My Letter Box

Even though I'm not big on keeping every little treasure along the way, I have to keep some things.  Among those things that I hold onto are letters and cards.  Words mean so much to me, especially when they were sent in the mail.  I absolutely treasure the ones from John and my Grandma Polly, because letters have helped form and hold those relationships tightly. 



Since my Grandma Polly is not into changing technology, writing letters is one of the best ways to keep in touch with her.  I get absolutely giddy when she sends me something.  Birthday cards.  Thank you cards.  Simple correspondence cards.  My absolute favorite one came several months after she had her stroke.  The stroke hit her hard and I wasn't sure if she would ever be able to write me a letter again.  The day that I opened the mailbox and saw her handwriting I cried right there on the street.  Three simple sentences brought so much comfort to me.  She was back.

As for John and me, well, we write lots of letters and lots of notes.  Every holiday is marked with a long letter to each other.  There are simple notes.  There are apology letters.  Then, there are those letters from when we were dating-those are cute.  

At a party recently, I talked with a friend about all the letters that we have from our husbands.  I didn't know this about her, but she and her husband share letters and she's kept every single one.  She said that sometimes when he's away or they're in a fight, she reads those and is reminded that he loves her.  

It's here right now that I would like to say, that the couple that writes together, stays together.  Well, I would like to say that goes for any relationship.  Any.

So, here is my little stash.  It might be on my "grab in case of fire" list.  Because as I read on a blog, "there are many things that can change a life....a letter is one of them."  Well said.

These letters have changed mine in small and big ways along the way, and I treasure them.

A Delicate Project

First pre-apology to my dad and dad-in-law.  The only male readers.  I'm going to talk about panties.  Not my panties.  Um. Never.  Just some that I made, kind of.

Here's the thing:  I went to a lingerie party for a friend.  We were asked to bring a pair that represented our personality, then the guest of honor had to guess who brought which pair.
Great idea!  Fun game!

My thinking was: I'll bring white (because everyone knows I love all things white) and I'll get a full coverage pair with a note that says, "I've got your back."  Clever-I know.  As I was wrapping it, I thought, "well this is kind of boring.  Oooo...everyone knows that I put white ruffles on everything, why not these panties?"

A little white ruffle along the top +  a jersey flower above the hip =  success.  Wa-la. I only had to point out to everyone TWICE that I made the ruffles and the bow.  They didn't hear me the first time.

I don't craft just to craft.  

Sista needs the attention that comes with, "you made that?!"  

"Why yes!  It was SOOOOOO easy!  Really, it was nothing.  Really."

Move over, Victoria's Secret, I'm movin' on up.  

{By the way...does anyone still shop there?}

This Week's Menu

Is anyone else in love with Flank Steak?  My friend, Jenny, turned me on to the greatness of this slab of meat.  And it looks like the definition of "slab of meat."  It's wonderful and very easy!  Marinate it.  Broil it (10 minutes or less per side). Hit the smoke alarm. Slice it thin (cross grain).  

Try it....get wild with the marinade.  Olive oil. Balsamic. Red Wine. Rosemary. Garlic. S & P.  Several different options here.  It's made it's way on our weekly menu this week.  Twice.  Check it:

{credit for pic}

Pintos, Okra, Potatoes (never happened last week)

Flank Steak, Rice, Asparagus

Spaghetti Casserole

Salad with Leftover Flank Steak

Cream of Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

Family Pictures

Does anyone else ever feel the pressure to have that great family picture?  I feel like it is up to me and only me to get that one awesome picture.  The one where we all look somewhat happy, everyone is in focus, there are no double chins, and it just looks good.

When we went with Jenny and Andrew to The Barn at High Point, I knew that I had some chances.  The planets would have to align for it to happen, but I was hopeful.

After we were done with wedding stuff, after Burl played himself out, and after we stuffed ourselves with berries, I thought, "let's try and fit in a family photo shoot."

We tried.  Burl was burnt out.  We tugged and pulled and tried and tried.  I walked away thinking, "we didn't get it.  We didn't get that AWESOME picture I was hoping for."  You know the one with Burl laughing as John and I swing him in our arms with the perfect background.  Didn't happen.  

Jenny told me, "surely there's one good one."  She's right there were some good ones, but there wasn't one I was going to enlarge and hang on the ceiling.

When I got home and downloaded all the pictures, I realized that the AWESOME picture wasn't there.  However, I also realized that I was smiling as I looked through them.  And that's when I realized that sometimes the pictures that show how it really was are sometimes more fun.  

Moral of the story for me: It's not about the image, it's about the memories captured.