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The Ruby Slippers Worked!

December 10, 2010 By Deb Chitwood 18 Comments

Previous article: “There’s No Place Like Home” Word-Art Freebie
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Tom, Chrissy, Chea, and Will in San Diego

Tom, Chrissy, Chea, and Will in San Diego

My daughter, Christina, had her ruby slippers on … and they worked! She’s back home in the USA! Chrissy and her, husband, Tom, arrived Wednesday evening in San Diego, where they’ll be living. If you’ve been following my blog, you know that we were “Watching for the Open Door” in June. I’m extremely happy to say that Chrissy found it and used her ruby slippers to walk on through!

Because of Chrissy and Mark’s competitive ice dance career, Chrissy had committed to living in England and competing through 2018. That all changed when Mark decided to retire from competitive skating in June. The news came as a shock and brought with it the question … what now?

DChitwoodWhenOneDoorCloses

We had faith that things would work out, but couldn’t know exactly how they would. Here’s what happened. In the half year since Mark’s decision, Chrissy has had lots of great new experiences:

  • She started two blogs: Fit Body Full Life (with Tom, who’s a golf coch and personal trainer) and Christina Chitwood Performance.
  • She took Stott Pilates training courses in Matwork, Reformer, Cadillac, Chair, and Barrel. Chrissy loves Pilates and is excited to be able to add this to her personal training repertoire. As a competitive ice dancer, she couldn’t take the time away from her ice-dance training to take Pilates training.
  • She took three Zumba training courses and taught Zumba classes in Sheffield. Chrissy absolutely loves Zumba and loves teaching Zumba. She’s written four blog posts about Zumba:

Top Ten Ways Zumba Improves Performance in Everyday Life

Top 5 Ways Zumba Improves Your Fitness

Why I Love Zumba

Have Fun in the Water with Zumba

  • She took two glōminerals makeup training courses. She’s used her knowledge to write posts for Christina Chitwood Performance and has ideas for using her makeup training to help her skating students.
  • She and Mark performed as professional ice dancers in Kyran Bracken’s Ice Party Champions on the Isle of Wight and in Basingstoke, England, in early September – a great experience.
  • She enjoyed gaining more experience as a performance coach, choreographer, and  personal trainer in Sheffield.
  • She choreographed a large group number, a number for the Oxford Freestylers, another number she performed in with the Oxford Freestylers, and her own solo where she was the headliner for the iceSheffield Christmas show four days before her move.
  • And – best of all – Chrissy was offered a position as skating coach at the beautiful Kroc Center in San Diego, the primary coaching rink for Will and the secondary coaching rink for Will’s wife, Chea. Chrissy and Tom have always loved visiting Will and Chea in San Diego and had hoped to settle down there when Chrissy stopped competitive skating. Coaching positions at the Kroc don’t open up that often – and the timing couldn’t be better!

Chrissy moved permanently to San Diego on December 8. Tom is actually visiting Chrissy right now because he has to return to England on January 11 for his final visa application appointment at the U.S. Embassy in London. But by late January, he, too, should be a Californian!

Will and Chrissy were always very close, and this is a wonderful chance for both of them to live and work closely together again. They’ll actually live in the same apartment building and can even carpool to work. And Chea and Chrissy are like sisters who are excited to spend more time together. Will and Chea and Chrissy and Tom have always had so much fun together – and are looking forward to lots of happy family time.

And as for Terry and me … it’s our perfect Christmas present and I’m overflowing with gratitude and happiness! I’m grateful for the amazing experiences both Chrissy and I had in England – and that Chrissy found her wonderful husband there! And I’m more than grateful for the many happy family times we’ll have in the future at Terry’s and my favorite place to visit!

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Previous article: “There’s No Place Like Home” Word-Art Freebie
Next article: “I Will Honour Christmas” Word-Art Freebie

Filed Under: Encouragement, Gratitude Tagged With: Christina Chitwood, gratitude, Kroc Center, open door, ruby slippers, There's no place like home

Previous Post: « “There’s No Place Like Home” Word-Art Freebie
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mika says

    December 10, 2010 at 5:04 am

    Hi! I’m following from the blog hop!
    I’d love a follow back at www.mikaspantry.blogspot.com

    Thanks!
    Mika

    Reply
    • Deb Chitwood says

      December 10, 2010 at 9:33 pm

      Thanks for visiting and following, Mika! I’m on my way to visit your blog now.

      Reply
  2. Carolee a.ka. Blogging Biz Mom says

    December 10, 2010 at 5:23 am

    That’s great that they are back in the states and that she found a job already!

    Visiting from Never Growing Old’s “Follow Friday 40 and over”

    Have a great day!

    Reply
    • Deb Chitwood says

      December 10, 2010 at 9:46 pm

      Thanks, Carolee! I’m beyond excited! I hope you’re having a great day, too!

      Reply
  3. CarolW says

    December 10, 2010 at 8:29 am

    It’s lovely she’s back and got employment. I’m going to drop by her blogs. Very intrigued by Zumba.
    fab post today by the way. I really enjoyed it.

    Reply
    • Deb Chitwood says

      December 10, 2010 at 9:50 pm

      Thanks for your kind comment, Carol! And thanks for stopping by Chrissy’s blogs! I think you’d probably love Zumba – Chrissy’s got me hooked on it!

      Reply
  4. Janet says

    December 10, 2010 at 9:14 am

    Oh how exciting. And really, there is no place like home, and nothing as sweet as having family close by. Congratulations to each of you. It speaks volumes as parents help children see the open doors. Blessings, Janet
    http://inherpeace-janetsjournal.blogspot.com/
    and
    http://skinnyonmini.blogspot.com

    Reply
    • Deb Chitwood says

      December 10, 2010 at 9:57 pm

      Thanks so much for your very sweet comment, Janet! “There’s no place like home, and nothing as sweet as having family close by” definitely resonates with me today! San Diego may not be that close, but it seems close when it’s so near by plane. Blessings to you, too!

      Reply
  5. Sandra says

    December 10, 2010 at 11:05 pm

    Clearly pride wouldn’t begin to cover how you feel! Congrats on all of her successes, and you’re right: when one door closes, another opens.

    Reply
    • Deb Chitwood says

      December 11, 2010 at 12:19 am

      Thanks, Sandra! I am definitely a proud mom – and very grateful that another door opened!

      Reply
  6. Pam says

    December 11, 2010 at 5:39 am

    What a wonderful post that left me feeling all warm and even more Christmasy than I already was feeling!

    Reply
    • Deb Chitwood says

      December 11, 2010 at 12:28 pm

      Thanks so much for your kind comment, Pam! Have a wonderful Christmas season!

      Reply
  7. Jersey Diva Mom says

    December 11, 2010 at 7:27 am

    It sounds like a door has definitely opened, and along the way she got the chance to stop and open some windows too, to enjoy a few different views. Great way to end the year!

    Reply
    • Deb Chitwood says

      December 11, 2010 at 12:30 pm

      Thanks! And I love your “along the way she got the chance to stop and open some windows too, to enjoy a few different views”! So true – and a great way to put it! I hope your holiday season is wonderful, too!

      Reply
  8. Betsy at Zen Mama says

    December 15, 2010 at 7:07 am

    I’ll definitely go and read their blogs!!

    Reply
    • Deb Chitwood says

      December 17, 2010 at 5:57 pm

      Thanks, Betsy! I think you’ll enjoy them – Chrissy and Tom are focused on having a healthy and happy lifestyle!

      Reply

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