My Treasury of Letters

In a drawer I have a big file folder full of letters. Some are letters I have received and treasured over the years, while others are carbon copies and photocopies of letters I’ve written to my parents, in-laws, children, and special friends. These letters have become a supplement to my life history.

My children enjoy poring over pages of old letters I wrote when our family was still young. The letters give a detailed record of events the children may have forgotten or were too young to remember.

Some of my most priceless letters are copies of notes my oldest son sent to my brother when my brother was on a mission. The first-grade spelling errors make one letter appear to be written in a secret code. But careful deciphering reveals: “hurryup on yowr mission b cause ikant rember you.”

One of my favorite letters was written to my parents just before Mother’s Day in 1976. In it I reminisce about the fun we had together as a family, and I tell my parents some of the things they did that had the biggest influence on my life. I tell them what my children’s favorite activities are: the telephone, peek-a-boo, and family home evening. Now that our youngest child has graduated from high school, it’s nice to remember those early days of parenting.

Another nice thing about keeping copies of letters is that the idea spreads through the family. My mother has all the newsy letters I’ve sent to her, and my daughter keeps copies of the letters she writes. We also save all of our missionaries’ letters in their own special books.

I treasure my letter collection not only because it records the happy, newsy events of daily life, but also because I can read about and renew my feelings of love for the people to whom I wrote. I have found that the letters we write and receive can become a source of enjoyment and happy remembrance for ourselves, for our family, and for generations to come.—Vicki H. Budge, Bend, Oregon