Along the Journey
Hey friends! Thanks for stopping by today for my weekly edition of Along the Journey where I share what projects we have been up to lately.
This week I have been on a little adventure. Let me fill you in.
My mom was born and raised in Beaumont, Texas. She met my dad when he lived in this house. Eventually, they were married and started their family.
My dad was in the Air Force so that meant a life of training schools and deployments. During one of his first training schools, my mom stayed with his parents in this house. She was expecting their first baby.
She had grown up and then lived several years as a married woman with children in Beaumont.
And at 87 she wanted to see Beaumont again. One of my sisters made all of the arrangments, we jumped on a plane and spent this whole week seeing some of the places she remembered.
Seeing this home had an impact on me that I ddin’t expect. I’m still working through some of that but for now, I like to think about my dad growing up here with his mom, dad and sister.
It helped me to connect to him in way I had never considered. And for me that meant a lot.
My parents eventually divorced when I was three and I didn’t know my dad for many, many years due to living 2000 miles away from him.
Seeing this house in person helped me to connect to him and his parents, whom I never really knew.
This is a story that could go on and on and I am even wondering why I am writing all of this. Maybe it’s a little bit of therapy 🙂 Maybe I am just processing.
At any rate, the adventure from this past week included traveling 1500 miles so that my mom could see some of her hometown and it led me to discovering some of my own roots.
And for that, every mile was worth it.
recent blog posts
Let’s peak into the past at some posts from past Octobers. Tap the images to read the post!
recent YouTube video
If you are interested in spending an ordinary day with me, then you will enjoy this video! You will also see my mom and my sisters!
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Here are some of the items that my followers are grabbing. Click on the images to get one for yourself! And yep, you can see some Christmas shopping has been happening already!
The soap-making supplies are popular too – I think people are interested in making these soaps as gifts for friends. I’ve shared about that over on YouTube when I told them about the freebie library gift tags.
Peeps are also loving that back wrap apron pattern and the grain sack fabric. Those would make great gifts too!
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Until next time…
Cindy Rust
Cindy has been decorating her home with thrift store finds for 40 years. She is an avid thrift store shopper who loves to makeover the items she finds into vintage-inspired home decor and furniture. When she isn’t thrift shopping or painting a piece of furniture, you can find her making homemade butter, working in her garden, or painting with watercolors.
What a great email Cindy!
Love hearing about your discoveries and knowing that we aren’t the only ones processing our histories to help us understand ourselves.
And your gift ideas are so thoughtful.
Thanks Diane! It was a great trip for my mom and for my sister & me. It’s a memory I will treasure 🙂
Cindy,
What a wonderful way to get back to your roots. A trip down memory lane for your mom and you. Military family life is a challenge for all, especially the families left behind.
Add in divorce and that is another ball of wax as they say.
I am happy that you enjoyed your family adventure and that you could share it with us.
Have a wonderful weekend. Off to check out your latest video.
Thanks Elizabeth! Sometimes healing can hurt but it’s always worth it 🙂 Thanks for watching my videos!
Oh, Cindy!
What a selfless thing you did for her. As emotional as that had to be for you, I too agree that this will be the start of healing and forgiveness for you.
Thank you for sharing you’re heart. Hugs xo 😘
ps… Next time you visit Texas, I hope you guys can come to visit. We would love to see y’all again.
Do, I def would have come to visit if the trip hadn’t been for my mom. We wanted to focus on experiences for her. The trip meant alot to her. Next time I am in Texas I’m coming to your place!!
I had to pause a moment when I started reading this, because I live about 20 miles from Beaumont. I am sure your trip was an emotional one for you and your family. The area has changed a lot, as with most towns, but it is the memories that your mother will remember, those will remain the same. I am glad your trip gave you a type of closure. It was also a wonderful gesture on you and your sister’s part.
Thanks Karen! The trip was a memorable one for my mom. Even though things have changed, it stirred alot of memories for her and for that I am thankful. She would see street names and say, “I remember that street!” It was a good trip for all of us 😊
Hi Cindy – Thank you for sharing a photo of the house where your Dad grew up. As I reflect upon our parents lives and our grandparents lives – I realize how much hardship they had to endure. Wars, the great depression, lack of educational opportunities, even medical and health issues. Just think of how far we have come in recent years with taboo topic of mental health?
When I look back on history – I have so much reverence for them and all they accomplished. I believe this is why I like antiques so much. Often times, I say “they don’t make furniture like they used to”. Now that I think about it – the same could be said about people too.
Thanks for sharing your road trip. Kudos to your Mom for wanting to go and for embracing the experience.
I’m with you on the reason I love old furniture and architectural pieces so much. They hold so much history of those who lived during that era. As for the house my dad grew up in, I would have scooped it up and brought it home if it were possible. I would love to restore it back to it’s original look of the 30-40s and then live in it!
What a sweet story, with the bittersweet of life thrown in! Memories and history often tug us back to places we never thought we’d be in again, seeing places that made us. That is part of our history, part of what we are. There’s always ‘that feeling’ that goes with these trips and I’m so glad you, your mom, and your sister got the experience.
Thanks Lynne! It is a bittersweet part of my story but I believe we grow through those parts as well. Thanks for stopping by!