A Note to the Pastor

Posted by Liz Voss

Thursday, September 16, 2010

by Linda Rempel  

                                                                                                        

HMMMMMM.... thought I would blog my letter to Tom the other day... a spontaneous email while cleaning my filthy van... if Tom and I ever had words it was over these things.... just shows an old dog can learn new tricks.... :-)

As one who knows you better than anyone but God, I wanted to say that what I have seen in the last few years is a man who has learned that a footprint on the dash of the van or a scratch in the plastic is a sign that your grandaughters were picked up with their backpacks after school, and that smoothie splashed on the seats means that Nu Vibe was bought for them and they drank it while telling things to you that they won't tell their parents...

that scratches in the bumper that have to be repaired mean that Nana took them to the movies and turned too soon and hit the cart corrall at Target or was rushing to back up and hit the fence.. ($2,500) while running to get grandkids....hmmm (I didn't hear anything...how did that happen?)

and money spent... way too much at Rocket Fizz... only lasts for a time... and grease on the drycleaned suit means little babies with donuts or bagels and butter in their hands were walking the halls with you before you preached...and marks on the walls in your office???... same thing..,

and for me??? fingerprints on the windows mean the kids were squishing their noses to see in while they waited for me to answer the door.... and a birthday cake upside down on the floor before anyone could eat it was the best birthday ever and the only one we will remember.... and the entire box of minute rice upside down on the floor... picked up thrown away but not forgotten..

remember the time Nana????

and messes and crumbs and spills can be cleaned up... and if they cannot??? gives us something to look at and say...REMEMBER THE TIME CHLOE POOPED ON THE NEW COUCH... so so funny.....things do not matter....people do...

and yes i have been paying off my Visa for 42 years... (BUT IT IS ALMOST DONE.. ) BUT SADLY ... THE KIDS ARE GONE...if only we could have learned this lesson while our kids were little...but perhaps that is why grandchildren are the glory of old men...(and women... )

as I cleaned the filthy van today.. soggy cups from Runza... melted fruit snacks in the cubbies...popcorn in the cracks of the seats.. Coke in the floor mats ... coffee dripped from the cup holder... crayons and pencils and color books and jackets and one flip flop and swimming noodles and a half inflated Strawberry Shortcake floaty from July..... and many other things "too numerous to mention".

I love you more now than I did way back when....
xoxoxo

Linda

P.S. and YES we did eat the cake... :-)