At the start of 2016, inspired by a friend, I started a daily gratitude challenge – posting one thing that I was thankful for each day on Instagram. I enjoyed it so much that when I reached the end of that year, I carried on and have kept going ever since. Finding one little thing to be thankful for each day has now become part of my daily routine and I’ve loved seeing friends joining in along the way too.
Finding little things to be grateful for isn’t always easy, especially when living through scary and uncertain times. I have found though that trying to find something, however small and trivial, to be grateful for has helped me through some of the hardest days of my life.
My eldest daughter Jessica, who died in April 2018, was an inspiration to me throughout her short life. She had so much strength and such a wonderful zest for life. Her godmother described her once as a “joy carrier” and it was the perfect description for her. She was a little ray of sunshine, full of smiles and gave joy to all who knew her. I am, and will always be, grateful to be her mummy. She taught me to enjoy the little moments and to make the most of everyday because tomorrow is never promised. And even though having to live life without Jessica is by far the hardest thing I have ever had to do, I will continue to look for those little things to be thankful for, and keep going with this challenge in honour of my beautiful brave girl.
Here are my grateful moments from the past week:
Day 89 – I am grateful for slices of freshly baked chocolate cake, still warm from the oven.
Day 90 – I am grateful for time to put together these pretty flower lights with Sophie to go in the den under her bed.
Day 91 – I am grateful for a little outdoor art session in the garden.
Day 92 – I am grateful for the tuff tray – it’s getting plenty of use at the moment for various home learning activities. Today we recreated the first moon landing. It started off fairly conventionally but after the astronauts left, a giant came along and stomped all over the moon before reshaping it into a moon sand castle. I do love Sophie’s imagination!
Day 93 – I am grateful for some lovely surprise treats in the post.
Day 94 – I am grateful for the way this little boy comes up to me, hugs my legs and says “awww I love you, Mummy.” Makes my heart melt every time.
Day 95 – I am grateful that Sophie is able to continue with her ballet class at home.
Your chocolate cake looks tasty, I fancy a big slice with a cup of tea. The flower lights are very pretty. And so is the rainbow in the garden. I’ve seen drawings of rainbows around the neighbourhood in the windows. Well done, Sophie, for keeping doing ballet at home! And your little boy is adorable!
Thank you – the chocolate cake didn’t last long! It is lovely to see Sophie being able to keep up with her ballet at home.
I think it’s great children are still getting their dance classes online. We’ve had some tennis exercises made available, but tennis is pretty limited in terms of play, even when we’ve got a rebounder net. Shame the OH never let us build a tennis court at home!
Ah yes I can imagine that it is hard to keep up the tennis at the moment.
We use Tuff spots at school and they are great as they contain the mess and are easy to clean. That chocolate cake looks delicious
They’re brilliant, aren’t they? One of the best things I ever bought.
Yum! Cake does taste the nicest when just out of the oven.
The tuff tray really is getting a lot of use. It looks like you’re having great fun.
What lovely photos. x
It was delicious and didn’t last very long! The tuff tray has definitely come in useful lately.
mmmmm the chocolate cake looks lovely. Love the den in Sophies room the lights look really pretty
The chocolate cake didn’t last long! Sophie was so pleased with her lights in her den 🙂
Aww I love Sophie’s story with the giant … and the den under the bed. I’d have loved that when I was small. The cake looks delicious – hmmmm !
The den under the bed is a big hit – Sophie’s ended up sleeping there a few times, she loves it so much!
I am trying not to bake, one of my go to activities when I am stressed, as I would just eat it all.
oh dear at the moon landing coming to a sticky end….I don’t remember that in my history lessons…..lol
They are so cute and loving at that age.
Ah yes that is the downside to baking. I have to admit it has all disappeared very quickly!
I think its great children are still getting their dance classes online. We have been doing some gymnastics ones online. It really makes a difference, doesn’t it? They are so cute and looking happy. Hugs xx
It is lovely that she is able to keep up her dance classes. Glad that you have been having gymnastic classes online.
Love the photos of Sophie doing ballet and in her den. How lovely that Thomas hugs you and tells you he loves you! He is so cute.
He is such a cutie and at such a lovely age right now 🙂
It is so good that she can continue her dance classes online. I really need to get our tuff tray out. Such a sweetie it would melt my heart too. Can’t beat chocolate cake I think I need to make one. I hope you have a lovely Easter weekend x
Chocolate cake always makes everything better! 🙂
I bet the chocolate cake was delicious. I like the idea of a tuff tray – my son was just getting too old for one when I heard about them. It’s a pity as he’d have loved it.
It’s been one of the most useful things I ever bought – we’ve had so much use out of it.
My kids are also doing their dance classes online, who would have thought we would be doing that?
We also love our Tuff tray. We have them at work and I got one at home and it’s so handy for so many crafts and messy things.
It’s amazing how many things have been able to continue online – thank goodness for technology.
cool den and the boy is so adorable. Moon landing? cool. Keep up the ballet, Sophie!
We had fun with the Moon landing – it was a good way of helping make learning fun.
We have been doing lots of baking so fresh cake is something we are grateful for! We are not joining in with any online classes except PE with Joe Wicks but are working towards Beavers badges for Anya #project366
We’ve joined in with PE with Joe a few times. Glad that Anya is able to continue working towards Beavers badges.