The Friday Focus – 13/05/16

Friday 13th is traditionally considered to be unlucky.  This time five years ago, it was the worst day of my life – the day when we were told that our unborn baby’s heart defect was so severe that it was highly unlikely surgery would be a feasible option.  An appointment where we’d prayed for a glimmer of hope and left feeling utterly devastated, praying for a miracle.  We didn’t realise it at the time, but that appointment actually did give us the glimmer of hope we prayed for – an offhand comment about in-utero surgery eventually led to us being offered the procedure which gave us hope for Jessica’s survival.  Five years on, as Friday 13th May appears on the calendar once again, I feel incredibly lucky.  Lucky to be able to see that beautiful girl of mine as she grows up, to hear her laugh, see her smile and to watch the wonderful bond between her and her little sister growing day by day.

Friday 13th might be unlucky for some but today I feel incredibly lucky - this week's word of the week is "lucky"

Five years ago, I could never have dreamed we’d be blessed with so much.  I thank God every day for these two wonderful daughters of mine and everything that has led us to this point.  We know there are still big steps ahead on this journey of ours, but today I will focus on the joy, on the hope and on the miracles that have got us here.  Today this miracle of mine is here – giving me hugs and kisses, grabbing my hand, filling my life with my sunshine and I am more grateful for that than I could ever say.

 

Things I have loved this week:

  • Spending the day at Legoland with my gorgeous girls, Jessica’s best friend E and E’s dad.

A day out at Legoland with my gorgeous girlies

  • Going for a train ride at Ickenham Miniature Railway followed by meeting up with a friend for lunch.

A ride on the train at Ickenham Miniature Railway

  • Seeing Jessica going to Girls’ Brigade in uniform for the first time and then taking part in her first church parade two days later.

Jessica in her Girls' Brigade uniform

  • Spending an afternoon with my mum and my twin sister celebrating our birthday.

Spending an afternoon with my mum and twin sister for our birthday celebrations

  • Lots of lovely cards and presents for my birthday and going for a Chinese meal in the evening
  • Reaching 5000 followers on Twitter
  • Finding out that I’ve passed my second module on my HR course and getting good feedback on my assignment.

 

The Reading Residence

What Katy Said

33 thoughts on “The Friday Focus – 13/05/16

  1. What wonderful things have happened for you this week Louise!!
    That’s really brilliant.
    I’m over the moon little Jess is thriving – I’m keeping everything crossed for you in the coming weeks/months ahead. You deserve some good luck.xx

    1. Thank you Gemma – it’s so good to see her doing so well, fingers crossed for next month! x

  2. It’s a lucky day for you then lovely! Bless. Loving your pics esp Jess in her uniform. She looks so grown up. Happy birthday and well done on your achievements this week. Shame the weather going all cool this weekend eh? Have a good one xx #wotw

    1. Thank you Sarah – she does look so grown-up in her uniform but so lovely to see how much she is enjoying being part of Girls’ Brigade 🙂

  3. It sounds like you’ve had a lovely week, and I love that you’ve chosen lucky for Friday the 13th and for such a special reason. Big love to your little hearts xx

    1. Thank you Anne – it’s so good to be five years on and see how well Jessica is currently doing x

  4. A great word and beautiful post, lucky is definitely the word and you are so blessed with your gorgeous girls. I’m glad you had a fab birthday and well done on passing your second module, brilliant news! Thanks for sharing with #WotW x

    1. Thanks Jocelyn – definitely feel very lucky with my gorgeous girlies. Thanks for hosting #WotW 🙂

  5. Lovely post Louise – so glad that Friday 13th turned out to be lucky for you in the end. What a lot of fab stuff this week too – love that photo of the three of you on the miniature train. And Happy Birthday! Hope you had a fabulous day.

    1. Thank you so much Katy – the miniature train ride was a lot of fun and I had a lovely birthday, thank you 🙂

  6. Awww Happy Birthday Louise pleased to hear you’ve had a good week with friends and family. My sister was born on Friday 13th and her son too. #wotw

  7. Congratulations on your birthday again lovely, so great that you got to spend time with your family. I loved Jessica in her uniform she always looks so happy and you are so lucky to be able to visit Legoland so regularly. We’d love to visit. Thank you for co- hosting #FamilyFun with me you were an absolute ⭐️

    1. Thank you lovely Catie – it was such a pleasure to co-host #FamilyFun with you, thank you again for having me 🙂

    1. Thank you so much Sarah – we are so lucky to be able to see Jessica doing so well 🙂

  8. Brilliant week, lego land sounds amazing. Happy Birthday for last week. I totally missed that! #triballove #happydayslinky

  9. Oh Louise, this got me all emotional. I am so so happy that they were wrong, that 5 years on you have yur beautiful little girl with you for happy days like these. Thank you for sharing in #HappyDaysLinky xx

    1. Thank you Katy – it made me quite emotional to look back on it all. We are so very lucky to have Jessica and although that appointment was one of the hardest days of my life, I am thankful for it because it did ultimately give us that glimmer of hope.

    1. Sorry to hear that the 13th was unlucky for you. Thank you for hosting #HappyDaysLinky – always a pleasure to link up 🙂

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