Less = More

A couple sheets of notebook paper, silver sharpie, a plastic lid, stapler, paper sack, House of 3 family matters (received from their webshow) printable, cardstock card bases, House of 3 gratitude digital kit, House of 3 fall junque in the trunque printable, Creativity Prompt dear diary printable, and the Creativity Prompt circle graph label printable was all I needed to create 16 cards…yes, I said sixTEEN!  Having all of my creative options back at my house really helped me think outside of the box and create with what I had or could find.  Less supplies = More creativity.  Less creative distractions = More accomplished.  I guess less really is more.     

Joining the Pen Pal Project

Monday - Saturday is my favorite part of the week, that means the [snail] mail comes!  Rarely I find my mailbox empty, when it is tons of questions enter my mind...

• what time is it?
• is it Sunday?
• did I already collect it?
• did the mail man forget my house?

So many people I know say, I NEVER get [snail] mail.  Geez, there are only a handful of days I NEVER get [snail] mail, but perhaps they are talking about the good ole' [snail] mail.  The handwritten address, the cancelled stamp, and the funky colored/shaped envelopes.  You can never have too much good ole' [snail] mail that's for sure.

I was sending out a lot of cards a few years back and sent a few to a friend.  Her husband was secretly jealous, and one day she came home to her card had already been opened.  She asked him why he opened it, and he said he had a bad day at work and needed a little pick me up and opening her card did just the trick.  Funny, [snail] mail that is not even for you is still fun to open!  And it's such a high commodity it might get stolen, so watch out.

In a movement to NEVER have 'no [snail] mail days' I joined up with Marta and Summer in their Pen Pal Project.  I love the idea.  Slowing down, making it personal, and spreading the [snail] mail love.  Filling people's mailboxes that are dying of malnutrition and simply making someone's day sounds like a lovely project.

First who would I ask?  Will people want to do it?  Would they think I am totally corny?  Who cares, I have yet to meet someone who doesn't like [snail] mail.  Junk [snail] mail sure, but this won't be junk at all.  I ordered 2 packs of postcards to officially invite my chosen pen pals.  Since Eli cannot be around children I thought what better people than the children in my life!?  The fact that I can capture their lives right now through the [snail] mail instead of face to face seems so secret, precious, and COOL!  Josh thinks I am crazy asking 5 year olds to be my pen pal, but they are psyched and openly so am I!!

Makenna's Mom asked her if she would like to be my penpal and she replied...YES!  What's a penpal?

Scotty's Mom asked him if he would like to be penpals and he said what does that mean, she told him where she would mail you stuff, he said like Nintendo DS games?

Super excited to teach them about [snail] mail!

Below are the responses I have sent out so far and I also found these postcards that made me laugh.

***Upcoming tomorrow the [snail] mail book loaded with what I have received to date.

The 'give thanks' printables were found at Living Locurto courtesy of Beth Proudfoot.

[Snail] Mail Celebration

Completely forgot Toni’s birthday this year. I had the gift. Wrapped even! All of that and still TOTALLY dropped the ball. To make it up to her I did a little [snail] mail celebration. These were the goodies that found their way to her [snail] mailbox.  And others she 'personally' picked up!  So great to see you Toni!

Brokenhearted

The card is for our dear friends who lost their sweet baby boy.  We were in the club of having preemie boys, 1 pound babes, a long journey in the NICU, and we never were REALLY pregnant.  We will always be connected.  This was my post on our son's website yesterday.

Today we went to buy a mobile. We hung it on Eli's crib. He seemed to like it. He drank 2 bottles today. He smiled while I rubbed his back during our snuggle.
I can't write anything more because my heart is breaking. Eli's partner in crime passed away today. Josh and I can not even imagine their loss, their pain, their emptiness. I can barely type I am crying so hard. I am not the type that cries. It is not fair that Eli's best friend was so brave and fought so hard and will never be able to meet face to face. There are so many things that you play out in your head of how you think they will be, how you wish they would go and how very wrong you are. This journey has taught us so many things. The hardest lesson has been that we have no control. No way to help the little ones that are fighting so hard. These battles they face, the scars they receive, all of which they will never remember. Although, we adults do. We must stay strong, find peace, and live. We don't get to choose who stays and who goes or even when they go. Eli will forever have an angel watching him from above. We cherished Eli's friend and will forever be reminded to cherish every moment we have together. Thank you for the priveledge to meet your sweet boy we know he will live on in each of us. Rest in peace sweet Declan you will forever be in our hearts.