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 180 – I am grateful for dinners that end with clean plates (although not with clean hands or faces!)
Day 181 – I am grateful that this week’s home learning theme (the seaside) has given us lots of ideas for craft activities.
Day 182 – I am grateful for dolly pegs and petits-fours cases.
Day 183 – I am grateful for a busy but productive day, managing to juggle most of the things I needed to do and have fun joining in with Sophie’s online dance and drama class too!
Day 184 – I am grateful for Calpol. We’ve got a poorly little boy today who has a high temperature and is generally very miserable apart from those short periods when the Calpol has kicked in. Hopefully not Covid but he’s been tested just in case and we’re all self-isolating in the meantime. Hope he feels better soon. Lots of snuggles and mummy milk needed today. [The test results came back later that evening as negative]
Day 185 – I am grateful that Thomas has perked up today and enjoyed having some scones and cake in the garden this afternoon.
Day 186 – I am grateful for quiet woodland walks.
Glad Thomas got better. Always worrying when they’re ill at th emoment, just in case it’s Covid. That was a super quick result.
Yes, I was very impressed at how quickly we got the result back. Such a relief that whatever it was was short-lived.
Clean plates after a meal are always fantastic. I am so glad my two can eat now without making as much mess. hehehe
Those mermaid pegs are adorable.
I hope Thomas is feeling better now x
Thanks Kim, he’s back to his usual happy self now. It does make me chuckle seeing his face after meals sometimes but so nice when you know a meal has been enjoyed.
Oh, poor little Thomas, glad to hear he has perked up. It’s always a worry when children get unwell, but doubly worrying nowadays.
Clean plates are always a great sign.
Your mermaid dolls are so pretty. Having scones in the garden is lovely.
Thank you, he is back to his usual happy self now 🙂
Poor Thomas! Glad he perked up quickly and that it wasn’t coronavirus. I’m amazed at how quickly the result came back!
Lovely photos of Sophie hard at work with her schoolwork and her online dance/ drama.
Thanks Sarah, I was very impressed at how quickly we got the results back. I love watching Sophie doing her dance and drama classes – normally I wouldn’t get to watch her doing the classes so that’s been quite a nice side of lockdown.
Love the dolly peg art.
Oh dear at not feeling well, thank goodness the results came back clear. Hate it when they are like that as you feel so helpless.
scones in the garden always taste better than in the house
Thanks Elaine. I think most things taste better when eaten out in the fresh air! 🙂
Glad Thomas got better. It is a worry when they’re ill at the moment. That was a quick result. Such lovely photos this week too x
It was a worry and was such a relief to get the results back so quickly.
Glad Thomas was feeling better and that it wasn’t Covid.
Woodland walks are the best!
Thank you, it was a relief to get the test results back so quickly.
So glad to hear Thomas perked up! That image of him napping though, poor thing! In all fairness though, if I had a comfy carpet in my lounge, I’d probably had a little nap right now and I’m not even ill!
Scones make the world go round, they really do! I couldn’t get enough of them at the start of lockdown! Hope you are all having a lovely week! Sim x
Thank you, he’s been fine ever since which was a relief. I love scones too. 🙂
Aww poor Thomas. It’s never nice when your kids are poorly, but with worries of Covid, it makes it even worse at the moment. Thank goodness the results came back negative. Lovely to see all the different activities that the kids get up to. Too cute ! xxx
Thanks Cheryl, it was such a relief to get the test results back so quickly.
So pleased he perked up for scones and cake and that the test results came back negative. Worrying time waiting for those I am sure. You always do lovely crafts with your children.
Thank you Karen, Sophie always enjoys doing crafts. It was such a relief to get Thomas’s test results back so quickly.
Hope he is feeling better soon, nothing worse than seeing the kids poorly. They look like they both love getting messy
Thanks Kara, he is back to his usual happy self now.
Hahaha awwww cute. Atleast the plate is clean. OoOoO Crafting and dance class looks like fun. Glad to know he’s alright and doesn’t have Covid
Thank you, it was a relief to get the result back so quickly.
Illnesses are so much more worrying at these times! Glad Thomas is on the mend #project366
Yes, definitely more worrying at the moment. Such a relief that the test came back negative.
Oh bless him, glad to hear he is on the mend and that the test came back negative. Love a good quiet woodland walk and those peg dollies are very cute.
Thank you. We had fun making the peg dollies 🙂