Ways to show someone you care

Do you have a friend going through a rough time? Possibly missing a family member or friend? I love to send cards to friends and family... any excuse any reason, just let me send them a card. I rarely send just a plain old card, I try include something in it too! Maybe it's a tea bag, a bookmark, even a coupon to a favorite restaurant. I know with the costs of postage going up it's harder to do, but, e-cards are also a great way to send a little "thinking of you" to a friend.

I've had friends who have going through divorces... pretty much from start to finish it's about a one year process of anger, betryal, fear and joy. I've sent them a card a day for the year and years later they tell me how much those cards meant to them, most of them still have the cards too.

Where do you get your cards? Do you make them yourself? that's always the question people ask me. Well I do make cards, I have all the supplies, but, shoot I rarely take the time. I'm one of Hallmark's best customers, lol. I buy lots of cards from them, they just seem to have cards for every occassion and some you really would be surprised to find! I also look just about everywhere I go, you never know when that perfect card will pop up. I do stockpile some cards. I purchase some cards in advance of needing them too. Just because my brother's birthday is in August doesn't mean I need to wait until then to buy his card... I often find the perfect card for him in April.

How do I remember when to send them? That is another question I get from people. Well, since I send so many cards, I pretty much am mailing something every day or two. I have a divided box with occasions where my stockpile of cards are, seperated by occassion. I also have a book with pockets for each month, I put those for specific people's birthday's, anniversaries, or holidays in those pockets. I try to check each Sunday night what cards I need to send for the week, address and stamp them and put them on the table with my stuff to take next time I'm out running errands.

Doesn't it cost a lot to buy all those cards? Well yeah, but there are also some great cards for 99 cents at Hallmark and other card stores, Big Lots and other discount stores sell cards and you can also get boxed sets of cards for less than $4 from Wal-Mart and other lower priced stores. Postage is a consideration too, but, the Post Office now has their Forever stamps, supposedly these stamps are good forever, so whatever rate is current is what you pay for them, but can use them even after the rate goes up. Hubby and I plan to stock up on them in the near future... can't go wrong saving 4 cents or more each time you send a card, letter or bill.

Now, get out there and make someone smile!