Early last month the kindred blogging spirit that Naomi from Seven Cherubs, set us all a little love-in challenge. The mission, should we have chosen to accept it, was to learn the art of thankfulness, and deliver just one small sentence to articulate what it was that has blessed us during the 24 hours of the day. It was a grand way to make those of us who get caught up in the clutter of everyday life to stop a second and think clearly. Things are never so bad after all! And if you can’t find at least one solitary occurrence that has made you smile during a day (and trust me, on April 12 that was a little testing for me!) then you simply are not trying hard enough to appreciate the wonderful world in which we live.

So, without any further ado, welcome to the NappyDaze four weeks of thankfulness. I only wish that it may somehow help you all now look at your own worlds a little differently…

April 10, 2011
Today I’m grateful for a spectacularly sunny autumn playdate with Harrison’s best little Buddy Nate & his lovely mummy Danielle.

April 11, 2011
Thankful that one can actually fast for 12.5 hours, while feeding my eternally hungry child and still not faint!

April 12, 2011
Even though it’s my birthday, and my much longed for plans of personal indulgence were thwarted with a sick child, I’m still very much aware how lucky I am to have so many beautiful family & friends who have acknowledged me today.

April 13, 2011
While I am thankful my son is now the epitome of health again, the small sulky child in me is still lamenting the fact it is no longer my birthday BUT I’m grateful for the husband’s suggestion that I postpone my birthday plans to another day.

April 14, 2011
Time to click those ruby red shoes; there’s no place like home, there’s no place like home… well, my childhood home in this case!

April 15, 2011
Thankful in spades today for a session with a renowned clairvoyant who has showered much needed clarity into my world.

April 16, 2011
A visit with my beautiful, newly pregnant friend, who may be suffering the ails of morning sickness, but in the same breath so thankful to be, after her crippling miscarriage a few months before.

April 17, 2011
Finally a chance to be thankful to belatedly celebrate my birthday, enjoying a wonderful dinner with my parents and in-laws, and even a surprise birthday cake to top it all off!

April 18, 2011
Although sad to be leaving behind the place I’ll always know as “Home”, today I’m thankful for the much needed chance to rest (so grateful to you Mum & Dad!) as well as a overly morning spent with two beautiful school friends.

April 19, 2011
A scary day, resignation handed in; but so thankful that the boss understood my reasons for leaving.

April 20, 2011
It’s a blessing when you can gorge yourself on as much early Easter chocolate as I did today and still manage to not vomit.

April 21, 2011
I suppose I should be thankful for the Doctor putting me on Blood pressure tablets, so that this newly discovered condition can be treated…

April 22, 2011
It is indeed a Good Friday, not only as an important day on the Catholic calendar, but because the Stewarts are coming to stay & play for a few days, YAY!

April 23, 2011
When it comes to my sister, I’ve much to be thankful for; and spending time with her today was just such a treat.

April 24, 2011
Thank Goodness for the Easter Bunny, Lindt, & Cadbury, who are rocking our Easter Sunday and for finding a local babysitter so that theadults could escape the chocolate crazed kids for a few hours of civilised conversation…

April 25, 2011
It’s an easy one to be thankful for today; that we live in freedom because of the brave souls who lost their lives, ensuring that we could enjoy the liberties we have today, and thinking back to 10 years before when I was my turn to make the pilgrimage to Gallipoli.

April 26, 2011
Gratitude today comes in the form of my book club meeting, with a great group of girls (and a new member, a man!), laughter, chatter, gossip – and some in depth discussion on the Franzen novel, Freedom.

April 27, 2011
My last remaining grandparent was celebrating her birthday today, so I was feel blessed she is still with us and able to have a lovely little chat – definitely lifted my surly mood after 3 hours commute to get home from work…!

April 28, 2011
Breathing a sigh of relief, Harrison is in daycare and I have a whole day to do my chores in PEACE!

April 29, 2011
Despite swearing I would not jump on the Royal Wedding Extravganze bandwagon, I was excitedly glued to EVERY minute of the coverage, making me relect on my own very special day years before…

April 30, 2011
God help me, we’ve just gone and signed up for a twelve month gym membership so I ought to start getting grateful about the opportunity to improve my health and wellbeing.

May 1, 2011
Finally the brilliant blue sky has returned and we greet it with a delightful walk along our beach, leaving me feeling grateful to live in such a spectacularly beautiful piece of Australia.

May 2, 2011
Blessings today come in the form of a finished trip down teenage memory lane, after finishing reading the fluffy, but addictive Sweet Valley Confidential.

May 3, 2011
An abundance of thankful love is felt today, after arriving home from a 12hr day to see my first ever published piece written for a gorgeous and glossy children’s magazine!

May 4, 2011
A chance to participate in some Mother’s Day activities at my son’s daycare has made my heart swell this evening.

May 5, 2011
I’m feeling the love today for the wonderful writer that is Alison Tait, who graciously gave of her time, wisdom and experience to this wannabe writer.

May 6, 2011
After almost seven years the clever husband is today signing off from one fabulous job, and is gearing up for a new challenge (even it still means our world revolves around sport!)

May 7, 2011
Sweet blessed relief I finally found myself on the receiving end of a sound night’s sleep, without having to deal with the devil child who so often likes to wake and cry numerous times during the night.

May 8, 2011
Feeling very blessed to be able to spend the morning of Mother’s Day with my own lovely Mummy & my gorgeous big sister (despite the bratty child being a nightmare all day long…)

May 9, 2011
God bless grandparents and their perfectly timed arrival to help us as we plunge into a “new normal” in the Webeck household, could not have survived without them!

May 10, 2011
Being my second last day of work with the PBL Media/Nine Group, I’m looking back on 6 years of working with some wonderful people, and enjoying a divine lunch at Kobe Jones with my two most treasured work colleagues (the only ones remaining since my first day back in 2005!) and gearing up for the big farewell tomorrow…

So, as the last day of the thankful blog rolls around, I cast my mind back in awe at the many small mercies I am grateful for, that otherwise would have been lost in the fug of everyday life. What a wonderful opportunity this has been to make a concerted effort to seek the good, instead of automatically concentrating on the stressful or bad. And while I am realistic enough to know life is not all beer and skittles, once night falls and before I crawl into the cocoon of sleep, I will have taken a small few minutes to reflect on the blessings of the day, no matter how insignificant they may seem. Because as I have now seen firsthand, they don’t take too long to add up and make your life a magical little place to be.