Hi Han....

I find it hard to get my head around that people actually read this blog.  Recently, I have had an increasing number of people saying "Hi Han" to me as I walk down the street. 

The scene usually goes something like this:

: Stranger says "Hi Han"  or  "Hi Macie"  or  "Oh look at Will - isn't he getting big!"
: I do my usual "Smile & Wave" trick and turn to Heath and say "Who was that?"
: Heath replies "How the hell would I know....remember you have a blog Han?"
: Then there is a silence where I scan through my memory to try and work out who is saying hello to me!
: Then I go "Pfft - no one reads it anyway" and go on trying to wrangle two kids and do my list of jobs. 

But lately, I can't seem to ignore the increasing number of "Hellos" by all these beautiful people.  I love it because there is nothing more refreshing than walking down the street to be greeted with friendly faces and happy hellos.  It's humbling and surreal.

So, thank you for being so friendly. 
Thank you for being so nice. 
But mostly, thank you for reading my blog. 
You are all amazing - whether I know you or not. 

X 

Thankful

Thanksgiving seems like such a magical holiday over in the States.  A holiday that makes people stop and simply be thankful....maybe we all need a bit more of that in our lives. 

Here are a few things I am thankful for:

1.  My marriage to Heath - which is strong enough to have a good old barney and still love each other at the end of the day.  Where we speak from the heart, love each other for who we are and share the same goals and dreams for our family.  When we get off our road of direction - it never takes long for us to recognise this, rejuvinate and get back on track.  I really am so thankful for this man.

2.  Macie's determination to piece sentences together.  She is so funny and has had Heath & I in hysterics over the past few days.  She is eptimone of our happiness. 

3.  Macie's new way of hugging which is now a "squeezy" hug where she wraps her hands around your neck and squeezes the love out of you.  She will then proceed to tell you how "Yummy" that cuddle was. 

4.  A simple mango smoothie

5.  Our families who love us unconditionally - through thick and thin, good times and bad.  We owe our parents and families so so so much. 

6.  Online shopping - I think I may have an addiction.  My visa is proving this theory but I am definitely still in denial.

7.  My new camera thanks to the genoristy of my father-in-law who sold me his little beauty.  One day I hope to have a camera collection like his....in the meantime, I am loving the images this camera is gifting me with.

8.  Text messages from my lovely friend late at night talking about things as random as "How Hot the Braxton Brothers are on Home & Away" to breastfeeding and steralising bottles!

9.  My midwife who is helping me renew my faith in my body and preparing it for a beautiful birth in February. 

10.  Our humble abode - as much as I talk about paint, new bathrooms, more space and renovations - I am still so thankful to have a warm, cosy home to house my beautiful family.

11.  Facebook - for it's this that keeps me in touch with my friends and family when days on the farm feel a little too lonely and long.

12.  My long-lost sewjo to complete a few Christmas projects.  It feels good to be in front of the sewing machine again.

13.  My life.  I am so thankful for my beautiful, simple and fufilling life.

What are you thankful for?

The beauty of Karma....

It was Heath's birthday yesterday....the big day where he entered the Dirty Thirties and he even managed to enjoy himself.  I fell in love with this amazing man 9 years ago on a flooded creek - he was the cowboy with the black hat and the rest is history.  Needless to say, I purchased him a new black hat for the next 30 years and felt myself falling in love with him all over again when I took this photo.  Can that be possible?  I know - I am being all lovey-dovey....can't help it sorry!

I know I sing Heath's praises a lot - and tell you all how much I love him - but one of the biggest things I love about him is that he always have time for people.  Remember this story that I told you of him stopping by the highway to help an elderly couple who were moving interstate (if not - read it!).....well you would never believe what happened.

In yesterday's mail we received a parcel from this beautiful couple who had remembered the date of Macie's birthday while talking with Heath and had sent a birthday present!  They wrote a special note to Heath reminding him of how thankful they were, wishing Macie a Happy Birthday and also wishing us all the best with the birth of our new baby. 

I talk about Karma a lot around here.  That good things happen to good people - and even if it comes in the shape of a Purple Bear that Macie has fallen in love with....then so be it.  It is fantastic lesson for us to teach to our children and what better role model to have than Heath?

Happy Birthday to the most beautiful husband in the world.  May your next thirty years be as great as the last...

I had this printed and made a canvas for Heath for his birthday.  I couldn't work out which one he loved more - the hat or the canvas!  Win Win!!

Good things happen....

Heath proposed to me again over the weekend.  Yep - on one knee and asked me, his wife, to marry him - all while placing my ORIGINAL engagement ring on my finger.....the very same ring that I lost 2 months ago and cried a river of tears.  Over the last 2 months I have searched the house endlessly, reluctantly filed a claim with my insurance company and only last week received the 'go-ahead' from the insurance to go and purchase myself a new one.  The money was sitting in my account - all I needed to do was walk into the jewellery store in town and purchase the ring.  What was stopping me? I had no idea.

Then for some reason on Saturday, I decided it would be a really good idea to wash the car.  Heath was busy at the shed and Miss Moo had her 'teething-I-hate-the-world' pants on.....so usually anything involving water dissolves the mood and places a smile on her face.  To really set the picture....in all my time owning a car - I think I have washed them probably 3 times.  I usually either drive with a dirty windscreen and mud on the wheels (much to the husbo's disgust) or I pay the trusty young man at the Car Wash to do the job for me.  Washing cars just isn't my thing.....but for some reason on Saturday, I was determined to make our car sparkle.

So I drove the car into the yard, fought with Macie over the hose, cursed at the dog for biting my toes and started to wash the car.  Then something sparkled in the grass......and it caught my eye.....and there it was....my engagment ring - sitting in the grass on the corner of the patio.  It has been mowed over, frosted on, rained on and has been sitting in the dirt for 2 months - and there isn't a diamond missing and it is still in it's original shape.  Oh.my.fricken.god!

You are probably wondering where the photos are - but I was in too much shock to grab the camera.....I ran inside immediately to call Heath on the UHF radio and said "GET HOME NOW!".....next thing I know he is standing with me in the yard completely dumbfounded too.....he only mowed over that ring the weekend before.

My beautiful engagement ring that Heath proposed to me all those years ago is back on my finger (although needs to be resized).....the very ring that I thought I had lost and shed so many tears over...and maybe blamed Macie for loosing on me!  Lucky she doesn't really understand me.....  

Good things happen to those who wait.....and I am so very glad that I waited.....

And just to let you know - I did the right thing and called the insurance company to let them know that I had found the ring and asked if they wanted me to reimburse the funds.....the end of the line was quiet with a response from the operator being..."Um....I have never had a phonecall from a customer telling us that they want to reimburse the money - I am going to have to get back to you ma'am".  Honesty is my policy.....even if that money would have been so very welcome in our savings account!

So - when life feels like it is throwing all the punches your way and you start to feel a bit defeated....just remember that "Good things happen" because they truly do.....

Sponsored Posts
I am considering opening up my blog to incorporate Sponsors from beautiful and unique businesses which scream quality, class and most importantly, love.  I refuse to let these posts over-ride my blog however would love to include their products into our everyday life at the farm and spread the word in handmade world.  So if you would love to be considered as a Sponsor - please e-mail me with your business details, contacts and website address.  X