Family

Wednesday night, my first night home, Mom and Tim and I went over to Aaron and Heidi's after dinner, just because we could. When we started up the walk, Peter appeared in the big picture window, standing on the couch; anticipation showed in his clenched hands, scrunched shoulders, and sparkly grin. Lucy was visible just behind him, as usual more calm and reserved. I dashed up the steps and knocked on the door so Peter would come and open it. Then I took him, sturdy and solid, in my arms. He was full of eager questions and news doled out in his stilted sentences. "You called in German?" he asked. I said I was also called "Julie" in German. "No, you called Tante Julie in German!"

Tim took me out to breakfast on Thursday morning, our only day of overlap at home together before he left for school. He drove me to the Fall City Grill and lingered with me over a hearty breakfast, sharing some stories of his summer (most notably the Bear Hunt Story), encouraging me to start a bakery, talking about ideas for his future.

Aaron and Heidi came over with the kids on Thursday night in honor of Tim's last night at home; we played a game and ate popsicles and laughed together. Peter and Lucy spent the night, and I loved hearing his hearty snoring when I went into my room to go to bed. In the morning, I was down the hall when he woke up. "Mama, Peter get up?" When I went in to answer his sweet call, he sat up and adjusted the pillows and told me his plan: "You get book off shelf, you read Peter story!" Mom and I took turns running and watching Peter and Lucy (feeding them oatmeal, dressing them, answering Peter's questions, snuggling Lucy) and then drove them to the blueberry farm to meet Heidi. When we asked Peter what we would do at the blueberry farm, he had two good ideas: Pick and neat [eat]!

He was an independent and cheerful little picker, and often we would call to him and hear his little voice from several rows away. "Yes? I almost to end!"

Lucy was a good sport in the Ergo, but towards the end the blueberries we popped into her mouth weren't making up for the branches switching her in the face, and she was ready to get down. We have been enjoying a handful of fresh blueberries with most of our meals since Friday morning: in salad with chicken and curry dressing; with nectarines and yogurt on granola; sprinkled over gingerbread and lemon sauce.

This morning at breakfast Dad, Mom and I talked about issues of the heart. There were even a few tears, and I loved how we were soft and open to receive the Word from Daily Light as Dad read to us, and how earnestly we prayed together.

Today Mom and I spent lots of time in the kitchen and browsing cookbooks. Our big project was getting the food ready for our four day hike starting next Wednesday; then we did some menu planning for a couple of company meals coming up in the next few weeks. The sink was emptied of dishes many times; we had the dehydrator, the flour mill, and all manner of pots and pans out; we chopped and measured and toasted and baked. I love all the flavors and textures and possibilities -- the creativity; I love that we can make something we have to do (eating) into a delight; mostly I loved being together with Mom and working and playing and sharing and laughing together.