Friday, August 14, 2009

Hello, Goodbye...

You may have noticed that it has been a while since my last post... Here is why.

This last month has been a bit of a rollercoaster for me and my family, although I am resistant to change, I have to say that I am pretty peaceful with the events that have occured and are now in motion in our lives.

First, let me start by saying goodbye to my dear friends over at Bad Girls Kits. Wendy has not only been a tremendous inspiration to me, she has also been a true friend and I thank her for that. Since the change over to the new site my contribution to the team has been limited due to my travel schedule, Wendy has been absolutely gracious with me, but as we both have seen it has been alot tougher to try and keep up and be truly active on the site. The girls there are amazing and you can not even imagine the hard work that goes into ALL that they do. They are a true team, and it is not fair for me to be included in that when my time just doesn't allow for me to contribute as my heart desires. So I am no longer on the Bad Girls team, although I will still rock it like a bad girl... the girls there will rock it even BETTER than EVER!

As if that wasn't tough enough...

Since January our family has had it on our hearts that change was coming. At the end of each year I pray for guidance as to what and where our family should spend our focus for the upcoming year. This year, I could clearly hear one word and that word was REFLECT. I even bought a little mirror that I placed on our Christmas tree and often glanced at in wonder of what God meant by this. Slowly but surely his plan unfolded as days turned to weeks and into months. It started with a slight nudge in our hearts that we could do so much more for our children. And in this I mean more than the tangible, I mean relationships, attention, guidance and support. From here I started to notice how even though our life seemed so pulled together, it had become so detailed and scheduled that there was no wiggle room. As my husband worked longer hours, I would teach on the weekends and our family time was limited to a day or even just a few hours here and there. I couldn't shake the feeling that although what we felt was necessary for our family, wasn't to provide them with overwhelming events, or opportunities... but just an overwhelming presence of Mom and Dad. I don't regret the path that has brought us here as I know that it is essential for growth, as a matter of fact I embrace it, because now I can truly understand the word...REFLECT.

I was gifted with having my eyes open as I went through the motions of life and watched my husband do the same. Because of this gift, I was alert of each move and how it affected us and our family and with this my heart was given a clear direction as to what is truly essential for my family. I had no idea that through my time of reflection that my husbands heart would be transformed as well.

So with this I bring you to this past month (which makes me dizzy just thinking about it!!!). This past month has literally felt like a rollercoaster for the Hicks family. Our prayer the last few months was for guidance, strength, and discernment. And although I am definately NOT good with change, I can feel a peace over me and my family as we have made some life changing decisions. With that said we have decided to move to Colorado at the end of this month. Although it may seem a sudden move, it has been in our hearts for sometime, and we have been just waiting for timing to align with our hearts desire. This move will allow our family to focus on the essentials as well as take a step out of our busy Southern California lifestyle. I am not saying that it will be easy or slower pace (life with three kiddos can never be described as slower!) yet it will give us the opportunity to pull ourselves in as a unit and truly be dependent on eachother.

I ask you for your prayers as we tackle this arduous task. Especially for my husband and our trip as I will be out of town for CKC Tulsa and will not be able to help him pack. I will be back in time for one last night in our house before we leave for Colorado. Also if you can keep our children in your hearts as they experience our journey. Although they are excited, a move away from family in which they love so very much is never easy.

Thank you for your support and love, although I know that some of you may want to know a little more about our move, it is hard for me to state everything in just one little blog post. I will try and email you back, but know that our time right now is completely accounted for and it may be a while before I can reply back.

Thank you again, and stay tuned for the next chapter of our journey.

With love,

Liz Hicks and Family

26 comments:

  1. Wow...big changes!

    I will miss seeing your smiling face at local events.

    Good luck with the move...I hope you all find everything you want there!!

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  2. Oh Liz, it sounds like you have some big changes ahead of you. I think it's great that you took the time to reflect and figure out your priorities. (I really need to do that myself!). Good luck with the move and the new home. I'm sure everything will work out great for you and your family!!! Hugs!!

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  3. Shall I speak for all of Colorado and say that we're thrilled to have you? :) Happy, happy thoughts on the move!! Imagine I'll be seeing you more often now. ;)

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  4. Good luck with the move and I hope it brings you and your family all you need! :D

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  5. May God continue to be with you and guide you!!! God Bless you and your family!

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  6. Wishing you all every possible happiness in your new lift in Colorado. How truly wonderful to hear of a family putting family first in these materialistic days.

    God's blessings upon you all.

    Marion, UK

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  7. Liz, I read this with very blurry eyes. God is giving you some wonderful direction in life and you are so wise to heed it. You'll never, ever regret spending more time with your precious children. Looking back, I have some regrets and wishes that we had done more, never less, with our children. Not material things, but our time and attention. Making wonderful memories.

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  8. Good for you sweetie! So happy that things are falling into place and although it will have it`s difficult times, I am sure there are some FABULOUS things in store for the Hicks Family!

    CONGRATS!
    (((HUGS)))
    Trisha

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  9. Good luck with the new path that you and your family will start! All will fall into the proper place with time! Wishing you the best! Hugs from Canada xx

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  10. Good for you! Changes can be fun and challenging at the same time. Congratulations on this!

    I agree with Amanda! Maybe,one day will we meet, since we will now be in the same state.

    Hugs!!!

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  11. Just wanted to say that I love you, and want you to know that I'm here being one of your biggest cheerleaders! Call me anytime.

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  12. thanks ladies! I am sad to leave my California friends, but excited to see my Colorado friends a little more! I will still be back in California for CHA and for Scrapbook Expos, I will try and set up some classes during that time so I can see you all again!

    Thanks for your support!

    ~liz

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  13. What blessings you have in your guidance and especially in your family. Best of luck in your move and being in Kansas myself, I'm glad to call you neighbor!! :)
    Can't wait to see you this Saturday, so looking forward to it!!!

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  14. :) I'm glad to hear things are working out in the way that you want them to. And heck yes, I'm going to call you right now cause I cannot STAND not hearing your voice for, what? weeks now? Egads!
    SL

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  15. You'll never regret making more time for your children & family. I wish you & yours nothing but the best...you'll be missed here in SoCal!

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  16. Best wishes with your move Liz, your family will flourish wherever you move, you have a wonderful attitude and outlook.

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  17. God Bless and Good Luck! Embrace change...Death and Taxes are the ONLY constants in life!

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  18. i'm excited you'll be closer to me, but sending good energy your way to help you through the move! - i'd love for you to do some workshops for us if you're able - email me when you get time -
    hugs/kisses - k

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  19. Good Luck Liz and family! Have a safe journey to your new home. :)

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  20. Wow, you sure do have it all together. I had the pleasure of meeting you last weekend at CKC Tulsa and no one would have guessed you had so much on your plate. I want to tell you that I really enjoyed your class, (I got a picture of us with our hands up and dirty!) I think you will like Colorado. I've never lived there but have visited family there a few times and always thought it would be a wonderful place to live. Good Luck to you!

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  21. We just relocated Liz (to Castle Rock, CO) too and let me tell you...God led us here so swiftly and smoothly!! I know it is hard but it is for some very good reasons... I am sure!! Your words echoed the stuff my family went through and we LOVE it here. Hope your journey goes smoothly.... and if you need a scrappy friend in Colorado, I would love someone to go to Archiver's with!! You can reach me at my blog:
    www.kristinhayne.blogspot.com
    My email is on the bottom of the site. Hang in there and many blessings to you and yours!!
    Sincerely,
    Kristin Hayne

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  22. Hey Liz!! Hope you are all settled in now?? I think this change is going to be a wonderful one for you and your family!!! Best wishes on your new journey!!! I hope you will come back and visit us in San Diego!!

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  23. Liz, I'm late in reading this, so you have probably already moved. Where in Colorado? We are in Colorado Springs.....

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