength and peace. You seem to be a strong and grounded person. Look forward to your bathroom update! Linda
Your story is obviously touching so many lives and encouraging and inspiring along the way. I truly believe that’s the point. God does use this to draw us closer to him, in a way we wouldn’t know otherwise. But also he uses our stories to be a sign to others of his glory and power. Thanks for sharing your story with so many! You have prayers coming your way from all over:)
Rhoda,
We do not read your blog just for the decorting advice only, even though we enjoy that! We read because you write well, and through the years, we have come to know you.
I’m truly sorry for this difficult time you are going through. And, yes, you will be alright! I still look forward to your blog posts. Keep us updated on your bathroom remodel! All the best to you and your wonderful parents!
I regret that such a sweet, creative soul as you is going through this kind of difficulty. Your blog was one of the very first ones I found when looking for kitchen makeover ideas. (Beadboard wallpaper still rocks!) I hope you find new happiness in Atlanta with your family, and I can’t wait to see what kind of creativity your new adventure inspires in you.
So happy you are going to keep your blog going. You have so much to share!!!! Patricia
Oh, Rhoda, I almost cried when I saw your empty (except for the rug) family room but you are right……..time to move on and move on you are. You are a survivor! We have had some bad times financially with Johnny getting laid off from his job in Jan. and both of us are finding full-time jobs. We didn’t see this coming. I have been driving an hour & 15 minutes to training every day but will work closer to here so will only be 30 minutes then. Sometimes life throws us challenges and we just have to deal with it and know God knows what the bigger plan is for us. I am so sorry you are having a tough time right now and wish I was there to hug you. I could use a hug too . 🙂 May the rest of 2011 bring us both stability and happiness ……..love ya! Bonnie
Many blessings to you in your next chapter. Life will be great in Atlanta with your family. You’re so close to Chattanooga…come for a visit! It’s a great town to getaway to for a weekend. 🙂
I am wishing you the best as you begin to create your new life. Having gone through some some trials myself, which sound similar to what yours seem to be, I can tell you some days are easier than others, and I’m four years into it. But, we do survive, a different life, but hopefully a better life> I’ve found me, the real me, and for that I am grateful. I’ve been reading your blog for a long time, and I am so happy you are going to continue writing. I’m in Atlanta as well, and though I don’t blog, I will watch for your upcoming lunch plans!
We will love having you in ATL!! So exciting. And, of course, I will continue to read your blog sans all the decorating. There is a yummy La Madeleine in East Cobb off of Roswell Rd. I have been planning to start my blog for months now, and would love pointers from a veteran blogger!! Welcome to GA!
I have followed ( and enjoyed) your blog for quite a while. I am so sorry that your life has taken such a hard turn. You seem to face it with grace. If you will return to working have you thought of decorating , redesign and/ or staging? It seems like a natural use for your talents and your blog speaks for itself. Whatever you do I wish you luck. I will continue to follow you. Iris
I love your blog because you are real. Sometimes it seems like everyone in the blog world has the perfect life — it’s as if it is just one craft project or dinner party or decorating reveal after another. The fact that you have been so honest in sharing your story is very brave, and very admirable. I agree with all your other readers — you are a strong, determined woman who will survive this and come through with a better, more meaningful life. Your parents are a huge blessing to you, and I’m sure you will be to them. I will be praying for you and looking forward to reading your blog as you create the next chapter of your life.
Rhoda, you are one of my favorite bloggers so I am so glad you will continue. I wish you all the best. You are so right, God knew all the details of your life before they even happened. And praise Him, because He has wonderful things in store for your future.
Many blessings and know that your blog friends are sending you much love, good wishes, many hugs and a beautiful new path.
Rhoda, so happy that you will kept blogging…love your blog and we will all be here for you…thanks for sharing…hugs…Pat H
Oh Rhoda, I am so amazed at your incredibly positive attitude and ability to just radiate beauty and spirit no matter what life throws at you. My prayers are with you as you make this transition!
And, just so you know, I will ALWAYS read your blog, no matter where you live, what you do and how busy you are. You are an incredible, special person and that is infinitely more important than what house you live in.
XOXOXOXO,
~Angela~
My heart and prayers are with you during this transition. I have followed your blog now for several months and love your decorating style. I found your blog thru Traci, over at “Beneath My Heart.” I have even shared your site with my niece who lives in the Hoover Alabama area. I know your parents will be blessed to have you nearby as well.
I look forward to more of your blogging as your new journey begins in Atlanta. Take care and many hugs to you. Thanks for sharing so much and I can’t wait to see more decorating ideas.
Marilyn C.
I hope your parents’ love and God’s love wraps you in their arms and holds you. Much much love…
Also, your readers ain’t goin nowhere! We just care about you in whatever stage of the journey you’re in.
I always check on you after the weekend to see what you have had going on in your life. Everything about you is so “real” and I wish you the best. The thing I love best about blogging is that there are people out there just like me–they “get ” me. You are very lucky to have parents that welcome you and so many friends. You will be fine. Better things will come your way. So sorry that your husband didn’t realize what a wonderful person you are–his loss.