My gift to Russ

Over a year ago, I read this post by a friend of mine. I loved it. Like a lot. I bought a journal by the end of January and started this same project for 2010.

In case you're a lazy clicker or have some aversion to reading Sara's posts, I'll sum up the idea that I stole from her. Over the entire year I wrote letters to Russ in a journal. Sometimes I taped (literally, taped, no fancy adhesive here folks) ticket stubs or silly trinkets from funny stories, etc. I also printed a few pics and taped them in alongside entries.

This was huge for me.

First of all, it was fun to be sneaky ALL YEAR LONG. (ERK! Before you go thinking how very awesome I am, know that I didn't write every single day. It was a few times a month, tops. And some entries were 1-2 sentences.)

Secondly, I lurrrrrve documenting things. (Hence almost 800 posts on this blog in less than 4 years or 32 chapters of a book about our adoption.). The blog documents our life but not the intimate good and bad between just Russ and me. Our dating was FULL of love notes, serious and silly and inside jokes. It's been awhile since I used my handwriting to flirt with the Mister.

Third, as stated in another post, this wasn't our favorite year. So, to document this one in particular was big. It started as a gift for Russ but turned into a reminder for me of some of the strongest things about our marriage. And I knew I was committed to this project so even in the weeks I really didn't feel like gooshing into the journal about how great my husband was, I found something to journal. Something that would give me a better perspective. Usually that better perspective came from my own words in previous entries.

All that to say, I loved this project. I loved giving it to Russ (who was so confused at first!) and I'd recommend it highly. I wasn't sure I could finish it but I figured I wouldn't know unless I tried. Once I wrote a couple entries, I was hooked.

Looking back, I'm so thankful for sticking with this. I actually cried when I gave it to him. (big shock.) Anyway, I'm posting this now in hopes that you'll see it as I saw Sara's and be inspired to do something similar. I'd love to hear if you do!