I'd like to think that at one time we all have received a note or letter at some point in our lives that we have saved...either actually, physically saved or mentally tucked it away in our memory bank. I am a sucker for love notes and letters of appreciation and have saved many, many notes, letters and cards over the years from parents, grandparents, friends, boyfriends/husband and the sweet, misspelled early writings/notes of my children. I LOVE words - especially those packed with heartfelt thoughts and feelings.
I always tell my family members that a homemade card or handwritten letter/note is the best gift that they can ever make or give me and I mean it!
The Hubs discovered how much I treasure homemade cards when we were first dating when I would gush on about chicken-scratch notes he'd leave. I couldn't believe it when he ventured into a scrapbook store for the first time, on his own, (okay, he's going to be cringing when he reads this) and proceeded to ask the women working at the store if he could have some assistance finding what he needed to make a card from scratch. You can imagine their reaction when a man entered this type of store, unaccompanied by a woman.
Needless to say, I treasure this card like nobody's business! The effort he put into making it, the time, (the embarrassment and razzing he took from his male coworkers and friends that learned of this gesture) and the loving words he penned - it was the BEST!
Since then, I have been the lucky recipient of many other handmade love notes...and the Hubs has been granted permission to use any scrapbook supplies from my stash.
With Valentine's Day quickly approaching, I just want to remind folks that putting your words on paper will go a LONG way. Sure, the occasional Hallmark card can capture "exactly" what you are feeling but when it boils down to it, it's the words that you write that will be remembered and treasured most of all. I am the girl that quickly scans the card for the handwritten words that have been added to the bottom of a store-purchased card (no pressure here, honey) and can't bear to part with the sweet little note that has been crafted and left for me if it has a reference to feelings of gratitude or an expression of love.
As a side note, have you heard of the book, 5 Love Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman who believes we all have one or two main languages in how we understand and experience love? You can actually go to Gary's website and take a quiz that will reveal your "love languages" that you gravitate towards. The five "love languages" he speaks of are: Words of Affirmation, Acts of Service, Receiving Gifts, Quality Time and Physical Touch. I would think that writing a love note expressing your gratitude, endearment or appreciation would appeal to several "love languages".
I can't think of any reason why you should NOT grab a scrap of paper right now and write a quick sentence...just a few words and send it off or hide it for your love.
