second annual Post Card Exchange {and giveaway!}

Almost without fail, the first one is from Great Aunt Dot – and it usually arrives at my parents’ house right before Thanksgiving.  They trickle in after that, some one at a time, other days a whole stack of red and green envelopes in the mail box.  This time, it was the greetings of Aunt Dot’s daughter, my second cousin Erin, that were the first to reach my parents – announcing the arrival of a new little girl born about the same time as our little boy.

Each photo is exclaimed over, each address is checked against the list in case someone has moved, and each letter is read in detail.  Then they are added to the basket on the antique plant stand in the corner of the kitchen.  Ready for the other members of the family to read when they have a quiet evening, waiting for me to look through when I come to visit.  And they’ll be glanced through again later, selecting the ones Grandma would want to read.

We look forward to it every year.  The exchange of Christmas cards and pictures.  A time to catch up with family and friends.  To find out how each one is growing and learning and changing.  Hearing the highlights of their year.

And now we’ve adopted the same tradition, be it in virtual style, here at YLCF each year.  We share the links to our blog posts with annual update letters or family photos.  We exchange stories of God’s faithfulness throughout the year.  We swap photo album links and enjoy a virtual chat over a cup of peppermint hot chocolate.

It’s a way to reconnect with old pen pals, catch up with acquaintances, and even make new friends!  And this year, there’s a giveaway involved.  Link up or comment with your update or photo and you’ll be entered to win a $20 gift certificate from Delightfully Noted Etsy Shop.  Check out the bright, cheery, and positively delightful stationery Jennifer creates there!

{Congratulations to Heather for winning a $20 gift certificate from Delightfully Noted Etsy Shop!  And many thanks to Delightfully Noted for contributing to the gift certificate!}