TODAY’S post is inspired by one of my favourite blogs, the lovely Florence Finds.

Yesterday, the founder of the blog Rebecca, published a wonderful little post about being thankful for what we have in our lives – you can read it here – and because I loved it so much, I decided to do my own version for today’s Friday Five.

Sometimes, we all just need a reminder of how fortunate we are (even if we don’t often feel like it) and Rebecca’s post did just that to me yesterday, so thank you Rebecca!

As Christmas is also the perfect time for some reflection, gratitude and appreciation, here’s what I’m thankful for, in my life, right now.

Elsie

Those of you who visit this blog often will know how much my beautiful little lady has totally and utterly transformed my world. And my very existence.

To be honest I never really need a reminder to be thankful for Elsie at all, because I am truly thankful for my daughter, every single day. In fact, every night before I go to sleep, I always say a little prayer to him upstairs to thank him for Elsie and the gift of motherhood. Well I am a good Catholic girl after all…(kind of).

You see, there was a dark time in my life, a few years ago when I honestly thought that motherhood was never going to happen for me. Becoming pregnant seemed to be the hardest thing in the world to achieve and yet eventually – and thankfully!- achieve it we did. It took my husband and I a pretty long time to conceive our gorgeous wee cherub and I still can’t quite believe my luck that she’s here.

Watching Elsie develop from a bouncing baby into a curious and wonderful toddler is just the best thing EVER. She fills my days with love, with happiness, with laughter and a whole lot of chaos and mess! ;-) But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Being a parent is the greatest gift in the world and I will never forget how lucky I am to have been given this most precious of responsibilities.

My husband, Jamie

We’ve been together a very long, my husband and I. Coming up to 14 years in fact!

So there are times when naturally, we take each other for granted. It shouldn’t happen of course, but it does. Even with the greatest will in the world, thanks to life and it’s multitude of challenges, we all seem to take those that we love the most for granted on occasion and as a couple, we are no different. It’s not that we forget how much we love each other, but that we, sometimes, forget to show and express it.

So today, I’m taking this opportunity to address the balance and say that…..I am very, very thankful for my husband and his love and support.

Whenever I think about Jamie, besides feeling love, I also feel immense pride. Pride that he is my husband. Pride that he is the father of my child. Pride that he is the man that I am creating a life with.

For those of you who don’t know Jamie, all I can tell you really is that he is a belter of a man. A fine chap. One of Yorkshire’s finest. (He will so love me for saying that!)

He makes my life a gazillion times better, just by being in it and over the years has helped me heal many a battle scar and provided me with some ridiculously happy memories.

I’m so grateful that after all these years, somehow, the two of us have managed to grow up without growing apart, that he’s still the one that makes my heart go a flutter and that together, we managed to create the most wonderful human being (in our eyes!) and become a three.

My nearest and dearest

Family, both mine and Jamie’s, are another reason to be thankful. An obvious one perhaps, but we should never overlook those who share our DNA or history.

We both have pretty big families as both our parents are divorced, which can make life a little tricky at times (just who do you pick to spend Christmas Day with?!)  but also brings with it a whole lot of fun and love.

In the good times and the bad, they are there. And whilst – as with all families – things sometimes can get a bit rocky or complicated – I truly wouldn’t swap any of them for the world. Which is a good job, as I think we may be stuck with them ;-)

It goes without saying that we love them all dearly.

Friendship

Ah friends. Where would we be without them? And I’m not talking about close acquaintances or those flaky fair weather friends (you know the ones!) but those true, loyal, wonderful mates that you can count on one hand (or two if you’re very lucky) who make our worlds go round.

I was thinking about my closest friends just the other day whilst on a long train journey and realised just how fortunate I am to have such a fabulous bunch of gorgeous women in my life.

All of them – and they know who they are! – are fine examples of womanhood. Kind, considerate, funny, intelligent, sassy, they really are glorious women. They may not know it (until now) but they inspire and move me constantly. And *coughs* I love them all dearly.

My friends help to make me a better person, they make my life so much sweeter and I cannot imagine indulging in a cocktail with anyone else but them!

From old friendships that grow stronger every year  to new ones that are only just developing, I am thankful for them all.

Opportunity (and this ol’ blog of mine)

In today’s modern times, we live in a world crammed full of opportunity and for that I am truly grateful.

I’m always harping on about how life is what you make it, but it really is! Life is about taking those opportunities that come your way and making the most of them. Seize the day and all that jazz.

Since I started this blog, opportunities have come into my life, that I could never have dared to even dream about. Pouting In Heels has brought excitement, fulfilment, creative contentment and friendship into my world and so many glorious opportunities.

Through blogging, I have met and connected with inspiring people, attended events, worked on exciting projects and achieved things that a few years ago would have seemed almost impossible. The opportunities seem endless with this ol’ blog of mine and because of that, I feel like the luckiest lady around.

And finally…

Ok, so I know I’ve already covered five things but what the hell! I do so love to break a rule! And also, well, I couldn’t write this without including…YOU.

Yes YOU my lovely reader! Because, in case you didn’t know, let me tell you, I am grateful for YOU.

Thankful for each and every one of you who take the time to read, comment or share anything to do with my musings and this wee blog of mine.

Without you, Pouting In Heels would just be another tiny voice lost in an ocean of noise. But with you, my voice is heard, amplified and travels just that bit further. All of which gives me much to be thankful for.

Your support, your encouragement, your words and your kindness never fail to astound and humble me. You help to make my dreams possible and are the greatest motivation I ever need to get my butt in gear, whenever I really don’t want to.

Thank you, thank you, thank YOU from the bottom of my heart.

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Till the next time, what are you most thankful for in your life, right now?

Katie