Under my bed sits a box. A box that is often forgotten, but contains some of my most cherished possessions.
Ryan and I started dating early on at college. Our first date was the day after Valentine’s Day for coffee at Starbucks {how fitting for two kids from Seattle who were at school in Southern California}. The date lasted for hours and I’m pretty sure I fell in love with him that night. He was my first real boyfriend and I was instantly smitten.
Over the 13 years {!} we’ve been together, we have written many love notes to each other. They are a little embarrassing to look back on {how mushy we were!} but also such cherished keepsakes that document our relationship. The highs and lows, the innocence and passion, the growth and deepening of our friendship and love for each other.
So on this day that we celebrate LOVE, perhaps you can dig out your box of love letters and go down your own memory lane. It might make you giggle.
:
And to my own Valentine, I say
More today than ever before.
My husband and I have been married for 15 years. We dated long distance for a year and a half before we married. I was in Arkansas, he was in New Orleans. I truly feel that the correspondence and the distance helped to solidify good communication habits that have kept us going strong today. My letters from him are stashed in a stationery box – in storage. His letters from me have remained in a file in his file cabinet – labled with my maiden name. – It’s hard to believe that the “internet” wasn’t a “thing” back then!
Your blog is just beautiful! I have a box just like yours, full of letters from my husband. What a fitting day to go through those. I think I’ll do just that!
This brought back memories of my husband and me! I have a similar box full of letters too. The picture of the letters by days of the week brought back memories too since I did the exact same thing! So cute! Thanks for sharing.
I have a memory box full of love letters from my sweet husband of 17 years. Just recently I framed a few of the little cards that come with floral bouquets and put them in our bedroom..some of the cards he gave me when we were first dating and others he gave to me when we had our children. Our children love to look at them and ask which one was given when they were born. I think it’s great for the kids to see how much their parents care for each other.
Very cute post!
Aww! I have lots of treasured letters, too! We were engaged while I was finishing college in Nashville and he lived in Houston. Long months, but I treasure the letters. I just posted the sweet proposal story he wrote me 14 years ago if you’d like to see.
Happy hugs and kisses day!
Linsey
Awww, Emily, what a sweet post. So special that you still have the letters. I have to thank you because I actually forgot I had my very precious “box of letters!” My husband and I have been married for 25 years (yeah!) and we wrote to each other every day for one semester that I was away at college (until I missed him too much and transferred back!) Happy Valentine’s Day to you and your sweetheart!
Awe that is so sweet! I’m very happy for you two! It seems to be rare these days that people stay together for so long and to still be head over heels for each other! It just makes my heart smile! I have a box just like yours, only mine has been collecting my love letters for two years to the day today. =) Happy Valentines Day! ~ Jaclyn
I want you to know how much I’ve enjoyed your printable Valentine’s Day cards. I’ve put them in my daughter’s lunch all last week, I’ve mounted them on red card stock and given to her teachers, sent one to my daughter in college and well the list goes on. Thank you so much for sharing them!
What a lovely post! I wish more people wrote love letters & not just emails. :) Happy Valentine’s Day!
Such a sweet post- almost brought tears to my eyes! My husband and I are celebrating 13 years together today too!
So sweet. I have a box like that too. My hubby and I dated long-distance 4 years before we got married and our letters were one of the most precious things I have from that time.
That is so sweet! Love your handwriting! I bet that makes them even more special. I wish I was that creative! I hope you and Ryan have a happy Valentines Day!!
Haha, that should say “your post reminded me to dig that out today” . . . ;)
This is beautiful, Emily. My husband and I started dating in college too-I was in Indiana and he was in North Carolina so we emailed constantly. Before we got married, I printed and had bound ALL of those emails-a thousand pages maybe? Your post reminded me to dig that today for Valentines. Have I mentioned how much I love your site? It’s my new favorite! I pointed my readers to your printable valentines, they are so yummy I could eat them with a spoon :) God bless! Erin
Love this! I have a special love letter box too. I could spend hours going through them all. Happy heart day!
My husband and I dated long distance the entire time we were dating, so our love letters are in abundance. I love to go back and read them! Thanks for the inspiration to do that again on this Valentine’s day!
Very cute Emily~ Happy ♥ day to you.
xo~
T
I have a box of love letters too!! I love to sit and read them. It is so wonderful when we meet our soulmate!! Happy Valentine’s Day!!
How sweet and precious those love notes are! Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!
Love letters are so cute and nice to look back on. Happy Valentine’s Day!
So sweet love it!
Love this, love all my cards and notes from over the years…Janell
I’ve got a box just like that…it’s definitely time to read through again. Thanks!