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 152 – I am grateful for our new paddling pool.
Day 153 – I am grateful that Thomas holds Sophie’s hand so nicely while out for a walk. So lovely to watch them walking ahead of me, hand-in-hand, just like Sophie and Jessica used to do.
Day 154 – I am grateful for long hair and a little girl who is happy to let Mummy play!
Day 155 – I am grateful for some much-needed rain.
Day 156 – I am grateful for hair dye.
Day 157 – I am grateful that it stayed dry for our walk.
Day 158 – I am grateful for the way that a little imagination can turn a walk in the woods into a big adventure. We’ve trekked through the jungle, explored deep dark tunnels and found a pirate ship washed up on the river bank today. Lots of fun.
Love Sophies hair, good job I don’t have girls, i struggle to style my own hair, love the selfie, you look great
Thank you. I’ve got better with practice with the girls’ hair!
Sophie’s hair looks lovely – I don’t think I could ever be so neat. With a boy though I don’t suppose it will come up as a needed skill. You look great in your selfie. Nice to see a pic of you.
Thank you, it’s taken a bit of practice over the years to get it neat! 🙂
The photo of Sophie and Thomas holding hands together melts my heart! How lovely that they have such a strong bond, just like Sophie had with Jessica. Sophie’s hairstyle is beautiful. I could never do good hairstyles on my daughter, luckily she took over and started doing them herself when she was 7!
It is lovely to see that strong bond between Sophie and Thomas and the way it echoes the bond between Sophie and Jessica.
Oh wow good job with the hair. Both my girls have long hair but I am a bit useless with hair styles! Should practice more really.
Lovely bond between the two on the walk!
Thank you – my girls both liked me doing their hair so I’ve had a fair amount of practice!
Wow, I’m really impressed with the hair – well done ! Love the sound of your walk in the woods too – you can’t beat a child’s imagination ! xx
Thank you Cheryl. It was a lovely walk in the woods and I loved how Sophie turned it into such an adventure.
Oh wow!!! You are amazing at plaiting hair!!! Your daughter’s hair style looks gorgeous, as does yours after a dose of hair dye too! I need to sort mine out, glad I have a box left over, especially as I will have to brace the normal world slightly next week – people seriously don’t need to see my silver streaks! Hope you are having a lovely week! Sim x
Thank you, Sophie likes to make me do different styles so I’ve had quite a bit of practice. Good luck with dying your hair 🙂
Your hair looks fab, love that colour on you. We enjoy walks in the woods too
Thank you Kara 🙂
Oh I love Sophies hair it looks beautiful. I really need to dye my hair. I am caught between the shall I just let it go grey to the oh my goodness it makes me look so old… You can not beat a paddling pool, looks like you have had some great walks this week too x
Thank you. I needed to cover up the grey! 🙂
Sophie’s plaits look super cute, and love your hair colour, it’s beautiful. Mine needs a new dying session too. A paddling pool is great fun for little people. And sounds like you had some enjoyable walks.
Thank you. It was lovely watching them have fun together in the paddling pool and we’ve enjoyed our walks 🙂
Your daughters hair looks gorgeous! Well done you. Glad your children are enjoying their new paddling pool! Hopefully the weather will stay nice for them. Can’t beat some nice walks, they are helping keep us sane in lockdown.
It’s not had quite so much use over the last week but I’m sure we’ll get the paddling pool out again soon! 🙂
I am hopeless at styling hair but am plaiting Anya’s daily to avoid knots as it’s so long. Love the mix of sun and rain pics this week #project366
Sophie’s hair gets really knotty too if I don’t plait it. One of the downsides of long hair.