Grandma, Myles, and an Apple Pie

From Wednesday through Saturday I was in New Orleans at the Lutheran Youth Gathering. Over 35,000 youth and adults descended upon the city for a half week of community service, collective worship in the superdome, workshops and the interaction center (which included a zip line as well as exhibits like the one I worked at for the Lutheran Peace fellowship--a time line of historic nonviolent movements for social change and a prayer-peace flag making station). While I was away, my mom came to spend some quality time with Myles (and Seth). She sent an email my way tonight that had me laughing out loud, so I thought I'd share. My mom was making an apple pie because my dad's birthday was on Saturday, and she always made an apple pie for him on his birthday. Here's her account:

Making an apple pie while two-and-a-half year old Myles is playing

1. Grandma begins to roll out the dough for the pie crust, which she had prepared the day before while Myles was napping--a very wise decision!

2. Myles is in the pantry pointing out the cereal he would like, even though he has just finished a big breakfast a half hour earlier. Grandma washes off her hands and fixes Myles his cereal, which he eats with two spoons, one for each hand of course.

3. Grandma begins to cut up the apples. Myles is in the broom closet trying to get the big brooom down, which he does. Juniper's ball has gone under the sofa, and Myles needs to help Juniper by sweeping the broom under the sofa, as he had watched Grandma do the day before! The boy has a great memory! Grandma washes her hands and tries to help because the long broom is banging against the wall and almost topples a plant. Myles tells Grandma that he can do it by himself!

4. Grandma begins cutting apples again while Myles plays in the tupperware. It's fun to push the tupperware backwards from the top shelf down to the bottom shelf, but then the drawer won't roll in and the cabinet door won't close. Grandma washes her hands and comes to the rescue for which she receives a bear hug an kiss from Myles:)

5. Oops, not again Juniper! Repeat of number three above!

6. Myles decides to play with his new Memory game. All of the cards are dumped on the floor. By placing a card under each foot and sliding across the floor, Myles has come up with a new, creative way to play the game. Grandma continues to slice the apples.

7. Myles is too quiet. Grandma stops slicing and washes her hands. Myles is discovered in the dog shower. Thankfully, he hasn't turned on the water yet.

8. Repeat of number three above!! Grandma hides the dumb ball:(

9. Myles would like some juice. It MUST be served in the cup with the straw. Grandma stops the pie making, washes her hands, and pours the juice from the sippy cup to the cup with the straw. Myles is happy, and Grandma gets another bear hug and kiss:)

10. Grandma, wondering if the pie will ever be completed, resumes working. Suddenly Grandma hears, "Help me." Guessing Myles is in the broom closet again, Grandma finishes the apple she's working on when she hears, "Help me" again. Grandma washes her hands and finds Myles sitting on the tall desk chair in the office. He has taken out Poppy's drawer and all of Poppy's tubes of art paint, which were in the drawer, are lined up on the desk. Grandma is soooo thankful that she went to help Myles get down before any paint tubes were opened!

11. Grandma finishes slicing apples and begins to make the crumb topping for the pie. Myles comes to the kitchen and shows her his hur thumb nail. Grandma kisses it and takes advantage of another bear hug and kiss:)

12. Grandma continues to mix the topping when she hears Myles saying he wants Cheerios. Upon checking the pantry, there is Myles standing on the top of the oatmeal box with both feet, while hanging on to the shelf with one hand and pointing to the Cheerios with the other!! Whew! Now Grandma understands why the childproof door knob is on the pantry door. Grandma gets Myles some Cheerios. Oh, and he needs more juice in the cup with the straw.

13. Grandma gets the pie in the oven while Myles snacks. She praises the Lord for completing the pie before lunch time, while wondering how many ingredients she accidentally omitted!

July Madness

Big news first: Seth is going back to school!! He has been accepted to Western Carolina's Masters of Public Affairs (MPA) program for professionals. Evening classes will be offered at UNCA, a mile from our house. Seth is also receiving partial scholarship which truly makes this step possible for us right now. Pursuing his MPA is not so much about a career change, but broadening Seth's skill set and expertise. While he loves design and will probably have his finger in the design pie throughout his career, the MPA will also equip him to do more management, such as managing a Parks Department. The great thing about doing masters work (we think) while working is that Seth will choose research projects and write about the things that he's already curious about after working with the Asheville Parks Dept for five years (how do other cities handle x, y, and z, for example). Congratulations Seth! Will keep you posted on the classes he's taking as that time rolls around. We are grateful to have the GRE behind us...

In other news, the summer has reached a frenzied pitch in our household. We just returned from the beach, where we had a fabulous, quick time of retreat. My beloved friend Erin came to visit for the weekend and introduced Myles to his first board game, Memory (at this age, we just turn the cards face up and find "matches"), named his duck "Pato" (getting some Spanish language acquisition in there!), and just treated us to a great weekend. Tomorrow I am headed to New Orleans for another contract project with the Lutheran Peace Fellowship. My mom is coming to be with Myles and Seth to help out with child care while I'm away. I will return on Saturday, my dad's birthday. Sunday is our July worship service (thankfully Sara's preaching). I have a week to catch my breath before heading to Atlanta for a New Church Start Institute training for a few days. Being away from Myles is really hard for me. I'm trying to take a deep breath, offer thanks for Seth and my mom, and see what new things I might learn in my time away that make these trips worth the trouble.

In the mean time, we're thinking about our friends Karson and Jason as Karson continues on with her chemo. We're thinking about health care reform, which we hope will be comprehensive and include a public health option. And we're loving being so close to my sister, who popped by on Saturday with her family for a quick visit. As Karson and Jason often affirm, life is good.

Beach Retreat

Thank you to Blake for this beautiful picture of Myles...

I used to avoid posting at an hour like this...10:27 on a Friday night. But hey, I'm all about being real about the realities of family life. So I might as well mention that Seth is out with Tom (happy 41st Tom!), Myles is sacked out in the "big boy bed" upstairs, and I'm down here on the computer catching up on Rachel Maddow. But my blog fans are clamoring restlessly. Must post, must post.

The long silence is a reflection of how busy life has been. The best news is that my sister's family is settled into their new home in Abingdon, VA--just an hour and forty minutes up the most beautiful highway! I still can't believe our good fortune to have them so close by, and their good fortune to land in the cool little town of Abingdon. News that my brother-in-law Brian ate a fried green tomato sandwich on his first day of work when his employer took him out to the restaurant at Hungry Mother state park, and that they've already been to the farmer's market and on the creeper trail makes me smile with delight. I love Appalachia, and there's nothing like sharing the goodness of it with family and friends!

The week's been a good one. On Monday night we went to concerts on the quad which receives a five star rating for fun things to do with toddlers. We pack a picnic dinner, meet up with friends, listen to music and let the kids run around and do their thing. Myles dances. And gets really close to the stage to study the guitar player's hands...

Last night I attended a press conference at city hall in support of the Racial Justice Act. I gathered behind the podium with other clergy and listened to Edward Chapman tell his story. Chapman was wrongfully convicted, sentenced to death, served over a decade on death row, and was recently exonerated. His story is powerful, and his spirit is stunning. The guy carries absolutely no resentment. None. He takes responsibility for the lifestyle he was leading that allowed others to take advantage of his reputation to prosecute him (his words, not mine). He has integrated into community life in Asheville and works hard every day, the energy and zest for life positively pours off the guy. And yet he's an advocate for the racial justice legislation and a moratorium on the death penalty because he knows first hand that too often race plays a factor in determining the severity of the sentence (in NC for example, someone who kills a white person is 3.5 times more likely to receive a death sentence than someone who kills a person of color), and he knows that in a human system we sometimes make mistakes. He lost 15 years of his life to the row. And he could have lost his life had it not been for some ambitious law professor and investigative students. Yesterday I had the pleasure of shaking his hand, introducing myself, and telling him that I'm pen pals with his old pal on death row.

What I really love about being a pastor is that I get to do such meaningful work. I get to speak out on the ethical issues of our day, stand up for justice, and march for peace. I get to walk alongside folks in the most beautiful and difficult seasons of their lives, from births and baptisms to heartbreaking diagnoses and separations. It is such a privilege to do the work of a pastor. I am so blessed.

Mylestones: Today I came to a sudden stop in the car and Myles said, "Careful mama, careful!" As the light turned green and I started to accelerate slowly he said, "Good job mama." We have finally hit that sweet spot where he's telling us regularly that he loves us and gives us kisses and hugs unprompted. Life is good! We are on the potty daily, but performing on the potty is still not regular, forgive the pun. Myles loves having pretend conversations on our cell phones which involve a great deal of jubilant gibberish and giggling. He occasionally sings "tinkle tinkle little star" on command (or over the phone for Grandma). He's been sleeping in the guest bed all week, I guess finally transitioning out of the crib. He likes to have papi or mama lie down with him for the first few minutes, which is when we get the sweetest side of Myles. He whispers, he gives kisses, he hold our hands, he throws an arm over my side.

Tonight Myles was thrilled that we were going to Tom's birthday party. We practiced singing happy birthday and saying "happy birthday Tom!" Myles helped me make a construction paper crown for Tom and gave it to him himself (Tom is his godfather). We ate sushi for dinner, home-made peach icecream with chocolate zucchini bread muffins for desert, and then Myles played with the chickens (and Claire and Lydia) in the backyard.

Seth is officially an old man. He got his first crown today. (He still looks young and handsome to me.)

Tomorrow we head for Atlantic Beach. I'll be participating in a clergy retreat on Monday and Tuesday, and Seth and Myles will be vacationing, but we'll have plenty of time together as a family (the retreat schedule is not rigorous). I am so hungry for the ocean and a time of contemplation. I think Myles will have an incredible time at the beach, and there's an aquarium there as well.

Before I sign off, I want to recommend this inspiring video of the week.

Feel the love, yall.