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Little Papa

Posted on: Thursday, May 23, 2013


Oh Little Papa I always loved getting your letters.  Here is the last one that didn't make it to you in time, but I know you heard me read it today. I love you. 

Dear Little Papa,

I wanted to write you this litter on the typewriter you gave me, but I still need to take it in to get it fixed and get a new ribbon for it. Thank you so much for passing it on to me though.  I am so excited to start using it!  Last we talked I was just starting back to school for Spring term, nervous about coming back after having taken the time off in the winter for my health.  By the grace of God I am doing so much better now and I truly believe the Lord has renewed me and is continuing to renew me each day  since I have been back in Corvallis.  The spring has raised up a new and blooming season of abundance and for that I am so thankful.  Thank you for praying for me loving me so well while I was hope last winter.  In the midst of our family’s chaos with driving all over the northwest for ski races and managing “the Stella”  and “ol Roman” (as you call him) it was so nice to have company on the weekends when I was home alone, and someone to go to church with, and of course Elmer’s afterwards so you can have your senior citizen belgium waffle and I can have my omelet with hashbrowns.  
I love going to breakfast with you.  Thanks for always taking me out to breakfast it’s my favorite meal and I love sharing it with you.  Thanks for also always introducing me to the only acceptable fast food chain that is Bugerville.  I always remember you picking me up from middle school and racing me to burgerville for a blackberry milkshake and burger before ballet class.... :) And thanks for always arguing with my dad to pay for our family when we go out to dinner at Outback or Red Robins or Chevy’s.  I hope some day my husband always insists on paying for our grandkids and grandchildren when we take them out to eat.  And I hope he carries a briefcase with him filled with a toothbrush and a crossword puzzle.  I also hope he takes the time to write my granddaughters and grandsons letters when they go off to college, or when they go to camp for the summer. 
I have kept all of your letters that you have written to me since I’ve been  in college.  I reread them all over the weekend.  Each of them staring with some news about whats going on back home, what was said in the sermon in church on sunday, updates on the “stella monster,” inquires about my roommates, and reminders to take my car in to get it washed or kept track of my mileage. You’d be proud of me, for the first time I actually looked at my mileage  on my own and its at 40,687 miles.  Don’t worry I’m still driving 60 in the slow lane;)  It’s week 8 of school this week so classes are getting busy, but don’t worry I’m “taking good notes” as you always say, and as I always do.  That’s one thing you have taught me well.  Thanks for also teaching me how to be a better writer.  My love for writing has grown over the years.  Perhaps some day when I’m older I’ll have time to spend hours working on papers like you do.  For now I’ll stick to a few paragraph long blog posts, and writing out my prayers. 
My prayer for you is that people would feel the welcoming arms of Christ as they interact with you.  You are always so friendly and so excited to strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere, and I admire that about you.  I think I have learned that from you as well.  One of my friends from church recently found out that you were my grandpa and said “that’s your papa? He always would come sit in the lobby during church and we’d talk when I was sweeping.  Every week.”   I guess the plus side of having “restless leg syndrome” is that you always find yourself meeting new people and striking up interesting conversations when you have to step outside.   I think I have a little bit of that in me as well... especially the restless leg part lately.... I wasn’t able to compete in track all season this spring because my foot is still bothering me.  But I’m hoping and praying that I will be able to come back in the fall for one more year and be healthy and ready to roll!  
Thanks for coming to so many of my races over the years, and dance performances, and swim practices, and every birthday party since I was born, and every holiday, and major life event you are ALWAYS there to bring the wine and bananas;) But even when there is no major event going on you are STILL there.  Most of my friends grandparents are there for the Holiday’s, graduation, and their weddings, but I am so blessed and thankful for the prominent role that both of my grandparents have played in all aspects of my life.  No one ever calls the home phone at our house except for solicitors, so everytime we know its you when we hear the classic “sayyy dan (cendi) its papa... or hello anybody there? followed by the time.. and just checking in to see if “you people” need anything or if anyone wants to go out to eat:)” Thanks for always just showing up unannounced with your briefcase in hand, little Italian hat on your head, and so much love in your heart.  I am so thankful to be able to share so much life with you, and learn so much from you just because you are ALWAYS there.  And I have no doubt in my mind that you always will be, even if your looking down from heaven.  
This weekend I am going to a wedding.  My boyfriend’s best friend is getting married and he is the best man in the wedding.  It’s crazy to think that so many of my friends are getting married.  You know my friend Kelcey? The one you always ask about? She is getting married this summer and so is my friend Thea who you’ve met a few times too! I am in both of the weddings so I am really excited about that.  I know you always tell me to put on my “blinders” when it comes to boys, and focus on school, but I am getting more and more excited about the day when I will put on a different kind of “blinders” and walk down that isle in a white dress.  I’ll have a special spot for you to be able to stand up on the side since you can’t sit for long periods of time.  I know when the day comes that you will be standing their smiling. 
I also want to thank you for always giving me a reason to smile and laugh.  There is always more smiles and laughter when you’re around.  You bring an undeniable joy with you wherever you go, and everyone always wants you to be there because of it.  Thanks for always making me laugh, and bringing laughter to our family.  I also what to thank you for teaching me to listen to my dad and not be so stubborn and argumentative all the time.  Thanks for always trying to build the peace.  I remember even when I was way younger and would yell and get mad at my dad you would always come into my room and calm me down and encourage me to listen to my parents and try to build the peace.  
You have taught me so much over the years, and I have always had a desire to listen to your stories and learn from you.  After all, you were a teacher.  But something that the Lord has been teaching me recently, is that I often learn much more from the dry challenging seasons of life after they have passed.  It is after the fact that the Lord slowly reveals the ways that He has been working.  I think I will ALWAYS be learning from you even after you leave this Earth to be with Jesus.  I think I will always be discovering new ways that you have impacted me in the past, or things that you are teaching me now, or ways that I will learn from you 10 years from now.  I will ALWAYS be learning from you MORE and MORE.  And I will ALWAYS love you MORE and MORE each day.   I wear this gold cross that you gave my sister, and every day I am reminded that there is ALWAYS MORE to the story than the cross.  I am reminded that Christ rose from the dead, and that that same power that conquered the grave lives inside of me.  Everyday I am reminded that with Christ there is ALWAYS MORE to learn, MORE to be thankful for, and MORE to be hopeful for.  Thank you for giving me such a golden reminder of that truth.  I love you so much Little Papa.  Ciao for now.  Arrividerci

Sincerely,
Audrey








4 comments:

  1. This is beautiful Auj.... You have such beautiful writing and as I was reading this I could completely hear your voice- it was like you were right beside me. Love you with all my heart and I CANNOT wait to see you this weekend.

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  2. Thanks so much Hannah<3That means a lot. I shall see you tomorrow evening:)

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  3. This is so beautiful Audrey... <3 I was so emotional while I was reading your letter! Our family's the most beautiful present our Lord give to us and I'm so happy because your Papa and you could live so many joy moments :oD My heart goes to you and all the family :oD <3 I'm sure Mr. Botti could read your letter and that you're always on his heart :oD <3

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