Packing to move

In about one more week, the Heimbucks will be moving out of their home and into a new home near Denver. As I sort through boxes, trying to consolidate, I'm stumbling upon great memories and books that I don't need anymore (never thought that would happen). There is something about the sense of moving into a home as a family, a home that we chose together, that presents joy, anticipation about who will be our community and a need on my behalf, to have as many things cleared out, given away, or happily stored so that we can start our memories without clutter. Since de-cluttering our home in trying to sell it, I have physically felt better and mentally felt that there was some space to think about other things then,"I need to clean that up," or,"Did I finish . . .". It is a great feeling and I highly encourage all to do what you can. This has been a long process and it doesn't mean that we won't be making other trips to drop off stuff at the Goodwill, or shredding a box full of papers; but certain things from the past have been put to rest, put away, to make room for the present. I want to be a present mom, mindful, aware and creative. A new house will not suddenly bring that, it has to start with me, now. The discipline of showing our house has changed so many habits of our family, that I really feel like this new house is a new start. I can't wait to see what memories we make there, what items I will be reminiscing about in ten years and what I will need to hold close to me due to sentiment and what I will be able to let go. All I know is that I will be with my family and we will all be eating dinner together again and that's all I need.

Getting Ready

It has been about a year since I have blogged. Let's just say, I have had Blogger's Block. Today as I look back three years ago to preparations for my daughter's birth, I think of how many more life changes there are to come. The Heimbucks are moving, albeit not very far, to South Denver. We don't know when, but our house is on the market and it is the cleanest it has ever been! Lily will start a Preschool sometime in the Fall and all of us will be getting to know a different community of people. You see, while I am excited to move, I am also a bit sad to leave the community we have in the Springs. There are many things I will miss about this town: Garden of the Gods, waking up to Pikes Peak every morning, being able to see, on fourth of July, all of the fireworks across town from our bedroom window and the many people we have come to love. So before my daughter wake's up from her nap, I want to say a big Happy Birthday (tomorrow) to Lily. I loved giving birth to you and embarking on the adventure of raising you and being your mom. I also want to say that as we move to a different place sometime in the next few months, I look forward to all of the changes that will bring and I will always watch Word World with you, wherever we are.

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.