Every year, Esteban and I send a celebratory note to the person whose Christmas card is the first to grace our mantle. This year, the honor goes to my dear friend Jim. Congratulations! You are now the proud owner of a free sushi dinner.

This is my blog’s first Christmas, so I’ve never before published the winning holiday card. As it turns out, the sentiment of the inaugural card couldn’t be more appropriate:

Things that have never been. Hmm. Well, what the heck: Let’s welcome world peace, justice, kindness toward the little things, and better treatment of the big ones. (Like our planet.)

Happy holidays!