Yours Faithfully, Amanda

December 27, 2017 Dear Jane, Season's greetings and Merry Christmas, my dear friend! But more importantly, Happy Belated Birthday! I know not if you are aware of this (I, myself, would surely lose track), but you recently celebrated your 242nd birthday on the sixteenth of December in the Year of Our Lord, two-thousand and seventeen. Quite the milestone, I must say! Happily, I celebrated your birthday in the best way possible and I shall tell you all about it in this letter. Before I get to that, however, it is also worth noting that Christmas was but two days ago and as it was my darling nephew's first, it was a most joyous occasion. And to make it even more special, we woke up to a beautiful blanket of Christmas snow which was ever so charming and festive. Being amongst my family for the holiday was the best gift I could ever ask for. Merry Christmas from the Forkers and von Gootkins! Now to return to your birthday festivities. The sixteenth of December began with an ...

December 29, 2015 Dear Jane, As I sit on my sofa in Queens, waiting for my dear mama's lasagne to warm in the oven, I find myself happily reflecting on the joyous Christmas I had with my family. I truly had the most delightful week at home and I miss it terribly already! I am all astonishment at how quickly the holday passes by and find myself overwhlemed at the thought of having to  prepare for the approaching new year. Fortunately, my resolutions have been declared and will be put to the test when two-thousand and sixteen arrives in three days time.  I dare say I was inspired to write you a letter this evening after watching a movie called "Becoming Jane." It is a wonderful (though at times rather fictional) movie about your life as a young lady in Hampshire. As a hopeless romantic, I confess that I am quite moved by the story. The movie implies that you were madly in love with a Mr. Tom Lefroy and almost eloped with him. Unfortunately for your most avid admirers,...

January 9, 2015 Dear Jane, I fear that you won't be surprised to know how horrid I feel that I have not yet wished yourself or my gentle readers the happiest of Christmases or the grandest of New Years. Pray, take comfort in the fact that the new year has renewed my intentions to write as often as possible (without becoming a burden, of course). Our lovely Christmas tree. In truth, I can hardly believe that the New Year has once again come and our lives have already taken up the same busy pace of last year without a single backward glance. Why must one feel so forlorn after the holiday season ends, Jane? How dreadfully I miss the glad tidings of Christmas, with it's abundance of delicious foods, dear friends and family and general gaiety all around; it was such a tremendous time. However, I suppose there's truth in the sentiment that all good things must eventually end, for if we only knew good things, then we would never appreciate these truly special moments ...