not this cute anymore!Aaron and I have been cleaning out our garage to make room for some major food storage. We are finally getting our year supply and it feels good to be prepared. It also feels great to get rid of JUNK we've been hanging on to "just in case we might want it someday..." We donated boxes [and boxes] of stuff that never gets used. Anyway, as we were discarding old stuff, I found a bunch of old letters that I have saved over the years. I almost threw them out, but thought I would want to look through it just to make sure there wasn't anything priceless in there. Today I spent about 5 hours reading every letter and I know exactly why I haven't thrown them out. They are absolutely spendid! I mean these are really, really important to me and I am so glad I had the chance to reminisce while Aaron was working late. I cried while reading letters from my grandma Roma and a million from my parents! And I laughed SO hard at others. There were many things that I had forgotten about.. for example.
1) while in jr. high, a group of students were given a bunch of NBA basketball tickets (go Utah Jazz!) One of our friend's locker was broken into and his tickets were stolen. We were all really mad about it. When the rest of the kids showed up at the game, guess who was sitting in the stolen ticket seats? THE JANITOR and his son! We laughed so hard over that...
2) While camping, my sisters and I drove to a lake and played on the beach all afternoon. On the drive home, my sister Debbie started screaming that something was in her swimming suit biting her everywhere. Luckily, we were close to a gas station. She and I ran in to the bathroom (a small, one toilet stall) and she ripped off the top of her suit in a frantic and was screaming loud! She had ants all over and I was helping her get them off. In the midst of the chaos, we forgot to lock the door... A cute little old lady happened to open it on us... and here are two girls, facing each other... one totally topless and making loud noises. The poor little lady had a terrible look on her face and all she could say was, "Oh! Excuse me!" We thought that was the funniest thing EVER but somehow I managed to forget about it over the years! I love you, Deb... but not in that way, of course!
3) A few months after I had met Aaron... (and probably just a few weeks after my mother had met him.) She sent me a letter in the mail with updates from home. At the bottom, she wrote, "P.S. If you see Aaron on campus, make sure to wink at him!" I probably rolled my eyes at that comment back in the day.. not because I didn't like him, but because my mom was always saying stuff like that. She seriously LOVED him from day one... she had barely even met the guy and she just KNEW he was the one for me. I totally love that and I am so glad I have proof of her 'polite suggestions.' I am also so grateful it worked out the way it did! Thanks for the 'encouragement' mom!
I also loved reading notes from friends in high school and college when at the time, I didn't realize what an impact they would have on my life. There was one card in particular from Dana and Kelly.. (my next door neighbors at Ricks..) It was written about 2 weeks after we had met and said things like, "I know we were meant to be friends." And here we are 10 years later sharing stories of marriage and motherhood. I am so grateful I have been able to keep in touch with so many loved ones! (Of course, blogging has made everything a lot less complicated...but still!) My heart was filled with gratitude and this was exactly what I needed today. Earlier this morning, I was praying out of frustration.. just trying to get everything together and not feeling like myself. Sometimes I truly forget WHO I am and get lost in the busyness of life. This old box of letters was absolutely an answer to my prayer.. my little tender mercy for the day. LOVE is such a powerful thing! I truly do love so many people and I am SO grateful for the relationships and experiences I have had in my short 28 years. And as I look at my sweet little boys and my adoring husband, I cannot help but feel sincere gratitude for all that I have been blessed with. Today I was able to remember who I am.. who I have always been... and what truly makes me happy.
1) while in jr. high, a group of students were given a bunch of NBA basketball tickets (go Utah Jazz!) One of our friend's locker was broken into and his tickets were stolen. We were all really mad about it. When the rest of the kids showed up at the game, guess who was sitting in the stolen ticket seats? THE JANITOR and his son! We laughed so hard over that...
2) While camping, my sisters and I drove to a lake and played on the beach all afternoon. On the drive home, my sister Debbie started screaming that something was in her swimming suit biting her everywhere. Luckily, we were close to a gas station. She and I ran in to the bathroom (a small, one toilet stall) and she ripped off the top of her suit in a frantic and was screaming loud! She had ants all over and I was helping her get them off. In the midst of the chaos, we forgot to lock the door... A cute little old lady happened to open it on us... and here are two girls, facing each other... one totally topless and making loud noises. The poor little lady had a terrible look on her face and all she could say was, "Oh! Excuse me!" We thought that was the funniest thing EVER but somehow I managed to forget about it over the years! I love you, Deb... but not in that way, of course!
3) A few months after I had met Aaron... (and probably just a few weeks after my mother had met him.) She sent me a letter in the mail with updates from home. At the bottom, she wrote, "P.S. If you see Aaron on campus, make sure to wink at him!" I probably rolled my eyes at that comment back in the day.. not because I didn't like him, but because my mom was always saying stuff like that. She seriously LOVED him from day one... she had barely even met the guy and she just KNEW he was the one for me. I totally love that and I am so glad I have proof of her 'polite suggestions.' I am also so grateful it worked out the way it did! Thanks for the 'encouragement' mom!
I also loved reading notes from friends in high school and college when at the time, I didn't realize what an impact they would have on my life. There was one card in particular from Dana and Kelly.. (my next door neighbors at Ricks..) It was written about 2 weeks after we had met and said things like, "I know we were meant to be friends." And here we are 10 years later sharing stories of marriage and motherhood. I am so grateful I have been able to keep in touch with so many loved ones! (Of course, blogging has made everything a lot less complicated...but still!) My heart was filled with gratitude and this was exactly what I needed today. Earlier this morning, I was praying out of frustration.. just trying to get everything together and not feeling like myself. Sometimes I truly forget WHO I am and get lost in the busyness of life. This old box of letters was absolutely an answer to my prayer.. my little tender mercy for the day. LOVE is such a powerful thing! I truly do love so many people and I am SO grateful for the relationships and experiences I have had in my short 28 years. And as I look at my sweet little boys and my adoring husband, I cannot help but feel sincere gratitude for all that I have been blessed with. Today I was able to remember who I am.. who I have always been... and what truly makes me happy.
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7 comments:
I know what you mean. There have been several times that I have found and old box of letters and cards or old pictures. It really is unbelievable how many people affect our lives in one way or another.
I did that a few years ago and was ready to throw everything away but started reading and came across some cherished letters and of course some silly ones. I'm embarrassed if you saved any of ours from Highschool. The things I worried and cared about! I still remember some of the letters you wrote me though. You've always been a good friend to me. I'm glad your prayers were answered.
Ilove going thru my old boxes. It is your personal history in a very tangible form. The memories help me to remember that I have made good decisions and that the Lord is always there leading and guiding me.
Off the subject, My husband was asking me how much time I spend on blogging and I told him, alot because everything takes so long to figure out how to do. I was just wondering how long do you spend on your blog in a day. I think he wants his wife back,Hmmm maybe I have become obsessed.
I absolutely cannot throw old letters away. I LOVE them. I still read through all of the love letters that Rick and I wrote to each other and they still make me laugh and cry. There is just something so different about an actual letter than email. It seems so much more personal. I'm so glad you had a tender mercy when you needed one.
I also can not throw old letters away. They help you remember who you were back then. I think it's important to remember all the people that loved us.
I am a letter hoarder. I saved all my wedding cards and looked at them today thanks to your post. So sweet!
Janet, you win the prize for the most entertaining of all bloggers out there! Seriously, you are such an interesting, fun, and loving human! I love how much you think about things and try and get the most out of life. Thank you for sharing your cool thoughts and crazy memories!
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