Hi all! I have been a member of this group since it's start, but have had to re-register. I forgot my old username! ;)

My previous name was grannyskeeter, and I know many of you and still keep touch with some of you via FB. Daisy and Sara and maybe others will vouch for me, I think!

I have come here today with a unique request. I know that what I am facing has been faced by many who have raised their grandchildren (Daisy is one), and I'm sure many others are worried that they will end up where I am now. Let me explain a little....

Due to some poor financial advice and a lot of court costs associated with some bogus court actions brought about by my ex-dh who attempted to get custody of my dgs last year (after I had been raising him for almost 5 years), I find myself about to face bankruptcy. While this is a concern for me, in many ways it will also be a relief. I have struggled mightily financially since obtaining first temporary and then permanent custody of my grandson. I already owned a house (and the mortgage that went with it) and the added burdens of the ridiculous court cases threw me over the edge. In many ways it will be a big relief to start over. I need to move to a community where it is cheaper to live and where dgs and I can be our own family. Perhaps some day I can even save enough money to adopt. I live in an extremely poor community where unemployment rates are extremely high and most people work part time only. Even those jobs are nights and weekends and there is no daycare. I have tried hundreds of ways to keep afloat, but they all peter out. Businesses I work at close, there are no more clients for my in-home daycare, etc, etc. It is time to move on. I have attempted to sell my house for 3 years (I have equity in it, even at today's market), but to no avail. So we do what we have to do to keep these dear ones with us.

Here is what I am asking of all of you. First of all, if those of you who know me could include a little note on here so others know I am ligit....

Secondly, I am asking everyone to tell everyone you know who is raising a grandchild that I am looking for someone to move and share a house with me. I am hoping to move to TN, which for years has been the most reasonable state to live in. There are other states I would consider, but only ones with low property taxes and no income taxes. I know it is a long shot. My social worker says I am in the worst position of anyone she knows. She says that none of her other grandparents have had the struggles I have had. But I know that many grandparents HAVE had similar experiences. So I am looking for someone who is also facing losing their home. Can we go together and rent one in a state where we can live a better lifestyle with our grandchildren?

I am looking to move hopefully come fall. In the meantime we would have lots of time to get to know each other and decide if it would work out.

Please share my story and my goal and what I am looking for with your grandparents support groups, forums, anyone you know who is raising grandchildren. Pass it around. Give them my email. Or have them PM me here or on FB (cindi beck). Anyone who would like to pass my email on to their grandparents groups pm me and I will give it to you.

Thank you for reading this whole, loooonnnnggg epistle, and ESPECIALLY thank you for anyone who helps me with my goal! God bless you all!