monday morning rescue

Bloggies, I know it's Monday morning, but do I have a treat for you. If you are at work, I will advise you not to read any further because you will surely get fired for reading an entire day on your boss's dime :)

In late 2009, I was Facebooking one random evening when I happened across my friend Mary's page. Her child had been tagged in a picture with her brother and sister-in-law, and her sister-in-law had written a cute note at the bottom. Curious, I clicked the next picture, which also had a letter accompanying it. Emily had written letters to random things she'd come across during her day, food she'd eaten, places she'd been, and of course, to her husband, Mr. Loerke (who always gets two letters). I sent her a message telling her how much her letters inspired me, to which she warmly replied with a friend request and we've been friends since.

In these letters, I've found adventure, faith, creativity, beauty, and a love story that has inspired me to be a better wife. "Husband and I have learned that good marriages are a dime a dozen, but great marriages take lots of hard work," she wrote recently. "So we work at ours every day. Sometimes this is easy, sometimes it's really hard. But regardless we stay committed to each other and to figuring things out."

Perhaps her blog might be more aptly titled "Today's Reminders," because the letters remind me of very important things, like how crucial it is to make fun a priority, that romance can be communicated in many, many different ways, a little dose of encouragement can change the climate of an entire week, and great marriages involve a series of little daily decisions, creative actions, and lots of hard work.


It's no wonder I [ruthlessly] steal her letters idea sometimes on this little blog.

Here is one of my favorites:

"Today's Letters: Dear Mr. Loerke, when I rolled over this morning and said it was too early to get up for work you looked at me and said: It's okay Emma, you are brave. I believe in you. So powerful to hear those seven little words, even at 6am. Dear Underwood Typewriter, whenever I see this postcard I can't help but daydream about the holidays. So many good things are just around the corner. Dear Kristie George, we made your coveted chocolate chip cookies again tonight. Your Recipe = best wedding present ever. Dear Beloved, from the 1's to the 12's, you are."

She has moved her Facebook wall posts to a blog, Today's Letters, and I look forward to my daily dose of Tim and Emily Loerke letters/lovestories/adventures/reminders on my Google Reader! Be sure to check them out! You will love it! :)