Santa, I don't think so

This last Wednesday I dressed Lily up in red with her black patent leather shoes and took her to see Santa at the office she has her Physical Therapy (they offer so many wonderful things). All I can say is "Santa, I don't think so." The moment we stepped into the colorful room filled with presents and cookies, Lily became a wildcat. Santa even gave her a stuffed animal she could keep to try and appease her and talked so nicely to her, but to no avail (hats off to the big guy, he was the best Santa I have ever encountered). I think the picture says it all. The funny thing is, I was the same way as a child, with Santa. My family just laughed when I told them. Poor Lily bean.

The Broncos!

Go Broncos! For Christmas, Grandma and Grandpa gave Greg and I tickets to see the Denver Broncos play the Kansas City Chiefs at Mile High Stadium in Denver, CO on December 10, 2008. Greg and I had soooo much fun. We couldn't have picked a more gorgeous day. We arrived extra early to see the teams warming up and look at all the incredible views from the stadium and eat our delicious lunches that Grandma had packed for us. Luckily we won the game, although it didn't look that way from the first half.

I have to give a shout out to some of our seat-mates who made the experience so complete for me: The Know-It-All man that shouted to all the team mates, on both sides, as if he were on a first name basis with them; The Whiner-Woman who believed every call by the referees was a conspiracy against the Broncos; The Drinking Buddies next to us who always made sure that one of them was getting a beer for the other; The Spitter who sat behind me and tended to spew when greatly angered by what was happening on the field; The Texters who sat next to Greg and must have been forced, as High Schoolers, to go to the game. To these and so many others, I say thank you. Go Broncos!

Twas' the Night Before Thanksgiving . . .

The fam in front of Grandma's Tree

Oh what fun!

This year, for Thanksgiving, we spent "Christmas" with Greg's family, since we will be in California celebrating the day with mine. Everyone had a wonderful time. Here is Lily in her Christmas dress, which she picked out. There was a lot of laughter with the addition of Greg's cousin Jodie visiting from LA. Thanksgiving night, Jodie, Melia, Caroline, Greg and I went to a Denver Nuggets game. It was so much fun!

"I love my ball from Aunt Melia."

Grandpa, Lily and cousin Allie

Great Reuben and Great Grandma Dieterle. Great Reuben always tells the Christmas story before presents are opened.

"I'm walking!"

Lily with Great Grandma Dieterle

The gang at the Nuggets game. I had forgotten how much I enjoy watching live basketball.

A Tree and a Haircut

This morning Lily received a wonderful haircut by our friend Joanne Huddleson. She was so good with Lily that she made Cool Cuts seem like amateurs. We came to her house to be greeted by a warm smile, a big hug and lattes! Lily sat so well in Greg's lap while I took pictures. Afterwards, Joanne let Greg and Lily and I sit on her back porch swing and enjoy our lattes and the gorgeous view of Pikes Peak while she attended to another client. It was a wonderful way to start our day.
Next was time to put up Christmas in the Heimbuck household. Oh I love this day so much that I have had it on the calendar for months! Lily was a wonderful helper, as was Bob. With Christmas music blaring, singing coming from our souls and rearranging the furniture (which I'm a big fan of, really) none of us could help but smile. Lily even brought on some of her dance moves, which right now looks a lot like she is saying "Ole!". A big thanks to my wonderful husband who took these pictures. Mom gets to be in some pictures, wow!

Music and a Women's Retreat

There are two events that I have failed to mention, but have been important in momma's life this month. The first was November 1, 2008 when nine (plus) string musicians played music during service that Cheri Gillard and I had arranged and written parts for (especially the musical worship songs). It was a process that started in August and came to fruition so beautifully that Sunday morning. One of the highlights was the moment after the last song, Here in Your Presence, when I started to fiddle (no pun intended) with my music and looked beyond my music stand. Everyone was standing in silence with their eyes closed. I realized that we were all experiencing a holy moment and I was in awe. A shout out to Cheri for her hard work and dedication to trying to compose with a 16 month old trying to grab the music and the instruments!

The second event, took place a week later at the La Foret Retreat Center in Black Forest, CO for our church's women's retreat. It was a powerful weekend, connecting with old and new friends in such a beautiful peaceful setting only 15 minutes from our home! I enjoyed helping in leading the musical worship time, although it was hard to keep track of all the instruments I had with me. At one point I had a guitar on, a violin in my hand and a penny whistle waiting for me on the stand. I kind of felt like Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins. The most powerful moment for me was the evening after having a yoga session and an upper body massage, that I just played my violin alone in the lodge. I have not done that in a very long time and it moved my soul in a deep way. Did I mention the cabins had bathrooms in them? I can't wait until next year.

Lily's First Steps

November 14, 2008 will forever be known as an important morning. Lily and I were at her physical therapy appointment, when she took her first four steps alone! I praised her and started crying; sometimes a mom needs to cry in joy. After working with her so much, I was so happy to be there for her first steps (she likes to show off for other people, but she's used to me). Afterwards, she needed a break in the ball pit (see picture) since she had been working so hard. Go Lily Bean and thank you Miss Hilary!

Election Day

Today Greg, Lily and I went to cast our ballot for the next President of th United States. We had to stand in line for a while, but it was worth being able to vote freely.

A Visit With a Good Alaskan Friend

Singing, laughing, books, politics, love, church, God, prayer, grace, children, mountains, the present, old friends, new friends, silence, beauty, Pikes Peak, leaves, chinese food, space, where would we like to be, illness, travel, The Fantastiks, dancing, life . . .

These are some of the topics that Judith and I talked about as if there wasn't enough air to get everything out. I love friends like that.

Earlier this week, I was able to have a short, but wonderful visit with my good friend and former Hebrew teacher, Judith Bendersky, from my days in Alaska. Judith currently lives in Anchorage, AK and came to Colorado to visit with friends and escape the snow that is already piling up there (I do not miss those winters). It has been years since we have been able to sit down and really talk since I left that snowy state. Thank God for computers and E-mail, but there is something so good for the mind and body to be able to sit and talk over tea and coffee with a soul friend. I loved that she could experience a bit of my world now, getting to know Greg and Lily. Thank you Judith for your patience with my sniffles and coughing while I battled a viral infection. Here are some pictures of a small hike we did at Garden of the Gods and sitting in my house. I love my friend dearly and can't wait to take the family up to Alaska one day to show them where mommy once lived.

It's a blessing to have a friend, where years can pass, but you can pick up right where you left off, no matter how many states are in between.

Eric Hallam's Book

Our friend Eric Hallam has come out with a children's book called Big Dreams and we want everyone to know about it. The book will go on sale at bookstores December 7th and is currently on sale now at DreamSeedBooks.com.

Eric, Eric's wife Kristin and Greg all went to college together. We're so excited to see the finished product that started as an idea when Kristin was pregnant and has now come to fruition along with their twins, Brenna and Rylan. Below is a synopsis of the book. We can't wait to read it to Lily!

Have you ever fallen asleep while reading a book and found yourself dreaming that you were a character from that story? This is the inspiration behind Eric Hallam’s Dream Seed book series. The vivid imagery and illustrations in Big Dreams will plant Dream Seeds in your child’s subconscious while the soothing lullaby rhythm will help them fall fast asleep. Check out DreamSeedBooks.com in order to get yourself or someone you love a copy.

"What a charming Story! I think this will be a bedtime classic for years to come in families. Those who are children will grow up to read the story to their children."
- Stacy Baker, Tate Publishing, Mustang, OK

Want to get a copy of Big Dreams free?

Lily's First Harvest Party: Halloween 2008

Today Greg took Lily (mommy was sick) to her first Harvest party at her Physical Therapist's office. There were games of pumpkin bowling and matching skeletons on physical therapy balls. All patients and their siblings were invited to dress up and snack on cookies and just enjoying playing. Lily stood up all by herself for about thirty seconds, which is the longest she has stood

all by herself. She had a great time as a Broncos Cheerleader (not shown is the bow in her hair and her blue pom pom).

Tonight Greg cut into the pumpkin that Lily and I had picked out at The Colorado Pumpkin Patch earlier this month while Greg had been in China. Lily and mommy got to take a hay ride and slide down a hay slide on a potato bag and just have fun with our friends the Wilsons.