Even though I'm a writer, and I could (and probably should) write a creative letter, I decided instead to give you a glimpse of our past year through pictures. I thought long and hard about the decision to skimp on the writing part of the Christmas letter, and here are the reasons why I'm going with pictures:
*Pictures really do say a thousand words (and word counts matter a lot to writers).
*Because I'm such an awesome photographer? (And yes, the blurriness and red eye in a number of pictures was intentional.)
*Most people would rather look at pictures than read a bunch of boring stuff about my kids (except my mom, who already knows it all anyway!).
*Who has the time to read long Christmas letters these days (especially when the writer sends it two days before Christmas at the peak of busyness)?
*Even more importantly, who has time to write Christmas letters? (We're all too busy chatting on Twitter.)
But no, I couldn't. I'm blaming my lack of creative energy on all the other writing I do. I pour out my heart and soul into my books and my blog, and have none left for the annual Christmas letter. So, wordless as I am, I've been left with no choice but to use pictures. (I hope you know I'm being slightly sarcastic!)
Okay, so because I was actually boycotting the writing part of this letter, I'm going to stop writing now, and get on with the pictures!
January . . .
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| Sledding at City Forest |
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Visiting Bethany House |
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| Celebrating hubby's big 4-0 |
February . . .
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| Baking a chocolate cake |
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| Licking the beater (someone's gotta do the dirty work!) |
March & April . . .
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| Attending a mother-daughter banquet |
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| Battling the flu |
May . . .
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| Rescuing baby squirrels |
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| Visiting Kalamazoo's Air Museum |
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| Participating in the State Geography Bee |
June . . .
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| Hiking at Audra State Park, WV |
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| Hanging out at the park for our annual Father's Day picnic |
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| Feeding our baby squirrels |
July . . .
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| Swimming and sunshine! |
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| Giving LOTS of hugs |
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| Turning 13 (yes, our first teenager!) |
August . . .
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| Hiking Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes |
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Swimming in beautiful Lake Michigan |
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| Touring Greenfield Village in Detroit |
September . . .
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| Holding my debut book for the first time |
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| Riding bikes |
October & November . . .
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| Release of The Preacher's Bride! |
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| Hiking at Chippewa Nature Center |
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| Eating caramel apples at the apple orchard |
December . . .
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Merry Christmas from the fabulous five! |
Well, that's it! Our year in pictures. Of course snap shots can't tell the whole story, and we certainly had our share of aches and pains. But overall, we're counting our blessings.
I hope you've been able to count your blessings too.
Merry Christmas from our family to yours.
The Hedlunds
How fun to see what you've been up to this year. I love all the pictures.
ReplyDeleteI hope the Fabulous Five and their busy parents enjoy a blessed celebration of Christmas.
Oh I love this, Jody! I love reading about families, but the pictures DO say it so perfectly! You have a beautiful family and thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post, beautiful people!
ReplyDeleteThank you, ladies! Merry Christmas to each of you! :-)
ReplyDeleteHow cool!! Love seeing a glimpse into your family. What a handsome bunch you all are!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely gift to give us... this glimpse of your year in review! Since becoming one of your blog readers I've felt privileged to have an inside peek at you as a person and your life as a writer (and now published author). Thank you for sharing. Have a well-deserved Christmas break and a truly blessed and joy-filled time with your family.
ReplyDeleteCarol
LOVE THIS!!! Thanks for the glimpse into your year... your kiddos are so precious!
ReplyDeleteMERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
Love, love, love this idea! I am 100% right there with you on ZERO creativity left over for my Christmas newsletter, which has morphed into a New Year's letter here in procrastination land.
ReplyDeleteYour family is beautiful, your cat is HUGE, and I've truly enjoyed my visit here, Jody.
Merry, merry Christmas to you!
PS~Do you mean "Greenfield Village" in Detroit (Dearborn) or is there truly a Deerfield Village? We love Greenfield Village (and the Henry Ford Museum)!
Ugh! Thank you for pointing out my typo, Julie! That's what I get for doing this at the last minute! :-)
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you ALL for the Christmas wishes! Merry Christmas to you and yours in return! Blessings!
Oh I'm glad I popped over! What a blessed year you've all had! Here's to double the blessings in 2011! XOXO ~T
ReplyDeleteOh I'm glad I popped over! What a blessed year you've all had! Here's to double the blessings in 2011! XOXO ~T
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful pictorial walk through the past year with your family. A banner year for sure!
ReplyDeleteA very merry Christmas to you and the whole family and all the best in 2011!
Nice, Jody! I especially like the last one where they're all lined up. Precious! Have a blessed Christmas and great New Year!
ReplyDeleteLooked like a full and fun year. Here's hoping to another year of fun
ReplyDeleteA filled with blessings, for sure. The photos are great. Wonderful smiles!
ReplyDeleteThis is my kind of letter, although I also like the "written" stories, too!
ReplyDeleteMay you and your family have a wonderful New Year!!