The 2025 Christmas Card Letter

I love getting Christmas cards.

I appreciate the generic. It’s nice to know someone thinks enough of me to address an envelope and write a little something, even if just “Miss you” or “Let’s get together in the new year.”

I really like cards with pictures of my friends and family. It means they poured over photos that represent a near-perfect moment from the past year, and then also that I mean enough to that person that they sent me a card.

Extra points if the cards are addressed by hand.

But I love, love a good Christmas card letter. Always have. Done correctly, the Christmas card letter is like a mini newsletter updating me on everything with the sender’s family and their year. It was Facebook before there was Facebook.

I don’t mind if they sound braggadocious, either. No, I don’t want to know how much you made investing, your net worth, or how much your Audi costs. Good Christmas card letter writers understand this (same with good Facebookers).

So for the past 5 years (my original letter here explains it all), I’ve tried to make my Christmas card letter full of family updates and milestones, some humor, and maybe a story or theme. I was ready to do it all again and then my daughter Ada asked if she could write the letter.  How could I say ‘no’? An 18-year-old wanting to take the time to write a Christmas card letter must be a rare thing. In 51 years of receiving cards, I can’t remember it happening. So of course, I said, “yes.”  Ada went to work right away. Knowing, from experience, that the letter-writing does present a bit of challenge, I asked often, “are you sure?”  She never hesitated. Never said, “well, maybe next year …I’m so busy with exams and work and stuff.”  The entire process reminded me of my original motive behind the Christmas card letter …to spread a little joy. I read letters I receive with joy and a smile. I write my letter with joy, hoping to make people laugh and smile more than they roll-their-eyes. And my daughter views the world through a similar joy-filled lense. If she’s reading this, she re-inspired me and reminded me to stay focused on goodness, kindness, fun, and spreading joy whenever possible.

The 2024 Christmas Card Letter has a permanent home here, but I’ll also post it here for you to read if you happen not to be on our family’s Christmas Card Letter List.  If you’re here, reading my Blog, you probably kinda like me and I kinda like you, too …so here’s what the Kowalewski’s were up to in 2025.

THE 2024 KOWALEWSKI CHRISTMAS LETTER, BY ADA KOWALEWSKI

If you were wondering where the Kowalewski annual Christmas letter was, here it is! My dad likes to switch it up every year, and instead of letting him send a Christmas letter in his new secret-code, I took it upon myself to write it. Not because I wanted to, but to spare you all from hearing another year of my dad’s jokes that you pretend to laugh at. Allow me to introduce myself if you don’t know me too well or you’re a distant friend of my parents (and haven’t had the pleasure of meeting their sweet youngest daughter). My name is Ada and I am so excited to recap the year from my lens. On behalf of the rest of the Kowalewski family, we apologize for all of the years you received a hefty two-page letter going on and on about our life. This one is going to be short and sweet.

I’m not too seasoned on how to write this, especially because it takes a lot of brain power to sit down and read my dad’s entire Christmas letter, but I am almost positive he recaps the year to his best ability and talks about all of the wonderful things we did (or didn’t do, I’m not exactly sure) this year.

So obviously I’m going to start off with the ex-Christmas-letter-writer Don. Don switched from iHeartRadio to Audacy in the middle of this year and began working for radio stations including 97.1 The Ticket. That’s pretty much all of the work stuff you’re probably interested in. He still updates his Blog regularly if you want to check it out. Sometimes I read it when I have nothing to do which is why I’m the favorite daughter.

My mom, Kathy, is still teaching 7th and 8th grade math at St. Regis. While I wish she could tutor me in Calculus, she also tutors in algebra. One of her favorite things to do is post my senior Sundays on Facebook, and no I’m not the favorite child, she just likes to post a good throwback picture.

My parents enjoy going up to East Lansing in the fall to tailgate and visit my siblings. They also celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary this spring. That’s 27 years of “Not you Don”s when she points out something while he’s driving! Now that’s an accomplishment. Being the only kid home, we had the pleasure of taking a “just us three” vacation to Gulf Shores, Alabama for spring break with Uncle Dave Kowalewski and family. On our way there, we toured the University of Alabama, which shortly became my favorite college (roll tide!).

Now for my siblings, Marylin is finishing up her senior year at Michigan State majoring in human development and family studies. She keeps herself fairly busy with internships, practicums, and nannying while also being in a sorority and a great older sister. She might be nervous to graduate and enter the real world, but man am I excited to visit her wherever she goes as a little getaway. She is going to do big things!

Jimmy, on the other hand, is a sophomore at Michigan State majoring in human biology. I don’t know if you know my brother, but I’m pretty sure he’s a certified genius. He also is very involved in his fraternity while also working hard in his studies and research opportunities. Jimmy impresses me, and I hope to emulate his work ethic.

Now for the person you’ve all been waiting for… Ada. I am finishing up my senior year and am keeping myself fairly busy in the class board as secretary and plenty other leadership roles. I hope to go south for college (much to my Michigan-State-loving family’s dismay) and major in nursing. I am enjoying my time but am so excited for the next step!

Last but not least, (since she always gets left out of the letter because my dad likes to act like he doesn’t like her) is my dog Hula. Hula is entering her 12th year of life and is turning into an old woman. But we love her and she always keeps us entertained like when she got caught in a mouse trap or buried hot dog buns around our house.

Well, there you have it. I hope you enjoyed my recap of the Kowalewski family. I sure did until I got half way through the letter and realized why my dad does this and not his kids. It can get kind of hard to write. But anyways, I’m accepting feedback for future letters so that I can improve on my writing skills.

I wish every single one of you love, health, and happiness in the new year. And wish you all a very blessed and merry Christmas! Here’s to 2025!