Christmas Cards

Getting Christmas Cards out the door is a monumental task!

But, because it is one of my favorite parts of Christmas...(getting letters and cards and pictures from others) I try to make the effort.

First you have to procure a picture of your offspring or family. This can itself be a challenge with trying to get everyone color coordinated, in the same place at the same time and also having someone to take the picture. THEN you have to take multiple pictures. Digital photography has helped with this because at least you know if you have a good shot or not. Back when the girl was little you just took like 10 million of them and prayed that one turned out well.

Next you have several decisions to make:

1. Is it going to be a photocard with a greeting from your family? (Costo rules on this option!)

2. Are you going to write a Christmas recap?

3. If so, what kind of stationary do you want it to be on?

4. Do you need envelopes or will the letter just go into the envelope that comes with the photo card?

5. If not using the photocard, do you want a standard Christmas card with the photo loose inside of it? Again, do you want a Christmas epistle or not?

6. If not using the photocard and not using the standard Christmas card, do you want to use a card in which you can insert a photo and it looks like a photo frame?

7. If you are writing a Christmas letter, do you want to have matching envelopes?

Once these decisions have been made, you have to actually write a Christmas letter. Personally, I love reading updates from friends all over the place as sometimes its the only time to get an update. However, some Christmas letters can be too smarmy or too "perfect" , that makes me want to gag. (Who hasnt gotten a Christmas letter that brags about little Suzy taking French, Spanish, AND Russian, trying out for the Olympic sycronized swim team and still memorizing the first 150 questions in the Heidelburg Cathechism--all the while still maintaining perfect A's in class and taking equestrian lessons.)Still, you dont want to have a "downer" for a letter, right? Its a weird format to write in actually...people usually only tell the postivie parts of their lives. Rarely is the Christmas letter that says, "I argue regularly with my spouse, Work is hard, and my kid drives me crazy alot of the time." One is left with the delicate act of being honest but not too honest, newsy, but not too newsy, and positive, but not too unrealisitic.

Next comes the printing of said letter onto Christmas stationary. This is usually accompanied by at least one trip to Office Depot for more ink for the printer.

Addressing the envelopes is probably my most unfavorite part. Some people have it done for them. Smart people put it in their computer and make labels. Others, like me, hand-write them each year. Maybe this is why I dont so much enjoy it! I do like thinking about the people whom I have had or have in my life though as I write their addresses...even if it takes two hours to do them all with a calligraphy pen.

Lastly the whole kit and kaboodle is put together, letter folder, picture inserted and the stamp put on the envelope. One year I even had a special seal to put on them...really over rated and alot of work actually.

The best feeling is sending them off in the mail!! Second only to recieving updates from these same people!