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 61 – I am grateful for a lovely spa day with my lovely hubby (this is his ‘why-are-you-holding-your-phone-over-the-hot-tub-to-take-a-selfie-you-crazy-woman-just-don’t-drop-it-in’ face).
Day 62 – I am grateful that Sophie can now join in with playing beans
Day 63 – I am grateful for bubbles.
Day 64 – I am grateful for tea and cake.
Day 65 – I am grateful that Sophie chose a simple costume for World Book Day. She went for Princess Luna from ‘The Princess and the Sleep Stealer’.
Day 66 – I am grateful for spring sunshine and daffodils.
Day 67 – I am grateful for a lovely evening with my family celebrating my mum’s 80th birthday.
hehehe! Your hubby does look rather confused at you taking a photo in the hot tub!
I love the photo with Thomas and the bubbles. How adorable.
Happy birthday to your mum x
Thanks Kim. He was a bit concerned that I might drop the phone!
Love the photo of you and your Mum, hope she had a lovely day. Bubbles are designed to make everyone smile aren’t they #366
Thank you, she had a lovely birthday 🙂
Your hubby does look rather confused at you taking a photo in the hot tub, lol. That is such a cute photo with Thomas and the bubbles. Happy birthday to your mum x
Thank you. I love watching Thomas with bubbles – he gets so excited 🙂
Happy 80th to your mum!
OOh think I need a spa day! Think I would panic too about dropping the phone.
Lovely photo with the bubbles and its great when they pick an easy costume isn’t it?!
Thank you. I made sure it was moved well out of the way of the water as soon as I’d grabbed a quick selfie! 🙂
Happy birthday to your mum! What a fantastic age. I have a husband and a son who tell me off for taking pictures in risky places – I like to photos from bridges and my son goes mad with me! How lovely that Sophie only wanted a simple costume for World Book Day!
Thank you Sarah. I’m usually more cautious with taking photos which is probably why my husband looked so concerned!
Happy 80th birthday to your mum. i get told off all the time for the risks I take with photo’s, of they just left me be, they would be less distractions and less phone drops
Thank you – that’s a good point about not being distracted when taking risks with taking photos!
Happy belated 80th to your mum – she is looking good.
ha ha at the explanation for your husbands expression.
Bubbles are multi generation fun, loved by all.
Thank you, she is amazing for her age.
Happy belated birthday to your Mum! It’s a lovely selfie of you two! The first image made me smile, your DH does look worried.
Who doesn’t love bubbles?! Sophie looks very pretty in her World Book Day costume.
Thank you, my husband’s expression did make me chuckle.
Hahahah your hubby does look very concerned about your phone based on his expressions. OoO bubbles. The cake looks nice. The statue and daffodils look great. Happy birthday to your mom! May she have more birthdays!
Thank you 🙂
Simple costumes are the best I think – certainly less stressful. Had to giggle at the hot tub picture – your husband doesn’t look sure at all.
He was quite relieved when the phone was safely out of the way of the water!
Ooh a spa, lucky you but I would have been worried about dropping the phone! Hope your mum had a lovely birthday #project366
It was such a lovely treat. So glad I booked it for the start of this month and not the end though!