I know, I know...

It is completely RIDICULOUS that I have not updated in two months. I apologize to any of you that have stopped by to check in and found me seriously slacking!! The truth is, I have not had anything scrappy to share. I have not even been IN my scrap room since October, and sadly did not even make Christmas cards this year. It is pathetic really. I have intended to update often, but when I sit down to check in everything I think about typing feels like whining....and I don't want this to be a place where people come to listen to me whine!! But I guess I better update so you don't forget that I am here altogether.

Things have been a bit challenging around here lately - I won't go into great detail, but just know that I have been a bit preoccupied. Sadly when I get stressed and overwhelmed I tend to go hide in my corner (and eat!!). But 2009 is here, and this is going to be a MUCH better year! I am determined to make it so.

The big news for 2009 - we are MOVING! In order to survive our economic challenges and save money, and in order to provide the best possible lives for our children and our family, we are combining households with my mother. We are so truly blessed to have her in our lives, and as difficult as the last few months have been, we are really excited to have this opportunity. We expect to start the moving process sometime this month, so I may be scarce for a while longer. My mother purchased a bank owned home that is big enough for all of us and affordable enough that we can share expenses and stay afloat in this crazy economy! The house needs a bit of work, and I will spend the next year (or ten) trying to give it the personality that I can see hiding in the bland and ugly of it (lol) so that will keep me busy! And my husband promises that within the next few months we can convert part of the garage space to a scrap space for me... which means it may be a while yet before I get to do any serious scrapping! But I am looking forward to a designated scrap room soon! I will have to let painting and decorating a house fill my creative needs for a while I guess, and I hope to share the photos (once I have the AFTER photos) as we go...I will get to really test my creativity as I attempt to make this home mine with a $0 budget!

The kids are all doing great, and we all had a lovely Christmas. They have really enjoyed having time off from school the last couple of weeks, and have learned the real art of being lazy it seems!

I hope that the new year is finding all of you happy, healthy and prosperous, and I hope that you will come check in on me periodically as I hope to get back to sharing soon...really!

I do have a layout that I created before going in to hiding that I never shared...this was a layout that I completed for the Scrap Whispers challenge...I will leave you with it...have a lovely weekend!