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The wedding is this weekend!! My boys all fly in today along with my youngest brother and his girlfriend. (With my mom’s health, no one else from Texas felt comfortable making the trip. It’s sad, but we all understand.) We’ve got set up and the rehearsal dinner tomorrow afternoon. The wedding and reception on Saturday. Then everyone flys back out Sunday. A really quick trip.

But I’m so excited to have all my kiddos here for 48 hours. I’m headed down to Atlanta today to shuttle them back tonight. We will all spend the night at my grandmother’s house.

Outside of working this week, I’ve made several trips back and forth to Beauty’s house to tote things for the wedding over so it’s ready for tomorrow’s set up. (She and Redhead live about 40 minutes from here.)

Who knew how emotional and stressful a wedding can be?!? Another argument in my book for why I never wanted one. I just wasn’t one of those girls who ever dreamed of or planned a wedding. (Yes, I know this isn’t about me. It’s all about Beauty; these are just my thoughts and takeaways. I am 100% here to support Beauty’s vision and dream.)

Beauty has done soo much work. She’s got such a clear vision of what she wants. And I am so impressed with how it’s all coming together.

day of order of events

Contingency Plan

We have had some scary moments, but we’ve been able to handle them quickly without too many arguments or meltdowns.

The photographer cancelled last minute. Thankfully, I was able to get the photographer I’ve used for our family photos, the kids senior pics, and even Beauty’s bridal shower, so crisis averted. The challenge is that the photographer is not returning their deposit until after the wedding, so small panic mode, but we figured out how to handle.
Due to them being incapacitated due to the wreck, some of the design pieces that they were going to do themselves had to be changed. The florist, one of my childhood friends, and our church family has been amazing at stepping up to help us pivot and get it in line with her vision.

It seems like every day has brought us a “emergency” to handle, but we got here, and I believe we are about ready.

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.

Truck Stop Bathroom

by Hope

Ever spent $17 for a shower? Yeah, me neither. At least until this past week.

Addie and I left last Saturday evening to begin our trip to Georgia. Car camping along the way. I have new blackout curtains for the 5 windows that my dad helped me fit properly with duct tape and some magnets we found in my mom’s sewing supplies as I’ve been purging the different rooms in the house. (Previously I only had the front sun windshield cover.)

We drove through Arkansas and Missouri to start. Taking mostly back roads and exploring places I’d never been. I typically try to sleep at rest areas, but with using mostly back roads and small highways, rest areas were not easy to find. Therefore, we had to spend nights at truck tops more often. Which is fine. I feel safe there, the bathrooms are clean, and many now have dog parks.

I experienced my first Love’s Truck Stop shower. And here’s how it went…

Love's Truck Stop shower

It was large and clean. Quick and easy to book and access using their app. And they supplied everything I needed although I couldn’t determine the difference between the soap dispensers in the shower. I believe one was supposed to be body wash and one shampoo? But no idea which was which.

I took these pictures as I walked in the door. So you could share the experience just as I did. The water was hot. There was no wait at this time. And no time limit that I could discern. After a few days in the car and just sponge baths, a long hot shower was magical.

Additional Costs

I packed lots of food and a cooler full of drinks. Outside of a splurge for a Buc-ee’s brisket sandwich (~$9) and a bag of ice ($1.50) to replenish the cooler and my water bottles, and now my $17 shower, I’ve not really spent any money.

I ended up leaving Missouri, back tracking a bit, and then went through Memphis. It wasn’t my planned route. But lots of thoughts and considerations rolling around in my head which re-routed me a bit to see some clients along the way.

I would up in Atlanta at Princess house late Thursday. We had plans with my aunt and uncle Friday night. And then I moved to my Grandmother’s house in the tiny town where we used to live on Saturday night. I’ll stay here until after the wedding.