Sometimes I find myself doing things just to remind myself of my Mom…like things that are tangible…physical things or smelling certain smells or buying certain items she bought or eating certain foods. This sounds a little crazy when I read it back to myself, but hey, everyone’s a little crazy sometimes.
Yesterday around lunch time I was really missing her bad, so I made myself a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich on my aunt Martha’s sour dough bread. This was like Mom’s go-to, short notice, slam dunk of a meal. Josh, me, our family and all my friends have eaten tons upon tons of bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches on Mom’s homemade sour dough bread. It seems crazy, but it totally made me feel close to her again.
Another thing that completely reminds me of Mom are hand written notes. It seems in a technologically advanced world, handwritten notes are a bit old school. Snail mail VS email or texts or FB messages…snail mail is probably losing, but Mom wrote and wrote and mailed and mailed notes and cards to everyone. Birthdays, anniversaries, thank yous, every single holiday and just because notes. She was the best at this. She sent cards to all her customers, friends and family. Her notes were my favorite. Even in her short 10 days of being sick and having brain surgery, she made sure I kept a “Thank you” list and continued to tell me she needed to write me and my brother Chris letters just in case something happened. She never got to write them, but I took care of her thank yous.
As a kid she made me write thank you notes to anyone who gave me anything or did something kind for me and letters to my Maw-maw. As a kid I semi hated writing so many thank you notes, but as an adult and now a mother of 4 wee Kelleys, I love that she instilled this in me. I love that she made me understand the importance of a handwritten note…a personal thank you or a “just because” or an encouraging reminder. I want to be a bright spot in a mailbox, like Mom was to so many.
So I try and write thank you notes for everything. I love to send a little card just to say “hey” or “rock on” or “happy birthday”. I’m trying to fill some big, beautiful, card sending shoes. And I’m doing my best to instill this in the wee Kelleys too.
This year is the first year Harper is writing her own thank you notes. I’ve written them in the past and she’s just signed her name or colored a little picture on the card, but this year she is capable of sounding out her sentences and writing her own. It’s taking us some time, but we’re going to press on because it’s important. I make it a laid back, fun time…writing notes and thank yous is something I want her to see and find joy in. The gratitude and encouragement she is sending in a stamped envelope is something I value and want all my kids to value too. I don’t want to make it a battle, so we make it chill and I let her write them herself and color her little heart out.
I adore stationary and funny cards…the inappropriate ones are the best…let’s be honest 🙂 I walk the card aisle of Target every single time I go, checking out any new card sets they’ve added. It’s my favorite. So today I want to encourage you to send some handwritten love. Break out those pens and pencils and mail a little encouragement or a special thanks to someone who deserves it…or who doesn’t. I’m in love with getting mail. I get giddy when I hear our mailman’s truck coming and I like to assume that others do to. So spread some mail love today.
As a little encouragement for you guys, I picked up three new sets of stationary and my favorite pens to write with. If I had sponsors on my site I would definitely petition Sharpie 🙂
3 sets of stellar stationary and pens for 3 winners. I’ll mail them straight to you, so you get some happy mail too.
Here’s how to enter:
Entry #1: Leave a comment on this post telling me about anything snail mail or card writing related…maybe your favorite stationary or card store or favorite writing tool or who you are going to send some snail mail love to today or if you love/hate writing letters…everyone is different.
Entry #2: Share this giveaway on Facebook or Twitter or blog…however you want to share…go for it and leave a comment telling me you did so.
I’ll announce 3 different winners this Saturday. I know these aren’t my normal giveaway goods, but today I’m thinking hard about my sweet Mom and she totally loved sending sweet mail. So hope you guys will enjoy the goodies up for grabs and spread some handwritten love today.
Happy Wednesday!
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I love, love, love sending cards and note cards! Some of my favorites are from the Vera Bradley outlet in Opry Mills (so pretty!) and my “Nashville Music City Hatch Show Print” cards I picked up not long ago. I send a special ‘thinking of you card’ at random once a month to a totally randomly picked person on my FB list. It makes me happy – and I’ve received ‘thank yous’ back for my cards! Totally rocks my world.
Girl, I’ll say it again, we would so be friends in “real” life! Not just facebook/interwebs world. I love sharpies and cards, and real mail. I have totally slipped in the real mail department, but need to get back on it. There is nothing like getting some good mail. And I want to buy sharpies every time I’m at Target. Its a problem. 🙂 I hope you are having a great day. B
I love happy mail , my children look forward to the mail everyday! I enjoy sending little cards and notes to my long distance friends.
I love sending snail mail. I sent a note and a car magnet to my sister yesterday to help encourage her in running an upcoming marathon.
I shared this on FB
I just joined a own pal club so that I could get back into hand writing letters. I could use some stellar stationery to send my letters on. Plus I live a long way from two of my best friends and I fully intend to start writing to them as well!
Shared on twitter 🙂
I have been working on sending out baby announcements for a week now and it would be much easier to not send anything with a newborn…but I LOVE getting mail and announcements so I am trucking along, finding addresses, writing little notes and sharing our family joy! Love snail mail 🙂
I shared this on Facebook add well! You rock!
Shared on FB and asked my friends to ‘share the love and send a card today”! Thanks for a bright post!
I still have some of the handwritten notes my Granny (great grandmother) sent to me when I was a little girl . . . They are so special in her small, perfect, shaky handwriting. I treasure them to this day!
I am glad to know that I am not the only mom that has their kids send thank you notes!! It is so important to express gratitude and love. And, you’re right, getting snail mail is the greatest!!!
I love writing cards and sending them, I feel it’s God’s way and telling me someone needs encouragement. My girls love getting mail, they think it is the best thing ever! To me emails and text are just not the same!
Sending hand written notes “just because” is something I don’t do enough. I’m going to make a point to send a note to someone I love today and let them know how much I appreciate them. <3
We love mail too! My son has 2 twin “girlfriends” (family friends) who live about 90 minutes away, and he loves to send them handmade cards and notes. I love, love, love it. We definitely need to do more of it.
I haven’t tried the fine Sharpies for writing, but I love the Precise V5 Extra Fine pens. Have you tried them? They’re great for journaling.
i’ve been obsessed with stationery every since i was ten. i’ve had a stationery basket since then and i still have some note cards that i’ve had for that long. i love choosing just the right one to send to someone. (at an estate sale recently i found vintage note cards that are oh-so-awesome!). i actually have t.y. notes on my target shopping list for today becasue my son needs to write some for his birthday. my stationery box is full of girly note cards–so i need to find some manly ones. 🙂
Sharpies of every color are my favorite for writing notes. . . currently there is a small bag of coffee and a thank you note waiting on the counter for our church janitor. Our daughter is writing it to him in thanks for finding the missing flower from her Easter shoe!
I think we could be friends in real life! I also love writing cards and letters, and in fact, have a stack of cards to write today during nap time from my and my daughter’s birthdays! My mom is a big card writer, she just has a hard time getting them to the mailbox. She will mail cards she finds in her desk from years ago…another fun and funny spot in someone’s mailbox!
love~
I love, love, love sending hand written cards and thank you notes. Fine point sharpies are my favorite writing tool too 🙂 I am mailing out a package today to a friend that has some notecards in it, because they had her name written all over them. Figuratively, not literally 🙂
Thanks for the opportunity to enter such a fun giveaway!
Amy
I shared this on facebook too!
love~
Happy memories sending notes to my grandma. Also love writing with sharpies…mj
This made me think of my mom because she is the best at mailing cards and notes. Praying for you as you miss your mom. No one can take that place!
I love writing cards and getting cards. I actually make a lot of my own cards out of old cards that our family has received from other people. I like to get at least a couple of extra lives out of cards, they are way to pretty to just throw away! Would LOVE to win this!
Lorie
I shared this on Facebook too!
Lorie
I often make handmade cards especially for birthdays. I love, love, love a cute notecard too! Such a sweet giveaway!
My sweet grandmother used to send me cards each week. She’d describe birds she saw, flowers she planted, or a new recipe she tried. I miss her!
Laura…this is one of the things I remember most about your Mom. I got several of those handwritten “thank you notes” you and Christopher wrote when you were children. I always knew your Mom was teaching you to be grateful and that this was part of her teaching. Thanks for sharing this…it was so good to “listen to your heart” sharing these special memories of your Mom. She raised you and Christopher well. I love that you are passing this on to your children and that you are letting them express what is in their hearts. Your Mom is still so proud of you, I know!!
When one of my best friends left for bootcamp I wrote a letter for him about every other day. He loved them and said it made all of the difference. Another one of my best friends is leaving in November and I plan on doing the exact same thing for him.
I’m SO glad to see that you teach your kids to write notes and thank-yous! It’s def. a lost tradition. I love to send little notes to my friends in the mail. They all joke that I’m saving the USPS one card at a time. But I think it’s fun to get little happy cards in the mail, especially when nothing but bills come in! The other day at the Target in my town, it seemed like EVERY card set was on clearance!!! I was happy to see it but sad because my budget didn’t allow for anything extra that week lol. I went back last night and saw so many new sets. Gotta start saving my pennies for them 🙂
Those Sharpies are my absolute FAVORITE, girl. 🙂
I love Stationery, too. I actually dream of expanding my little online shop to include stationery that I’ve designed one day. Sigh. Big dreams. 😉 Thanks for the chance! I love happy mail and I know your Mom is smiling down on you. 🙂 Hugs!
Shared on facebook
My Gr’ma is a super card writer. I have countless cards stashed – I can’t get rid of them. Her handwriting is impeccable, and I can hear her speaking words of love through pen and paper. It’s like a hug every time.
Shared on twitter
Honestly I love getting letters more than I love sending them… Crazy I love writing letters, but actually getting them to the mailbox is always an issue!
My dad was always great at sending letters. Even when I still lived at home he would send a note of encouragement!
Shared on FB. 🙂
I used to be so good about writing letters & sending cards for birthdays, anniversaries, etc. I’ve really been slacking the past few years. Your post has inspired me to get back into this. You never know when that card or letter is just what someone needs to brighten their day! thanks for sharing!
Oh & I’ll be sharing this for my Facebook friends to see 🙂
Oh I love handwritten notes! It’s so a part of my love language, and sweet card and fun envelopes can brighten any day!
And I shared on fb!!
I’ll tell you about a specific time that I received a handwritten note that really made my day. I was going through a particularly hard time about six years ago, and had asked for prayer at church. Well, I came home from work one day, and stuck in my front door was a handwritten card from the kids at church letting me know that they were praying for me. That card made my day, and brought happy tears to my eyes. I love to send cards, and have kept just about every card that I’ve ever received. They are stashed in a plastic bin, and I get them out from time to time to read them, and to remember.
I love hand written notes! It’s something that I watched my mom take the time to do even when life was crazy. She simply wrote a short note when someone crossed her mind. I As an adult, I am a person of pens…yes pens and note cards. I always have a variety of pens with me, not just different colors but different kinds of pens. You never know what kind of mood you’re in and which pen is going to write best on which card! I love cards, I love to send people cards when they come to my mind, I learned from my mom that it just makes someone’s day! I love to send persons who simply visit my church one Sunday a hand written note because I believe their presence is just that important. I love that you are giving away pens and notecards. I don’t need any but I sure do love that you love people that much! I love it when our moms and dad instill something deep within us that we cannot explain, but simply comes pouring forth! I believe that God’s presence with us stringing us all together.
My mom also loved to send encouragement through the mail. I used to love getting a birthday card from her. She NEVER just signed her name. Her cards were always filled with love. When she became ill, and had a hard time getting out, she decided to take on being card lady at her church. For several years she sent cards for every birthday, anniversary and special event for all the members.
My Mom use to write my kids letter and send cards for each holiday. Now that she is done, they are some of the things that I go to when I am missing her. I was never as good as she was with it, but I am trying, because like your mother, it was important to her. I do love anything colorful and interesting and always try to find neat cards and pens to write with.
The first thing I do when I get home from work is check the mail. My husband makes fun of me because if he beats me home, I always ask if he has checked the mail yet. Since we mostly get bills, I am not sure why I have this obsession! I have not been as good about thank you notes this last year as life has been busier than ever, but seeing your picture of Harper makes me realize that I really need to work on this more with my 5 & 7 year old girls. (Side note – since discovering your blog several months ago, I have been so inspired. I am no artist, but I have been creating some simplistic canvas art. It was a slow start, but I am finding a creative side I didn’t know that I had and am really enjoying making things for friends “just because”!)
My mom also instilled in me the importance of writing thank you notes! Although I generally dread. Finding the time to write them, I always love doing it once I get started. I love anticipating someone’s reaction to snail mail, because I so love to receive it.
P.S. I loved the Kelley Family photos Cheyenne posted yesterday – what a sweet, fun family!
P.S.2. I love those owl cards…slightly obsessed!
I love recv’d cards in the mail…so I love sending cards in the mail for that reason alone. Love, fun stationary as well….I also like to create cards via pictures on shutterfly and send those out..Makes it even more personalized! Thanks for sharing! Mira
I have a letter written to my great-grandpa by me when I was in college. I found it in his things after he passed away. It reminds me that, although emails are handy, they can never replace a thoughtfully written card or letter. Those are what we cherish.
Great post! I hate finding time to write Thanks you’s and just because’s but I LOVE getting them. Thanks for encouraging me to be better at it!
I am a total fan of writing!! I enjoy sending cards as much as I enjoy receiving them. It has a special way, all its on, in brightening the most gloomy day! I am proud to say my child also inherited my love for writing and loves nothing more than making cards for others. I smile when I see her using her little creative mind and knowing someones day will be a little more cheery.
I love snail mail! My friend Kara and I bonded over our stationary collections when we both worked as counselors at summer camp. Now we are snail pail buddies; we only call or email for major life events. Her letters in the mail are the happiest part of my week; there’s is nothing quite like getting an actual letter or card from a friend in the mail!
Shared on Twitter
I used to be so good at writing letters and sending out thank yous! Now with fb, email and text it’s become so much easier to say “hey” or “thank you”that way. I guess the first thank you i send out needs to be to you for reminding me how important it is to take the time to hand write a letter.
I shared on twitter!
Well call me old school because there is nothing more then I love then having notes ready to be sent out. I like to make little handmade notes and tuck them in my kids lunches and I even mail them to them (yes we live in the same house ha) but there is nothing like being able to see that someone took the time to actually make/write something just for you just to let you know they are thinking of you. Thanks so much for the chance!
I tweeted about the giveaway : https://twitter.com/Elliesworld/status/322000395109036033 Thanks so much for the chance.
I too love snail mail! There’s nothing like sending or receiving fun cards or notes! I have always sent thank you cards for myself, but now I have my daughter doing them too. Like you, she doesn’t love it at her age, but I’m hopeful she will see the benefit and start to enjoy it later. LOVE these sets!
I shared on Facebook 🙂
I send things through snail mail almost daily. Even though it is the ‘slow’ way of sending things, there is just something about receiving a special note or package. Being able to touch and feel it… Just like printing off your pictures 🙂
I love getting personal mail. Just today before I read your post (which I always love!!!) I was sending out thank you notes from my birthday. Blessings to you….you always inspire me!!!
I tweeted it: https://twitter.com/TheJohnsFamily/status/322006260025266176
bamagv@aol.com
I will write my Grammy. She always sends me the best letters!!
I shared your blog. I love your art and keeping up with your family!
My mom always made me write thank-you notes too, and while I too semi-hated it as a kid, I am growing to appreciate the gesture as well. A little note in the mail can make the difference in a day, can’t it?!
Hello Mrs. Laura!
Your blog totally rocks! I love coming home every day from school to check if you have posted anything new. You family is totally awesome and I adore you and your sweet fam. I love both wrighting and art so I totally love your blog!
I would so love to win your giveaway. I also have so much fun sharing the love through handwritten notes. I leave them all over the house and I am forever sending cards to family and friends. I also Have a pen-pal that I met in the hospital that I love writing to.
Every valentines day I have all my friends over and we make homemade valentine cards for children in the hospital, people in nursing homes and the milatary. This year we made over 1,000 cards (each made by hand and with lots of love).
http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/news/sick-teenager-still-makes-get-well-cards-others-891251
I would be completly thriled to recieve your giveaway!
Hope you have a blessed day,
Hannah(:
My parents also stressed the need to write thank you cards when I was young. I, also, did it begrudgingly most of the time. I do realize now, though, how sweet it is to get cards in the mail! So even though I haven’t even finished all my thank yous from my wedding last May… (you have a year to write them all, right?!?) I’m working diligently to get them finished by this SUNDAY! Whoop. Thanks for your sweet blog 🙂
hi laura,
when my firstborn went away to college, i began to send cards and goodies for every possible occasion. when the next one went to college, i continued the same but added my elderly friends, parents, sibs, anyone i could think of. everyone received cards for something. somewhere in there, a very artistic friend hooked me into card stamping. so, i now have quite a collection of stamps, inks, ribbons, etc, for card-making, although they aren’t all that fancy. in fact, i’m currently working on the april/may cards – birthdays, first communion, thinking of you. yesterday, i made one to send to my daughter’s family to remember my sweet grand daughter’s birthday; she would be 4 years old this month. these days, the grandkids get cards for every occasion and “just because” notes. my elderly friends are becoming fewer, but they will find a card in their mailboxes often.
My Uncle Tom is retired and lives with his wife in Maine (I’m in Kentucky). He is so sweet and creative. My favorite mail to get are his encouraging and positive letters. He makes his own stationary with paper and fabric and it’s always unique and fitting to his personality. I also love sending letters to my cousin Phil. He just or back from overseas and even though he is really busy it’s nice to have someone to share my story with.
Shared! 🙂
Thanks for the giveaway! I also was raised to write thank you notes and find the whole process (sending and receiving) very endearing. Sometimes it does feel like a chore (i.e. wedding thank yous!), but it’s always, always worth it in the end.
And not weird at all to make the sandwich that reminded you of your mom! I would be in exactly the same boat! Memories aren’t always just in the mind 🙂
Hi Laura! I love this post. My Grandma was the person who instilled this in me, as she is always good about sending a card or note for everything. I love sending cards to my friends in Tennessee just to let them know I am thinking about them, so I’ll send them for no particular reason. I love finding cute little sets of cards and just looking through my contact list to see who I haven’t connected with in a while. I hope to pass it on to my kids one day too 🙂
I just cried through your whole post. My dad died 6 years ago this summer and my mom made it not even two years after he was gone. Thanks you for sharing your heart and the little things you do because you miss your mom. I do many of the same ones including savoring the art of the handwritten note. I needed a good cry. I have one of my mom’s friends staying with me for two weeks and she is sharing countless stories and making my heart ache in a good way…. But it’s just still the loneliest feeling out there. God bless you and your continuing journey! Thank you for sharing.
-Hope
My Mom instilled the same in my brother and I. We wrote letters to our grandparents every week, even though we usually talked to them on the phone. We always wrote thank you cards for everything. I have a card ministry where I write people to encourage them, whether they are battling cancer, deployed, someone dies who was close to them, they have extended some kindness to me, etc. I do this for my church family but it extends to anyone with an address I can send along a little something. My favorite 2 things to send are Bible verses printed out and tea bags, because that + a card doesn’t require any extra postage. I know writing hand-written letters is old-school, but that is how I’ll always kick it! 🙂
My 16yr old daughter recently decided to move to her dad’s house ( 45min away) and as much as it breaks my heart to have her live there and visit here, I support her decision. In an effort to stay close to her, I frequently (twice a week) prepare notes and little things to send her in the mail. Last week was a notecard with scripture in it and a piece of candy and the other piece of mail was a planner and Starbucks Via’s (“love in a cup”). She loves getting things in the mail and I like to feel like I am still close and sending her hugs. win-win! 🙂
My college roommate and I are pen pals. We only call or text each other in case of an emergency. Otherwise, it’s all handwritten letters. It’s our ambition to help keep the postal system alive. 🙂
My mom too is crazy about writing cards to people and instilled that into my sister and I ..not our brothers! I love receiving a card in the mail.
Yesterday actually we got a bright red envelope taped up messy on the back with scrawled handwriting all over the front. I knew it right away as a dear friend who battles with a mental disorder. Every year we know we will find an anniversary card in our mailbox with a few lines of love from her. She lives alone, has never married and hasn’t any children. That card every year from her means so much. She was good friends with my Grandpa before he passed away and he used to drive her to dr’s and to pick up groceries. She thought of him as a father to her. She doesn’t have much but with a few simple words she gave us so much. That’s the power of words.
Thank you for your wonderful blog..i love reading about your life.
My mom also instructed me in the art of the thank you note (I have two in today’s outbound mail). I’ve passed it on to my kids. We started with me writing the notes, them signing & drawing. Then we moved onto the ones where they just had to fill in parts of the notes. Now they can write them themselves. Sometimes they’re pretty hilarious. 🙂 In the crazy world, I think too many people forget to say thank you.
Laura I too stress hand written thank you notes to my five children. This was not easy as we have 4 boys and a girl. The boys would do it but not enjoy it. Our Grace though spends so much time on each one, decorating with a lot of color.
Great job sharing with your kids something that your mom cherished.
That sour dough bread sandwich looks awesome! Would love to see that recipe someday on your blog!
My dad lives across the country from us but he is always sending mail to my kids. Its usually cut out from the paper or printed out from a website but it has a little note telling them why he is sending it to them. They just adore getting mail from their Grandpa Gary and carry the letters around until the paper disintegrates.
Your entry today made my eyes tear up. God is so cool! For the past month, I’ve been feeling like I should send my almost 6 year old nephew an “an out of the blue, it’s not even your bday” card (something I’ve never done before). This morning I finally got around to mailing him a really cool ‘God loves you’ rocket ship card complete w/sheets of stickers & everything. He’s going to love it! I feel like your snail mail entry was God’s way of saying, “You go girl!”. Our Heavenly Daddy is cool like that! 🙂
I used to write letters as a kid to a lady I called Granny, even though she wasn’t my granny. She wrote me back immediately. She has since passed on, but I treasure her letters to this day. 🙂
Has anyone ever told you that you should make note cards from your artwork? Because you totally should! It would be a great way to share your talent and remember your mom. I, for one, would love to send some PPA through the mail, talk about happy mail!
My very best friends from high school all live in different cities in different states but we stay in touch through hand written notes and little packages. Its more intentional than emails and texts and it speaks more love and joy to get things old school snail. I love it and hope your post today encourages more people to do the same 🙂
I am so glad others still write letters! Kind words are the best gift to receive. One of my best friends got me into writing letters in high school. So when college came around we wrote and sent many cards to each other. We only live 30 minutes, but I love sending words of encouragement. I also keep up with another friend in Texas, I live in Mississippi, via cards and letters. I always find really cute cards on Etsy, but TJ Maxx has some great ones as well.
I shared this through Twitter, and my username is @carlybeanie. Thank you.
We sent out homemade Christmas cards lasy year. So much more fun than store bought! My favorite snail mail writing instrument is a Zebra pen, fine tip. It just writes so smoothly and fits in my hand so well. I always carry one or more with me!
Love snail mail. Just got my bff’s wedding invitation. Love a handwritten note
Shared this on Facebook!
I write a note to someone everyday. Maybe a customer, maybe a friend, maybe a wounded solder…someone…everyday! I make my own cards and stationery and love all kinds of paper. When I am visiting family near Nashville, I always make a stop at the Paper Source store in Green Hills, love it!
We are in the thick of writing thank you’s right now. My little guy turned 6 this past weekend and was showered with many fantastic gifts from friends and family so we are doing our part and writing them thank you cards. He isn’t loving it but we are also taking it little by little so it isn’t too overwhelming and we are knocking them out one by one. (He’s actually doing pretty great with them.) The best way to get my 8 year old daughter interested in writing someone a card or thank you is to bring out all the beautiful colored sharpies. Wal-green’s has some great sales some times on Sharpies (super cheap) and my daughter LOVES them. We call them the “special” markers at our house.
My favorite snail mail cards are handmade, I love supporting handmade artisans & the talent out there is top notch! My favorite shops are Pen & Paint & Life Made Lovely, two dear friends with beautiful talent. I love that it’s like a two for one, because I get to share a little encouragement & then the card itself is totally frame able! Win win! Love your heart Laura! I’ve been a long time {silent} follower & may have thrown a {stalkerish} party when you joined IG…love seeing the way you love your littles & others, so inspiring & refreshing! XO
My sons LOVE to get mail! So much so, that they will claim junk mail to open. It is especially exciting to get a package! LOVE snail mail!!!
Shared!!!
I love getting snail mail, but I am so bad at sending it! 🙁 I used to make my kids write thank you notes, but it became such a huge fight – not at all like the calm, chill time you describe – that I think I finally just gave up. You’re inspiring me to try to climb back up on that bandwagon. 🙂 Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
Darn…it didn’t save my previous post but I love love mail and I love to hear the sqweek so? Of the mailman’s brakes as he goes around our neighborhood delivering bits of happiness. I miss seeing you but am always so thankful for your reminders of a simple oldie but goodie! Thank you for being such am inspiration on a daily basis!
My mom taught me the same thing about hand-written notes…and I’m glad. Teaching my kids the same. Currently I’m way behind in baby thank-you notes but I’ll eventually get them done…or my mom will get me 🙂 .
Both of my daughters live far away from me and I love getting a phone call or text from them full of excitement saying they got the card or package that I sent them! Nothing is better, except opening the mailbox and finding a card full of love from one of them!
Shared this on Facebook 🙂 .
I love Papyrus cards! So completely girly and whimsical 🙂 Also, there is nothing better than opening my mailbox when I’m serving overseas in Uganda and actually finding a hand-written note there! Makes my day every time!
I loooove writing cards and notes and thank yous! My momma also instilled in me the value of writing thank you notes! I’m in college and I have two older sisters who are married and live in different cities than me. We talk on the phone often but snail mail is just different! I’d LOVE to write them sweet notes every once in a while just to let them know I’m thinking of them! Love this giveaway!!!
Also shared on Facebook!!
I LOVE sending and receiving snail mail-always worth the time to write out a note, always worth the cost of a stamp and I have an entire collection of stationary. I tend to struggle in giving up the last card from a set or piece of letterhead. 🙂
tweeted! https://twitter.com/miprip/status/322091984116383744
I love snail mail! My friends and I all send it to each other at uni because nothing is more fun than getting post that isn’t bills! We have a bit of a competition going to see who can find the worst post and the most fun to send to each other.
I’d love to win if you don’t mind sending to the UK?
This is such a sweet post! Before my grandmother died she and I used to write to each other all the time; I’ll always associate letter writing with her, even though I write to lots of other people.
I LOVE writing letters and make sure my kids send out big fat thank yous too!
Shared 🙂
I love hand written letters. My best friend since middle school was an old soul. She wrote me letters through college and throughout her years living abroad. When she passed away suddenly two years ago we were only 32. I cherish those letters written in her beautiful penmanship and save them to share with her son one day. He was a toddler when she moved to heaven so I look forward to the day when I can show him all of her loving words about him. Thank you for the reminder!
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Love to write notes, one of my favorite things to encourage people! Also love sharpies!!
My favorite stationary in the whole world are the pink note cards embossed with my initials that my mom gave me. She’s a huge note writer too. When I was in college we use to send mail to each other every week… Even though I was only an hour away.
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12 years ago my best childhood friend and I vowed to hand write notes to each other. We have been at it since day one taking turns at least once a month! I cherish every one and keep them all. It’s like the movie “Beaches” 🙂
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My mom always made me write thank you, too. I have kept the tradition going with my boys, too!
Love handwritten notes in the mail. My fave pen to use is the sharpie that has the clicker 🙂
My 4 year old is obsessed with getting mail. When we check the mailbox he says, “Maybe there’s some mail for me today.” Every. Single. Day.
Love your site and love your art and love sharing life with your sweet family. My MIL is the queen (apparently second only to your mother) of handwritten notes. She usually delivers them by hand if she’s going to see you (to save the stamp) but often brings us a handwritten card when she comes to her weekly dinner. I always think I should work harder to be like her because let’s face it, who doesn’t like getting fun mail? But for the most part, thank you notes are about all I can muster. Maybe this will get me over the hump and into the handwritten-note-writing-camp!
I love sending and receiving snail mail! 🙂 These are my new favorite cards that my mom gave me for my birthday: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0077IOXYM.
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OH! Thanks for the reminder. I need to get some birthday cards to send out this week! I used to keep a stash of cards . . . I loved looking at them and picking out my favorites . . .on hand so I always had some on hand to send. Since I’ve had kids, I used my stash up and haven’t replaced it. Thanks for the reminder to send more cards. They do = happiness 😉
My mom always taught me that it was important to write thank you notes because people took the time to pick something out special for me. I have tried to instill that same value in our children. Hopefully the art of handwritten thank you’s will continue on in our family.
My favorite are handwritten cards with Sharpie Ultra Fine markers. My hubby’s left-handed and hates these pens so they never wander off 🙂
I love love love getting mail, love writing ..cards, postcards etc., but am HORRIBLE at getting it out. I don’t know what happens. My goal is to send lots of love through the mail for no special occasion at all. I have lots of friends that could use a hug in the mail 🙂 Thanks for sharing, and all that you do. On many gloomy days your posts have made them brighter.
Love giving and receiving “real” mail, it’s the best to come home and be surprised by a card in the mail.
I love it when my Aunt randomly sends my boys books in the mail with a handwritten note written on the inside cover.
I love real mail. I buy cards all the time. Scored a pack at Micheal’s for .50! My most recent favorite send was my sons adoption announcement!!!!
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Being in college, I’ve never appreciated snail mail more than I do now. My grandparents are in their 80s so cell phones really never caught on with them. However, every week, we write letters back and forth to each other. It’s a special bond between us and I’m so thankful that I will have these letters in the future!
I love getting snail mail from my Grandmother. When I was in college she would send me letters and packages weekly just to say hi. It was the highlight of my week!
My mom too always made sure we wrote thank yous. My Grandma was my first pen pal. I still often receive hand-written notes from them. Unfortunately, when I had my own 3 kiddos, I was all the sudden “too busy” to teach them the same. I’ve often felt guilty and sworn I’d do better. I recently had a falling out w/ one of my favorite relatives because she didn’t feel my kids appreciated her gifts. Because they didn’t send thank you notes. I felt so ashamed. Then embarrassed, cause like, is it too late to have them send notes now? Your post helped me to think that maybe its never too late to start teaching them this valuable practice. Thanks for the reinforcement. 😉
shared on FB! 😉
Shared 🙂
Being from a different culture it is not customary to send “Thank you” notes or birthday cards as they are unavailable where Im from. I have learned since I came to this country how important birthday cards are and even more the ones hand made by little hands. My friend Jeanine Pierce just posted this on FB and as I read the story I realized how nice it feels when I have received Thank you notes from kids in school. Your blog has inspired a little light in me to teach to my kids the value of written Than you notes or any note in now days technology. We are a very crafty family and I think they would love if I set up a day for “just say thank you notes time”. In today’s times I think we forget to say Thank you to those around us for simple things like helping to cross the street to big things like being a good friend. Thank you Laura for opening my eyes to a whole new way of teaching my kids to express their feelings to those around them.
P.S. I will share on Fb so maybe my friends would enjoy it as much as me 🙂
amen sister! Lets bring back handwritten notes!!!
nothing brightens my day like a hand written note. my great grandfather wrote me letters on my birthday. as a teenager i thought it was lame. but as a writer in my adult life i can think of nothing more precious than words written intentionally for your heart to hear. nothing.
My friend and I are living several states apart but we like to send each other postcards and letters to keep in touch!
I just bought a calligraphy set so I could start writing cute little letters and notes to friends. I looove getting snail mail, so I figured why not pass it on!
I absolutely love getting to send people mail, and I adore checking the mail and getting some snail mail from friends. I think it’s because for years, probably up until the last year of my grandpa’s life, they would send me a letter every single week. I always looked forward to those, and I still look forward to getting mail!
After the loss of my husbands great grandma, we found ourselves in the role of providing care. We are both healthcare professional and it just comes natural to us. It was along sad struggle in her final years and months. Her husband was truly her best friend and his heartache was overwhelming. There was plenty of care needed so that is just what we did.
We received several FB messages from friends and family. Other people called. About a week later my husband and I each received a card in the mail from a co worker. His I expected but mine was from someone I never dreamed would send me a card. If felt really GOOD. It was nice for someone to acknowledge my loss and know they are thinking of us.
This has sparked me to do the same for others. When a co worker’s mother went into hospice care, I sent a card. She thanked me via FB and we started up some supportive conversations from there.
Oh mail, where for art thou mail? That moment when you open the mailbox and sift through the bills, ads n’ such, and suddenly your heart beats a little faster as you spot a hand addressed envelope, “real mail!” At my home, these are opened as one walks back inside…who can wait? We proudly hang them on the fridge. It frightens me a little that someday, we will no longer have our postal service, until then…we write! When time allows, my daughter and I make homemade cards, of course, these are the best kind! But when we aren’t able, we head down to The Quill in Pacific Grove, CA. An AMAZING shop full of all things paper! Unique invitations, cards, stationary, pens, even beautiful rare wrapping papers you purchase 1 sheet at a time. Ahhh the Quill, just writing about it is making want to run over there today! 🙂
I think I’ll go check the mail!
Love getting handwritten notes. Writing them is a blessing to both the giver and receiver. Totally worth the effort. Baked goods and handwritten notes can change the world!
I love writing notes. When I was little, I would write notes to my g’ma and my friends I met at camp, anyone. LOL!! Going to Ben Franklins and checking out their lovely stationary sets was one of my favorite things to do.
I have instilled (or tried to) in to my boys the importance of writing thank you’s. My youngest will be busy doing just that in a few weeks after he graduates from high school, so these note cards would REALLY come in handy.
Thank you for a chance to win. I love reading your blog and feel like I know you. Ü
I am going to write a thank you note to a very sweet young lady and her family who sent us the most beautiful piece of artwork, along with some other thoughtful goodies. It was an absolute joy to receive their gift to our family in the mail, especially since it was unexpected and came on my birthday. I have been meaning to send one and as I read this post, I couldn’t believe that our wonderfully precious package had arrived back in January! Thanks for the sweet and practical encouragement 🙂
I LOVE LOVE LOVE receiving fun mail! I try to send snail mail every once in awhile. I need to do it more!
When I moved from California to Colorado, my friends had a going away party for me. At the party, they each wrote a card for me & sealed them in individual envelopes. Each envelope had a week written on it {week 1, week 2, week 3} and I was supposed to open the card that corresponded with how many weeks we had been moved away. It was the nicest, sweetest, most amazing thing to look forward to every Monday opening a card from a friend from back home.
@Heather, I LOVE THAT your friends sent you with one card per week! What a supportive & loving idea! Thanks for sharing!
My grandmother always sent us cards, as did her two sisters. Even as they aged, all three of them never missed my birthday, or those of my kids. They were amazing examples. I’ve fallen a bit off that wagon since starting blogging and I need to get back to it. This was a good reminder. Thanks.
I love stationary/note cards which my 8 1/2 year old daughter and I use. I teach preschool and I always give the family a thank you note when the give me a gift. I think it is such an important thing to instill to kiddos.