Ornament Exchange!

Back in 1996 I discovered the Internet!  My daughter Reid was only a few months old and I was looking for ways to connect with other women who had children the same age.

Through AOL I discovered various message boards supporting new moms and I was in heaven. Through one of the message boards I frequented I was invited to join an email group of women who all had kids born the summer of 1995.

As you can imagine, in the twelve years that our group has been together we have shared a lot. These ladies are like family and have become a very special part of my life.

For the past ten years we have been having an ornament exchange. Each year we are instructed to keep who we bought an ornament for a secret and we are not allowed to open our gift until our virtual exchange party.

Yes, even though we stretch from the west coast to the east coast, we all try to find the time to get together in an online chat room and virtual party away while we each take turns opening our ornaments!

It is so much fun and something I look forward to each year.  Unfortunately this year, I totally spaced out and forgot that the virtual opening was last night!  

But I wanted to share with you all the lovely ornament my friend Val sent me!  Isn't it purty?

Not only did Val send me an ornament, but I got the added bonus of receiving a fabric ATC (artist trading card) from her. 

You see Val is a quilting artist.  She has created some spectacular quilts over the years and is currently working on quilting all of the Presidents of the United States.  She just started making ATC's so I was quite honored to receive one from her.

Val missed the party last night as well, but she wasn't being absent minded like me, she is recovering from having cochlear implant surgery.

If you want to pop over to her blog and wish her a speedy recovery please click here: Life is a Patch Work Quilt.  

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