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.