Dear Tim,
Congratulations! How on on earth did you manage to snag one of the kindest, gentlest, warmest, funniest, wisest, strongest women in the world? If you are smart man, (and you must be, having just proposed to Rachel), you must be asking yourself the same question. I’m sure Rachel has told you that you are marrying someone who happens to have a very big family, one that stretches all over the world. We do really regard Rachel as a part of our family and we are so pleased for you both.
So here’s the thing: Rachel has been quite pathetic at telling us much abut you. It seems she’s been too busy falling in love with you to keep us well posted, and now you’re planning to marry her we would like to know every little thing about you. If this seems a little odd, I truly do sympathize.
In 1997, when I was dating my (now) husband Wade, while attending the anniversary party of our dear friends Don and Gwen, I was corralled by a group of Wade’s dear friends from YWAM. They had come there from all over the world. They had known Wade then for several years and had seen him go from a boy just out of high school, through all sorts of ups and downs, been all around the world with him and rejoiced to see him grow into a wise leader and dear friend (does this sound familiar Rachel?) then I rocked up and wanted to marry the boy without a resume. So they sat me down and said, “So, Joanna, tell us about your life.” (Ten pairs of eyes staring) I said, “The whole thing?” And they said, “Yes, the whole thing.”
So Tim, it is my joy to tell you I am now on the other side of the fence and I would really love to get to know you as much as cyberspace allows. I also know that there are many others (much more than 10 pairs of eyes) who, upon getting Rachel’s announcement today, looked at the lovely photo and said, “AWW Rach looks so happy! Who the heck is that guy?”
We have a tradition in our YWAM Vancouver family, know as “the grilling”. When someone comes on staff with us we sit them down and ask them anything. Anything. Small animal killings, arrests, explosions, nothing is off limits. Now you may say, “I am not coming on staff with YWAM. I did not sign up for your grilling.” True. But you just proposed to our baby sister and we have some gaps to fill. So here is my suggestion:
I would like to build a little “Meet Tim” blog. Our tribe does well with blogs. (Except Rachel lately, who is too in love with you to update her blog. Or maybe she is going to nursing school as well, but we’ll give you the credit, okay?) If this okay with you, here is my thought - I will build a little bog for you (and Rachel too). You will have the password and sign in name. Our tribe from around the world will post questions for you. You will answer them. You can take your time to answer them, but give us the goods. You can pick which ones you answer, but in our hearts we will give you more brownie points if you’re brave.
Now, if you want to opt out, that’s fine, but I think this will be less time intensive than us just sending a billion ‘reply all’ emails to our crew as we gather recon on you. Also, if you decide not to do this, there is no YWAM Mafia that will come and get you, but since it looks like Wade and I may actually be able to make to the UK next summer, it will be less painful than us passive-agresssively giving you something terribly ugly as a wedding gift and then you having to endure your wife trotting it out (out of sentimental reasons, of course) every Christmas and Easter and you would have to listen to your conscience say “why oh why did you not just answer their stupid get-to-know-you questions??”
All joking aside, I know you don’t know me at all, and email is a funny thing where you can not hear heart and tone. Know my warmest best wishes are with you and my heart is to be able to cheer whole-heartedly for BOTH you and Rachel as you start your life together.
Let me know what you think about the blog. Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Lots of love,
Rachel’s big sister in Canada
(who is now crying as I type because I love and miss her SO DARN MUCH)
Joanna
Well, according to Rachel, Tim said yes. (Although it was noted that he did have a 'slight apprehension' about it, so apparently the man is not a fool.)
So friends, this is the place to get to know the man who's going to marry our Rach.
Post a comment with a question in it and apparently he will answer.
I'll go first - here's some easy ones, Tim:
1) What's your full name?
2) When's your birthday?
3) Brothers and sisters?
4) Where and how did you meet Rachel?
5) What did you notice about her first?
Stay tuned for the next post - which apparently, will be written by Tim!
