OFFICIAL Card - Germany

 I still get so pleased when someone takes the time to try and match up the card they send to my wish list. While any card and message is appreciated, when it is a true "fit" it is great! Roxanne sent this card showing the Olympic Park of the 1972 Summer Games.

OFFICIAL Card - Australia

There have been many Olympic cards making there way to me lately. Each seems to be better than the last, so to speak. This card came from a family in Australia and shows the mascots for the games - Olly, Syd and Millie. Another great card you have to wonder where it has been spending the last 14 years!

OFFICIAL Card - Norway

Not everyday a handsome fellow comes to my mailbox! Alexander Tretyakov is a Russian skeleton racer and champion having won Olympic gold at Sochi in 2014. The card was sent to me from a family in Norway - thank you Daniel, Maria and Lidia!

OFFICIAL Card - Russia

So many cards put a smile on my face when I receive them and this one is no exception! Elena sent this card with a view of the stadium during the 1980 Summer Olympics Games in Moscow. What a fantastic image! I remember that time period very well. I was very involved in track and field at school and was so looking forward to watching the Games, which sadly didn't happen the way I envisioned it in my pre-teen mind. Elena has included her favourite quote from Jeanette Winterson "There's three things to believe in: Believe in yourself. Believe in what's better than yourself. Believe in the one you love". So true!

Random Act of Smiliness - Hu from China

Hu sent me this official card back In January. When I registered the card I mentioned that Jinan was one of the cities I visited on my tour of China in 2000. He responded and promised to send me another card. What a nice surprise to receive this card in April from him. Love the colours, I think they are such a stunning contrast! The Water Cube is a beautiful building. Thanks again Hu!

OFFICIAL Card - England

Every once in awhile a card just makes you stop. For me, this was one of them. Alison wrote one of the longest messages ever. If she were a friend I would of picked up the phone to tell her how much she brightened my day! The image itself has lots going on - it was issued for the 2012 London Olympics and has the flag, Big Ben, House of Parliament as well as some "athletes". Super card that made my day!

OFFICIAL Card - Norway

Hanna and Tomek are originally from Poland and are now living in Oslo, Norway. They sent this card to me during the Sochi Olympics. The action shot is from the Men's Gold Medal Game at the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics. They wrote this was the most exciting final games in hockey history. I'll be 100% honest, I could have watched the game but unless it was last week I wouldn't remember! Great card and honestly great condition given the game was 20 years ago.

Sochi Olympics from JJ

This past February my brother in law JJ was over in Russia covering curling for the Sochi Games. He has been involved with the television crew for most of the Olympic Games held in the past 20 years. He sent the kids and I these wonderful postcards. I really like the colourful designs that were used throughout the Games and border these cards. So fun and fresh! My nieces got the coolest backpacks in this material, kind of like a crazy quilt! The cards are super and I love JJ's choice of stamp.

Direct Swap - Walter from Germany

Walter had some rather unique Olympic themed cards he was offering via the forums for swap. This one caught my eye. It is a reprint from 1983 that the IOC did of a poster to celebrate the 10th Olympiad the 1932 Los Angeles Games. I had my last London 2012 card available so we were both happy with the swap. Thanks Walter!

OFFICIAL Card - Russia

A little over a week until the opening of the Sochi Olympic Games. You will know where to find me on opening night - glued to the TV with the kids! In all honesty, I can't say I watch that much of the actual sporting events, however I really do enjoy the lighting of the cauldron and the show that goes along with it. This card from Alexander in Moscow is a great addition to a few of my collections. While much more open, oddly Fisht Olympic Stadium reminds me a little of Bird's Nest Stadium. I also will be able to enjoy seeing my brother in laws work as he is part of the television crew covering the Olympics. Will you be watching any of the Games?

Random Act of Smiliness - Eileen from England

Eileen sent me an incredible birthday surprise back in October. Yes, I am still catching up on lots of things that are floating around my desk.  She wrapped the package in a museum brochure which was fun and colourful. The stamps she chose - wow, wow and wow!!! These have been floating around for a few years! Inside were lots of neat goodies - postcards (of course), a pencil that says "Postcrossing Rocks!", a 3D magnet and some fruity tea from her recent trip to Bulgaria as well as a Kit Kat bar from Japan. The chocolate bar was very different. No idea what the flavour was supposed to be but it was covered in white chocolate and much whiter inside than the ones you buy here. Very much appreciated and makes turning another year older that much easier. Thank you Eileen!

OFFICIAL Card - Netherlands

I think some cards just find their person. This is a great example. Amber and Marleen are a mother and daughter Postcrossing team who sent this card to me in September. Marleen writes "What a coincidence I bought this card yesterday at a second hand shop". That is an understatement! What are the odds of finding a card in pristine condition (even the cut outs are perfect - no bends!) that is 15 years old and the next day selecting a name and that person has Olympics on their wish-list. I would but a lottery ticket! The card shows Tonny de Jong, an Olympic hopeful for The Netherlands in the 1998 Nagano Games. Once again, great stamps too!

Have you ever had some hard to believe coincidences like this?

OFFICIAL Card - Australia

I am the first to admit while I do like nice stamps I am most definitely not a stamp collector. I think maxicards are a cross between a postcard and stamp collectors dream! I was very surprised when this Olympic maxicard came from Pattie in Australia. It is my first and only maxicard I have ever received. The card commemorates the Atlanta Paralympic Games in 1996. Somehow, this has been kicking around for 17 years before it made it to my mailbox!

OFFICIAL Card - China

This card was a nice surprise when it came to me. Kind of thought that cards featuring Beijing 2008 would be few and far between, luckily for me Huaming sent this to me. The stamps he chose are beautiful. I included more of the back than I normally like to as I wanted to show them all.

OFFICIAL Card - Finland

I love learning new things. I find it helps keep me in a positive mental state. As a stay at home Mom, it is kind of easy to lose yourself in all things kid oriented or in running the household. So the little bits that I pick up through the cards I receive help to ignite the spark and keep me on my toes.

This card is one that taught something I never knew. Raisa-Hannele lives in a city outside of Helsinki called Espoo. The card she chose to send me shows a reproduction of a vintage travel poster advertising the Olympic Games of 1940. Games that were cancelled due to World War II. To be honest that was something I never knew and never really thought of and it did surprise me when I saw this as I know Helsinki hosted in 1952. You can read a bit more about the situation here. Raisa-Hannele also wrote to say that it was a "big thing" then and it was also the first time she tasted Coca-Cola. Love little details like that!

OFFICIAL Card - England

Keith lives right in London, England and wrote how much he enjoyed having the Olympics in his city last year. The card he sent shows the Olympic Rings during the 1936 Berlin Games. Super card!

Thank You Card - Aliessia from China

Aliessia and I swapped cards awhile back. She liked the view card I sent her so much she followed up with a thank you card for me. Very sweet of her! She wrote telling me she was able to volunteer for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. That would have been a fun experience!

Direct Swap - Maria from Greece

Maria posted in the forum looking to receive certain types of cards to round out her collection. Lucky for me maps from Canada were some of the cards she wanted, so we agreed to swap. In return for the Ontario map I sent, she sent me this great little bit of everything gem. If I can "only have one" card from a country, for me it would be a map. So to have a map, flag and several views, including the Olympic Flame, is a real treat. Then a Christmas stamp to top it off - perfection!

OFFICIAL Card - Finland

Minna from Kauhajoki, Finland sent this card to me. She is number 3 on cards sent from that country  - a staggering 8,000+ cards. She wrote me telling me about her town, and her hobbies. The cards shows views of the city of Hameenlinna which hosted events as part of the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games. A nice treat to get that view!

Direct Swap - Aliessia from China

Sometimes if I have too many swaps on the go I just have to say no. I do feel bad if someone has requested a specific card as I know what it can be like to try and build a collection (hello last state map of Connecticut anyone!). Aliessia contacted me late last year and while I did have to say no I suggested she contact me in the new year. I am glad she did as when I went through her trade albums she had several great cards from the Beijing Olympics. I finally chose this one as it showed all of the mascots together. The card she wanted to swap for - a pretty snowy scene as her name translates to snow. Prefect swap! I had to include the whole back of the card as the one floral stamp Aliessia is one of the prettiest I have ever seen.