My Annual Christmas Card

“May You Connect This Christmas…
With Lots of Free Minutes and NO Static!”

Every year I create and produce a new Christmas card. I make 500 copies, fold them, and then personally give them out to everybody at church during the Christmas season. I hand them out to store clerks, my postal carrier, my neighbors, and people I might be working with at the moment. I’ve been doing it for so long, that it doesn’t seem quite so weird to everybody anymore. As a matter of fact, I’m often surprised when people ask me: “When am I getting this year’s Christmas card from you?”

In addition to the paper Christmas cards, I can now post the whole thing here in the blog. True, there isn’t the same tactile feel you get from holding an actual card in your hand, but everything else is here. I hope you enjoy this year’s offering.

The famous Christmas song Winter Wonderland was first published in 1934. The composer was Felix Bernard (1897-1944) and the lyricist was Richard B. Smith (1901-1935). Probably the most popular versions of this classic Christmas song were recorded by the Andrews Sisters and Perry Como. Since you already know the tune, why not sing along, as you consider our current Virtual Wonderland:

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Virtual Wonderland

By David Alan Hoag, November 22nd, 2009
(Sung to the tune of Winter Wonderland, with apologies to Felix Bernard and Richard Smith)

Text chimes “ding”, are you heeding?
Posted Blogs, are you reading?
In IM or chat,
It holds you like that;
Captive in a virtual wonderland.

Nevermore is there quiet,
It’s a huge data riot.
See… Facebook has powers
To hold you for hours;
Captive in a virtual wonderland.

Everybody needs to have a Smart Phone
To ensure their link-up is complete.
If you haven’t got the best connection
You just might miss a caller, or a tweet.

Where you work, there’s a female
Whom you text and you email.
Though just down the hall,
You’ve not met at all;
Captive in a virtual wonderland.

In your bio you can claim you’re gorgeous,
Whether you’re a gal or you’re a guy.
In your bio you can stretch the facts some,
But any way you view it, it’s a lie.

I invite you this Christmas
Feel the joy and the sweet bliss
Make Christmas with me
Unplug and be free...
Not captive in a virtual wonderland.

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Blessings to you and your family, as you celebrate God’s love at Christmas time. My prayer is that the love, peace, and joy that come from the salvation through Jesus Christ… be yours at Christmas, and all through the year.

Your brother in Christ,

Dave