Finishing Up 2016

2016 is finishing up... I am completing projects and setting new goals. But today I felt really moved to reach out to some old friends--let them know I was thinking of them and to wish them a happy new year. I set a letter writing goal for 2016...and I did send many.  But even now I wished I had sent more.

2017 is a breath away.  I haven't set all of my goals yet...but entering 2017 doesn't feel stressful. 2016 was a good year. Looking back I have a lot of satisfaction. And with that satisfaction is hope for 2017!

Will I blog consistently in 2017? I hope so...I would like to watch my progress.  For now 6 handwritten letters posting tomorrow--I hope they bring smiles!

Outgoing Mail!!

I love letter writing! And I send a lot of letters!  I especially love to send letters to people who are not expecting one! 

Everyone needs a letter!

Sick people.

Busy people.

People incarcerated.

Everybody!

A letter doesn't have to be an epistle! Just write it! What to write? "Hello" is a great start! Share the weather, a highlight from your day, a quote a funny fact...anything! Just the simple fact of receiving mail, proof that the recipient was thought of!

A short note can and will brighten someone's day.

Don't just think about it...

DO IT!!

Want a letter from me?  Send me a direct message on Twitter (@antoniarenee) and I will send you a letter :-)

#lettermo UPDATE

To review the project:

**February is letter writing month

**Rules of #lettermo there are no rules

**commitment: 

-write letters,post cards,ext.

-send mail everyday the mail runs

I have missed some days. But others mailed 2!  I have six pieces ready to leave tomorrow.

Benefits--the feeling you get from knowing that someone is going to be thrilled to hear from you. Letters are cozy and are so much more fun to hold that an email or voice mail.

During #lettermo a response has not been my goal--altgough I have received one letter and a card.

Oh the card!!

This afternoon I found that someone had anonymously placed a sweet card and a gift card to me in my mailbox!  I have no clue who and really that is making it even more fun! Topp't is my new favorite place to eat...and I am thinking my own mom doesn't even know that!

If I ever learn who that will get a big hug from me!

Send some mail!

Spread joy--and hope!

#LETTERMO

February is letter writing month!  I am a HUGE fan of handwritten/typed letters!

The goal of #lettermo is to: send something through the post every day it runs in February--which will be 24 times in 2016.

You can get all the details at www.lettermo.com

Come on and join the movement! An email is fast but doesn't have the same lasting effect as a snail mail letter.

I posted my 5th piece for the month today...one person I sent two. I hope the recipients enjoy this as much as I have.

Honeydori Passport Notebook

Last week I won a Honeydori Passport Notebook from Jennifer D Phipps Etsy shop on Instagram.

So I just wanted to share how I set mine up.

I purchased two notebooks from her. The first one I am keeping track of my summer projects. In that one I am making notes to compare prices of materials and also so a have measurements with me as I shop.

The second one in am keeping track of my penpals.

Update: Going Postal

So at the end of 2014 I decided that my 2015 mission would be letter writing--a lost art.  Actually now that I have started I have found that letter writing is still very much alive!

So a few weeks into my 2015 mission here are my stats:
✉25 letters written
📨1 letter returned
📭3 responses

I plan to keep on writing!  Everyone needs a little mail love!

{2015}

fail to plan
plan to fail

New year resolutions are usually quite loftly.

I am posting my intentions for personal documentation and accountability.

2014 was a good year.  But of course I have areas that I need improvement and some accomplishments I want to repeat.

--recently I challenged  myself to write (and send) letters
--lose that last 13.2 lbs (maintain that weight!)
--read more with my children
--cook more
--read the Bible through again
--organize and maintain my food storage
--exercise consistently

linking up with:  Humpday Happenings
                        Small Victories Sunday

Going Postal

January 1 is almost here.  Like others I am looking back yet dreaming ahead. Dreaming, hoping, planning.  Many of my goals deal with improvement.  And perhaps I will blog about them later.

For today I want to share a tug that is on my heart.  I have over the holidays thought of many people.  And many that I have lost touch with.  Many that I still have involved in my life.  Yet I know if tomorrow I could never reach out to them what would I wished I had said?  Did I need to tell them "thank you"--for a favor or just for being there when I needed them?  Maybe I need to reach out and let them know that I am here even we have drifted apart?  Or maybe I just need to share?  Maybe just the thought would be a spark that would encourage them on?

So my new "life goal" starting today-- because I know that January 1 is not magic--today I am going to write letters.  It will probably take me years and maybe my life but the important thing is that one letter at a time I reach out.

I know that it is easy to call, text, or email...but a written letter is something that I can touch.  And the recipient can touch, carry, review from time to time and keep.

Years ago...like over 20 :-) I was in Bible college.  On Tuesday nights there was a dedicated missionary prayer service.  At that time missionaries--many that were alumni--were mentioned.  My junior year one night addresses were laid out and we were encouraged to take one--write them and get to know them.  Let them know that even though they were miles from home that someone was remembering them.  I took  a name.  A single woman working in the Philippines.  The next day I wrote her.  In fact I couldn't even wait for the response I wrote and sent a letter every day for the first two weeks!  In a short time she responded.  We kept in touch faithfully for months.  Upon her return to the USA she came to the college and visited me.  We kept in touch for a long time.  She will be my first letter this time.

Do I think everyone will respond? No.  But that is okay.  Letters will be sent...my goal is not so much for the response as much as it is to make sure I reached out :-)

Who will I write?  As people come to mind I will find addresses.  Perhaps I will learn of strangers that would like a letter...I will write them :-) 

linking up here:

Moms Small Victories