I just wanted to apologize to everyone for my neglecting these things. I got a message from someone telling me that Life had gotten in the way and made her fall behind...and I TOTALLY get that. I am there, too. I think we have all been there at some point in our lives.
Everything has been a whirl wind since before Christmas, and I am just now able to breathe. My husband's daughters were with us for the holidays, and that alone is a LOT for me to handle. I love them very much, but they create unnecessary chaos, and I've never had that in my home. In addition to daily melt downs, fights, etc, On Christmas Day, my oldest stepdaughter had an episode and threatened suicide at my house, causing all kinds of chaos which lasted for weeks. It was very upsetting to my husband.
Then 3 days after Christmas, my boss (new owners of my company) told me that I would have inventory in my store on Jan 7th, which was totally not expected, not planned for, or even known, and I had so much to do already, I was in the middle of preparing to move half of my inventory to another location for work...AND move my daughter to live closer to the U of H campus all at the same time. She started school on Jan 13 AND the storage room I had for work was being torn down on the 13th...so a LOT to do.
Then, I had someone quit work the day before I left for my annual retreat,(my exit from reality during the week my son died) and all of this during my HELL week ... when all my grief inevitably resurfaces and reminds me of the day my son died and burying him on his birthday. THEN the airport completely shut down due to the freeze, I was late coming home from my retreat/vacation, and when I finally made it home, my house was frozen because my central heat died.
I could continue, but I am sure you get the picture. I've had a very rough couple of months. And I just did not have the energy to do anything outside of the actual required things in my life. I am truly sorry for neglecting my responsibilities here.
Things are finally settling down.
Hopefully I have not been outcast by everyone for my neglecting the challenge and board.
I truly am so sorry. While on my retreat from reality, I did unplug and did not use any electronics. HOWEVER, I did scrapbook and got quite a bit done. I submitted to the Pretty Little Studio 2025 Creative Team Call and to the Brutus Monroe 2025 Inspiration Team Call.
I made it one of my goals at the beginning of the year to apply to a few of my favorites, whether I made it or not. Well, I applied to both, and hoped for one if I was lucky.
I MADE BOTH!!!!
I got the news from both one week ago... the same day, just hours apart. I was FLOORED!! I never expected both! I AM OVER THE MOON!!
After realigning my life, house, and work due to all the chaos, that was magnificent news for me! I am still on CLOUD NINE!
I spent last week re-organizing my scrap area to make room for all the new product that I will be receiving this week. I Have a lot of product that I will no longer be able to use for a while...as I will be exclusively using Pretty Little Studio and Brutus Monroe.
I thought about doing giveaways with bundles just so someone gets to use my pretties!! LOL
NOW...if you have made it this far...THANK YOU! for sticking with me as I rambled!
I DID do drawings for both the November and December WACKY HOLIDAY CHALLENGES, AND EVERYONE GOT ENTERED TWICE. AND...I DREW 3 TIMES FOR BOTH AS MY SELF ASSIGNED PENALTY FOR BEING SO LATE.
WINNERS FOR NOVEMBER:
1. CYNTHIAB
2. CATHYG89
3. KARYN SUE
WINNERS FOR DECEMBER:
1. GAYLE CHURCHES
2. ART TEACHER
3. STINKERBELLE
EVERYONE WILL BE GETTING A $5 GIFT CARD FROM ME.
THANK YOU ALL FOR PLAYING!!! AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE!!!
I MAY RESUME IT IN MARCH IF NO ONE HAS TAKEN IT OVER.
If
I am an OCD warrior and I fight for my son. 
