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Keeping a Letter Journal for your Child

February 11, 2019 //  by April Graney//  Leave a Comment

My son, Ezra, asked me about a small leather bound notebook he found on our bookshelf. Opening it up, I said, “this is the book I started writing for you when you were little. It’s all about you.” His eyes widened with curiosity. I began reading it to him and together we laughed at the silly stories and sweet memories in it’s pages. He left my room that morning feeling a few inches taller and just a little more loved than when he walked in.

I started keeping a little notebook with letters to each of my babies when they were born. I wanted to remember the small things about their quirks and personalities that I feared I might forget someday. I wanted to speak life and encouragement into them before they were even old enough to read it. I wanted it to be a powerful tool to help them know themselves and understand my heart for them. I started with the goal of writing a few times a month, but sometimes months went by with no entries. The busy life of a mom with young children, didn’t always lend itself to writing, but I tried to at least write in it each year on their birthday. I’m so thankful that I have these journals today to share with my children and continue writing in.

I don’t know where I got the idea for a letter journal or if it came to me on my own, but the simplicity is that all you need is a sturdy small notebook and a few minutes once and a while to write. It doesn’t have to be flowery or polished, or even super thought out. Just speaking your heart and telling stories is meaningful enough. Keeping the journals close by in a night stand or on your desk will help remind you to write in them. It’s never too late to start a letter journal; I was reminded recently how even my teenage girls need their mom’s encouraging and loving words.

Here’s an excerpt from my journal to Ezra:

Dear Ezra,

My how time flies! You are 4 years old, but in so many ways you still want to be my little baby. You love to be held, carried, and cuddled. In fact, you may be the reason my back is sore-from carrying you around! Yet you are full of energy! I see you running around playing wildly enjoying your trucks, cars, and your new tricycle. I see your determination and leadership abilities blossoming. You love to sleep with your monkey and blanket and preferably in bed with mommy and daddy! You crave individual attention and sometimes that is hard to get in a family of 7 right? I hope that we give you all that you need. You are so funny with your baby brother Caleb. When he was a year old you said, “Could we take him back and get a different baby?” You like to do “school” and you write the letter “E” on everything. You love dad’s jeep, but you sometimes ask if dad can get a blue truck instead. You are so much fun Ezra, and I can’t wait to see how God is going to shape you and mold you and use you for his glory and kingdom here. We pray that you will love the Lord wholeheartedly and serve him your whole life. 

love, Mom

Carrying my little boy when he really was too big to be carried.
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Category: Happy Mom

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This girl got a positive covid test for her 21st b This girl got a positive covid test for her 21st birthday. And not the positively toward the negative kind of positive unfortunately. But my girl is still smiling!  At least I think she is under that mask.....
When Tom and I moved to Dallas for him to attend S When Tom and I moved to Dallas for him to attend Seminary, that first semester I audited "Soteriology" with Dr. Pyne and loved it so much, I decided to attend seminary as well. Tom and I graduated together in 1999 with our Master's in Biblical Studies degress. We enjoyed those years of study so much! Then we started our family, and I sometimes would wonder how I would use my degree some day (besides personally and with my family, which I don't discount at all!). Fast forward to 2013 when I wrote The Marvelous Mud House, and then 2018 when I wrote The Marvelous Maker. I don't know if my "credentials" with DTS gave me an edge in getting published, but I'm sure it didn't hurt! :) Today, I enjoy studying the Word even more on a daily basis as I seek to allow God to use my gifts and callings for the building of his kingdom. This came out in DTS magazine recently! How exciting and fun and such an honor and priviledge to have my photo right near one of my and Tom's absolute favorite professors at Dallas Seminary, Dr. Ronald Allen! #onehappyhouse #themarvelousmaker #bhpub #themarvelousmudhouse
One of my Christmas gift to Tom this year! 😂 No One of my Christmas gift to Tom this year! 😂 Not sure if he'll make it though as this morning I looked over and for a split second thought there was a live animal on our table! #onehappyhouse
I'm so excited to share with you all my Bible read I'm so excited to share with you all my Bible reading plan!! I first decided to read through the entire Bible in 100 Days towards the end of 2020. It seemed like a good way to spend the most ridiculously crazy year of my lifetime. I knew that God was up to something in this world, if anything, reminding us all of our own mortality, and I wanted to dig into his Word and know him more intimately as I pondered meeting him face to face. I heard a statistic on the radio that said Christians are reading their Bibles less than they were before the pandemic started! While this seemed incredibly sad to me, it also convicted me as I questioned how much of my own time was spent in the Word of God this past year. I enjoyed reading thru the Bible so much these past 100 days that I created this plan for anyone wanting to try it in 2021! It can be customized for 200 or 300 days as well. Check it out here! It's free!http://onehappyhouse.org/the-jesus-our-redeemer-bible-in-100-days-plan/
Figured out the secret to a 12 minute run to the b Figured out the secret to a 12 minute run to the beach. Coffee and homemade cinnamon roll breakfast! @the_realag28
Sunset at Apollo Beach with Anna and Abigail, and Sunset at Apollo Beach with Anna and Abigail, and walking back with Anna. I have loved and enjoyed running along this boulevard long before the kids could walk it with me. It's so nice and fun that we can run it or walk it together! #onehappyhouse #beach #sunset #apollobeach #themarvelousmaker
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