Yesterday (or maybe a day or so ago) someone (forgive me for not remembering who!) tweeted the question, "What will you do with your Christmas cards?" Now I am a big fan of sending Christmas cards and send out close to 150 each year to family and friends. I am an even bigger fan of receiving them. And as far as I'm concerned, you have to give to receive. Now I know that with Facebook, Twitter, etc., I can see every breath your family breathes, every vacation, and special (or not so special) occasion with the hundreds of pictures people post. I can see how little Sally and Stan have grown. However, I love having that picture. You see, I save every card. I mean EVERY one.
Ever since 1999, I have kept a photo album of every year's collection of cards. I began this when S had his first Christmas. Every family is noted, and I try to put them in as approximately the same order every year. Of course, the cards we have received ebb and flow as we lose touch with some and gain other friends. However, I have pictures of many, many children and families without a gap for the past eleven years. I'm afraid I may run out of room in our second album this year!
S and J love looking through these two albums. We keep them in the living room. Sometimes they randomly grab them and flip back and forth to see how their friends and my friends' children have changed over the years. Some of these families they have never met in person as they live all over the country, but S and J feel a connectedness with them none the less.
One dear college friend lost her son last year. When I received the news, the boys immediately ran to the albums to see who it was. They were heartbroken (especially S, who was the same age) as they felt they knew him, his history, and his family.
I love that these cards are snapshots (no pun intended) of my husband's and my life. These friends represent so many aspects. These are friends from childhood, college, Columbia, SC (where I lived the first 36 years of my life), church, A**** (where we live now) - and now Blog friends. I treasure these albums and have included them in my mental "what to grab if the house catches on fire" list. I'm not kidding!
So I'm off to organize and catalog for Christmas, 2010. I'm so glad that some of you will be included as we shared cards this year! The rest of the undecorating can wait...
Bevy, I received your Christmas card today - what a good looking family! And, I'm glad to see you are proudly representing another SEC team (as Hubby and I do in my Facebook profile pic!). I think it's so great that you have albums for these photos. I love sending and receiving Christmas cards - like you said, it's a great way to keep up with family and friends, especially those who are far away. Thanks again for doing the card exchange - such fun! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful idea! Sorry I didn't read the post about exchanging cards until now but will participate next year! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea!!! I save them too and get them out each year with the Christmas decorations and to see how the kids have grown. I do not keep them after a few years though. You solution is really a good one. How neat that your children connected on this level from your ingeuity. They will become thougtful adults like you are!!
ReplyDeleteFabulous idea! I can't wait to do this. I have stacks and stacks of old cards! Yay!
ReplyDeleteI do the same thing, but I didn't even finish last years yet! Yikes. Good Luck!
ReplyDeleteWhat a clever idea! I hang on to them but then don't know what to do with them after a few months.
ReplyDeleteYour card arrived in the mail yesterdsay ~ you have a beautiful family!
Jo
Love it! I never know what to do with my cards, so I put them in a ziploc and put the year of the bag. Your idea is so great!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love this idea. I keep all our photo cards, but they are just thrown in a giant bowl on the family room coffee table for us (and guests) to sift through. Another neat idea we have tried to adopt is to keep this year's cards in our dining room and to pick a card and pray for that family when we have dinner. I love this idea, but we have followed it only in fits and starts. I loved your card, so handsome--too bad about the garnet and black, tho! ;D
ReplyDeleteI save all of mine too, however not nicely organized in an album. Must copy this idea - quickly!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea....Every year I feel so bad when I recycle them.....You are so organized!!!
ReplyDeleteI love this! I was just thinking yesterday that it would be a good idea...and now here's the motivation I need! Thanks for the post!
ReplyDeleteI love this too! I save mine as well but the album is perfect. I'm doing it! I love cards even more now because it does take some effort. I always feel really special that someone spent a stamp and some time on me. :.)I'm glad I'm in your album.
ReplyDeletelove this! i did this too when the cards all came in a 4x8 format. i found these great albums at hallmark that they fit perfectly in. but now that the cards come in all shapes and sizes i haven's been able to find just the right album. do you cut the cards to fit?
ReplyDeletethanks!!!!happy new year!!!
It is SUCH a small world! SO happy to meet you!! LOVE Fair, she is an incredible teacher!! Have a great time, swing by if you want some deer meat!!
ReplyDeleteHow sweet!
ReplyDeleteHappy Happy New Year to you and yours!
Love,
Mrs. Kindergarten
I used to do that until we were filling up too many albums! Yours look GREAT! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteLove this idea! I wish I could think of a way to keep and organize the card itself, too?
ReplyDelete