We Lucases started a tradition in 2005 of eschewing the long, rambling family letter in favor of a quick list of family facts: just one tidbit or event per month. It's fun to come up with our list of events, and while it's a challenge to write quite so succinctly, it's a worthwhile exercise to boil down an entire year into twelve little sentences. Behold:
(Click the images to view them larger.)
2005
Designed by Travis in Photoshop, this is a 7 x 5 file printed in a standard photo size (5 x 7) at a local photo developer and mailed out in leftover 5 x 7 wedding-invitation envelopes. Photo: self-portrait (Trav's exgtending his arm) at Beaver Mountain Ski Resort in northern Utah.
2006
Also designed by Travis in Photoshop. Also printed at a standard photo size (4 x 6), but properly-sized envelopes were difficult to secure, so they were sent out in envelopes that were a bit too large for the card. Photo: self-portrait (Travis is again extending his arm) taken on vacation to Bryce Canyon, Utah.
2007
Designed by Travis. (Are you beginning to notice a trend?) Printed in a standard photo size (6 x 4) through a local photo developer. Envelopes were no easier to secure this time around. Photo: Taken by fellow tourist on Kauai, Hawaii, near the Kilauea lighthouse.
2008
No Christmas card. This was the year I realized that sometimes life gets in the way of the Christmas card, and that's okay. I was dealing with a sister-in-law's breast-cancer diagnosis, my mother's mysterious and scary debilitating illness (that necessitated at least one spinal tap), extensive family employment struggles, the writing of a book that would never be published, massive stresses at work just before being laid off from my job, etc.
2009
No Christmas card again. I realized that the world did not stop turning in 2008 when I failed to send holiday cards, and I couldn't quite get it together still. I had happy memories to share, alongside some continuing difficulties, but I let this go by the wayside with everything else on my plate: a brand new business to run, recent death of beloved pet, funeral of an uncle, and renewed emotional struggle regarding infertility. (The holidays can sometimes bring this on.)
2010
This was my first year using a card template found online, and I love the results!
I ordered through cardstore.com (a great source for holiday cards and photo cards). From all the sizes and styles available, I chose a 7 x 5 double-sided postcard, and I uploaded my addresses right to the site, so they'll be printed directly on the cards and mailed from there. (Surprise, family and friends!) This is such a time-saver! And I can feel good about saving paper, since this uses half the paper of a folding card with no envelopes.
Photo of the three of us: taken by Travis (that good old extended-arm shot) in the hills high, high above Silverton, Colorado. Photos of Keira: taken by Elisha Snow. Photo of Jovie: taken by Travis.
Read a complete review of my experience at cardstore.com AND enter to win a $25 gift certificate to cardstore.com by visiting The Daily Trumpet today (as part of Ella's 12 Days of Christmas celebration). And feel free to use the code CSHOLIDAY20 to receive 20 percent off of your first order at cardstore.com!
p.s. Do I regret not sending those Christmas cards in 2008 and 2009? A little, since Jeremy made quite a transformation between 2007 and 2010, but I've come up with a solution to overcome my angst about this, and I'll share it next week!
