One of the highlights of my December is the Christmas photos that find their way to our mailbox. I have no font big and bold enough to say how much I LOVE these warm-hearted gifts. I pore over them, checking how much all the kiddos grew since last year, making sure I know everybody’s name, loving the sweet newborns, admiring the seasoned faces of the women over sixty. Then I hang the photos on my wall for months.
If one of the givers is you – thank you! You brighten my world, both in this space and in the real world, where I live and love and know you.
And to the rest of you – I had a little idea, and the idea that I had was this. I offer you all these words and images on my blog, and through them you kind of know me. Not really but kind of.
Some of you have been reading and commenting for weeks or months or years, and through your words I’ve built up an impression of you in my mind – but I don’t really know you at all, not even what you look like. Others of you I’ve met, but it’s been a while. (You know where this is going, right? I told you it was a cheeky request.)
If you end up with an extra Christmas picture, would you tuck it in the mail for me? It would make my day.
I have some extra Christmas cards myself, because of “If you buy this many you get a reduced rate” but also “You can only buy in multiples of this” – and so for the first ten people who send me an unexpected photo, I will respond with a family photo of us. I think it will be fun.
Our address is:
((removed))
And yes, I will remove that info after a week in case any bad people too stupid to find us on the internet have been waiting for this chance to locate our house; so please don’t worry…
Do you want to? No obligation is laid on you to do this; you don’t owe me anything. But thank you for letting me ask.
Aw, you’re sweet. I think my wife has some extra family photos this year, and we’ll drop one in the mail. Have a great Christmas!
Well, I’ll let you know what we decide. When my wife found out about my offer, she wasn’t impressed. Might have to reconsider.
You, sir, are incorrigible.
I will totally send you a Christmas card with a picture but I won’t be the first ten because this year I’m doing things a bit wonky. We have a grandson due around Christmas (the 27th, to be exact) so my cards may not go out until the week between Christmas and New Year’s. I’m thinking of it as a Happy New Year’s card. I’d like to tuck in a little photo of the grandbaby – if he’s cute. HAHAHA Just joking, of course! Well, not about sending them out late. Have fun, I love getting cards too, I look forward to it. P.S. I already got the cheese I ordered – talk about fast! I can’t wait to dig in.
Haha! As if one of your grandbabies *wouldn’t be… I can’t wait to see! Thanks!
And I hope you love the cheese. Mm.
What a fun idea! I love Christmas mail, too! I just ordered my prints today so I won’t make it to the first ten, but I’ll send you a picture! I wonder how many years it’s been since I’ve seen you…probably 12-15 years? We don’t get up to your area very often.
I wonder too – I am pretty sure it was in our first year or so of marriage, because I think I was working in the FB library. That would be thirteen years ago. I’ll look forward to seeing your family! 🙂
What a fun idea! I LOVE when a reader takes the time to send me an email of introduction and includes a family picture. It makes a name seem to much more real.
I’ll send you a photo, but I’m not sure if I’d be unexpected or not. I sorta think I’ve sent you a photo before, but probably not every year. I’m bad at keeping track of who I’ve sent photos to from year to year.
Gina
I don’t think you did – but you’re getting one from us too. 🙂 xo
A family picture is on its way!!
This is great! I love going to the mailbox this time of year. 🙂
Weeeell, once I sent you one thinking you’d remember sharing a couple classes with me at Faith Builders (back when FB stood for Faith Builders ). I scrawled on the back, a side note that I’ve been enjoying your blog. A few months later, you wrote about the stranger who sent a family picture at Christmas time and said she enjoyed the blog and I always wondered if that was me. ? I thought maybe it was intrusive, so I’m glad to know it probably wasn’t. I have aged quite a bit with 6 children joining the family in 7 years so I don’t blame you for not recognizing me if that’s who you are referring to. One memory I have is driving to the Meadville Library together and talking about your husband and my boyfriend having the same make and model car. ?
I might manage to get a photo in the mail. It’s nice to hear Christmas pictures are still alive in our generation.
Beth!!! I am horrified that you imagined I could refer to you as a stranger. NO, it was not you. I liked you very much indeed that summer term, and wished you settled closer when you married that boyfriend, so we could have kept our kindred spirit thing going. I’ve kept up with your news now and then through shared friends – like JoElla, I think.
I have had other friends who’ve worried I’m writing about them when I’m not. I think I’m going to have to start using names more often. 🙂 🙂
I think this is a great request and I think it’s a fun one. Mine is in the mail tomorrow. There is another blogger that I really enjoy that I considered sending a Christmas letter/picture too. I think that she makes my world a better place and just maybe I can find some way to repay her.
Me too, me too! I love getting the mail in December! ?My Christmas pictures have been waiting for two weeks for someone to write the Christmas letter, and since I usually have extra for the above mentioned reasons, I’ll send you one if I don’t forget!!!
And I loved your advent list, such practical ways to remember the greatest gift of Christmas!! Truly something worth celebrating!!
I just ordered mine, so if i don’t forget, i might send you one, love your blog
I sent you one but forgot to send a note and that is kinda awkward since I am a complete stranger. We used to live in the famous Waslala Nicaragua but we’re among the non famous people from there! ? I have been reading your blog for a couple of years and really do enjoy reading. I was recommended to your blog by my sister. Have a great day!
Haha! The non famous, huh? I do not mind if your card doesn’t include a note – but this is a fun comment; thanks for leaving it and introducing yourself! 🙂
There’s a picture heading your way. I’m selfish enough to really hope I’m among the first ten!
I think this is a great idea! I’m definitely sending you one.
Lovely idea. I love getting Christmas cards! One is on the way to you. We did not have nearly enough cards, so I printed more pictures at Walmart (pretend you didn’t see that word) and added lettering with a Sharpie. It was fun!
Just one more thought. I am imagining you opening your mailbox in the next day or so and 50 letters from strangers falling out. Maybe random.com will help decide the 10 Christmas card winners?
Oh, mine came from Walmart this year too. I am losing my principles left and right. I love the idea of Sharpie lettering though – I might try that next year, especially if this year’s font turns out as crooked as it looked online.
Best of all, your mental image of an avalanche of cards made me laugh out loud. Wouldn’t that be fun? Our faithful random.org strikes again…
Or you could just order more cards…..:)
Surely it wouldn’t be that simple?
I’m going to try to talk my family into taking a picture.
Will you post your picture on the blog? For the rest of us to enjoy..?
Sure, that’s a good idea! How about Christmas week? Hugs, Shari
This is a fun idea. No Christmas pics for us this year. I went with a birth announcement instead. But I’m looking forward to seeing a picture of you and yours on your blog.
No cards this year from us, but we will still get one from you right? ? Cause I would like to see your family, and I would like to never forget you, plus you’ll get one next time I do cards!
Hey, I have a “cheekier” request…. Come take our family photo for us! And spend the weekend. 🙂 Somehow with a photographer in the house, it doesn’t happen. I mean it didn’t happen often before. Now it’s worse than ever. The photo on my blog is ancient. The little guy in the middle back is now 6’2″. How about during school spring break? Then I could send out cards for Easter. 🙂
🙂
I never did get around to sending you a card and letter…(best of intentions and that) You can check it out on my blog just for a grin even if it won’t win me a thing! http://bethany-aboutmyfathersbusiness.blogspot.com/2017/12/happy-birthday-merry-christmas-and.html?m=1
Aw, your picture is adorable! 🙂 and the poem very funny. Way to laugh at the exasperating!
I decided not to do Christmas cards this year because December can only hold so many activities. But I plan to send a New Years card so you will get one then. I love connecting with online friends in real life!!❤️
What is your address? . . . Send me an email 🙂