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 222 – I am grateful for my birth pool.
Day 223 – I am grateful for paper and pens.
Day 224 – I am grateful for water play on a hot summer day.
Day 225 – I am grateful for a little bit of rain this afternoon.
Day 226 – I am grateful that Sophie and Thomas have such a lovely bond and have so much fun together. I love how she makes him giggle and watching them both joining in with Tiny Talk this morning made me smile. Jessica would be so very proud of her siblings.
Day 227 – I am grateful for the beautiful colourful flowers that arrived this afternoon to send “just a little bit of love after a tough week.” Thank you so much to whoever sent them. I will share some of them with Jessica when I next visit her.
Day 228 – I am grateful for some quality time together enjoying a walk around Hughenden.
Ooh Hughenden’s on my to visit list. I’ve only been for a work meeting. Lovely flowers.
It’s a lovely place to visit 🙂
nothing beats sibling love ( and hate) I love to watch my grandchildren interacting with each other.
Sorry you have had a tough week but what a lovely gesture from some one.
We had water play last week as well.
Thanks Elaine. This week has been a better one.
Love that you are using the birth pool as a paddling pool – just the thing on a hot day. How lovely to get flowers!
The flowers were a lovely surprise. We don’t often get the birth pool out as it takes quite a while to fill but it is lovely that we can all get in it quite comfortably when we do.
What lovely photos! It looks like you did well keeping cool with the birth pool and playing with water! Sophie looks very happy to be out in the rain. x
The rain was much needed! We were both very happy when it arrived! 🙂
I love the family photo in the birthing pool! I always enjoy seeing photos of Sophie and Thomas together, just as I used to love seeing photos of Jessica and Sophie together. You could always tell from the photos just how much they loved each other. x
Oh they absolutely adored each other. Seeing Sophie and Thomas together always reminds me so much of seeing Jessica and Sophie together – it’s so lovely that they have the same kind of bond x
Nothing beats sibling love. Being an only child I love to watch my children interacting with each other. So sorry you have had a tough week but what a lovely gesture. Big hugs xx
It is lovely when siblings get along. This week has been a better one, thank you x
Hughenden is lovely isn’t it, not made it back there so far this year. Nice to get mystery flowers and to know that people care #366
It is a lovely day out. The flowers were very much appreciated.
Keeping a birth pool for hot days is a smart idea. Sibling love is very special. I was fighting with my younger brother, but he was also my best mate for many years. The flowers are so pretty, and a lovely gift from someone who cares.
The birth pool was certainly much appreciated when it was so hot!
What beautiful flowers. Sounds like a nice week you have had. Good that you are still getting use out of the birth pool! I wish my two would get on a bit better, but teen hormones are at play too now!
I’m sure teen hormones don’t help!
What lovely ‘just because’ flowers, have you found out who sent them yet?
Love how you’re repurposing your birth pool
Thank you, they were from one of my close friends 🙂
The water play looks fun!
Hughenden looks like a nice place to visit.
The flowers are lovely.
Thank you 🙂
Great use of the birthing pool in the unbearable heat! The flowers are a lovely gift, how thoughtful #project366
The birthing pool certainly made the heat more bearable!
Adorable pictures and memories to be grateful for. Awww such cute bonding. The flowers look beautiful
Thank you. The flowers were such a lovely surprise
Sorry it was a tough week, such a lovely gesture of the flowers. Some lovely photos of the kids playing together, you can not beat water play. Hope you had a lovely day out x
Thank you, the flowers were such a lovely surprise.
Love that you use your birth pool as a paddling pool – genius idea!!
It was brilliant in the hot weather 🙂