the book.
I walk into the house and I see a brown book with a thick leather string wrapped around it to keep it closed. I know this means there is a mushy or encouraging love note inside.
I try to act like it’s not a big deal; but I can’t wait to read it.
My mind flashes back to the early before school hours of the morning.
Th house is the usual chaos that goes with mornings for our family. Cereal bowls being filled with honey nut cheerios, dashes to the bathroom to brush teeth and last minute hair brushing. The timer has already gone off twice, signally that it’s time to go and Mike and I have mostly passed each other in the kitchen; brushing gently past one another as I write notes for lunches and he cracks jokes to the girls. He is a big reason they go off to school giggling. I love it when he is home before everyone goes off to school. The house feels cheerier and everyone is in lighter spirits. Suddenly, there is the mad dash to get to the school and inevitably someone has run back into the house to get something -the Harry Potter book they want to read when they finish their class work or the lunchbox that ended up getting set down between picking up their school supplies and walking to the van.
As soon as they are to the van with Dad I rush to the shower. Today is one of those days that is going to be hectic from beginning to end. Eventually I am dressed and ready, bag and phone in hand, I head for the door, kissing Mike quickly before rushing to the van and driving away.
I remember those moments from the morning, the way I was in such a hurry and the quick, crazy chaos that those few minutes were.
I’m glad to see the brown book waiting there for me. It feels like a long distance ,”I knew you’d be home and I wanted to be here when arrived.” Mike is at work and won’t be home until later. But right now it feels like his is beside me holding me in his arms and saying the words that I am reading:
My love,
Thank you for being the heart of this adventure we call familyness. There is no one anywhere I’d rather spend it with. I will be thinking of you every minute. Love, Mike
Since the early days of our marriage we have had a little book that we write notes to each other in when we leave the house or when the urge strikes.
It’s a small way to keep in touch and be reminded that we chose each other all of those years ago.
Get A Year of Familyness details here.
Thanks for sharing this, Davina! I have loved our book over the years (can’t remember how many we’ve filled up). Reading through them is like going back in time. The emotions, the trials, the fun. It’s all there, and it reminds me of how incredibly blessed we’ve been. Love you, Mike
P.S. Thank you for the sticky notes I keep finding all over the house with sweet things written on them. You are amazing!
I agree! Our books have inadvertently kept our history. I love that! We are so blessed. And thank you! for all of the awesome sticky notes around the house. I love them. <3
AAAwwwww!!!!!!!! I want a book like that! How do I do this with a husband who has a hard time expressing himself? Maybe I’ll just have to give it a try and he’ll surprise me! What an incredible idea and heirloom treasure the two of you are making!
Brooke, I think you’ve already got a great solution. Tomorrow, I’m going to give some more ideas for how to give compliments and other fun stuff. Maybe you could print that off tomorrow and keep a copy of it in the front of your little book. I know sometimes when I’m trying to write a note a little nudge helps me to figure out what I want to say.
Brooke,
I’d just start writing myself if I were in your shoes and he’ll probably catch the spirit of it.
As a side note, many of the notes are not spectacular, just a thanks for something Davina did or a have a great day with whatever she had going that day. I write more often than she does, but I imagine her getting my notes and there is a joy in that as well. When she writes back it is an added bonus!
Such a great thought, Mike.
And he’s right. He definitely writes in our book a lot more often than I do…and I do love getting his notes!