Watch on Philo! - Philo.tv/DTH
Watch the show on Youtube - www.deckthehallmark.com/youtube
Interested in advertising on the show? Email bran@deckthehallmark.com
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
[00:00:01] Hi, I'm Brian and I love mailbag episodes.
[00:00:05] I'm Brian, I like mailbag episodes.
[00:00:08] I'm Dan, I don't know what's wrong with Brian, I also love mailbag episodes.
[00:00:10] I was gonna say it!
[00:00:11] This is the Deck The Hallmark Podcast!
[00:00:13] Deck The Hallmark gets his podcast.
[00:00:17] And friends host his podcast.
[00:00:24] We hope you like this jolly podcast.
[00:00:31] Well, hi everybody!
[00:00:33] Happy New Year to you!
[00:00:35] Thank you!
[00:00:36] Hopefully, you had a good one we're back.
[00:00:38] At least he said it out loud, you know, that he just likes mailbag episodes.
[00:00:42] We all knew it.
[00:00:43] Guys, what you don't know is every time we get mail in the office, Brian rolls his eyes.
[00:00:48] Yeah, he does.
[00:00:49] Mail again!
[00:00:50] They're still delivering stuff out there, huh?
[00:00:52] They are still delivering stuff, that's exactly right.
[00:00:55] How was your New Year's Eve? Did you have fun?
[00:00:57] I know this about you, you go really hard on New Year's Eve.
[00:01:00] He just said he had a nice quiet New Year's Eve.
[00:01:03] Well, he's lying.
[00:01:04] You don't know me at all.
[00:01:04] I know what that means.
[00:01:05] I'm a big Three Stooges on New Year's Eve.
[00:01:07] Really?
[00:01:08] Three Stooges?
[00:01:08] Do you have a favorite or just like episodes?
[00:01:10] Just all the Stooges episodes.
[00:01:12] I mean, mostly with-
[00:01:14] It's a Stoogethon.
[00:01:14] It's a Stoogethon with Curly.
[00:01:17] Yeah, the Stoogethon.
[00:01:18] And Moe.
[00:01:19] Get Shemp out of here.
[00:01:20] Get Shemp out of here.
[00:01:21] Curly Joe, what are you doing?
[00:01:22] My dad started that, so I keep it going.
[00:01:24] I throw on the Stooges and have a good time.
[00:01:26] How long do you keep it going in the New Year?
[00:01:27] As long as I can.
[00:01:30] Just as long as I can.
[00:01:32] Just have it on the background.
[00:01:33] Three Stooges.
[00:01:34] Chuckle.
[00:01:34] Now when you say as long as you can, that implies at some point-
[00:01:37] I shut it off and go to bed at some point.
[00:01:39] Yeah, I don't, you know, I don't stay.
[00:01:40] I don't usually stay up till midnight.
[00:01:42] Nah.
[00:01:42] I don't make a point of that.
[00:01:43] I don't either.
[00:01:44] Like some people.
[00:01:44] But I'm not like anti, like I gotta go to bed.
[00:01:47] If Stooges pulls you in.
[00:01:49] Yeah, if I'm in it, I'm not gonna take myself out of it.
[00:01:52] Exactly.
[00:01:52] Of course.
[00:01:53] So once you yawn, thawne is done.
[00:01:56] Yeah, if I'm thinking-
[00:01:57] Everyone knows that, Brian?
[00:01:58] Everybody knows it.
[00:01:59] Yeah, of course.
[00:02:00] Yeah.
[00:02:01] Dan, did you have a good one?
[00:02:02] Had a great one, Brian.
[00:02:03] Always do.
[00:02:04] It's a nice restful time of year.
[00:02:05] Did you make your-
[00:02:06] Did you make your cheese?
[00:02:07] World famous cheese dip?
[00:02:08] Thank you for asking.
[00:02:08] Yes, I did.
[00:02:09] And I'm still paying the price.
[00:02:12] Nice.
[00:02:13] So we'll see how quick this is today.
[00:02:16] Let's talk about the mailbag episode.
[00:02:18] Every year this episode is so much fun, despite what Brian says, because we get mail
[00:02:23] from across the country and sometimes the world-
[00:02:25] That's right.
[00:02:25] That comes in, it's people's Christmas cards, they wanna share their Christmas memories
[00:02:29] with us, sometimes people send in some goodies, and it's always a lot of fun.
[00:02:32] Not only to see the wonderful Christmas cards, but also a lot of people share some really
[00:02:36] sweet things, and that means so much.
[00:02:38] And it's just fun to feel like a nice-
[00:02:39] Nice little charge of Christmas spirit.
[00:02:42] That's exactly right.
[00:02:43] One last go, Alex.
[00:02:44] One last go.
[00:02:45] That's exactly right.
[00:02:46] So shall we kick this off?
[00:02:48] You want me to go first?
[00:02:49] Let's just kick it off.
[00:02:49] Let's just kick it off.
[00:02:51] We got Meredith D'Occitino.
[00:02:55] D'Occitino.
[00:02:56] D'Occitino.
[00:02:57] That's what I said.
[00:02:57] D'Occitino.
[00:02:58] Here we go.
[00:02:59] It says-
[00:03:00] D'Occitino.
[00:03:01] It says, Happy Holidays.
[00:03:04] And then, thanks for all you do for the double-deckers.
[00:03:08] And they have their nice family on here wishing you the best for the holiday season and the
[00:03:13] new year.
[00:03:14] Oh, very nice.
[00:03:14] And their nice little family.
[00:03:15] And then I have an update.
[00:03:16] In 2024, Evan turned nine and entered the fourth grade and Leia turned four.
[00:03:23] Or Leah.
[00:03:24] We hope you enjoy the holiday season.
[00:03:28] L-E-I-A.
[00:03:29] We hope that you enjoy the holiday season.
[00:03:33] Leia.
[00:03:33] Sending all the best for 2025.
[00:03:36] It's Leah.
[00:03:37] I'm getting wordless, Leah.
[00:03:38] Thank you so much.
[00:03:39] Very nice.
[00:03:40] D'Occitino.
[00:03:41] Table family.
[00:03:42] You'll love to see it.
[00:03:43] Brian?
[00:03:44] I got one from Aaron Ward, which looks to be a custom card.
[00:03:47] Oh!
[00:03:47] Hard to read there.
[00:03:48] Santa Claus.
[00:03:49] Hallmark.
[00:03:50] This looks like a line graph.
[00:03:51] Christmas lights.
[00:03:53] Naga clock.
[00:03:53] Naga clock.
[00:03:54] So it's like the things that are like-
[00:03:57] No wonder I can relate to this so much.
[00:03:58] It's a line graph.
[00:04:00] A bar graph, if you will.
[00:04:01] May your holidays be filled with fake snow.
[00:04:03] Slow dances to Christmas carols.
[00:04:05] Planning a high stakes Christmas Eve event.
[00:04:07] A surprise guest who attends said event and saves the day.
[00:04:10] A fake boyfriend or girlfriend.
[00:04:12] Smelling Christmas trees to pick the right one.
[00:04:14] Falling in love in your hometown.
[00:04:15] Baking montages.
[00:04:17] Scavenger hunts and more.
[00:04:19] Hope your Christmas and New Year's gives you and your loved ones all the feels.
[00:04:23] Aaron Ward.
[00:04:23] That's a great card.
[00:04:24] Thank you, Aaron.
[00:04:25] It's a great card.
[00:04:26] Naga clock right there on the front.
[00:04:27] Naga clock.
[00:04:29] Naga clock.
[00:04:30] Every Tuesday.
[00:04:31] I like it.
[00:04:32] I like that you guys do it.
[00:04:33] Noon from what I understand.
[00:04:34] Yeah.
[00:04:36] We got one here from Barton J. Kellogg, or as we know him around here, postcard, BJ Kellogg.
[00:04:40] BJ Kellogg.
[00:04:42] That's exactly right.
[00:04:43] That's right.
[00:04:43] This is two.
[00:04:44] BJ, long time card center.
[00:04:47] Before the mailbag.
[00:04:48] That's right.
[00:04:48] We were getting cards from BJ, so good on you.
[00:04:52] Two flamingos around a Christmas cactus.
[00:04:55] Oh, I like that.
[00:04:55] Cacti?
[00:04:56] I love it.
[00:04:56] Very festive in a non-traditional way.
[00:04:59] Have a festive and Merry Christmas.
[00:05:02] Have a happy Hallmark holiday.
[00:05:03] The best to you all in 2025.
[00:05:06] From BJ Kellogg.
[00:05:07] There you go.
[00:05:08] We were considering not having a good 2025.
[00:05:10] We're just going to shut it down?
[00:05:11] And this card, turn it around first.
[00:05:13] Turn it around.
[00:05:13] I forgot we go to 2025.
[00:05:15] There's going to be a 2025.
[00:05:16] We decided to be done with that.
[00:05:17] Quarter of a century.
[00:05:18] That's exactly right.
[00:05:18] Up next, I have a card from Ria that says, have a holly jolly Christmas and a happy new
[00:05:23] year with lots of fun pictures.
[00:05:25] And then on the back, she wrote, thanks for welcoming me into the community with open arms
[00:05:29] and making me laugh every single day.
[00:05:31] I appreciate your generosity, kind hearts, and hard work.
[00:05:35] It means so much to this special community, and I'm so glad to be a part of it.
[00:05:39] Merry Christmas from Ria.
[00:05:41] Ria.
[00:05:42] Very nice.
[00:05:43] I know.
[00:05:43] And it looks like Ria had quite the year, maybe a Disney World visit, maybe some sort
[00:05:48] of a marathon or something like that.
[00:05:50] Fun run.
[00:05:51] And then some ice cream, because you've got to balance things out.
[00:05:54] Absolutely.
[00:05:54] It's all about balance.
[00:05:55] Thank you, Ria.
[00:05:56] This is a wonderful card.
[00:05:57] We got one from Maureen Foster.
[00:06:00] Nice little.
[00:06:01] Yeah.
[00:06:01] Foster the people.
[00:06:02] I think so.
[00:06:03] Uh, brand, Dan, Brian, Aaron, thank you for an amazing year and all that you do.
[00:06:07] Looking forward to a fun-filled 2025.
[00:06:10] Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
[00:06:11] Love, Maureen.
[00:06:12] Whoa.
[00:06:13] Look at us.
[00:06:14] Wow.
[00:06:14] Maureen loves us.
[00:06:15] How about that?
[00:06:16] That's a very nice card.
[00:06:17] This card's from Kristen Searing, and I didn't think it opened up.
[00:06:20] And I thought it was just solid black with a skeleton Christmas on it, and I kind of
[00:06:24] loved it.
[00:06:24] Listen, skeletons love Christmas, too.
[00:06:25] A little hot cocoa for the skeleton there.
[00:06:27] Dragons of tacos.
[00:06:29] If you're watching follow.tv.
[00:06:30] Slash DTH.
[00:06:31] Open it up.
[00:06:31] Nice long note in here.
[00:06:34] Dan, Brian, and friends.
[00:06:36] Maybe we weren't here.
[00:06:37] Friends.
[00:06:38] Thank you all again for another year of nonstop laughs.
[00:06:40] Deck the Hallmark continues to be my favorite podcast and the only show I listen to on
[00:06:44] a daily basis.
[00:06:45] Aw.
[00:06:45] This is the first Christmas without my dad.
[00:06:48] Christmas con Kansas City was the last trip he was able to take while he was still well
[00:06:53] enough to travel.
[00:06:54] Aw.
[00:06:54] Even though he had never listened to DTH, he thought your live show was hilarious, and
[00:06:58] it was so great seeing him laugh.
[00:07:01] Thank you so much for giving me that memory.
[00:07:03] Here's to another year of Hallmark movie fun and laughs.
[00:07:06] Cheers, Kristen Searing.
[00:07:08] Aw, that's so sweet.
[00:07:10] That's a tough one to recover from there, Kristen.
[00:07:14] That was really nice.
[00:07:15] That was really sweet.
[00:07:16] Show off the picture again.
[00:07:17] That's a really cool card.
[00:07:18] It's hard to be sad when looking at that picture.
[00:07:20] It's so fun.
[00:07:21] It's a fun picture.
[00:07:22] It's fantastic.
[00:07:23] That cocoa doesn't fall out of the bones, right?
[00:07:25] No, it doesn't.
[00:07:26] When he drinks it, yeah, it goes right in there.
[00:07:27] No, it goes right in there.
[00:07:28] Yeah, there's a system.
[00:07:28] Sure.
[00:07:29] It's a cocoa system.
[00:07:29] We love you, Kristen.
[00:07:30] Thanks for allowing us to bring some joy.
[00:07:32] That's right.
[00:07:33] Yeah.
[00:07:33] I got something from Joel and Christy, if you would allow me the time.
[00:07:37] You have the time.
[00:07:38] This is a very cute pupper right here.
[00:07:40] I don't know.
[00:07:41] Let's see.
[00:07:42] There's the doggo.
[00:07:43] There's the doggo.
[00:07:45] I'm decking new halls this season.
[00:07:47] Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Joel, Christy, and Teddy.
[00:07:51] I'm guessing Teddy's the pup.
[00:07:52] They also moved.
[00:07:54] I will not give out their new address, but contact me.
[00:07:58] Interesting.
[00:07:59] I mean, if they put it on there, we're supposed to read it, right?
[00:08:02] Yes.
[00:08:03] All right.
[00:08:04] How about I give you some of it, but not all of it?
[00:08:06] Give me one number.
[00:08:08] Zero.
[00:08:09] Okay.
[00:08:10] Zero.
[00:08:10] Okay.
[00:08:10] That gives it all the way.
[00:08:12] May or may not be the first one.
[00:08:13] Right there.
[00:08:14] And then it just says, keeping you in our hearts this holiday season and always with love,
[00:08:19] Joel, Christy, and Teddy.
[00:08:20] And it looks like they had a wonderful year going into their new house.
[00:08:22] I'm not going to show those because I'll show off the address for those eagle eyes out
[00:08:26] there.
[00:08:27] But their new house looks very nice, and I think I see some water behind it, which jealous.
[00:08:33] You're giving it all away.
[00:08:35] Zero water.
[00:08:35] Zero water.
[00:08:36] I know.
[00:08:37] And then their pupper is too cute.
[00:08:40] Oh my gosh.
[00:08:41] How about that?
[00:08:42] Thank you, Joel Christie.
[00:08:43] That looks like a stock photo.
[00:08:44] Especially Teddy.
[00:08:45] I think Teddy did all the hard work this year on the cards.
[00:08:47] That's the word that I'm hearing.
[00:08:48] So shout out to Teddy.
[00:08:50] Another from BJ Kellogg.
[00:08:52] He wouldn't have gone without giving us a postcard.
[00:08:54] I knew it.
[00:08:54] From Hawaii.
[00:08:56] Hey!
[00:08:56] Just sitting on the patio at Alani Resort, I believe, in Honolulu.
[00:09:02] I'm listening to the podcast.
[00:09:04] I raise a martini in your honor.
[00:09:06] Thank you, BJ.
[00:09:06] That's a Mai Tai.
[00:09:06] It said Mai Tai the whole way.
[00:09:08] It does say Mai Tai.
[00:09:09] You didn't even...
[00:09:10] You just trying to take Panda's job here?
[00:09:12] Just plowing right through that.
[00:09:14] Mai Tai.
[00:09:14] I would choose a Mai Tai.
[00:09:15] Can you imagine being by the pool with a martini?
[00:09:18] No.
[00:09:18] All glass.
[00:09:19] Extra olives.
[00:09:20] I would never pick a martini over Mai Tai.
[00:09:22] So sorry about that.
[00:09:24] Yeah, BJ, you know, we laugh about the postcards.
[00:09:27] We are never not appreciative of you being on vacation thinking of us.
[00:09:33] It's the best.
[00:09:34] What a guy.
[00:09:35] I adore your postcards.
[00:09:37] I love that.
[00:09:38] They're the best.
[00:09:38] They're the best.
[00:09:39] We have one here from Mariel Abbott.
[00:09:42] Mariel Abbott.
[00:09:43] This is a picture of her with two sweet kitty cats.
[00:09:46] It says,
[00:09:47] Wishing you a Merry Christmas from Mariel, Milo and O'Malley.
[00:09:51] Oh, very cool.
[00:09:53] Hopefully she took advantage of the Pretty Litter sponsorship this year.
[00:09:56] That's right.
[00:09:57] Shout out to Mariel Abbott.
[00:09:58] Thank you so much, Mariel.
[00:09:59] I love that.
[00:10:00] Hey, let's do this.
[00:10:01] Let's take a quick break.
[00:10:01] We're doing a break.
[00:10:02] One.
[00:10:02] We're doing one.
[00:10:03] It's a one off.
[00:10:04] We got six more gifts, six more things and two gifts.
[00:10:07] Six more things and two gifts.
[00:10:08] Yeah, you get it.
[00:10:09] So let's take a quick break.
[00:10:11] We'll come right back and we'll get to those here on Deck the Hallmark.
[00:10:24] Welcome back, everybody, to the Mailbag episode.
[00:10:26] It's always very exciting.
[00:10:27] Up next, we have something from Alyssa and Ryan.
[00:10:30] Ooh.
[00:10:31] Okay.
[00:10:31] Okay.
[00:10:31] Are you Ryan?
[00:10:32] Who's the...
[00:10:33] She looks very nice.
[00:10:35] I don't know about this guy.
[00:10:36] Yes.
[00:10:37] Very, very cute dog.
[00:10:38] Is that a sweet puppy?
[00:10:39] Look at that pup.
[00:10:40] Look at that.
[00:10:41] It's a Greenville pup.
[00:10:42] It's a Greenville pup.
[00:10:43] It is.
[00:10:44] From our family to yours, Ryan, Alyssa, and Luna.
[00:10:48] Oh, Luna.
[00:10:48] And then on the back it says, thanks for all that you bring to our lives.
[00:10:52] Wishing you happiness and blessings in this new year.
[00:10:54] With love, Ryan, Alyssa, and Luna.
[00:10:56] Ryan didn't write anything on the back.
[00:10:57] Not a personal note from Ryan.
[00:10:58] Not a personal note from Ryan.
[00:10:59] I always say he's not a very thoughtful guy.
[00:11:00] But very cute pictures of them.
[00:11:02] Oh, come on.
[00:11:03] Very great photo shoot.
[00:11:05] And shout out to Alyssa, who was able to get him out of the Power Rangers costume.
[00:11:09] Yeah.
[00:11:10] He was long enough to get these pictures.
[00:11:11] That's a big deal.
[00:11:11] And off to eBay.
[00:11:12] Yeah, Christmas party.
[00:11:13] And off to eBay.
[00:11:14] So this is big.
[00:11:14] I will be putting this card on eBay, though, for the highest bet.
[00:11:17] Of course.
[00:11:17] For anybody that wants to get in on this action.
[00:11:19] Do you want to give some hints at their address?
[00:11:22] There's zero in this one as well.
[00:11:24] Wow.
[00:11:24] Just giving it away.
[00:11:25] It's a big year for zero.
[00:11:26] A very special one next from somebody, two people close to our hearts.
[00:11:30] Yeah.
[00:11:31] Cullen Lilienthal household here.
[00:11:32] Oh, the firm reached out, didn't they?
[00:11:34] Elizabeth and Martin.
[00:11:35] Cullen and Lilienthal.
[00:11:36] Oh, look at that.
[00:11:39] The custom bank card they come up with every year.
[00:11:40] Look at that cocktail.
[00:11:41] Fill your home with joy, your heart with love, your life with laughter.
[00:11:45] I will.
[00:11:45] Merry Christmas and happy.
[00:11:46] Now what's the drink?
[00:11:47] The drink is the autumnal bourbon and cider.
[00:11:50] This seems real simple, too.
[00:11:52] Two ounces bourbon, four ounces cider, one ounce pumpkin spice syrup,
[00:11:55] garnished with a cider donut hole, and cherries.
[00:11:59] That sounds great.
[00:12:01] And I know they do the work.
[00:12:02] It is a picture of the drink.
[00:12:03] They practice, they test it out, and they make it, and they tell us all about it.
[00:12:07] I love that.
[00:12:08] It would be great if they just made us one.
[00:12:09] Yeah, that would be awesome.
[00:12:10] But they do enough.
[00:12:11] Yeah, I know.
[00:12:12] Thank you guys.
[00:12:12] No, but we could make us one.
[00:12:14] I wouldn't be upset.
[00:12:15] We have a card here from Nicole Beattie.
[00:12:18] It has, oh my gosh.
[00:12:19] Money in it?
[00:12:22] Her dues?
[00:12:23] She said in her dues.
[00:12:24] We have a Merry Christmas from the K-Only fans.
[00:12:28] Oh, we love them.
[00:12:29] It's K-Own as Yukon Cornelius.
[00:12:33] That's exactly right.
[00:12:33] There he is.
[00:12:34] And then here's K-Own with the apples are okay, but I prefer a nice pear sticker.
[00:12:40] Very nice.
[00:12:41] Which I love.
[00:12:41] Oh, and it looks like Nicole is...
[00:12:43] Oh, Nicole.
[00:12:44] Is it Hermie down there?
[00:12:45] Hermie.
[00:12:46] There you go.
[00:12:46] Hermie doesn't like to make toys.
[00:12:48] I love it.
[00:12:49] Dude, that's fantastic.
[00:12:50] Very nice.
[00:12:50] I have one more card and this was one that was handed to us at ChristmasCon.
[00:12:54] Oh.
[00:12:55] So someone did take us up on the software.
[00:12:56] It is also in cursive and it's also a lot of writing and so I want to get ahead of this
[00:13:00] and I want to apologize to Sarah.
[00:13:03] The card says Seasons Greetings.
[00:13:05] On the outside it said Joyeux Noël.
[00:13:09] Joyeux.
[00:13:09] Nailed that.
[00:13:09] Dear Bran, Dan, Brian and friends.
[00:13:13] I'm writing to you from, oh, that Vancouver.
[00:13:17] Please, please, please come and do an event at one of Antonio's restaurants.
[00:13:23] Oh, wow.
[00:13:24] The food is so good and you're missing out.
[00:13:26] When I watch Hallmark movies, I spend most of my time trying to figure out where in Vancouver
[00:13:32] it was filmed.
[00:13:33] So Bran's recaps are helpful if I miss any plot lines.
[00:13:37] Thank you very much.
[00:13:38] And then she did like a winky emoji.
[00:13:40] So I don't know.
[00:13:40] It sounds sarcastic.
[00:13:42] Your reviews are often more entertaining than the movies.
[00:13:46] Well, thank you.
[00:13:47] I listened to your hot takes on the on the on shopping Christmas unwrapping Christmas
[00:13:53] series as I wrapped this gift.
[00:13:56] Would I win the contest?
[00:13:58] Who can say don't know the rules?
[00:14:00] Anything goes.
[00:14:01] When I first heard you talk about Tyler Shaw, I thought that you were doing a bit.
[00:14:07] Sorry, Tyler.
[00:14:08] I've been listening to him ever since you had him come on your show.
[00:14:12] I know that you have this record already, but I thought that you should have it.
[00:14:16] The exclusive Canadian version as well.
[00:14:19] You all make me laugh for different reasons, and I hope that you never change.
[00:14:23] Joye Noël et bonne année.
[00:14:27] That's from Sarah.
[00:14:29] I love it.
[00:14:29] Very nice.
[00:14:29] And she says, I just wanted to hear Bran speak French.
[00:14:33] And she did.
[00:14:34] She sent us another Tyler Shaw record vinyl, and it is presented proudly upon our set here.
[00:14:45] I don't know if any of us could say it like that.
[00:14:48] It's displayed proudly here on the DTS.
[00:14:51] Gets the respect it deserves.
[00:14:52] It's presented proudly.
[00:14:55] Thank you for your service.
[00:14:56] I salute it every time I come in.
[00:14:56] That's exactly right.
[00:14:58] Oh, that was wonderful.
[00:15:00] Mine's a little shorter.
[00:15:01] We got a card here from Nathan and Sarah from showoff.work in South Carolina.
[00:15:07] So these folks have done a lot of work for us.
[00:15:09] If you came to Bramble Fest, the first three years of Bramble Fest, the guy with the beard
[00:15:13] and the tattoos who is doing all the sound production, his company is Show Off.
[00:15:17] He does logo making, branding, all kinds of stuff.
[00:15:20] And he and his business partner, Sarah, run that company.
[00:15:24] So very, very cool.
[00:15:25] That's very cool.
[00:15:25] Thank you, Nick.
[00:15:26] Thank you, Sarah.
[00:15:27] Show Off.
[00:15:28] What a show off.
[00:15:31] It says wonders of his love.
[00:15:32] May you know the wonders of his love.
[00:15:34] Merry Christmas and blessings to you in 2025.
[00:15:37] Why are you laughing about the blessings?
[00:15:39] It's funny.
[00:15:40] Well, I think I'm just, there's a long note on the back.
[00:15:43] Should Bram read it?
[00:15:45] Four words to sum up 2024.
[00:15:47] Travel, birthdays, riding, and cats.
[00:15:49] Ooh.
[00:15:49] In January, college friends Christine, Mirna, and I flew to Big Sky, Montana to celebrate Sandy's birthday.
[00:15:55] Sandy was already up there, I guess.
[00:15:56] Sandy Beach.
[00:15:57] In April, I returned with friends to Grand Rapids, Michigan for Calvin University's Festival of Faith and Writing.
[00:16:03] In June, I visited Richmond, Virginia with my family to celebrate a great nephew, Rex's first birthday.
[00:16:07] This seems like a, so like a, a lot.
[00:16:12] Celebrated my friend Hank's birthday a few days later in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, and then headed west to Kodiak, Alaska for an amazing week-long winter's retreat.
[00:16:21] In November, I helped Mirna check a few more states off her list, hand mine, when we traveled to Missouri, Kansas, and Arkansas.
[00:16:30] You got all that, Brent?
[00:16:32] You got all that, Brent?
[00:16:33] I think he's mapping it out right now.
[00:16:34] You just see the road trip?
[00:16:37] I've been everywhere, man.
[00:16:39] And a week later, joined my brothers and their spouses in Connecticut for Thanksgiving.
[00:16:44] It's nice there in November.
[00:16:45] On the feline front.
[00:16:47] Yeah, I've been waiting for it.
[00:16:48] I said goodbye to 17-year-old Charlotte in August.
[00:16:52] Rest in peace, Charlotte.
[00:16:53] And a few weeks later...
[00:16:56] Are you okay?
[00:16:58] Yeah, you just gave me the chuckles, I'm sorry.
[00:17:02] I adopted a new kitten named Coco.
[00:17:06] One door closes, another one opens.
[00:17:08] Big thanks to my cousin, Meredith, for bringing both cats into my life at just the right time.
[00:17:13] It's been a long season, guys.
[00:17:14] I wish you and those you love a beautiful end of 2024 and a healthy and happy 2025 Merry Christmas.
[00:17:20] Amy, now...
[00:17:21] Thanks, Amy.
[00:17:21] She also sent a two-page devotional.
[00:17:25] Oh, great!
[00:17:26] Oh, it's front and back.
[00:17:27] Double-sided.
[00:17:28] Should we start this off?
[00:17:29] I think we're gonna skip...
[00:17:31] Oh.
[00:17:31] Well, we're not gonna skip it.
[00:17:33] No, we do it in the privacy of ours.
[00:17:34] We'll do it in privacy.
[00:17:35] That's right, of course.
[00:17:36] That's for us.
[00:17:37] Yeah.
[00:17:37] That's for us, guys.
[00:17:38] Fantastic.
[00:17:39] Yeah.
[00:17:39] That's very sweet.
[00:17:40] Very thoughtful.
[00:17:41] Can you give me an overall gist about the devotional?
[00:17:43] You get a vibe on that?
[00:17:44] Yeah.
[00:17:44] It's called The Days in Between.
[00:17:46] Oh!
[00:17:46] And it's an Advent devotional.
[00:17:48] That's very sweet.
[00:17:48] I get it.
[00:17:49] I love an Advent devotional.
[00:17:50] There's some bold lines, I think, that are the points.
[00:17:52] The important ones.
[00:17:53] All right.
[00:17:54] I got a gift.
[00:17:55] Ooh!
[00:17:55] I got a gift from Julie, and this is always exciting.
[00:17:58] So let's...
[00:17:59] Ho!
[00:18:00] Oh!
[00:18:00] Look at this guy!
[00:18:01] Hello!
[00:18:02] Well, we're gonna add this to the set, right?
[00:18:04] Look at this hen.
[00:18:04] It's a hen.
[00:18:06] I think it's a little chickadee-dee-dee-dee-dee.
[00:18:08] That's nice.
[00:18:09] Chickadee-dee-dee-dee-dee.
[00:18:09] What was that?
[00:18:10] I don't know.
[00:18:10] It's like a kid's song.
[00:18:11] I got some gum.
[00:18:13] Airhead gum!
[00:18:14] What?
[00:18:15] Open that up, and that's what the people want.
[00:18:17] Can you reach it after that?
[00:18:19] We have something in a bag.
[00:18:22] It's something in a bag.
[00:18:24] Something in a bag.
[00:18:25] Ah!
[00:18:26] Ah!
[00:18:27] Calm down.
[00:18:27] Why didn't Aaron open this bag?
[00:18:28] This is what happens when you don't open stuff, Aaron.
[00:18:31] No!
[00:18:31] I got it!
[00:18:33] The sticker's really good.
[00:18:34] It's a good sticker.
[00:18:35] Did she make that sticker?
[00:18:36] Okay, here we go.
[00:18:36] She makes everything.
[00:18:37] I know.
[00:18:38] She's amazing.
[00:18:40] Okay.
[00:18:40] That's a nice play.
[00:18:41] You got yours open?
[00:18:43] Cool.
[00:18:44] I'll just do that one then.
[00:18:45] Bran, Daniel, Brian, and Aaron, happy holidays.
[00:18:48] Here's a box of snacks to get you through the rest of December.
[00:18:51] We should have opened this in December, I guess.
[00:18:53] We were supposed to open this in December, so hopefully this is still good.
[00:18:56] Oh, man.
[00:18:58] Hopefully it's still good.
[00:18:59] Airhead gum slapped.
[00:19:00] More card in here.
[00:19:01] Does it?
[00:19:01] And then she says, I've also wanted you guys to meet Mabel.
[00:19:05] She would like to be in the running for Bramble Jam chicken of the office.
[00:19:10] Very nice.
[00:19:10] Oh, that's I.
[00:19:12] Chicken of the week.
[00:19:12] Fried or?
[00:19:14] And then she sent us all a little stick.
[00:19:16] Oh!
[00:19:16] Okay, so Brian, you get a Christmas tree.
[00:19:20] Oh, that's a nice.
[00:19:20] I get these VHS tapes of Jingle All The Way, Elf, Santa Claus, and Home Alone.
[00:19:25] It was very cool.
[00:19:26] That's going to go on my laptop.
[00:19:27] Love this.
[00:19:27] Aaron, you get an all booked up for Christmas or all booked for Christmas.
[00:19:32] I'm going to try to.
[00:19:32] Love this.
[00:19:33] That didn't work at all.
[00:19:34] That was honestly.
[00:19:35] And then Dan, you got this little light of mine.
[00:19:37] I'm going to let it shine.
[00:19:38] It's a little dumpster fire.
[00:19:39] I think that's very funny.
[00:19:41] I love it.
[00:19:41] And then a big bumper sticker that says, keep honking.
[00:19:44] I'm listening to the 2000's classic Sandstor.
[00:19:48] Which is wonderful.
[00:19:49] We'll put that somewhere.
[00:19:51] That goes on the set too, I think.
[00:19:52] And then just a lot of candy.
[00:19:54] We got, this is for you, Brian.
[00:19:55] We got the Christmas trees.
[00:19:56] Oh, I love this.
[00:19:57] You guys want to see a trick?
[00:19:59] Oh!
[00:20:01] Hot chocolate truffles?
[00:20:02] Hot chocolate truffles?
[00:20:03] Dude, we need to try this on the show, right?
[00:20:04] We gotta try all this.
[00:20:05] Every single one, I think.
[00:20:06] Hot chocolate truffles.
[00:20:07] Oh, they're all individually wrapped too.
[00:20:11] That's very nice too.
[00:20:11] So we're not getting the postal flu from that.
[00:20:14] No, we're not.
[00:20:15] Can't get it on the inside.
[00:20:17] That's right.
[00:20:19] Oh man!
[00:20:21] That was a quality throw.
[00:20:22] That looked dangerous.
[00:20:23] Wow!
[00:20:24] Oh, good.
[00:20:26] Those are amazing.
[00:20:27] Oh, they're...
[00:20:29] Holy moly.
[00:20:31] Oh my God.
[00:20:32] That was really good, Julie.
[00:20:34] The members left their mark here.
[00:20:36] Yeah, they sure did.
[00:20:37] Snickerdoodles.
[00:20:37] They should name it that.
[00:20:38] Snickerdoodle Lint chocolates.
[00:20:40] Oh.
[00:20:40] Which is delicious.
[00:20:44] Oh, okay.
[00:20:46] Gummies.
[00:20:47] Skittles?
[00:20:48] Yeah, not mad about that.
[00:20:49] Skittle gummies, yeah.
[00:20:50] Junior Mints.
[00:20:51] Oh, are those?
[00:20:52] M&M's.
[00:20:53] Oh man.
[00:20:54] And then a bunch of nerd clusters.
[00:20:56] Julie, you know us well.
[00:20:57] That's what they call us.
[00:20:58] A nerd cluster.
[00:20:59] You know us well.
[00:20:59] Thank you so much.
[00:21:01] This was wonderful.
[00:21:02] This was wonderful.
[00:21:03] What a gift bag.
[00:21:05] Man.
[00:21:06] What a box.
[00:21:06] Howdy.
[00:21:07] Could eat that whole bag of truffles.
[00:21:08] That was really great.
[00:21:09] Yeah, I think I'm gonna...
[00:21:10] Just in case you get to the restaurant, I'm gonna take a few.
[00:21:12] Yeah, just take a few for the road there.
[00:21:13] Wow.
[00:21:14] What a box.
[00:21:15] I got...
[00:21:15] We all got these little gift bags from Kathy Arzeus.
[00:21:20] And I think you guys already have yours on your tree.
[00:21:23] I already put it on my tree, yeah.
[00:21:24] So I brought mine in so I could just show...
[00:21:26] For next Christmas.
[00:21:27] Yeah, of course.
[00:21:27] This is an egg nog ornament.
[00:21:30] Nogaclaw custom ornament.
[00:21:31] I got a four for two.
[00:21:33] You got a four for two?
[00:21:33] I got a correct.
[00:21:34] I got a Christmas tree.
[00:21:35] It looks so good on the tree.
[00:21:35] Because you understand how it works.
[00:21:37] Yeah, I don't know.
[00:21:37] So you would know schematically if it's correct.
[00:21:40] So thank you so much, Kathy.
[00:21:41] See, I think there might have been a card, but I think that's at home.
[00:21:45] Very nice.
[00:21:45] Very, very nice.
[00:21:47] And then the last one.
[00:21:47] It all comes down to this.
[00:21:48] It's from Lynn Austin.
[00:21:50] Oh.
[00:21:50] Hi, Lynn.
[00:21:51] Hi, Lynn.
[00:21:52] Ooh, we got more truffles, I think.
[00:21:53] Oh boy.
[00:21:55] Another bag of Snickerdoo.
[00:21:57] Okay.
[00:21:57] Snickerdoo.
[00:21:58] Snickerdoo.
[00:21:59] Snickerdoo or Snickerdone?
[00:22:00] Snickerdone.
[00:22:01] Snickerdoo or Snickerdone?
[00:22:02] You know what I mean?
[00:22:03] You said it for him.
[00:22:05] Snickerdoodle truffles.
[00:22:06] Not mad about that at all.
[00:22:08] He was so good.
[00:22:09] Dude, those hot chocolate truffles.
[00:22:12] Aaron, I don't know if we have enough to go around.
[00:22:14] Sorry.
[00:22:16] Freedom Rockets, huh?
[00:22:17] Wow.
[00:22:18] Oh, that's why we don't share with you.
[00:22:20] We have a North Pole Nutty Buddy, which I gotta be honest.
[00:22:24] My favorite.
[00:22:25] Sounds like the best thing in the world.
[00:22:27] I've never heard of that, but I'm here for it.
[00:22:30] Dear Dan, Aaron.
[00:22:33] Brand Dan, Aaron, and then Brian is crossed out.
[00:22:35] Okay, even Brian.
[00:22:36] She finally does that.
[00:22:37] Aw.
[00:22:37] She came around.
[00:22:39] I know.
[00:22:39] Really good.
[00:22:40] I'm still coming around.
[00:22:42] I know.
[00:22:43] Christmas is magic.
[00:22:45] Hope the holidays are everything you've dreamed of and more.
[00:22:48] Dear Brand Dan, Aaron, and okay, even Brian Harold, just a little something for your DTH
[00:22:54] tree.
[00:22:54] Also enclosing some sweet treats because y'all are truly my favorite nutty Hallmark buddies.
[00:23:02] Wishing you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and a 2025 pill with joy and shenanigans.
[00:23:07] Thanks for all the laughs.
[00:23:09] Your number one on my list, love and hugs, Lynn.
[00:23:13] Very nice.
[00:23:14] Very nice.
[00:23:14] We love that.
[00:23:15] And there's one other gift in here.
[00:23:16] Yeah, I think that goes something.
[00:23:17] She's mentioned something going on the tree.
[00:23:19] So this could be.
[00:23:20] All right.
[00:23:20] This could be it.
[00:23:21] Drum roll.
[00:23:21] Should we do like a 35 second drum roll while he opens this?
[00:23:24] Bam.
[00:23:24] Bam.
[00:23:25] He's opening up the thing.
[00:23:27] Bam.
[00:23:28] Bam.
[00:23:29] Bam.
[00:23:29] He's opening up the thing.
[00:23:31] Of course.
[00:23:31] Bam.
[00:23:32] Bam.
[00:23:33] He's opening up the thing.
[00:23:35] He did it.
[00:23:35] Bam.
[00:23:36] Bam.
[00:23:36] He opened up the thing.
[00:23:38] Ooh, that's fun.
[00:23:39] Oh, is that a Christmas tree?
[00:23:41] Is that a little Debbie Christmas tree ornament that has our names on it?
[00:23:46] Oh!
[00:23:46] Brian, Dan, Brian, Aaron, Alonzo, Jackson, Ryan.
[00:23:49] Oh my goodness.
[00:23:49] That's what is going on the tree right now.
[00:23:51] I love it.
[00:23:51] So great.
[00:23:53] One more of these.
[00:23:54] Another drum roll please.
[00:23:55] Brrrrrr.
[00:23:56] Yeah, absolutely.
[00:23:57] Yeah, for sure.
[00:23:58] Looks great.
[00:23:59] And we did it, everybody.
[00:24:01] Congratulations to us.
[00:24:02] Another mailbag down.
[00:24:05] Another year in the books.
[00:24:08] Mm-hmm.
[00:24:08] Mm-hmm.
[00:24:09] I think the only way that we could possibly kind of put a bow on the season that was and
[00:24:16] the season that is to come is by coming back tomorrow and doing a January preview.
[00:24:20] Yes.
[00:24:21] You want to put a bow on both of those things?
[00:24:22] I want to put a bow on this season by moving into the next one.
[00:24:25] And so it's kind of like a bow and a bow plus.
[00:24:28] That's exactly right.
[00:24:29] So come on back tomorrow.
[00:24:30] We'll preview the January movies.
[00:24:31] It's going to be a lot of fun.
[00:24:32] Until then, maybe you're the first to wish you a Merry Christmas.
[00:24:35] Yes.
[00:24:36] Deck the Hallmark is a Bramble Jam podcast.
[00:24:37] It's produced by Aaron Shea.
[00:24:39] What?
[00:24:39] For more information on Deck the Hallmark, you can go to DeckTheHallmark.com.
[00:24:43] For more information on the Deck the Hallmark family, you can go to BrambleJamPlus.com.
[00:24:47] Deck the Hallmark is presented by Philo TV.
[00:24:49] For a free trial of Philo, go to philo.tv slash DTH.
[00:24:59] You're about to hear some ads that help keep the lights on here in the old studio.
[00:25:05] Thanks for listening or don't listen.
[00:25:07] It's really up to you at this point.
[00:25:10] It's at the end of the show.
[00:25:11] I mean, you're listening to me.
[00:25:13] Hi.
[00:25:13] But here they come.
[00:25:15] I promise they're coming.
[00:25:16] Yep.
[00:25:16] Here they are.
[00:25:17] Happy day.