Dear Mr. Welch,

I think about the yellowing stack of letters tied with a shoestring hidden from our children and nosey people, the letters that still bring a red blush to my cheeks.

Remember our hot words on cool paper? We were so young, so far apart from each other, but words brought us together. Words created all of this (wide-arm gesturing over the piles of laundry and floating dust bunnies). We fell deeply, madly in love over letters scratched out while my first grade class was at recess.

It was the season I went from Ms. Clark to Mrs. Welch over the Christmas break, now more than 17 years ago.

It’s always been easier for me to use words, written, typed, unspoken. And then whispered later.

I’m so glad we’re taking the time to write letters to each other. I find it very attractive to discover you hunched over with pen in hand.

There’s just something about a letter. You’ve made that a special, treasured gift in our home and I thank you for it. I look forward to that crawling red blush again.

Love,

Mrs. Welch

My hubby and I are writing love letters.  You should join in, too. It’s one of the best ways to celebrate hot monogamy!

Ideas for Writing Your Spouse Love Letters:

• Set up a special email account that’s just for the two of you
• Send her the emails or just keep them in draft and show her on an anniversary
• Use special stationary that’s just for your love letters
• Give him/her a special box to store the letters in
• Be positive in your letters
• Make the delivery fun and creative (scavenger hunt, stamp and mail them, put an ad in the classified section, etc)
• You don’t have to write all the time, but make the time you write about special

Need more ideas? Here are 28 Creative Love Letter Ideas. Do you write to your spouse?

{Dear Mr. Welch}: On Love Letters is a post from: We are THAT Family

I  discovered the meaning of troubleshooting the other day.

For hours, I had been knee-deep in printer cords and computer cables, battling a broken modem and a customer service rep, all while trying to print 500 labels with an offline printer.

I was in trouble and I wanted to shoot something.

I’ll be honest: I don’t handle moments like these well. I get frustrated, irritable and whiny.

That’s about the time my  husband walked thru the door. He took one look at the mess (me, not the technology) and went to work.

In less the thirty minutes, he had our Internet back up and everything working perfectly. When he handed me the neat pile of printed labels, I hugged him deeply.

I’m not gonna lie: I was very attracted to him.

He came in from work exhausted from a long day. But he served me because he loves me. It was the single most sexiest moment of the week.

And I simply returned the favor by telling him so. Respecting our hubbies enough to tell them when they bless us is only gonna make him want to love you more.

Today, in honor of Love & Respect, one winner will receive a Union28 Valentine’s package that includes:

• Women’s “I Respect My Husband” Tee (Fitted or Non-fitted Short Sleeve or Fitted Long Sleeve) pictured above
• Men’s “I Love My Wife” Tee (V-neck or Crew Neck)
• 4-pack of “You Rock” Love Notes (blank inside)

Union28 would also like to give a Valentine’s gift to Mercy House: Union28 will give 10% of the sales from all orders received from the WeAreThatFamily community between Thursday, FEB 2 & Saturday, FEB 8^th – simply mention “Mercy House” in the comments area during checkout.

To be entered, tell me how you show your spouse love and/or respect.

Get 15% off your order today with this coupon code: U28TFK15

P.S. what’s your favorite shirt??

I Respect Him, He Loves Me {Giveaway} is a post from: We are THAT Family

It’s called That Works For Me: Tried and True Tips from Works For Me Wednesday and it’s featuring hundreds and hundreds of the greatest tips from you.

Can I get a woot?

For the first time, the best tips from carnivals over the past several years will be organized in a searchable, categorized easy-to-use ebook!

It will be released Spring of 2012.

If you participate regularly in WFMW, please check your inbox (or comments if you don’t have an email on your blog) for a time sensitive email in case one of your tips was chosen for the ebook.

A portion of the proceeds will benefit Mercy House.

[Updated] I forgot to mention that my portion of the proceeds are going towards our savings fund to bring our kids back to Africa with us this summer to do our annual staff development, skill training and develop our new community program for single moms.

I hope you’re as excited as we are!

Because that works for me.

AND—to celebrate this fun news, I’m mixing it up with a thumbnail picture linky instead of what we normally do. I’ve been thinking about trying it. Make sure you leave your preference in the comments: regular linky or picture.

WFMW: Works For Me! {Ebook Announcement} is a post from: We are THAT Family

oh, yeah

2. This monkey discovered bars. Dear God, please protect her bones, Amen.

3. Flutist in the house! She performed beautifully at her first District Honor Band Concert. How on earth did I give birth to a musician?

4. This guy scored TEN points in his basketball game. 

5. Watching him get so excited he forgets to dribble is also on my list (sorry, son)

6. My hubby who worked hours and hours (after his day job) to help me get out 536 end-of-the-year statements for Mercy House. Did you know we regularly pray over each name and thank God for those who partner with us to make a maternity home in Kenya a reality? Y’all rock.

7. A whole afternoon at the playground with my favorite people in perfect weather on a perfect Sunday. I think my hubby caught me taking a catnap:(We were invaded by these teen boys doing parkour. Have you heard of this? It’s like extreme playground diving and rolling and it’s terrifying to watch. I guess it’s harmless fun until they um, die.

8. My church community. I cannot express how deeply thankful I am for it.

9. Taking a break from my computer from Friday night until Sunday night.

10. New product from Africa made by our girls. I cry every time I open a suitcase or box. It smells like my second home. 

Got a favorite moment? Do share.

My 10 Favorite Moments From My Week{end}: is a post from: We are THAT Family

I think stress flows from fingertips when I craft.

When I can’t sleep or I need to unwind, I relax with my glue gun and the refresh button on Pinterest.

I love all the fun felt ruffles I’ve seen lately.

I took these simple instructions to make a felt ruffle and created my own version of a Ribbon felt & ruffle wreath to hang on my front door:

Pin It

Supplies Needed:

Wreath $3.50

Ribbon $1.97

Felt (I chose 3 colors 1/8 yard)

$3.00 Straight pins

Felt ruffles are easy to make, but are time-consuming, which is why I opted for half a ruffled wreath. And also why I’m thankful for a tween who loves to craft as much as I do: In about five minutes, I hot-glued a handful of ruffled felt pieces (folded the same as the wreath) and made these two pins. Fun, huh? Seriously, easy and cost only pennies! Pin It
These are so cute and would make perfect teacher gifts or just a great way to dress up a shirt.

Simple Steps:

cut 3″ circle felt (easiest way to do this: stamp the top of a cup on an ink pad and “stamp” it on to felt, cut)

fold and hot glue 6 or 7 felt “ruffles” in half and then quarter

glue  each ruffle to circle felt with hot glue

attach with pin

wear

Anyone else find crafting relaxing?

I Fell(t) For Ruffles is a post from: We are THAT Family

In an instant, I was furious.

I’ve been having some medical tests run lately to try and diagnose the chronic pain in my neck. One of the tests was faulty and had to be repeated. It involved needles and electrical current. And tears. So, when I received an $800 bill from a doctor I’d never seen-the one who read and declared the test faulty, I was mad.

It was an insurance nightmare and on my fourth frustrated phone call, I lost it.

I ranted and complained and whined to the billing lady on the other end. It was ugly.

I was ugly.

I got off the phone and it took about 7.2 seconds for me to get the feeling. You know the one. Conviction.

Oh, but it gets worse.

{Read the rest at (in)courage….}

For When You Let Others Down is a post from: We are THAT Family

Coming Soon!

Clean Up On Aisle 5 is a post from: We are THAT Family

2. P.S. Yes, because they are now serving grilled chicken nuggets to our kiddos and there are warm chocolate chip cookies on the menu horizon. My thighs are afraid.

3. The other day, our youngest was giving my hubby some extra hugs and kisses. I pouted and said, “When is it my turn?” She ran over and hugged me. My hubby pouted and begged her to come back.  She put her hands up in the air to stop the back and forth teasing, “Look, guys, I can do a pattern.”

4. While I was putting on makeup the other day, this same child said, “Mom, that’s enough (makeup). You look hot.” And then she added, “You know what that means, right?”

5. Hold me.

6. My son is playing basketball for the first time. We are doing Upwards (LOVE this faith-based sports organization). He’s new to the sport, but catching on fast. My hubby captured this little clip on his phone. Note the crazy mom screaming “YOU HAVE TO DRIBBLE!!” at the boy running down the court with the ball.

7. Okay: the crazy lady is me.

8. My little one got her library card. I just love the big fuss the library volunteer made over it.

9. And then within 24 hours she lost it/found it/lost it again.

10. We found it for the last time because now the library cards lives in Mommy’s purse.

11. I leave you with the pictures I found on my phone yesterday (surprise!):

Life [Photo Edition] is a post from: We are THAT Family

Our three new girls…

This Picture Says It All is a post from: We are THAT Family

I love the new site: Craftsy.

Have y’all heard of it?

It’s for knitters, sewers, quilters (people with real skill), but it’s also for people like me who are wicked with a glue gun.

Craftsy is the fastest growing online community for Crafters!

Craftsy users love:
1) Terrific online classes from amazing instructors for beginning, intermediate and advanced quilters, knitters, crocheters, seamstresses, jewelry makers, and other crafters.
2) Fantastic good deals on crafting supplies: organic yarn, lovely fabrics and high quality needles, etc..

It’s free to sign up and be inspired.  (If you sign up for online classes and tutorials, there are class fees). I like hopping on there and looking thru ideas for Mercy House and my daughter who says every other day, “Got any crafts for me to do?”

Take a look and get craftsy!

*affiliate links are in this post

WFMW: Get {Craftsy} is a post from: We are THAT Family