Just Called to Say I Love You...

I KNOW I'm loved by my family and friends but it is still sooo nice to actually HEAR it from them. A few weeks ago as I was driving to run my laps at a track I got a phone call from my dad. Just calling to tell me he was thinking about me and to let me know he loved me. Can you say insta-tears? He wanted to know how I was doing but I was too choked to speak for a minute. I know my daddy loves me but its especially nice to know he's thinking about me even when I'm not around.
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I also love texts and emails that are just to say hi, thinking about you, love you, etc. Who doesn't? Who doesn't want to hear it said that they are thought about, cared for, and loved? But what I REALLY love are letters, actual hard copy, put in an envelope and stamped letters, and I love them even more when they're hand written. Not only does it show caring, it shows time and effort expended for me. And the one thing I like more than presents, is someone's time. Time is very valuable and something you can't get back or make more of, worth more than someone's money or presents.
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So a few days after the phone call I was talking to one of my sister-in-laws and found out she was THROWING my precious letters away!!! I was shocked. HOW DARE SHE? Her kids had been writing me little notes, coloring me pictures, etc. and telling her to mail them to me and she'd just been throwing them away (of course sometimes they were re-gifted to a visitor to their house, but still.) So she took down my address and a few days letter I had this from my niece Lauren.

Awwww, she loves me! The back also include some little drawings and a self made "find the E" game (thats why all the random Es :)

And of course I had to respond, it's proper etiquette to respond. But then I got to thinking that it would have been awesome if I had gotten mail when I was 5 so I decided I would write all the little ones in Yuma a letter. I sat down one Saturday and wrote 7 letters, including multi-color stamps and cute cut outs, and shipped them out with TONS of love.  I figured they would think it was fun to get a letter, but it was only a piece of paper and after one maybe two readings it would be forgotten, especially for the two youngest who I often wonder if they really remember who I am when I'm not there.

Oh they remember Aunt E! The letters were a HUGE success. I got this picture of Nathaniel Jr. from Tennille days later still cuddled up with my letter, and she told me her kids had taken their letters to bed that night! And all of the kids asked them to be read over and over again. Too cute!
I'm lucky to live in a time that I can know I'm loved and let others know I love them in so many, many ways. Here's wishing you lots of love!