504 Main by Holly Lefevre: The Written Word - A Project With Wasabi Mommy
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Wednesday, March 17, 2010

The Written Word - A Project With Wasabi Mommy

From as far back as I can remember, on my birthday - the exact day - a special card would arrive. I would anxiously wait for the mailman, and the delivery of my birthday card from Aunt J and Uncle G.* It was the same every year...a cute card and twenty bucks! Of course when I was 10...13...16, I was more excited about the twenty bucks than the card or any accompanying sentiment. Twenty+ years later and I am more excited about the sentiment.
On my seventeenth birthday, the card did not come. I waited...I waited...Aunt J never missed a birthday...ever. A few weeks later, a letter arrived...not the usual card and no money. Even at seventeen, I realized this letter was something I would keep forever. It was not written on fancy stationery, but it was hand written in my aunt's beautiful penmanship and the words still have a special place in my heart.
So, yes I {heart} real mail, and as evident from the responses I had after posting the note my great aunt sent to my great grandmother, I am not alone. I mean, really, have I...have you...ever printed out an email and tucked it away as a keepsake? NO, I have not!...but I do have my aunt's letter, a letter from my high school English teacher, some special cards, notes from girlfriends {written when we were supposed to be quietly working at our school desks!}, and some {very tame} letters from a boy I dated.
Wasabi Mommy
With all this thought about the written word, well, it must be fate, because my bloggy bud Wasabi Mommy began a series about letter writing and journaling. I thought it was a fabulous idea. Over the last few weeks, Wasabi Mommy, has posted 14 days worth of topics. I have read them all and they have really made me think, and I am doing the prompts {I will post some excerpts when I am done}. Just so ya know, there is a catch, and here it is straight from Wasabi Mommy {don't go all morbid on me...just think about it for a second}...

"The catch is they are for them to read upon your death...I find letters to be simple and honest expressions of a persons values and a reflection about your life. It is a window for your child or grandchild to see what you were like or how you thought about things, ideas and them. It can be filled with your hopes for them for the future- the gift of reading some one we loves thoughts is a treasure. I have a few cards my dad wrote me over my life, but no letters and boy do I wish I did."

What...are you freaking out...thinking "I have a blog to write. How can I do more?" Well, don't freak!!!!! Wasabi Mommy has made it so easy...she has the prompts, as well as her own letters, thoughts, and tips posted too. You need to go over there now and check these out...read them, and consider jumping in on the letter writing. She also has great book recommendations that accompany the 14 days or writing.

So, there ya have it a link to each of her 14 days. 
{She also has great projects for the little people in our lives.}
Visit a compilation I did of her posts HERE {on this blog}.

I simply {heart} this project.
I think it would be absolutely amazing for
my children to have these letters one day...
what I would give to have these

letters from any of my relatives...
priceless! 

Please go visit Wasabi Mommy,
leave her some comment love,
follow along {it's at the bottom},
and consider joining in on this project.

Do you write letters?
Are you in?
Signature
*Aunt J and Uncle G are actually my great aunt and uncle. They were basically the closest thing I had to grandparents at this point, as my grandparents passed away when I was very young.

47 comments:

  1. I totally understand. Love to look at peoples hand writing. It brings back precious memories.

    Holly, I feel so bad trying to get everything done to close down my old blog--I am soooo close to being done over there and then I can get back to the FUN stuff and more visits.

    Cheri

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  2. Writing a letter to each of my children for after I'm gone, is something that I've always wanted to do. For many reasons though, I just keep putting it off. It's still on my to do list.

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  3. I love the idea of this project! I have been working just this evening on a letter to my son for his first birthday tomorrow. I have also been considering writing letters to my sister whom I lost in October as a way to handle my grief. I will definitely be checking Wasabi Mommy out!

    Thanks for the heads up on this great sounding project.

    Heather @ Caffeine and Dreams

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  4. That does sound like a wonderful idea. I think I will definitely have to check it out.

    I hate handwriting things though as my handwriting is not much better than a grade-schoolers.

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  5. Letters are profound. When my brother died I wish I had kept all his letters. I was lucky enough to have one last birthday card from him that I had kept.
    So glad I did.
    This isn't snail post, but the sentiment is the same. A note for you.
    http://lafindumondfarm.blogspot.com/2010/03/spent.html

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  6. I have thought about that a lot. My parents have my grandparents' diaries and those are so special to read. Thanks for stopping by!!

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  7. That is SUCH a neat idea! I'm going to check out Wasabi Mommy's blog now. I would never have thought about doing something like this on my own, but I love the idea.

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  8. Hey There! I saw your last name and I've only ever known one other person with that last name, but Im not sure if its spelled the same way so I was just wondering is it pronounced like "la 5" Sorry if thats a weird question Ive just been looking for my friend online for a while and I dont know how to spell her last name, so I hope you can help. :)

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  9. I'm actually going to bookmark this post because it's a fabulous idea...I just can't do it right away. I wrote journals (hand written) for each of my three kids and pretty much kept them up til a few years ago.

    My will states those go to the kids upon my death. They have no idea they are there.

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  10. i love the letter you posted from your relative, that old beautiful cursive that no one can do anymore and to read what a family thought of you in there time of grief was sad, and happy at the same time. I love the lead in you were born to write and create LOL
    LisaRenee

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  11. Holly, What a thought provoking post! Gosh- to write 14 days of thought to be read at my death. I am heading over to Wasabi Mommy to see the topics. Hmmmmmmmm! I have 2 boxes of letters- one's from my loved ones (I have not thrown out 1 card my husband or children have given me) and 1 box of letters from our professions. My husband is a doctor and some of his patients or their families have written him the most beautiful letters. I was a teacher and you can imagine the precious note I have over the years.

    Recently I had thought to frame a letter from my mother written years ago when my dad was stationed overseas. It is so beautiful. You have inspired me to do just that.
    Thanks for this unique and lovely post!
    Yvonne

    Love your blog!

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  12. I love getting mail the `old fashioned` way. I have cards and letters stashed away. I also love the newsletter (with pictures) that a few of my relatives send every Christmas.

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  13. Such a touching story. A letter is always cherished forever...have a blessed day. http://lafeshiddentreasures.blogspot.com/

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  14. Holly

    I actually recently started a separate blog about growing up and family. I have 5 followers, I think. But that was not my intent.
    I don't mind sharing my families stories, but I did it for my kids primarily.

    My family is SO small and scattered and my boys, in their 20's might enjoy reading it someday.

    I want to scan old photos into it (once I learn how to do it correctly) and then give them copies someday.

    Thanks for sharing! And thanks for stopping by and joining my "Bling" blog! Have a great day!

    Shell

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  15. I'm intrigued. I need to drop by Wasabi Mommy's place and learn more!

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  16. How wonderful! I scrapbook and I always add something with all our handwriting. I love this!

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  17. I think that is such a great idea!!! I went over and visited her blog, I really believe that this kind of stuff is so important. Something people will cherish for years after we're gone.

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  18. I love this idea. If only I had more time. *sigh*

    PS I have a few letters from my grandmother and great-grandmother that I will always treasure.

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  19. Email might be convenient but I LOVE snail mail!

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  20. what a great idea! I love it!

    Such a nice thought for those you will eventually leave behind.

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  21. What a sweet memory, I love sweet keepsakes like that :)

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  22. I would like to pop by and check this out. I remember writing letters to my girlfriends when we would go home for the summer from college. Something I would never do now. Kind of sad! But maybe something to recapture.

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  23. I have often thought of doing this and now I have no excuse. Heading over to visit Wasabi Mommy now!

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  24. Thank you for coming by my little world. :)

    As for the letters...I was VERY lucky to experience Senior Retreat (4th Day). In that experience every student gets a love letter from their mom and dad...and then -- all their friends. It was and IS an amazing experience.

    It is so amazing..I gave the experience to my husband for Christmas. I contacted friends from the span of his lifetime and on Christmas morning....he had a box full of letters..love letters.

    There is something about the written word. Those words are forever imprinted on our hearts and interwoven within our souls.

    Sorry for the novel...just had to share.

    Cheers~
    e

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  25. An uncle of mine said that letter writing is a a lost art. And he is write. Kids today do not pass notes in class, they text. This a great idea.

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  26. Thanks for stopping by! I'm following you now :)

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  27. Anonymous10:37 PM

    I agree with you 100 percent. I try to send out a handwritten note once a week. I also write in a journal for the boys so maybe one day they will read to remember the memories.

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  28. you're letter was beautiful... the idea of writing a letter to be opened upon your death - that is a great idea..

    Love to you
    kelly

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  29. I found you through New Friend Friday at The Girl Creative...love this post. Those letters, cards, postcards that are handwritten are very special....I'll have to check out Wasabi Mommy right now!!!!

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  30. I am a new follower from Friday Follow. Check me out at Housewife Eclectic http://debrahawkins.blogspot.com/

    I love hand written notes. They are the best. Love this blog!

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  31. Anonymous6:58 AM

    Nothing would or still does bring me more joy than running to the mailbox (and yes, somedays I still do run)and seeing a card of some sort tucked inside. Thanks for the links. :O)

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  32. That's so sweet. Good for you for hanging on to all these things :)

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  33. What a special post! Thanks so much for visiting my blog and for your kind comments. So glad to have found you through New Friend Friday! -shaunna :)

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  34. Letters are so important and I think that most people don't even think about sitting down and writing a letter anymore. I know I don't. But now you have me hooked in and I am going to do it because it is a great idea.

    And they are wonderful keepsakes.

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  35. I adore real mail/letters. My mom and her sister have family letters going back to the early 1900's; there's no way in 100 years someone is going to wax poetic over my sloppy emails *sigh*

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  36. Yes I have some save letters from high school. No saved emails.

    I like the idea of writing a letter to be read upon your deathbed.

    My sister in law just got me a journal. I think I will start a journal for my daughter or son to receive as a graduation present.

    That way he or she can get to know the me before I had kids.

    Happy Friday my fellow LBS member!

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  37. Anonymous12:27 PM

    Following you back from Friday Follower. Thanks for visiting my blog :)

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  38. This is such a sweet project. I love the idea, Holly.

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  39. I think this is a fantastic idea! There is no greater gift than to pass on a true piece of your heart. Thank you for linking to this - I'm in :)

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  40. A handwritten letter has certainly become a lost art. I truly cherish anything I can get my hands on that holds the handwriting of my grandmother who passed away in 1995. Some of my favorite things are without a doubt her recipes!

    Thanks so much for stopping by my blog earlier today. I really appreciate it!

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  41. What a sweet letter from your Aunt J. We've got a couple of boxes of "love" letters that my father-in-law wrote to my MIL when they were married and he was in the Navy. Yes, handwritten notes are truly special to have.

    Thanks for stopping by and following. I'm doing the same...

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  42. what a great letter. I love old letters and the love that went into them. definitely some good warm fuzzies!

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  43. I love this idea!!! I have letters that my dad wrote to people and my moms last letter to her sister and I have my grandma's journals. I have thought about doing this for my girls for a long time!! Are you just going to write one letter or a letter to each child?

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  44. I do this. I write letters and scrapbook journal pages and am forever trying to keep memories for my children and my Grands.

    One thing I do is write in surprising places.

    Like maybe in a cookbook I use a lot with a recipe my family loves.

    Perhaps someday one of my children or grandchildren will find it as a surprise and it will lift them up at the exact right moment.

    Lovely, thoughful post.

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  45. Writing a letter to each of my children for after I'm gone, is something that I've always wanted to do. For many reasons though, I just keep putting it off. It's still on my to do list.
    home jobs without registration

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  46. I guess I am just a really weird person, but I have printed out a huge bunch of emails from family and friends. So I have to answer yes to "have you ever printed out and saved an email?" And I can't begin to tell you how thankful I am that I did print them out, because for one reason or another I have many times lost my saved email. But I still have my "letters" - which are almost the only letters I get now that everyone does email.

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  47. You really hit a chord in me! Now I can't stop thinking about people writing. I am fortunate to have many, many handwritten letters from my ancestors to each other. And I have all the letters my mother wrote home to her family when she was in college! I love being able to recognize the beautiful handwriting whenever I come across it. What is really sad is that today's kids aren't even learning to write in cursive, and they will then no longer be able to read it either. So will no one eventually be able to read the wealth of handwritten letters and documents that exist from the past?

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Thanks for stopping by and joining the conversation! I sure hope you come back for more!

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