Monday, January 10, 2011

52 Weeks, 52 Letters - A 2011 Project


I have always had a love for handwritten notes, cards, and letters, but with the fast pace of our current society and the advent of email, cell phones, text messages, Skype and Google Talk, I feel like handwritten letters are a dying art.  I just recently was talking with a friend about this and began feeling impressed in my heart that I wanted to do better in 2011 about writing more handwritten notes, cards and letters.  There is just something very special about letters that are actually handwritten and mailed ... and not delivered to the desktop of a computer!

I think that someone taking the time to write you a handwritten note means so much.  It shows that they put a lot of thought into the perfect card or note, they had to plan ahead to have postage stamps on hand and they carefully thought out exactly what they wanted to say... from their heart to yours!

Who doesn't enjoy getting mail from a precious friend or loved one?  I don't know about you, but when I go to the mailbox and find a handwritten envelope in the midst of the plethora of bills, I immediately grab that card out and rip it open - FIRST!

I am also one of those people who save EVERY card, note or letter that I receive from my loved ones and friends.  I have a card box on my dresser that is OVERFLOWING with precious memories that I have received just over the last couple of years!  I have at least TWO other such boxes in the floor of my closet right now!

I also have another VERY special box that contains every "love letter" that my husband and I exchanged when we were dating - while he was away at college in NC and I lived and worked in GA.  As you can see....I am a little sentimental when it comes to handwritten cards, notes and letters.

When I started back blogging recently, one of the first blogs I revisited was my sweet friend, Anita's, at A Woman, A Wife, A Mom.  I saw this post on her blog and I felt that it was another confirmation that I was supposed to write more cards and letters this year...and what better way to do that than to commit to writing a handwritten note to someone for EVERY week during the year 2011!  52 Weeks, 52 Letters!


The details from the blog that Anita linked to in her post were,

“One piece of “real” mail sent out each week. It can be a letter, a postcard, a care package, a thank you note, handmade art, etc. I’m searching for all of the cards and stationary I have collected over the years and gathering them into one place with pens, envelopes (regular & padded), lots of stamps (.28 & .44), a glue stick, unlined index cards (great for making postcards), and a few USPS Small Flat Rate boxes. Oh, and I’m updating my address book.”

So...Thank you for giving me the extra "nudge" I needed, Anita.  I think this is going to be such a rewarding goal for 2011!

Now.....how about you, my friends?  

Would you like to be the recipient of a nice surprise letter in 2011? Share your mailing address with me, if I don't already have it, and who knows what might happen!

Or, maybe this sounds like something you would like to commit to with me this year? 

I would love to have you join me in bringing some much-needed love and encouragement to others this year ...

52 Weeks, 52 Letters in 2011!

23 comments:

Rebecca Jo said...

I am in TOTAL LOVE with this idea!!! I used to be so good at sending random cards out to the youth group in church... & they LOVED it...I need to do this again & this challenge is the perfect way to do it..

I'm totally on board. Going to go check out the link as well..

Thanks for the "push"...
Now, I need to go buy stamps before they raise their prices ;)

Deidre said...

I love the new design! And I love this idea. I enjoy getting handwritten notes in the mail and always 'think' to send them to people but drop the ball.

Faith said...

What a great idea! You are so good at this and I just love to see handwritten notes from you. I could recognize your handwriting anywhere! I think you'll do great!

petrii said...

Oh EM,
You know how much a love a good handwritten letter or card.

What a GREAT idea!!!

Love you friend,
Dawn

Robyn Beele said...

I am so glad you are back! Thanks for your sweet comments! I love this idea! Good luck!

Jacquie Wallace said...

LOVE this idea!!

Stephanie said...

Great idea, wonder if I could pull that off this year?? Sounds like a sweet way to bless a lot of people :) And I, like you, LOVE a handwritten note. It's a dying art...

sara said...

Came over from Rebecca Jo's and love this idea! I had to smile at your box of love letters......when my mom was young they moved to a new neighborhood. She and her sister found a box of letters one day (my grandparents love letters) and decided to play post man around the neighborhood!! My grandmother said that many were returned but some never were and my grandfather went out the back door to work every day for a month!! Ha!

Becky said...

What a wonderful idea! I have kept every letter Alvin wrote me during our dating period too! Also, have every letter my grandma wrote me when she was alive and I will cherish them forever!

Tracie Nall said...

I saw this on Rebecca's blog...and I love it! What a wonderful idea. I'm definitely going to join you.

Emily said...

That is a wonderful idea!!!!

Denise K. said...

This is a great idea! I am a huge believer in handwritten notes, and find myself writing them several times a week. You are absolutely right too, we just treasure a letter with our friend or loved ones writing, and it always makes us feel appreciated when someone takes the time to send a note, card, etc...there is also a saying I love, "A phone call lasts a minute, but a letter lasts forever!"

Love Being A Nonny said...

One of my goals this year...to send *REAL MAIL* once a week. So far, so good! Love this!

Cathy said...

I found out about this through Rebecca Jo and Sara's blogs. I think it is such a great idea and I think I'll try it too. Thanks.

riTa Koch said...

I had a similar goal, so I posted your button on my blog.

john said...

I think you will all love a new business we are launching in a few months which allows you to write handwritten letters and have them delivered much later, even after you pass on. See splash page at www.psiloveyouletters.com

Rich and Sarah Christensen said...

I'm in! I'm starting tomorrow! I just found your blog today and I can;t wait! :)
Thanks,
Sarah
www.richandsarahchristensen.blogspot.com

Robin Lambright said...

What a wonderful idea, I was over visiting Sara at Make Music.. and saw that she was giving this a go. I am thinking about giving it a go.

Good luck with your efforts.

Great idea!
R

Willys and Elizabeth (Lizzie) said...

I know I am 2 weeks late in joining but I have sent out cards...since I make cards http://www.etsy.com/shop/zizziecards I always enjoy putting a message in it and sending out to bless someone. I look forward to blessing more poeple in 2011.

Mimi said...

I've seen this at a couple of blogs and am really thinking about joining in. I'm just worried about pooping out halfway through, lol!

I may hop on the bandwagon,

Mimi

Diane Foster said...

I just found your lovely blog...I love the idea of handwritten letters. This past Saturday, I received a letter from an out of state friend, and you are right, I couldn't wait to open it, and in fact, have read it several times. I am starting tonight...52 weeks, 52 letters (I will catch up :)
Thank you...and many Blessings..

MiMi said...

Thank you so much for your comment, Gigi. I tried to visit your blog, but wasn't able to link to it. I am so glad that you have decided to join with many of us in writing handwritten letters in 2011. I am excited about what the Lord is going to do in and through us this year!

Thank you again for visiting and I hope you'll stop back by again soon! Happy letter-writing!

Unknown said...

What a great idea. I love love love handwriting letters! My friend and I are sending letters back and forth to each other, and it's been such a blessing!