Lisa,

I think that I can get mine in the mail tomorrow.  If you end up waiting a few days to mail some of the others , you will have mine, not that they are anything great, but they are from my heart.  It sounds as if you have enough to keep you more than busy and maybe it would be easier on you.

Or this is just an idea, since you  had forty, maybe you can give each of the late arrivals 5 names each and we can send 10 cards to 5 people to make up the 50.

Vicki

 Lisa -

    I've been emailing you, so you know how I feel.  I agree with Mimi and Dawn, that a few more days would be ok. 

I will go with whatever decision you make.  I will be ok with 40 cards or 50 cards.  

You are doing a great job, it was a ginormous task to take on,  however, it is working! 

As a past card swap hostess, I say go with the flow, do what you want, not what you think others want you to do (meaning that you think you have to get them out now, which I understand the troops are the ones you are thinking about the most) , and we'll save you a spot on the Card Swap Hostess wall of fame.  Make any sense?  

    And yes,  you are a good cheerleader, Lisa.  I enjoyed it all. 

Dear Lisa....dont know if youll be checking your post, or your emails.......but I TOO am ok with whatever you decide on with the swap.   If you want to hold off  a few days ....that's ok....if you want to go ahead....that's ok too!!!!    Let me tell you of a few packages I sent out last year....mid Dec...never thinking they'd make it  on time for Christmas.   Well, they did!!!   The persons receiving them described some of the silly toys inside......so I know they received them.   I know you want to get the cards to the troops.....but with all going on for you, and work.....we dont want you stressing.   And dont worry about the Alaska quarter....that can wait.    Please take it easy and know THAT I'M WITH YOU TOO..........NO  MATTER WHAT YOU DECIDE!!!

Glad you liked the stocking and the heart!!!!    Be well.......

Love peace and blessings    Anne Marie

 I'll vote for being ok to wait! I am still drowning in THOUSANDS of cards I'll be boxing up...lol. If only all of these had messages in them!!! heehee.

 I gotta tell you though, a 6yr old girl and her little brother made cards "like Grandma's" and included letters inside. 37 of them!!! I am crying just looking through them. Such talent in such little ones!!! I'll have to see if their family would like to be in on the next swap :) :) :)

i also think it would be ok to wait a couple days. i know my christmas boxes aren't even close to being ready to send so no rush for the cards here. thanks for taking on this project and i'm behind you, whatever you decide to do.

No problem here with waiting....anything you decide to do is good with me Lisa! HOSTS RULE! lol  I do hope mine was the other number but they didnt give me a paper at the usps so i dont know....it was guaranteed by wed noon so maybe it was ....but whateaver....i'm with you! JUst take care of YOU and the rest will come together.

hugs

Debiann

Yeaaaaaaaaa! 

 See Lisa, two of the past Card Swap Hostess' agree that you should take care of yourself first and foremost.

  Thank you Dawn and Thank you Deni, I know you have set Lisa's mind at ease.

They are right, go with the flow, life happens, and a few more days doesn't matter.  Now ladies, we just have to pray that Lisa listens to you.

You heard it here Lisa, DON'T STRESS!!!!!!  We all love you.

Mimi

Lisa,

I, too, agree that you should do what is easiest on you.  You have bent over backwards on this...cheering people, paying for the postage, recruiting.  Now it's time for us to support you.  If waiting till the weekend when you would be off would help, it's only two more days.  Like Debiann said "HOST RULE". 

I have no problems with waiting a few days--no worries!  Do what works best for YOU--you've already been exceptionally generous by agreeing to host the swap, with double the amount of cards and picking up the postage!

My daddy used to say "you want that done fast, or half-fast?"     I say if a few days relieves some of the pressure, then so be it!

Lisa,

  A few more days won't make a difference to US, but they could make all the difference in the world for YOU! Take those days and enjoy putting the cards together for us--we'll still get them in plenty of time!  Wish we could be there to help!  Thanks again for everything you've done.

 Chiming in with the others...we don't want you running in circles so fast that you pass yourself!

  Alvin was wrong, Christmas will wait  (referring to the old Chipmunk song)

 You take care of you!

HUGS Amy

Hey Lisa,

 I am going to hop in with my 2 cents--seriously, if you need/want to wait a few days until things settle down for you, it's no problem.  Life here has been crazy as well, and though I've planned Christmas boxes in my head, they are nowhere close to being actually packed.  Another few days will not ruffle my tail feathers any...take your time and do what you need to do.  You have taken on a huge project, and we all thank you for it! 

Hang in there and feel the hugs :-) ,

Kate

11pm...midnight...1am...1:17am...FINISHED!  (About half way through I took pictures, after I got all the cards laid out.  I will try and put it up tonight)

 I should have read the forums and emails first.  LOL 

Hugs to all my cheerleaders, you guys are the best.  Mimi thank you for all the posts and forwards.  Hugs.  To past card hostesses thank you for the calming words and some really great ideas, to future cards hostesses, get in there and do it...yes you will be crazy, but you will have a wonderful time, get to know some really great people, and have an amazing feeling when it is over (almost)

• Everyone on the list above is done, number of cards is 39 or 40
• All cards done last night go into the mail at the airport at lunch today (for some odd reason, the post office which says the lobby opens at 6am, was not open even at 6:20)
• If you sent me 100, you will get two packages back.
• I still have 15 mixed stacks of cards (though 4 or 5 of them are MINE!)
• People who still have cards incoming will be swapped out, and sent out Next Wednesday.
• Everyone should be getting a mixed stack of 40 or more.
• Any cards received or still in my kitchen after Wednesday the 19th are confiscated and will go out with my boxes by next Saturday, the 22nd.  I have several small to large # contacts, so your cards WILL go to troops (Iraq and Astan mostly).

I hope this a cool plan for everyone.  It will get all the swappers at least 40 cards and it will make sure that all cards are headed to the troops.

 I have learned so much from this card swap.  Like the best time to get Christmas cards is....after Christmas.  LOL  Some of you guys have the coolest seals and stickers, I so wanted to know where you got them.  I think I am going to start working on my Christmas cards for next years swap all through this year.  Ha!  Did I hear we are doing 100.  <card board fumes have definately gotten to me.

Thank you for all the toys, most of them will head to the troops as party favors and Christmas presents.  Will keep everyone updated on what is going on.

Note to those who dispair:  I heard a couple of things from people during the swap about rather it mattered what we send and that some things get there late.  I am only saying this so you don't think you might be alone.  This year I have sent out over 3,000 cards and postcards, usually in big blocks of 50 or more, all with different jokes, quotes and messages.  I have sent hundreds of boxes.  My plastic could have easily bought a car with what I have spent (yes...I discovered a shopping gene for particular things).  That said...I would ask you to guess how many people I have heard from....14. 

It is not about how many write you, but about how many you touch.  It is about the emal I just received yesterday (as I was beginning to think I had bit off way more than I could chew) from a troop that told me all about his wife and kids, who said he finally had time to catch up on his correspondence and who was someone who had a post card from me that I personally sent (not through a swap) several months ago.  I wrote him back and asked him if I could pick him and his team up for Christmas, and this is what I got back this morning, "We will be here till summer 09’.  Yes I am signed  up with anysoldier.  Please do put us on your list, the guys love getting mail from you." 

<blink> <blink> "the guys"  wow! (starts packing special box...where are those cookies...must make another copy of the CD)

I hope this helps people...what you/we do MATTERS.  They are out there, they do hear us.

Hugs to all!

Oh...yeah, for those getting ready for the Valentines swap:

• We need a hostess to give us a date by Jan 10 or so
• Here is a couple of websites with Disney Valentine Clip Art:
• http://www.disneyclips.com/imagesnewb3/valentinesday3.html
• http://disney-clipart.com/Valentines-Day/index.php
• How to make pop-up valentines day cards
• http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Pop-up-Valentine's-Day-Card-(Robert-Sabuda-Method)
• Get busy making your Valentines day cards.....<trails off with evil laugh>>>>>

                                                                   ____/\______\o/______

Lisa,

I must say you sound happy and relieved.  Congratulations!  You did it.  You made up your mind you were going to do it this way with all the obstacles and stuck to it.  I think the Military could use you.

The most important thing is that you are happy with yourself, and have made all the others in the swap happy as well.

So, now you mean You aren't going to host the Valentine Swap............

Love and hugs,

Mimi

LOL....RUNS FROM CUPIDS ARROW! er...no.

But just got back from the airport and all packages were mailed out.  I would guess Tuesday at the latest but there is no telling.  Junkies...boxes up!  Get ready for them cards.