Keeping In Touch With Your Family At Holiday Time & Beyond

If you are lucky enough to have a large extended family, then odds are you often wonder what everyone is up to and how you could stay more in touch. Writer Amy Peterson from familyshare.com has some great ideas, which I think these work for immediate and extended families.

• Start a family newsletter, blog or private Facebook page- then all the news that is news in your family will reach all your loved ones more quickly.
• Use a video calling service like Skype and FaceTime- -this is an amazingly easy way to see and speak to your family members on a regular basis. (And as soon as I figure it out, I'm going to do it!)
• Snail mail- -I know a lot of people don't even bother anymore, but I'm telling you there is nothing quite like getting a letter, pictures or even a package from someone you love to really brighten your day!
• Holiday gift exchange- -and no this doesn't have to involve exorbitant gifts or a huge amount of cash. You could choose one or two people in your extended family to spearhead the project, decide on a dollar amount, draw names and there you go. Make it even more personal by making gifts or trading services for family members with limited financial resources.
• Family reunions- -they can be as simple as a picnic in a park or as elaborate as an entire week at a destination location. Even though our family is a pretty small one, we always try (when finances allow) to get together at Christmas, we've had several reunions at the beach in Washington and the picture below was taken this fall in Glacier National Park. I will treasure these family gatherings and the memories they bring forever!