It's card time!

It’s December, and that means it’s time for Christmas cards. I send Christmas cards. I don’t send holiday cards. You don’t celebrate Christmas? That’s cool. I do. You should send whatever kind of cards you want. I will send Christmas cards. I won’t be offended by your card, and you shouldn’t be offended by mine. Sound like a plan? Yes? Excellent.

I love Christmas cards. Like really, really love them. I love sending them as much as I love getting them. I send over 200 every year. It drives my husband nuts. He thinks I’m insane. The list of people who receive my card and letter increases every year. What I think people really like is not the card so much—it’s just a standard card with photos of the kids and us—but the letter, which gives a summary of our year. It includes a brief paragraph about what each of us has been up to this year. It’s really nothing fancy. But, as is my goal with everything I write, it’s honest. I don’t sugar coat it; I just tell it like it is. Our lives are full of screaming and messes and happy times and temper tantrums. So that’s what I write about. It’s basically the best thing I write. I look forward to writing it all year. 

OK, it’s possible that my husband is right—I might be insane. 

But I receive compliments on my annual letter from lots of people. Which is how I know people love it. My husband teases me about it; he doesn’t get what all the fuss is about. I accused him of being jealous of my Christmas letter (he claims he isn’t) and told him I was going to put together a list of Thornley Christmas Letter Testimonials. And I figured this was as good a place as any to pat myself on the back for something that I enjoy and am apparently also good at. 

So, without further ado, I present to you the first ever Thornley Christmas Letter Testimonials:

– My 6-year-old’s teacher from last year requested, to me, through the parent of one of her current students, that she still be included on our Christmas card list this year even though she doesn’t have any of my children in her class.

– The letter has been described as “… very funny, and informative” and “… always the best.” 

– “It wouldn’t be Christmas without the Thornley family Christmas card.” —a friend from graduate school

– “I absolutely loved your card!” —a work acquaintance 

– “… your letter is quite honestly the highlight of my card season!” —a childhood friend who I haven’t seen in probably 20 years

So there you have it. Cards are the best! I’m the best! Everyone’s happy! Yay! (So many exclamation points!)