Holiday Mail

Let's be real... most of you probably don't send out Christmas cards. Having grown up with a mom who always sent cards, I always have as well. But it's work! (No wonder some of you may have dropped the tradition!) It's something I complain about each year as I address roughly 50 envelopes, writing little notes, composing a Christmas letter (which I dropped this year since we have this blog) and including pictures, then paying for the stamps and licking the envelopes.

But I do it anyway. And I can't not do it.

Why?

Because I absolutely love keeping these friendships and connections alive year after year, no matter the distance. I especially love to receive the cards, photos and notes from those we don't see very often and catch up on their lives. Gosh, what my Mom always says really is true -- you don't realize how much time has passed until you see the kiddos. Man! When did you little guys get so grown up??? Has it really been that many years since I've seen you??

This year we sent cards to loved ones in over 10 states, to people we haven't seen since college, to people whose children we've never met, to people we don't see often enough. They are important to us. It was especially important to me to continue the tradition this year to our Florida friends family we left behind to keep those relationships thriving until we can see each other again.

And it's a joy to post all these as part of my holiday decor.

Honestly, this is my favorite wall in the house. :)

After the holidays many of the photos will end up on the refrigerator or in an album, and I'll "recycle" some of the cards by making them into gift tags for next year's gifts. And next year I'll marvel at how big all these kiddos are all over again.

We are so blessed.