#366daysofgratitude 2020 – Week 37

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:

 

A smiley Thomas in the woods; Thomas playing in the sandpit in front of the garden table where my laptop is; Sophie outside the leisure centre after her swimming lesson; Sophie and Thomas in the paddling pool; Thomas playing with Mr Potato Head; Sophie and Thomas laughing together while riding trikes; the communion table at church with a harvest flower arrangement - "#366daysofgratitude 2020 - Week 37"

 

Day 257 – I am grateful for a walk in the woods on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

Day 258 – I am grateful that this is my office at the moment.

Day 259 – I am grateful that Sophie is able to go back to her swimming lessons and very impressed by how well organised it all was with regards to social distancing and Covid-safety measures.

Day 260 – I am grateful for being able to get the paddling pool out after school.

Day 261 – I am grateful for toys that have been loved by all three of my children.

Day 262 – I am grateful for the way that Sophie makes Thomas laugh.

Day 263 – I am grateful for being able to go back in our church building again to do some filming for our online services.

 

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28 thoughts on “#366daysofgratitude 2020 – Week 37

  1. Glad Sophie’s swimming is back on. N’s isn’t starting back til November, although he’s probably not going back anyway. Maybe in January once they start rookie lifeguards.

    1. Swimming seems to vary a lot with starting back. Our leisure centre hasn’t been very organised in the past so I was pleasantly surprised at how well organised they were with all the Covid measures.

  2. Lovely that Sophie has resumed her swimming lessons and you’re happy with the covid precautions being taken. Love how you’re maximising being outdoors and I bet the church members will be happy to services online now

    1. Thank you, it’s lovely to see her enjoying it again and we’re enjoying the nice weather while it lasts. We’ve been streaming services from our house for the last six months but this was the first one we were able to do back in the church building.

  3. What a lovely photo of your two sharing a laugh, it’s precious! Your office is lovely for the summer weather, but soon you’d need to move indoors. Glad to hear that Sophie could go back swimming, and that you could visit your church.

    1. Thank you – it was lovely being able to have my office set up outside – it’s back indoors now though!

  4. Lots of grins this week! Lovely to see you all out and enjoying the last of the glorious weather! 🙂 I am totally grateful that home is my office too, especially right now! Hope you are all having a lovely week! Sim x

    1. It was lovely to be able to set up my office outside. I’m missing the lovely weather now though!

  5. Looks like you have been making the most of the weather, sadly I think its the last of the paddling pool weather now

    1. Yes, paddling pool weather is definitely over now for another year. Glad we could enjoy it while it lasted though!

  6. It looks like you’ve had lots of outdoor fun. It’s quite chilly up here, but nice so that’s good. Our swimming isn’t back yet, but glad the lessons went well and you could get back into church xx

    1. I don’t mind chilly weather when it’s nice too – we’re back to chilly and raining now!

  7. That’s a lovely picture of Sophie and Thomas together. H went back to swimming lessons the other week too – I’m glad they are getting the chance to swim again.

  8. How fab that swimming lessons are back. My boys are keen to go to a swimming pool again soon but our local one hasn’t reopened yet. Nice when things start to go back to some kind of normal.

    1. It is nice to have some normality again and they’ve been really good with the Covid safety measures which is very reassuring.

  9. I can’t believe we had this warm weather as it has now turned cold and wet! I love seeing kids play with old toys, even from my own childhood #project366

    1. It was certainly quite an abrupt transition from summer to autumn! I’m missing the warmer weather now!

  10. Wow, your pictures make it look like it’s still the summer … although I’m a week behind catching up on comments so it may have changed by now, if it’s anything like here ! Great to hear that you could get back to swimming lessons and church. 🙂

    1. The weather has completely changed here now but it was nice to enjoy the summery weather while it lasted!

  11. Lovely walk in the woods. I want an office like that. It’s great that the swimming pool is taking safety measures. Awww they look adorable laughing together

    1. I’d quite like an office like that again now – sadly it’s all back indoors again!

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