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 something to be grateful for each day isn’t about trying to give the impression that life is perfect and wonderful. It isn’t. Those little moments of gratitude can be hard to find at times; particularly after my eldest daughter Jessica died in April 2018. Some days, I struggle to find my grateful moment; some days I just feel broken and bruised. But even when it has been hard to do, I have still managed to find something. Even if it is something small, and silly, and trivial.
Jessica 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 19 – I am grateful for being able to make frozen bubbles outside this morning.
Day 20 – I am grateful that my piano has been tuned again ready for the start of rehearsals for the next Pyramix concert.
Day 21 – I am grateful for warm hats, coats and adorable little welly boots.
Day 22 – I am grateful for friends who share their memories of Jessica every now and then with me. Always so lovely to know that other people are thinking of and remembering her, and to be reminded of little moments that I had almost forgotten or be given “new” memories as a result.
Day 23 – I am grateful for books.
Day 24 – I am grateful for time to stop and feed the ducks after school.
Day 25 – I am grateful that Sophie enjoyed our third and final panto trip of the season.
Aah I wondered what the frozen bubbles were ! It’s lovely to look out for the positives in life xx
The frozen bubbles were fun – we enjoyed making them 🙂
Oh no, looks like my comment didn’t go through.
That’s one huge frozen bubble! It’s wonderful that your friends share their photos and memories of Jessica with you.
The wellies and the whole winter outfit are super cute, as is the model wearing them.
Thank you. I was quite impressed that the double one managed to freeze!
What lovely photos. It looks like you’ve been having great fun. I love the look of the Frozen bubbles x
Thank you Kim, we had fun making them 🙂
Lovely set of photos. I’ve never managed to do frozen bubbles. They either wouldn’t stay as bubbles or it wasn’t cold enough to freeze. Would love to try it again when it gets colder.
I was amazed that they did actually freeze. We did use home-made bubble mixture with some golden syrup added to help try and make the bubbles more stable so that might have made a difference.
I have always wanted to give frozen bubbles a try. Glad the piano is all tuned, I didn’t realised you played. I would love to learn one day. Its so nice that people share their photos and memories of Jessica with you. Must make time to go and feed the ducks!
I don’t play very often these days but it’s much nicer to do so on a piano that’s in tune! 🙂
I am waiting on cold weather to try frozen bubbles, love your double one. Lovely that your friends still share their memories of Jessica, it must make you smile that they care enough to do so.
Love him in his hat wellies and jacket.
I do love it when they share their memories; it’s always lovely to know that Jessica is remembered by others.
Love the frozen bubbles but not looking forward to temps that cold in the UK. Lovely that friends talk about Jessica with you, it does indeed help with creating new memories
We’ve only had a couple of days where it’s been that cold – this winter has been quite a mild one so far.
We need some cold weather again so we can try those bubbles one weekend, my son would love them too. It’s nice to have had some blue sky days to enjoy being outside isn’t it. Glad Sophie has enjoyed the pantos #366
The bubbles were fun – definitely something I would try again if it gets cold enough.
Some lovely things to be grateful about there. It’s lovely that your friends share those memories of Jessica with you – that is a very sweet photo. That is a gorgeous photo of Thomas all wrapped up warm. Glad Sophie enjoyed all three of her pantos! Panto feels like a distant memory here now – nearly four weeks since it ended.
I do love that photo of Jessica – was so nice to be sent it. Panto is starting to feel like a distant memory here now too! 🙂
I loved making frozen bubbles, but haven’t made them this year. So many great positives in your life and glad Sophie enjoyed her pantos xx
Thank you. I’m glad we had the opportunity to make the frozen bubbles – it’s been such a mild winter so far.
I have no idea on frozen bubbles but they look fun. How lovely to find new memories of Jessica from friends and family #project366
They were so much fun to make and it’s always so nice to be sent photos that I haven’t seen before.
Stay strong! There’s always something to be thankful for. OoO the frozen bubble looks so firm and elegant. Very adorable pictures
Thank you. It was fascinating to watch the bubbles freeze.
Oh wow didn’t realise pantos were still going on! Glad Sophie enjoyed it.
And I mist admit that I have never tried to make frozen bubbles! Might have to give it a go next time it is cold enough!
I think the pantos have all finished now. The frozen bubbles were fun to make – definitely one to try if it gets cold enough.
Those frozen bubbles are really cool.
I also love the pic of a small boy sparko and sprawled out.
I am so glad people remember Jessica. She was amazing and it’s important to keep her memory alive.
#project365
It means so much to know that other people still think of her and remember her.