Thankful Thursday #2 💛

There is so much to be thankful for here at the moment, and I started the day in my very favourite of places to reflect on it all this morning, out for an early-morning hack with my boy – something I’m so grateful for in itself. 💛

The last week has seen some changes in the easing of lockdown here in Scotland that have meant the world to our family, as it was announced that children were no longer required to observe physical distancing from other children and adults outdoors; meaning that our 2-year-old could run into the rest of our family’s arms once more, after so long apart; and our 3-month-old baby be held by them for the first time at last.

I’m prouder than I can put into words of our eldest for how she’s handled everything in these last few months – but most especially in the last six weeks for managing to understand distancing, and doing so with her usual optimism in spite of how impossibly hard to comprehend it must have been. I’m so very relieved it’s over for her now, and that she can be as close as she wants to be to her beloved extended family again. And our youngest, so alert and so interested, growing and changing every day, had no idea how far from normal the world she was born into was, just taking it all in her stride and settling to our little family of four. In the last few weeks though, as we’ve seen others again, she’s been so interested, even at a distance figuring out all her people – and she was so content this week to find herself in all their arms for the first time.

This week has been full of flashes of joy and special moments – reunions in our gardens after what I know has been such a difficult long wait for everyone, some in the sunshine and some under tarpaulins and umbrellas, but all so lovely; and walks and catch-ups with friends we’ve missed so much. I have been so grateful to be able to spend a little more time with family and friends again and slowly but surely relax back into it all, feeling such a relief at seeing them properly with the girls again at last.

This coming week everything changes once more and we edge ever forward as we find ourselves able to visit in each other’s houses. I’m so so looking forward to being able to sink into the sofas in my mum’s and dad’s and the other family homes that have always felt like an extension of our own and that we now haven’t been inside for any length of time in four months. It does feel strange making these changes after all this time, and the progress we’re making seems to bring waves of anxiety and uncertainty that it’s all ok, along with the joy: – but as we find our way and continue to take our tentative steps forward, I’m just so grateful to be doing it all together.

Hope all reading are doing well, wherever you are in the twists and turns of this strange time, and wish you a really lovely weekend. 💛

Thankful Thursday 💛

This week there has been so much to be thankful for here in our little corner of the world. With lockdown measures easing for the first time on Friday, we found ourselves able to meet at least a little with others once more; and over a long weekend we managed to catch up with our family – the opportunity to see each other again in person after almost three months apart one I was so very, very grateful for.

Things aren’t quite back to normal yet, and won’t be for a long time I imagine. Social distancing remains in place and it does feel very strange to keep back from those we’re most desperate to be close to, but just having the opportunity to sit, even a little apart, and chat in person felt so much closer to normal than life has for a long time. It was beyond wonderful to be able to see our oldest little daughter’s face light up seeing her family again, and to have all of them meet our youngest for the very first time.

Things have settled back a little now after all the excitement, for us at least. After a few days of absolutely perfect sunshine just when we needed it, letting us sit out together in gardens comfortably; the last couple of days it’s been cooler and rainier, and we’re back to mostly indoor games, video calls and the lockdown life we’ve grown so accustomed to over the last few months.

Even so, I’m so thankful for all our connections with our family and friends – in lockdown, in this new transitional phase back to normality and always. Unexpected cards and little gifts arriving in the post, giving such a lift just when needed the most; laughter on virtual games nights all together, just as around the family dinner table; baking dropped off on a doorstep; books read and shared; breathing in the sight of the faces of my wonderful, wonderful family and my oldest friends in the warmth of sun this last week, smiling across the distance; the memories of all the day-to-day things we’ve shared together for a lifetime and look forward to again with a renewed understanding of their indescribable value. I’m very grateful for wonderful people around us, the time we got to share together this week, and the hope of more to come. ❤️

Hope you are all keeping well, doing alright whatever stage of this strange time you’re at, and having a good week. X