Christmas is in a couple of days, as is my birthday, and as we all are doing, I’m finding different ways to celebrate and making new traditions. One of these that I’m enjoying more this year than ever is participating in hand made ornament swaps.

I have done exchanges over the years but have been a regular now in several and I have enjoyed them more this year than every. I have a small tree near the fireplace that has my swap ornaments on it, and every one reminds me of friends – new and old, near and far all at the same time. It represents people who took time out of their busy lives to make something specifically for me. I can feel the love and good wishes every time I look at that tree.

This is a short post – we all have stuff to do this week. We are all dealing with a holiday that isn’t what we are used to or what we might have expected. I am buoyed by the love that I feel every time I look at my swap tree. I just might keep it up into January….