As I mentioned in one of my last posts, I struggled with the Christmas spirit this year. I’m still not REAL sure what the reason was but I sort of think the fact that we started hearing about what we should purchase before Halloween had something to do with it.

The event that jumpstarted the ‘ole excitement of what Christmas is all about was a bloggers gift exchange spearheaded by none other than Jamie Rhoades of This Uncharted Rhoade and Laurie Link of Country LINKed. These two gals must have known I was having an issue and decided to fix it for me – and include a few others, as well. Thank you, Jamie and Laurie! 

The idea behind it was to create a blogger’s gift exchange to introduce ourselves to new friends and share with them a little piece of where we live and who we are. Well, I feel like the receiver of my gift, Nicole Small (or better known as A Kansas Farm Mom), may have gotten just a little slighted by me regarding the rule of explaining what I sent. Sorry, Nicole! The reason (really it is) being that I didn’t want to ruin the gifts by explaining in my note what each individually wrapped item was. I wanted it to be a surprise and I wanted it to be fun. So, when Nicole read my hand-scribbled note, I certainly hope there was no judgement passed. 🙂 As part of the fun, we are supposed to link up with each other’s blog for pictures and a short story. So, maybe once you see Nicole’s blog about what she received, this will mean more. I included in her box a picture of my blog’s header picture, a snowman created by me, a jar of “Larry’s Crack Cream” (made in Weeping Water, NE), and a bag of Baker’s chocolates (made in Greenwood, NE). I think that’s it, but my memory doesn’t work as good as it used to so check out Nicole’s blog for more.  All I know is that it awakened the spirit of excitement and wanting to give that I so desperately needed!

I was so excited when my box arrived in the mail!

My Secret Blogging Santa was Lesley Schmidt from Kansas.

Lesley included a really nice long note (unlike me) explaining what was found in my wonderful gift and explained a little about herself (unlike me).

Lesley is:

Part of the 5th generation family farm found in Southwest Kansas, where they raise alfalfa, sorghum, soybeans and wheat, all while managing a cow/calf operation. Ag has always been a part of her life and she says she wouldn’t be the person she is today without it.

She is Second Vice President for the Kansas Agri-Women (KAW) and, as a member, the group aims to share the truth-as the motto, “From Producer to Consumer with Understanding”, states.

She runs for the Kansas Beef Endurance Team (awesome!).

She loves to travel and one of her items that can be found in her bucket list is to travel all 50 states. She’s half way there!

She works in the city during the week for an engineering firm – designing roadways, utility and landscape plans.

She is a USA Track and Field Official, where she officiates for universities, community colleges, high school track meets, as well as Challenge Games – an annual sports competition for persons with physical disabilities from all over the nation. This is held in Derby, Kansas.

This is what was found in my box:

*A candle that smelled like chocolate (my favorite smell in the world).

*Chocolate covered pretzels (also my favorite) from the Nifty Nut House – located in Wichita, Kansas.

*A coffee mug from The Spice Merchant and Company (Wichita’s Original Gourmet Coffee Roaster established in late 1980).

*In the mug could be found some Russell Stover Chocolates (as said before…my favorite).

*KAW “one-of-a-kind” sunflower oven mitt.

*And last, but not least, a pin stating Kansas as the “Wheat state”.

I have a new friend and someone to connect with throughout the year! Little does Lesley know, I recently joined the American Agri-Women and look forward to being more involved – should the doors open.

Once again, thank you to all who were involved in this project and to Lesley for taking time from her busy schedule to put together such a creative and wonderful gift to send to someone she didn’t even know. I look forward to being a part of this project again.

Happy 2014!

TOO FUNNY! I used the same paper to pack the insides of my box too. Thank you High Plains Journal! 🙂