This is the final post from Kendra Wright, former owner of Give Simple...

It’s an exciting new era for Give Simple!

Some of you may know that I have a full-time job besides Give Simple. Although I love it with all my heart, my full time job is with my marketing firm, Wright Strategies. I started Give Simple in my spare time with my wonderful sister Tracy and my fabulous friend Karen.

It’s grown beyond my wildest expectations, and it’s been an amazing ride. But it has been increasingly difficult to split my time between my “real job” as a marketing consultant and my night-and-weekend job offering gifts to women online.

So I have made the difficult decision to sell Give Simple.

In looking for a buyer, I was interested to find someone who had great experience in retail and could grow Give Simple like I wish I had the time and skills to. And since Give Simple is also about making life better, it was important that they have the philanthropic mindset I admire.

I’m excited to introduce the new owners of Give Simple, Christine and Michael Holland. I couldn’t have asked for people whose experience and values are as close to what I was looking for. Christine was a Senior VP at Foley’s before spending the last year full time in charitable efforts. And Michael and their three golden retrievers will help her hold down the fort.

As I sit here on the last night I will own Give Simple, I reflect on the amazing experience and how I’ve been so blessed to have people in my life whose support has also been beyond my wildest expectations. At the risk of people thinking I’m under the mistaken impression I just won a Grammy, I want to thank the following people:

* My unbelievably supportive husband Kirk who makes everything I do worthwhile and so much more successful (and who deserves the occasional weekend with his wife!);

* Karen, who dreamed the dream with me at the most painful time in her life and whose initial help in planning the site allowed Give Simple to be possible;

* Tracy, who agreed to be the Queen of the Ship and ship packages three weeks before the site launched, but ended up adding so much more and showed me what unselfish giving of yourself really means;

* My fabulous Wright Strategies business partners Aaron and Jeremy who I love like brothers and who supported me through every growing pain, and Chris, whose fortitude and can-do spirit in programming Give Simple I’ll always be grateful for;

* The rest of my Wright Strategies team, Arden and “the Lauries” who pitched in beyond every call of duty during our Lucky madness and beyond,

* My dad, whose experience in go-karts and ranching has been irreplaceable and applicable to every business decision I’ve ever made,

* My mom, who passed on to me a love of variety that made me believe I could manage three companies at once;

* Catherine, who gave me a kick in the pants I needed to make the decision to get a life;

* And finally, my friends (especially Melinda, one of Give Simple’s best customers, and someone who showed me perspective while I was selling) who stood by me in so many times when I had only two brain cells left for them.

Finally, I want to reflect on how difficult it has been to make the decision to let go of something I’ve loved so much. It’s been like getting a shot that you know will make you feel better in the long run, but it’s still so painful to get. I think the realization came when I told someone I don’t have a choice about working so much. It occurred to me that I am the only person who could make the decisions needed to have a life outside work. Right now, I have the fear of the unknown. I know the exhaustion that comes from working most every minute every day. But I truly don't know what lies ahead for me when every minute isn’t filled. I’m excited about the new beginnings waiting to unfold when the time is right.

Warmest welcome and best wishes to Christine and Michael. I know the future is bright for Give Simple, and I can’t wait to see it unfold.

Here’s to new beginnings.

Kendra