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 271 – I am grateful that Jessica was very much a part of Auntie Fizz and Uncle Tony’s wedding yesterday and had a little bridesmaid gift of flowers too. Meant so much that she was included throughout.
Day 272 – I am grateful for being able to sit out in the garden after school listening to Sophie read.
Day 273 – I am grateful for a productive day giving our church website a new look.
Day 274 – I am grateful that I was able to carry out my goddaughter’s dad’s wish for me to sing ‘Amazing Grace’ at his funeral and pay tribute to him. Neil, it was an honour and a privilege to sing for you and I hope I did you proud today. Thinking of all the family this evening and sending so much love and big virtual hugs.
Day 275 – I am grateful for after-school adventures.
Day 276 – I am grateful for wellies and waterproofs.
Day 277 – I am grateful for a productive afternoon clearing some overgrown parts of the garden and for a few wildlife discoveries along the way. Sophie was quite fascinated by them.
It is so lovely that Jessica was such a big part of your sisters wedding.
I am sure you did your goddaughter’s dad proud. I am so sorry for your loss. x
Thank you Kim x
Huge well done for managing to sing such an emotional song at your god daughter’s dad’s funeral. The bouquet for Jessica is lovely and such a thoughtful touch
Thank you. I’m glad I was able to do it but it was hard to do.
Sounds like it was a very full emotional week with your sister’s wedding and a funeral. Nice to be able to get outside. I’ve been terrible hardly going out at all apart from the school run, and so much rain. Hopefully the weather’s looking better next week.
It was an emotional one. Getting outside always helps boost my mood a little bit. The weather’s been better this week.
How beautiful that Jessica was part of the wedding celebrations. Jessica’s flowers look so pretty!
It sounds like an emotional week for you. Thomas in his blue suit made me think of Teletubbies, so cute. And yes, it was definitely a week for wellies and waterproofs, let’s hope the coming week’s weather improves.
Thank you, it meant a lot that Jessica was included. I love that blue puddlesuit – it’s been handed down from the girls and it’s lovely to have had so much use out of it.
How lovely of your sister to include Jessica within the celebrations! It sounds like a bit of a rollercoster of a week for you – well done for singing at the funeral.
Thank you, it was certainly an emotional week. Meant a lot to have Jessica included as part of the wedding celebrations.
What a wonderful way to pay tribute at the funeral. So lovely that Jessica was included in the wedding celebrations at every step #366
Thank you Mary. It meant a lot that Jessica was included in so many little ways.
Lovely that Jessica was included in the celebrations! Must have been so emotional singing at the funeral.
It was very emotional. I was glad I was able to do it though.
It’s lovely that Jessica was included in the wedding celebrations and got her own little bouquet. Well done for singing at the funeral – that is such an emotional song, I’m sure you did him proud. Cool finding the newt – I bet the kids were excited !
Thank you – it meant a lot to have Jessica included. The kids loved seeing the newt and we also saw some baby field mice and the mummy mouse carrying them away in her mouth which was quite wonderful to watch.
We love finding wildlife in the garden, it is amazing the creatures you can find
It is amazing. We also got to watch a mummy field mice carrying her babies away after we accidentally disturbed their nest. Hopefully they found a new one and were all fine.
So wonderful that Jessica was part of the celebrations too. What a fab find in your garden, my boys would love seeing that too. We need to get our garden into some kind of order! It’s slowly getting out of control.
Thank you Karen, it meant a lot that she was included. That part of the garden was definitely a bit out of control – it’s looking a lot better now!
It sounds like an emotional week but one filled with love. #project366
It was indeed.
That is so lovely that Jessica was such a big part of your sisters wedding. She lights up a room even now. I am sure you did your goddaughter’s dad proud. So sorry for your loss xx
Thank you Susan x
So glad to hear Jessica was a part of your sister’s wedding, your sister looked so beautiful and hope they are enjoying their start to married life! What a story to tell about their wedding day and the year it happened!
So sorry to hear about your goddaughter’s father, such a lovely honour to be able to sing – sending you big cuddles x Sim x
PS. Wellies, waterproofs, umbrellas… I have them prepared! 🙂 x
Thank you Sim. It was a lovely wedding and yes certainly one with a story to tell in the future!
How lovely to have the bridesmaids bouquet for Jessica. I think ou did amazing singing the song at the funeral I am sure it meant so much to the family. Always to head out for adventures after school it breaks up the week doesn’t it? I am hoping the weather will continue to allow it for a while yet x
Thank you, it meant a lot that she was included. We’re still trying to get our afterschool adventures in where we can!
So sweet that Jessica was included as part of the wedding. Sophie has a lovely braid. So sorry to hear about your goddaughter’s father, may he rest in peace. I love that song and I bet you played the piano beautifully. Aww they look so cute having fun
Thank you. I’m glad I was able to do it – it was very emotional though.