Gratefully Grateful °1°

7 Jan

Hello and Happy New Year to you all!  I still can’t believe it’s 2014.  Wasn’t it just 1986 and we were all hanging out listening to Manic Monday by The Bangles in our Benetton rugby shirts, teased bangs and frosted pink lipstick?

Sometimes I still can’t believe I am a wife, a mother of three and….a grown up.  An almost 40 year old grown up.  Almost.  I’m going to enjoy my last months of my 30s like you wouldn’t believe.  Then I’m going to enter my 40s with flair and enthusiasm and a positive attitude about ageing.  Hold me to it.

I’ve been pretty much off the grid the last months (except on IG – I love that community so much) and I’ve really missed writing and posting here in this little space of mine. As I mentioned in my last post we went through a hard time this past fall.  My daughters lost a very good friend to cancer.  It was so deeply sad for us all.  Seeing and helping my daughters grieve while trying to deal with my own grief was one of the hardest things I’ve been through. I was in survival mode and there were moments when I thought I was going to crash.  But we made it through.  And although we miss our little friend every single day and think about her often life has continued.  We have so many beautiful memories of her and those memories are making the pain of losing her feel a little bit softer every day.

So to get a positive start on the New Year and to motivate myself to get back to this space I’ve decided to start a new  project.  I’m going write a weekly post about things I’m grateful for.  After everything we’ve been through that’s what has touched me the most.  The fact that I have so much to be grateful for (I know it sounds cliche and cheesy but it’s true!).  And to go a bit deeper, I’m really grateful for being grateful.  There were moments in the last months that I couldn’t get past the low feelings and emotions to see all those wonderful things I have in my life.

So here’s to picking up my neglected (but much loved) camera again.  And to seeing the world through rose coloured glasses.  If you want to join me in this project I would be ecstatic.  Just leave a comment with a link to a post or photo or whatever else you’re grateful for.  And hey, why don’t we even create a hashtag as well!  #gratefullygrateful14 would be perfect.  So here we go!

I’m grateful for…IMG_3014-002

…my kid’s artwork.  It just makes me smile a lot.


…the coloured houses on the island of Burano.
IMG_3452-001

…people who paint multicoloured chairs.DSC_0126-001

…kids who photo bomb my shots of decrepit walls.IMG_3177

…fountains such as this and seeing my kid’s reaction when they figure out where the water comes out.

Enjoy your day everyone!

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37 Responses to “Gratefully Grateful °1°”

  1. giova brusa January 7, 2014 at 17:23 #

    Hooray!! I’m so happy you are back!
    I can send you my grateful notebook so you can take a look 😉
    I’m grateful for blue skies, pandebonos, people who talk to me on trains, family, wonderful books and poems… oh and the list goes on!
    I’m grateful we met each other and continued to keep in touch!
    xoxo
    Giova
    P:s: Love those pics!!

    Reply
    • Jillian In Italy January 8, 2014 at 12:42 #

      Thanks Giova! I’m also so grateful we met. Just wish we could hang out more! Jx

      Reply
  2. grammao January 7, 2014 at 18:01 #

    I am grateful for you and for every day since you were born

    Reply
    • Jillian In Italy January 8, 2014 at 12:44 #

      Aw thanks Mom! What would us bloggers do without our moms who are our most loyal readers and commenters! I’m grateful for that!

      Reply
  3. Judith January 7, 2014 at 18:37 #

    Like Giova I’m very happy that you’re back! Especially with those lovely colorful images and the #gratefullygrateful14! It’s so nice to start counting your blessings, especially when you go through a tough time. But it works perfectly well on a regular Tuesday as well 😉
    I am grateful for snoring cats and friendship and boiled eggs and pretty skies and smiling strangers and so much more!!! xx

    Reply
    • Jillian In Italy January 8, 2014 at 12:46 #

      There is indeed nothing like a snoring cat! Luckily Birdie is a big snorer!

      Reply
  4. Meredith January 7, 2014 at 19:49 #

    Hi! I am Meredith and I found your blog a couple of months ago. I liked it so much that I read it all the way back to the beginning! I am so glad that you are posting again. 🙂 Today I am thankful for a warm house (we had record lows last night) and an extra day of school vacation to spend with my kids.

    Reply
    • Jillian In Italy January 8, 2014 at 12:47 #

      Hi Meredith. Thanks for your kind words. Wishing you some warmer weather in the near future! Here in Italy we’ve been lucky with sunny skies and relatively mild temperatures. Let’s hope it lasts!

      Reply
  5. lessthanperfectmama January 15, 2014 at 22:57 #

    I’m so sorry for your sad, sad loss. This is a lovely post and I admire your ability to move forward in a positive direction. What a wonderful example for your kids to see.

    Reply
  6. jandinewall January 18, 2014 at 17:40 #

    What a beautiful idea. And what beautiful pics. I am so sorry for your family’s loss- must be so difficult. I am daily thankful for my precious girls. http://www.ohmydearests.blogspot.com

    Reply

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