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by Hope

I leave with my dad for a month-ish long road trip soon. My dogs are going with us. And I’ll get to visit with both of my daughters. Woot, woot!

You all know that I love to travel. And road tripping is my favorite.

On the other hand, I’ve never traveled with someone for so long. So this will be an experience.

The great news is that this trip is on dad’s dime. We are headed toward the east coast with some fun stops along the way.

The bad news is that it is going to cut into my working hours and I won’t have complete control of my schedule. I’m going to have to be very diligent about my work. Even when I’m tired.

Our first stop is the Texas State Fair. The majority of the Texas based family is going. It was dad’s idea and most everyone jumped on board. I think there will be 10 of us there. It should be a great time! We have lots of memories at various state fairs.

Then dad and I will head to visit a bunch of his friends as we meander over a week toward Georgia. There I will get to visit my girls, while he will be attending his last high school reunion.

The trip back is still unknown. I think Dad could go either way. He will either be having a blast and want to visit some more people. Or he will be worn out and ready to get back to his own bed.

I’ll just enjoy the ride. And be there to support him. In any way he needs it. This trip is all about him. I’m just there as a companion, chauffeur, and support should he need it in any way.

I cannot even imagine losing my spouse of 54 years and still having to function. I can not. I’m glad Dad is getting out and visiting people from their past. He’s been homebound for the better part of 9 years now. This will be good for him.

Hope

Hope is a resourceful, solutions-driven online business manager with over two decades of experience helping clients streamline operations, manage projects, and grow their businesses through digital marketing and technology.

But life has a way of rewriting your plans.

A year ago, Hope made the decision to move in with her aging parents full time – a season she wouldn’t trade, even as it came with its own financial and emotional weight. Earlier this year, she lost her mother, and is now walking the tender, disorienting path of grief while learning what “forward” looks like from here.

Hope came to the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015 as a single mom raising five foster and adoptive children. She’s written through job changes, financial setbacks, and the bittersweet transition to an empty nest. Her kids are finding their footing in the world now – and so is she.

Rooted in faith and fueled by the same perseverance she’s brought to every hard season, Hope is ready to face her finances with fresh eyes and an honest pen. She believes that clarity, courage, and community can change the trajectory of anyone’s story including her own.

She lives in Austin, TX with her dad, loves adventures with her dog Addie, and is figuring out, one step at a time, what this next chapter is meant to be.