Thankful Monday

The past two weeks have led my heart on a trail of many thanks:

Mother's Day 2009: Having an amazing little girl to love. I love that she picked a Grandmother's card for me and a Mother's card for the Grandmother's! It was an amazing day.

Laughter: The way Cousin Logan, and all family for that matter, makes Lily laugh. Her laugh always makes me laugh until my stomach hurts which is the most wonderful feeling. My husband massages my heart each day when he makes me laugh, which he inevitably does.

Visits with Grandma and Grandpa: Lily played her first perfect one octave C Major scale in front of Grandma (for which I jumped up and down and may have let out a bit of a scream), going for wagon rides, playing at a nearby park, eating olives on her fingers. I love family that loves one another.

A Date with My Husband: Greg and I were able to go to hear Joshua Bell play in Denver with the Colorado Symphony and stay overnight while Grandma and Grandpa kindly took care of our precious girl. (We had decided to delay celebrating our anniversary for this occasion). It was a fantastic overnight stay with dinner at Marlowe's, dessert at The Paramount and lunch and a stroll the next day on the 16th street mall. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa!

The joy of being outside: I am learning so much from my daughter. Lily loves to be outside, no matter the weather. Lately she has enjoyed splashing and jumping in puddles, looking for bugs, playing on her new swing set, looking in the sky for airplanes (tanes or panes as she calls them) and just walking and discovering the outdoors. My most vivid memories of my childhood were spent outside riding my bike or playing in our backyard and discovering all that my imagination could afford me. I love that my daughter is bringing out this side of me that I had lost working at a desk job for some many years.

Thankful Monday

. . . Lily having an early morning PJ's playdate with Brenna and Rylan Hallam this week.

. . . My violin student deciding that he wants to practice more everyday, on his own.

. . . Visiting with Grandma and Grandpa Heimbuck.

. . . Traveling mercies for my mother and sister.

Thankful Monday

. . . both of my parents were able to spend some time with Lily during their visit.

. . . Lily said "Thank You" to Greg, unprompted.

. . . since Greg, Lily and I have started to say "good night", or "night night", to all her dolls and stuffed animals, Lily has been going to bed much happier.

. . . that I could go to the doctor and get the antibiotics I needed all within an hour. Amazing!

Thankful Monday

. . . friends at church that I can really talk to.

. . . moments that my mother can have with Lily and the fact that Lily keeps asking for "Poppa", my father, even though he had to go home (in CA :)).

. . . trying to fall to sleep at night while holding hands with my husband, the dog asleep on my leg, Lily asleep in her bed and thinking I am the most blessed woman to be surrounded by so much love.

. . . the honor of being able to be a part of friends joys and tragedies this week.

. . . the opportunity to teach my violin student and seeing how much talent he has.

. . . eating yogurt and waffles in the morning with Lily in my lap.

. . . Lily's sense of style and that she's starting to catch on to making choices.

. . . the fact that my husband got up extra early this morning, to make a meal for another family in need. I love and admire that his tender heart continues to grow vertically and horizontally.

. . . receiving my first kiss on the cheek from Lily. I don't know if she will ever know what that means to me, or the continual smile it causes me to have in my heart. The love of a child is such a gift.

Thankful Monday

. . . The Good Friday church service. It was contemplative, sad, thoughtful and quiet. The sound of the mystical oboe and bassoon playing together has stayed with me. Simply beautiful.

. . . Being able to attend the above service with my husband. Thank you to Mamo and Poppa and Cousin Logan for watching Lily so we could go.

. . . Lily's laughter.

. . . The way Lily wanted to deliver every paper she saw in a driveway on our walks.

. . . My husband's understanding ears and big heart.

. . . Being able to sit with a neighbor.

. . . The children who danced in church yesterday morning.

. . . Twirling, no matter how dizzying the world seems.

I'm Dreaming of a White Easter. . . Oh Wait It Was!

Lily in her Easter outfit with sparkly white shoes

The family before church. I don't have any pictures of the snow, but I was bundled up!

Cousin Logan and Lily focusing hard on some legos. We spent the afternoon at my sister's house

Lily, Cousin Logan and Mamo

Lily after Aunt Kristy had given her some real oreo cookies

Thankful Monday

Great Grandma and Grandpa Dieterle toasting to 65 years of marriage.

Lily helping Grandma Heimbuck play the piano

Lily with her new tricycle and Great Grandma and Grandpa Dieterle

. . . family celebrations this weekend in Denver-A wonderful long marriage, a Great Grandfather's birthday and the love of Grandparents, Aunt and cousin.

. . . the safe arrival of my parents today who are staying with my sister for the next week to visit.

. . . the way Lily says Amen, "Uh-Main!".

. . . friends that care for others in such tangible ways like with Christy's baby shower on Saturday and having a cup of coffee with Joanne Huddleson on Friday.

. . . how my husband prays in hushed tones at night, with such awe and thankfulness.

. . . how Lily's grandparents delight in her. I treasure every moment in my heart.

. . . that even though I was in a lot of physical pain this last week, I was still able to play and walk and enjoy everyday with Lily and Greg. My heart felt good even if the body was a bit broken.

Thankful Monday

. . . for having fun with Lily in the snow.

. . . for being able to go to a beautiful wedding with my husband and hearing a toast by the bride's father that moved Greg and myself. I love a happy wedding.

. . . for the spontaneous laughter and kisses of my husband this week.

. . . for the relationship between Bob and Lily. I am grateful for the gentleness they have for one another.

. . . for good neighbors.

. . . for a wonderful cozy home.

Thankful Monday

. . . trying out a new way of parenting through Love and Logic.

. . . my daughter's love of books, shoes and being outside.

. . . honest and loving devotional/prayer times with my husband.

. . . a beautiful bikeride and time at the park on Sunday with Greg and Lily.

. . . remembering how fun it is to go downhill on a bike.

Thankful Monday

. . . on March 11th, getting to celebrate three years being married to my wonderful husband who suprised me with a card and flowers.
. . . that Lily was a lot more comfortable in the water at her swim lesson on Saturday.
. . . celebrating St. Patrick's Day early with our home group. It's wonderful to be surrounded by friends.
. . . a cozy home and food.

For all these things, I feel very blessed.

Thankful Monday

Lily looking at the big kid's slide

As I was thinking about one of the exercises in Lily's swim class, I can't help but feel how it sums up some Mondays: Jump in and reach for the side. Today I have been hearing a lot of Daddy's name from Lily: Waking up this morning, when she fell off a toy at Focus on the Family and at various other points. I can't fault her for it, she is a Daddy's girl and if anyone can fix anything it's Daddy. I am grateful for the relationship Greg and Lily have, how inseparable they are on the weekends and evenings. I am grateful for being able to take Lily to Whit's End at Focus on the Family, where she just ran and longed to be old enough to go down the giant slide that frightens a lot of kids bigger than her (she loves speed). Even when she was throwing a tantrum because she was getting tired and frustrated that she couldn't play on some of the toys/rides like she wanted because they were just out of reach of her size, I just thought of how far she has come in walking and how much further she will grow. Monday's like these make me grateful that I have a God that I can reach for, who is already there, ready to teach me and grow me this week. Monday's like these make me grateful that I don't have to reach for what I already have.Lily with Cousin Logan getting ready to go to Focus on the Family

Lily's First Swim Lesson

Today Greg and I took Lily to her first swim lesson at the YMCA. At first she was clinging to both of us in the water for the first ten minutes of the lesson, but soon she was smiling and enjoying just bobbing up and down. We learned a lot of things that we can practice in her bath, but for now I think she was content to watch the other kids do the exercises and just get used to being in such a huge amount of water.

Her favorite thing to do was sit on the edge of the pool while we counted "1,2,3. . ." and on the word "bubbles" we lifted her into the pool. She also liked "Humpty Dumpty", where we sang "Humpty Dumpty" and on the word fall she would fall into the water and then we would say "Reach!" and have her grab for the side of the pool. She took to that exercise very well which is a relief to Greg and I. The teacher said that when her daughter was 23 months old she fell into the pool and reached for the side like she was taught until she was found 45 minutes later!

We all had such a wonderful time, I just could not stop smiling. I think it helped Lily to have both Greg and I there with her. We even stayed a few minutes after class to practice certain things and just get used to the water when she started to smile. I can't wait for next week!

Thankful Monday

Some good friends of mine have started a tradition of blogging what they are thankful for every Thursday. Having been touched and inspired by them, I have decided to choose Monday as my day to express what I have been thankful for over the past week (I would do Thursday girls, but I never seem to get to my computer in time :)).

I am thankful . . .

• that Greg, Lily and myself are feeling better after a bout with some gastrointestinal ickiness.
• for the women's brunch at church on Saturday that was full of loveliness and God's hand. I love being surrounded by extraoridinary women.
• for the amazing man my husband is: Taking care of Lily yesterday while I was sick, leaving me a love note this morning, how he intentionally tells me what he appreciates about me before we go to sleep, his dedication and devotion to our daughter every day and night. Thank you Greg, for being my wonderful partner in this life.
• that Lent started on Wednesday. While I did not attend service, nor have I been altogether faithful in what I have chosen to do for the season, I appreciate a time that makes me look at the simplicity in my tasks and life and look heavenward. I especially enjoy the communal atmosphere during this season as people try to "give up" something, or just become more disciplined in the name and help of Christ leading up to Easter.
• that after finishing some books on the Middle East, I have the freedom to type what I am thankful for on this blog without retribution, as a woman. These books have made me so grateful to be a woman where I am.

Two Months of Catching Up

OK, so I am way behind with our blog, hopefully this will catch you up a bit.

VALENTINE'S DAY
FEBRUARY 14, 2009

Daddy took Lily to pick out her own balloon, which she would not let go of until she went down for her nap. The crown you see was decorated in stickers by Lily after receiving it in the mail from Grandma and Grandpa.

Greg and I went out for a sushi dinner and then listened to jazz downtown at Poor Richard's Bookstore while sharing a dessert and a glass of wine. So lovely!

JANUARY

Lily finished her Physical Therapy. Here are some pictures from her last session with Miss Hilary. We were all a bit sad to see this time end because it was so much fun!

January was a bit bittersweet this year. It was wonderful to find out that Greg and I were expecting Baby Bob (that's what we nicknamed him), but so hard when we miscarried. Greg and Lily and I are so grateful to our church community for providing meals, childcare and even helping with the laundry while Greg and I mourned the loss of our little one and tried to get my body to heal and rest.

DECEMBER 2008
A PARTY AND CHRISTMAS WITH MAMO AND POPPA!

An early Christmas with Aunt Kristy, Cousin Logan and Uncle Erik!

CHRISTMAS IN FRESNO, CALIFORNIA

While visiting we were also able to visit The Meux Home and take a holiday tour. I was also given the opportunity to play the song I had written for Lily's Dedication for services at my parent's church.

Visiting Greg's Aunt Marilyn, Uncle Time and Cousin Jodie in Simi Valley, CA. We had a great time catching up with family.

My Cousin Sara, Aunt Terry and Uncle Richard came down to visit. I had not seen them in more than ten years! It was a fun visit.



It was so much fun to catch up with old friends. Julie Calahan, which I have known since Elementary School, Noelle Cahill who I have known since Junior High and our good friend Carmen.