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 327 – I am grateful for getting out for a walk together on a Sunday afternoon.
Day 328 – I am grateful for simple jigsaw puzzles that Thomas can do.
Day 329 – I am grateful for a very yummy dinner.
Day 330 – I am grateful that having roast lamb yesterday means being able to have bread and dripping today.
Day 331 – I am grateful for managing to get some outdoor time in after school.
Day 332 – I am grateful for sitting down with Sophie after school and colouring in Christmas tree decorations together.
Day 333 – I am grateful for a successful trip to the park to forage for willow branches to make rings for our Christmas wreaths and of course stopping for a flask of hot chocolate once we’d collected enough of them.
Having a hot drink outdoors in the cold is always great. Love your little people’s matching blue coats. Your dinner looks tasty. Is that a cheesecake? Thomas looks very concentrated on his task, bless him. Puzzles are my weakness, I love them.
I do like taking a flask out on our outdoor adventures. It was a Black Forest gateau that we had with our dinner. Haven’t had one in years so it was a nice treat.
Lovely photos!
That dinner does look very tasty. x
Thank you Kim. It was very yummy 🙂
Oooh lovely looking roast there and I also spy a gorgeous looking dessert too! I am guessing its a gateaux. Whatever it is I hope you saved me a slice haha. What a nice activity colouring in the tree decorations x
Lol, it was a Black Forest gateau. Didn’t last long!
Oooh the dessert with the dinner looks nice!
Thomas seems really into that puzzle!
It was lovely – we had Black Forest gateau 🙂
Ahhh we did some colouring in of Christmas decorations today. They look great. Seems Thomas really likes the jigsaws. Makes all the difference being able to get outside. Roast lamb is my absolute favourite.
I love roast lamb too, although we don’t have it very often.
Gosh Sophie is looking really grown up in that last photo. The colouring in of the decorations looks fun and great you all managed to get outdoors for a walk
She is starting to look so much more grown up now.
Often a walk does wonders to the mind. Aww Thomas looks so cute, focused on his jigsaw puzzle. Ooo hot chocolate. Hmm making rings from branches. interesting.
Willow branches are good for making rings for Christmas wreaths as they are so bendy 🙂
Bread and dripping…. yesssssssss! Are you Northern?! 😉
I cannot have bread at the moment and not entirely the same, but I cook my bacon and mushrooms in the same dish so I can roll my mushrooms in the bacon juice. Almost the best thing since sliced bread! 😉
Lovely pictures this week! You are braver than me though, it’s brass monkeys here and cannot bear to take off my onesie to go outside! Sim x
Lol, no I’m a Hampshire girl! Mushrooms in bacon juice sounds delicious. It’s been cold here too – we tend to be quite well wrapped up for our outdoor adventures.
Lots of time outdoors or completing activities this week. Just read your comment above: I’m a Hampshire girl too but never had dripping! #project366
I don’t think it’s particularly a Hampshire thing – just something we always had at home the day after roast lamb when I was growing up.
Awww lots of lovely time with the kids 🙂 Your dinner looks lovely. Not sure about the bread and dripping though. My dad always used to mention eating it as a kid but I’d never really thought about what it actually was – sounds a bit yuck to me, sorry ! lol
Lol, I can understand the yuck reaction to dripping. I love it though!