Smiles Delivered

“When I see a mailbox, I see a friend. I see something that can connect me to the people I love. I see an entity that can take my words and send them, in reliable snail speed, across the planet. Sure, email and social media are faster, but they’ve got nothing on the magic of a physical object arriving in my hands from thousands of miles away.”

The Year I became Snail Mail Superstar by Sara McNally

Oh what joy it is to find happy mail among the bills and advertisements, can I get an Amen? I can remember vividly as a child receiving mail. We had a post office box because of where we lived. So that meant going to the post office pretty much everyday. For much of my childhood our box was too high for me to reach, so the eager hope of maybe just maybe there may be something for me in there, was thrilling! Both sets of grandparents gifted my brother and I to magazine subscriptions, so there was always those to look forward to. And we would read them cover to cover, and usually reread them! And then just a kind note would come along, or a postcard from someone on vacation, or a note from Mom that she had taken the time to write and put a stamp on and mail.

I don’t know if you get as excited as I do about snail mail – both receiving and sending, but today, you are about to find out just how crazy I am about it! 😊

As the quote above says, “arriving in hands from thousands of miles away,” the snail mail I send definitely doesn’t travel that far, but it doesn’t matter how far – just that it travels and arrives! There are a few ways I have had fun with “mail” with my niece and nephew. I am hoping that writing this will maybe spark a connection for you and some kids in your life.

I personally have never met a child that doesn’t like mail. If you give a toddler a piece of mail and tell them it’s for them – they will cherish and carry around that mail like it’s their life savings! When my niece was little, we still had a post office box at the post office except we had a bigger one- more like a drawer, she could have fit in it! This was because I had started my Indeed store, and the PO was tired of trying to put market catalogs into a tiny box 😂 Anyways, a drawer full of mail, especially catalogs, she begged to go get the mail! Eventually I decided she loves mail so much and I get so many catalogs, I would get her a little mailbox to put in the entryway of our house. Every time she came there would be either a catalog or a little note or stickers for her in there. Pure excitement awaited!

Then along came her brother, my nephew, who loved “the mailbox truck!” When I say he loved mail, I mean he would sit for long periods of time wrapping coins in paper and tape to deliver to everyone’s mailboxes! Yes, everyone’s, I ended up purchasing him, my mom, my dad, and myself a mailbox, because he was crazy about mail! I set up a desk that had cards, envelopes, paper, markers, pens, stamps/ink, and whatever the postmaster needed 😊. And he and his sister would play mail for hours! I finally found them a mail carrier bag and big mailbox so they could play for “real.” And yes, we still call it a mailbox truck!

As they grew I continued to place surprises in their mailbox when they would come to visit. Just little reminders that they mattered and they are thought about even when not with me. And I continue to have surprises hidden when they visit, I just don’t have mailboxes anymore. They have grown into the season of life that school and activities fill up their days, and that’s how life goes.

However, last year was the first year that a weekly hangout wasn’t possible due to schedules. I put on my snail mail thinking cap, and began brainstorming about how I could “be present” in encouraging them. Aha! A scripture a week – a postcard a week. Now, I’ll admit I didn’t succeed at the one a week – but I did my best.

It doesn’t have to scripture or prayer, but just a little note or little surprise to remind them that you are thinking of them.

Now, it takes more energy than a text or email, but I guarantee it’s worth it! And I am going to give you some websites and resources that will help you start!

What to send: If the child can read, postcards can be really fun! If they are on the younger side: sticker sheets, coloring sheets, band-aids, mini activity books (simple mazes, etc). Other fun surprises: bookmarks, mini pictures, comic strips (if not in the newspaper-you can find these online or even find used book collections and cut them out), sticky notes, fun pencils/pens/markers, notebook or notepad, confetti (this really thrills the one who has to clean it up! love ya bro!), Mad Libs, Write a letter and then cut into a puzzle, or purchase a blank puzzle and draw/write and send for them to assemble, vinyl stickers. (there are also some crazy things you can send in the mail- I did this with my niece one summer- I will post about this adventure soon)

Stamps, Labels, Etc: You can go basic- print your own address labels or just write the address each time, and use standard stamps. For some reason the post office has problems reading my addresses when I write them, so I just purchased some from Walgreens. And stamps, I like fun stamps. To be on the safe side, even though I am sending postcards, I always get forever stamps. Plus they are the special ones anyways. We love John Wooden, Hot Wheels, Tap Dancing, and my nephew’s favorite book is The Giving Tree. You can also get stamped postcards and stamped envelopes.

The postcards at the top of this post are some of my favorites. They come from these websites:

www.ellyandgrace.com

www.crewandco.com

www.pipsticks.com

The Lego postcards are really cool if you have anyone who likes legos! https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lego-still-life-with-bricks-lego/1135127339?ean=9781452179643

I also love the trill of the hunt, so I am always on the lookout for postcards, stickers, snail mail gifts when I go to local coffee shops, bookstores, toy stores. Sometimes these may be a tad bit more expensive, but you are getting local artist most of the time. Plus if you are traveling it gives you a little something to send back! I don’t travel much, but when I do I love finding a random local postcard and sending them to my niece and nephew 😊 and sometimes to myself! Recently I was in Virginia and found some really cool wooden postcards of local places- this was a jackpot!

Hobby Lobby carries the “Let your Light Shine” baggies above. They also have them in other patterns and colors! I believe they are in the party favor section (I’ll admit I’ve shopped online more than normal in the last few years – I used to spend hours in hobby lobby!) I love these baggies though, I use them for everything! And they usually are on sale💕

Sample of Scripture and Prayer on Postcards, and then I just write a little note and send it on its way!

Happy Mailing!!

Life Book of the Week: Little Prayers for Ordinary Days, by Katy Bowser Hutson, Flo Paris Oakes, and Tish Harrison Warren (some prayers I get from this book😊)