The long-time tradition of sending Christmas cards is slowly withering away, as we have fully entered a digital age.

Devices now provide an ease of communication that is replacing the way some send their mail. It’s so easy to simply text a “merry Christmas” or post “happy holidays” to our social media, rather than take time and money to send out a real, hold-in-your-hand card.

However, part of the charm and wonder of the holiday season, like gathering with family and friends we haven’t seen all year, is sending and receiving cards or gifts. The best ones are those that are homemade or have a personal touch.

Regardless of whether your card is home-crafted or store-bought, you can add a personal touch by inserting a special "yearly letter” updating your loved ones on how life has been for you throughout the past year.

The letter can be typed out and then printed, so you can tuck it into each card. A personal note should be handwritten inside the card.

Begin with a basic introduction wishing your friend or loved one a Merry Christmas.

“Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you have had a wonderful year full of joy and happiness. Our family has had a full and exciting one, that is for sure.” Be sure to add if something momentous happened, like buying a home or having a baby.

Now it’s time to talk about each person and how they have been. “Here is what each of us has been up to” and then list what each has been up to.

Begin with a family member and write a paragraph about what they have been up to since the last Christmas card. Usually, start with parents and then list the children. When updating your children, be sure to include what age or grade they are now.

“Little Johnny is in second grade now! He likes school, especially when they work on science stuff and he is getting good grades. We did have a scary moment when he broke his arm on the trampoline, but that healed well and he is doing fine now. Oh, he is also really into dinosaurs now.”

After you have finished writing an up for each family member, it’s time to close out your letter by repeating your Merry Christmas or happy holidays and wishing the recipient well for the upcoming year.

For an especially valued touch, think about adding a photo or two (or five) at the end of the letter. You can paste them right onto the letter, so it prints as part of the letter, or you can slip a family photo into the card.

Following this format when drafting a Christmas card will never be underappreciated during the holiday season.