SpruceHill

Thankful

Whew I have had a busy few days full of cooking and cleaning! Everyone has arrived and the house is bursting with Family. We are planning a nice big family dinner for this evening. I have prepared a lot of dishes ahead so I can enjoy the day. It's very quiet sitting here in the kitchen with my cup of coffee. Everyone is still snuggled into their beds. But soon the house will be bustling with activity. I love this time of day.

 
Thanksgiving really has changed for me since my breast cancer diagnosis. I have so much to be thankful for. Thankful to be healthy and alive. Thankful for my girls and my wonderful husband. For the love we have for each other and our children. Our home and little farm. For our siblings and families. We are so blessed.

This thanksgiving I am especially grateful that I am here. To see my girls enjoying their family. For the hugs and kisses I get everyday. For all of the breaths I take and for every moment that takes my breath away.

 
Happy thanksgiving to everyone. May you be blessed on this wonderful day and for many days to come.

Sweet 16

 
  How is it possible that you turn sixteen today?

It seems like you were just a little girl holding my hand and dancing. Dressing up in sparkly cosumes and pretending to be a princess. Sitting on my lap to read a book, or sitting and coloring for hours. My first baby girl, you have a special place in my heart. I admire your kindness and the way you do things with your whole heart. You are my sensitive and caring child, who wears her heart on her sleeve. With just one glance I can see what you are thinking and feeling. You have turned from a little baby who I cuddled in my arms to a beautiful young woman. I love you with all my heart and soul.

Happy birthday Miss H, I love you bunka crunkins! 

 

Courage

Courage doesn't always roar.  Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow.  ~Mary Anne Radmacher

 
On Friday my support group for young breast cancer survivors held it's annual Courage Night. It is a special night when we celebrate being breast cancer survivors. There are not many things to celebrate about having breast cancer, but once a year we all gather together for a party in our honor. It's kind of like a big group birthday party. A celebration of life.

I am very lucky to have such a tight circle of strong woman to talk to, to lean on, and to celebrate with.

We had a silent action and several raffles to raise money for our group.

 
  

We had a Dj, dancing and games and activities for the kids.

Lots of yummy things to eat. Miss E made a beautiful cake.

Miss H brought some friends to help volunteer for the event, Thanks S and J!

 
  
We had a special speaker too. Geralyn Lucas author of Why I Wore Lipstick To My Mastectomy. What a treat it was to meet her. She was so gracious and eloquent, a very kind and genuine person. She read an excerpt from her book, it was hard to listen with dry eyes.

I have to say that I am very lucky to have such a great supportive survivor group like I do. Not everyone does. I am very thankful for the friendships and strong bonds I have with these brave and courageous woman.  If it were not for my cancer diagnosis I would have never had the privilege of meeting these wonderful young woman. 

 
 

  
  
  
  

It's My Sadie's Birthday!

Today the youngest member of our family turns 4!

She is the coolest dog I have ever had. She is loving but aloof. She has an obsessive compulsive personality. She is not happy unless she can be outside whether it is 100 degrees or 10 degrees outside.

Her favorite person in the whole wide world is my Hubby. It is only because he drives....

this which makes him her hero.

She is afraid of Sheep, horses, cows anything with hooves really, and she hates thunderstorms. When she was a puppy just about eight months old we got our sheep for the year. She stuck her nose through the electric fence to touch noses with a lamb and the fence shocked her. I think she thought the lamb did it with it's flame shooting eyes. She will not go anywhere near the fence to this day even though it is no longer electric. I think she has no future career in sheep herding, but she does run a good home made obstacle course!

There is only one thing she loves more then her gator driving Daddy, Playing ball.

Happy birthday Tweeta!

The last three pictures are compliments of Miss H

My Etsy shop opening and a giveaway

The winner is # 14 Keri! Congratulations and thank you to everyone who participated in the giveaway!

 

Today I am launching an Etsy shop, featuring my handmade jewelry designs. I would like to take you on a little photo tour of some of my items I have for sale.

Now for the fun part! I am having a giveaway to launch my site. Here is what you have to do. leave a comment here on my blog and tell me which item you like the best in my shop and why. I have more things listed then I have pictures posted here so go on over an take a look around. When you leave a comment here on my blog it will automatically enter you in the contest. If you would like to enter twice you can tweet about my shop and giveaway on twitter and you have two chances to win. Your tweet has to have my @sprucehillfarm user name and blog address in it so I can see it on my page.

Here is what you win!

It is a beautiful amazonite and sterling silver Bali bead bracelet with a lovely sterling silver toggle clasp. it measures about 8 inches from bar to toggle loop. the beads are amazonite gemstone faceted coin beads with celtic heart sterling beads. This is one of my all time favorite bracelets!

So go ahead and leave a comment and a tweet by 9PM EST Sunday, That's tomorrow! The winner will be selected randomly by a random integer generator.