One of my favorite things to post used to be what I called "Here and Now". Of course this was several years ago when I was better about posting on my blog on a regular basis. Usually the photos that I shared were just snap shots of whatever was happening or how things really looked in that moment. It was a fun way to share a piece of my life with others and a fun thing to look back on and remember.
This morning I had a few things on my kitchen counter that got me thinking about how grateful I was for different people and things in my life. So this inspired me to take a quick photo of these things.
So this photo was actually set up just a bit, but in reality these things were just hanging out on my counter! The wonderful tomatoes are from my mom's garden. They are super yummy and one of my daughter's favorites! The thing is my mom loves tomatoes to! One thing that I really love about my mom though is the fact that she is so giving! Funny how something so simple can bring up so many memories and make me think about those things.
The oils and diffuser here are also another thing that I'm very grateful for. I spent a lot of time looking into these and trying decide if these were something for me and my family. I finally decided to give them a try this past September. They are something we use daily in our house and has become a great help with so many things and something else I've been very grateful for! One of my favorites is the orange oil. I love mixing it with other oils or just using it by itself! Today it found it's way into my diffuser.
The last thing on the counter is the sweet little jar of homemade jam. It's amazing the memories and thoughts that one little jar like this can bring to me. Four years ago our oldest daughter passed away at the age of 16 and it was and has been a very difficult thing for our family. At that time we had a friend that checked on us on a regular basis. In the beginning I think he was here once a week. Just to let us know that he cared and was thinking of us. A lot of the times he would bring us jam that his wife had made. It quickly became a favorite for our family. Sometimes I had to hide it in the fridge to make it last. As time has gone by this dear friend has continued to stop by and say hi and drop off treats for our family. Our family always enjoys the treats, but really we appreciate the thoughtfulness and the support of this wonderful couple! They have shared many hugs and tears with us over the years. Yesterday my daughter answered the door to this sweet treat again with a hug. I'm so grateful for the friendship and the love that they have showed and continue to show our family.
So as I look at this photo of just a few simple things on my counter I'm amazed at the simple things in life that bring such happiness and joy. So today I'm holding onto those wonderful things! I'm grateful and my heart is full!