Hello to all my sweet Farmgirl friends!
I have been pondering this blog post for two weeks and thinking (like I usually do) of what I’d like to share with you. But this month… what I have to share is a little different than my normal.
What I’d like to share with you today is a little personal. But I wonder if maybe we can all relate… so I felt moved to talk about it. (And keep reading because there’s a surprise at the end of this post!). So here is where my thoughts have been….
My mother just turned 89 and for those of you that have read my blog posts here since the beginning, you “know” my mom… I’ve written about her a lot. Mom has always been a hardworking, joyful, “never complains” woman. But here’s the thing. Four years ago she lost my Dad and somehow she lost a lot of her joy that day too. It is very hard to see her struggling to think of others, failing to find joy in big or little things, and struggling to be interested in anything.
A few days ago I told her it is time for a happiness challenge: time to think of others and let them know, time to recognize that everyone has “something” that is big and heavy in their lives. We all have burdens that we are carrying right? I have one that I have never shared here… and maybe today isn’t the day to share… but here it is: my husband was diagnosed 5 years ago with Parkinson’s Disease. I have my days that are just a complete and total meltdown and it takes my adult kids to pull me out of it. But mostly my days are still full of joy and laughter, my husband and I still work on things we enjoy on our farm, still push ourselves to be joyful and eager for each day. And I never take those days for granted. But life is a challenge for all of us.
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So the place I’m trying to park my thoughts is in the place of thankfulness. In my evening phone visit with my Mom I gave her a challenge that I said I would do as well. Our challenge? We will make a list of everyone that we love, think of, and want to let them know. Whether they are life long friends, family or just acquaintances we will make the list. And everyday we will send a letter in the mail to one person. We will work our way down the list, adding to it as we think of others. (And texts and phone calls do not count… it has to be a letter sent in the mail!)
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I’m happy to tell you that my mom was so excited she was immediately making her list. I’m not as excited because I recognize that I have an absolutely full plate and I just piled more on it (haha!!!). However, I AM actually happy about it because I am aware of the need to think beyond myself and I have so many people I think about and love. And I began my list almost as quickly as my Momma did!
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Day three and I have to admit that not only is it fun, it only takes a few minutes!
So I’d love to challenge you all to do the same! I’m wondering this: what if we all start today? And in one month from now maybe we can compare notes. What did we learn from it? What did we gain from it? How was it received by others?
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And here is the surprise at the end of the post: since I have not done a giveaway here in quite a few months… I am going to offer a giveaway! I have taken some of my favorite photos from our flower garden and turned them into blank stationary cards. Two very lucky readers will get a pack of cards to use for their own “Lift Someone Up” list.
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Find a favorite, relaxing spot and soak up the time to write a quick (or long) letter. Check that one off your list and relax as you think of others you might want to add! My favorite spot to sit and relax and write a letter is my porch bed!
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I would also like to acknowledge that I know stamps are not cheap. I recognize that for some that might be an expense that just isn’t feasible right now. But maybe one letter a week would work for you. You just adjust it as you can afford, and have time for. (I cleaned out a basket on my desk recently and there were Forever stamps there that I had purchased years ago and since they are the Forever stamps, then it doesn’t matter if you purchased them when stamps were 35 cents… they are still good for today’s postage. Keep that in mind in case you might have some buried somewhere on your desk! Smile!)
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All you have to do to enter the giveaway is to leave me a comment here letting me know this: are you up for the “Lift Someone Up” challenge? And if so, who will be the first person on your list? I’d love to have each and every one of you Farmgirl readers on the top of my list!!! And since I do not have the ability to write each of you a letter; this is my huge thank you to you for all the love, encouragement, and care that you have shown me through the years by commenting and encouraging me in every blog post! You honestly do not know how much it means to me. Lets get started lifting each other up!
Until our gravel roads cross again… so long.
Dori
I needed this encouragement to get my encouragement done. I have quite a few cards and a box of supplies to make more. But I rarely send the cards I intend to. Love the photo of your mom with her beautiful quilt in the garden!
Dori~
I appreciate YOU! Bringing us into your special space……a place of yours which is sacred & personal. I am accepting your “Lift Someone Up” challenge. First person on my list is my husband, he’s worth the .78 cents. We are retired & living the quiet life; he will be greatly surprised! Looking forward to circling back in a month to count our Blessings!
Dear Dori, I look forward to reading your blog posts each month. I have saved the patterns for several of your sewing projects for when I want a challenge. This month’s project is one I can start immediately. I will start my list now, there are so many family and friends I need and want to encourage. Thank you for the push, it’s a simple way to share love and brighten someone’s day!
Hello I love your blog. This is no surprise to me. My husband has dementia.b on to nd so tbof days I dt stressed out. I started writing letters and notes to my friends and. Family. Love 💞 it. Helps me to destress. Thanks and have a cool kat day. Vicky
Thank you for sharing a bit of your world with us. I’m so happy you’re Momma is up for the challenge of sending lift up cards.
This is a perfect idea and I plan on joining in on it. I make cards and plan to send the cards with my notes I write. I am so in love with quilts and your mom’s quilt is so pretty. This one took a while to make. Thank you for bringing this idea to the table so to speak.
Betty Petersen
What a wonderful idea! And don’t we all just love to get a ‘real’ letter in the mail? If we love it we know others will too…let’s spread the joy all around our world
I’m in…. I even have a decorated box already for storing the challenge cards. I soooo miss your wonderful magazine. Praying for your continued strenght as you live with your hubby’s terrible disease
I don’t remember what prompted me to start—it may have been when I attended a funeral—but about 10 years ago, I started a similar mission. Periodically, I pick a person and then write them a letter telling them what they mean to me. I detail what I think is special about them and how they have had a positive impact on my life. Sometimes, if it was a person who also injured me, I had to dig deep to find that positive thing, but it’s worth it. So often people go through life without knowing that they made a difference in someone else’s life. A letter like that can be a life line that extends to someone at the perfect moment. Getting it in the mail makes it something they can hold unto, literally and figuratively. It’s been a while since I’ve sent such a letter. Time to plant some seeds again and see what grows.
I walk our dogs a small distance in our neighborhood every day, often meeting others for a quick visit. But I think every morning I will identify something that made me smile- flowers, trees, flags, porch decorations, etc. And write a little note to leave the next morning, probably in their mail box tho’ I know the USPS says that’s wrong to do. LOL. I’m hoping it not only cheers people up but lets them know their efforts in our neighborhood are appreciated!
Dori,
I love the idea of writing a note to different friends and family. My mother loved writing letters and when she was in a nursing home she was still writing letters at 91 years of age. Two high school girls told her they had never received a hand written letter from anyone. (So sad. We get so caught up in texting instead of sending a card to say hi.) She got their address so she could write each of them a letter which they were so pleased to receive. After losing my 84 year old cousin recently I have not been writing much either.
We always wrote back and forth to keep up with one another. Your blog will inspire me to start writing again.
Sonja
I have this poem I sent to my Mother in 1993:
The Letter
Isn’t a letter a wonderful thing?
There’s so very much it can do –
Your letters are just like a visit
Whenever I can’t be with you.
Your letters are so very welcome –
I hurry each morning at ten,
Out to the mailbox down by the road
To see if we’ll visit again.
Some letters bring tidings of gladness,
And some bring me news that you’re blue;
Whatever the contents, I never can wait
To share those few moments with you.
By Peggy Micuch
Because my husband was Army we moved around a lot and Mom and I wrote a lot of letters. She died in 2004 and I still compose letters to her in my head. Thanks for the memories.
I’m in! My girlfriend did something like this during those long years of Covid. She wrote cards to people that she knew were stuck at home. I loved her idea then, and I love your idea now. I’m starting my list of people as soon as I finish this comment. Thank you for the inspiration!
First let me say that I am sorry about your husband’s illness. Life can be so hard and such a challenge. I will pray for you as you navigate the future.
I love to write letters and notes of encouragement. I don’t do it as often as I used to so you just lit a spark to start again. I will do it weekly because of the cost of stamps.
Thank you for this blog post. Your mom is lovely! Your quilt is beautiful.
My mom is 85 and she still makes quilts.
What a great idea. I don’t have a lot of people in my life and the ones I do are scattered around the country. I’m sure they would enjoy a card or note as much as I would enjoy dropping a line. Thinking to…. looking at your beautiful mom and her lovely quilt, I enjoy sewing and give almost everything away that I make, I may tuck a little something in the cards. Sometimes it just takes a little nudging to get the thinking cap moving…thanks for the nudge!
Dear Dori,
Reading your blog today felt like your hand was reaching out to me and helping me move forward. I’ve been going through a really tough time and in trying to put my pieces back together again I’ve not been doing for others like I usually do. I’m going to join your challenge and in writing to friends and family it has an incredible way of lifting our hearts as we lift others. So one of my sons will get this first letter.
I love the view from your porch. And the picture of your mother with the beautiful quilt will always be a treasure for you. I noticed how your mother has a natural glow on her face. Her inner beauty shines through!
Thank you so much for this challenge.