I think it was around this time last year ... a week before the MMM '08 deadline ... that I started my projects for my entry.  My husband had just returned from Iraq, we left our home in San Diego and moved to Alabama.  As always, my office was the first to be unpacked.  For some reason my husband encouraged me to enter.  I have no idea how he heard about the contest and have no idea what made him prompt me...and I have no idea what made me think I could pull off an entry in a week's time with our entire home packaged neatly in box after box after box...towers of boxes that was our home.  But, I did.  It was my third year entering.  Never really phased me in the least that I wasn't selected in previous years.  Even losing the single layout didn't bother me as I have way too many layouts anyway.  So, I entered in the nick of time.  Submitted and easily forgot about the contest.  When there was an anonymous announcement that they had been called...I assumed it was true and shrugged off another year not selected.  I believe that was on a Thursday. 

Tuesday morning I was out on a 5 mile walk with a girlfriend and my daughter in the jogging stroller.  It was 9am and I swear it must have been 100 degrees already outside in Alabama.  When the phone rang...I looked at the number.  It was an unfamiliar area code.  I absolutely panicked.  I almost didn't want to answer the phone and leave it to go to voice mail.  But, I did answer it.  Patty greeted me and explained the purpose of the call.  I started to cry...blush.  It was so completely unexpected.  I had thought the calls had already gone out (the anonymous thread was a hoax).  Although the term surreal is simply a cliche...I couldn't describe it any other way.  So...I sat there crying...which...I NEVER do...blush.  Patty had a whole spiel of information she was attempting to relay to me.  I didn't catch any of it.  

When the call ended...and I sat there numb...I realized...I would then have to explain my reaction to my girlfriend.  My girlfriend Monique is a woman who wouldn't cry if her leg broke in two (that's actually true...I was there when she broke her ankle for the SECOND time ... and not a single tear welled in her eyes;). And  a woman who didn't even know what scrapbooking was.  No, the my tears weren't because someone had died...blush...which was her first question...but that I had won a contest.  lol  Oiy...I would have rathered been alone for THAT call thank.you.very.much!  LOL  Unable to share the news with anyone that "GOT" scrapbooking was PURE TORTURE! 

Hmm...I had a point somewhere in here;)  My point...you can do it!  If you're nearly there...finish it up.  If you haven't started...pull yourself together and get 'er done!  And DON'T over think it!  Do what you love and love what you're doing...it will translate!  A LOT of this comes down to luck!  I was and still am an unrecognizable name.  My resume was and still is meager:)  I'm a hobbyist that was recognized:D  My layouts layed with thousands of other very talented artists.  The stars were aligned.  You just never know!  And that is the truth!  So...Enter, enter, enter...and best of luck to EVERYONE!!!!   

Love, Tracy Austin