The Once A Month Challenge

We celebrated Rhiannon's 4th birthday this weekend with a house full of kids.  Well, only four kids total, but when you're used to only one screaming toddler, four seems like a lot.

We ate pizza, birthday cake, cheezy poofs.  They ran around the house like crazed little monsters normal 4 year old kids that had consumed too much butter cream icing.

And we opened presents (too many, I might add).  And this morning, instead of just emailing or Facebooking our "Thank You's", we'll be writing out actual Thank You cards.  You know, by writing the words in pen, with our hands (well, mine at least), then putting the cards into an envelope, slapping a stamp on it and walking it up to the mailbox for the mail carrier to pick up.

I recently wrote an actual handwritten letter to a dear friend of mine.  It took about a million times longer to write out than it would have taken me to email or even type on the computer & print out but I felt like being "fancy" and didn't mind the extra time and hand-cramping that followed.  The happiness my friend expressed at receiving such an "outdated" mode of communication was amazing.  And then I thought about how much I liked getting mail.  

Real mail, like in the real mailbox:

I have nothing against email and social networks for communicating.  I use Facebook all the time to talk with my family and friends.  Email is just as good.  I even Skype once in a while so Grandpa can see Rhiannon.

But there's just something about getting a real piece of mail.  Instead of just sighing (or sobbing) when opening your mailbox, fully expecting nothing but a handful of Dish TV ads or medical and utility bills, there's something special in there.  Something not begging you to spend money, something not demanding payment for services rendered.  Something not for the "current resident" or "phone customer", but something for you; you the person.  The living, breathing, feeling soul that you are.   Something wonderful, even if it's just a piece of paper with a few sentences scribbled on it.  Something from someone who cares.

So, what's the Challenge, you ask?

I challenge you all to write one letter a month.  Like with pen and paper and an envelope and a stamp.  To anybody.  Even if it's just a "Howdy" scribbled on a note card.  Since it's already the end of February, I'll start my letter writing challenge on March 1st.  Anybody with me?  I'll try and remember to nag remind you all during the year in case we forget.

Now go practice your handwriting!