

As with every year, I've got good news and bad news. The bad news is that every year, there's a handful of ladies who sign up and then don't end up sending a mug. It really bugs me. And I know it's especially disappointing to the couple of ladies who don't get a mug. So, please, if there's a remote chance you'll forget, not follow through, or change your mind about this down the road, please X out of your browser now.
The good news: I'm ready to start gathering names and info!
Now, let me also just be real with you for a moment: My primary vocation is wife and mother. As a result, I won't be snappy in responding to emails. My children and homeschooling and making sure my husband is well stocked with homemade salsa come first. That may mean that it feels like you're waiting forever to be paired up. (I promise it won't actually be forever. Just check back on the FB group now and then. I'll keep it updated.) I do ask for and appreciate your patience. There's nothing in this for me other than seeing you ladies connect up over our shared love of Christ Jesus, our Lord, and our Lutheran Confessions.
And mugs.
With all those caveats, let's get this show on the road.
1. After you fill out this form, I'm going to pair you up with another Lutheran gal and send you both the
information you'll need to know about one another (names and addresses,
etc.). That means that you must fill out the form in its entirety--with correct email addresses and zip codes and the whole shebang.
2. Put together a little care package for her. Add as many goodies to the package as you'd like -- as long as it doesn't cost you more than $20.00 -- but you have to at least include a mug. (Thus . . . a mug swap.)
3. Stick that package in the mail! Sending an email to your swap buddy to let her know it's on its way won't hurt either. (Keep in mind that mailing something also has a cost.)
4. Wait for your package to arrive. If you don't get it around the time it should arrive, send an email to your swap buddy and politely check in.
SIGN UPS ARE NOW CLOSED! IF YOU MISSED THE DEADLINE, NOT TO WORRY. WE'LL HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT TIME.
Happy five-year mug-swap-iversary! We made it to a milestone of mug swappery. High five for that.
Now, I've got good news and bad news.
Let's rip off the band-aid. Bad news: Every year, there's a handful of ladies who sign up and, for whatever reason, don't end up sending a mug. This is bothersome to me. I know it's sad to the couple of ladies who don't get a mug. So, please, if there's a remote chance you'll forget, not follow through, or change your mind about this down the road, please X out of your browser now.
The good news: I'm still giving the swap a go this year, despite having four kids 5 and under, homeschooling, and trying to keep track of my dairy farming husband. It may not always be feasible, but for this year it is. So
thank you for being understanding if I don't reply to a query or email
super fast. I'm probably wiping up spilled milk or breaking up a squabble over who gets to wear the Davy Crockett coonskin hat first thing in the morning.
A few reminders on how this works:
1. I'm going to pair you up with another Lutheran gal and send you both the information you'll need to know about one another (names and addresses, etc.).
2. Put together a little care package for her. Add as many goodies to the package as you'd like -- as long as it doesn't cost you more than $20.00 -- but you have to at least include a mug. (Thus . . . a mug swap.)
3. Stick that package in the mail! Sending an email to your swap buddy to let her know it's on its way won't hurt either.
4. Wait for your package to arrive. If you don't get it around the time it should arrive, send an email to your swap buddy and politely check in.
![]() |
Mug quotation: "It’s got to go bang and it has to be fun, otherwise I won’t come!" - Karlsson, from The World’s Best Karlsson, by Astrid Lindgren |
You guys. We have been swapping mugs for four years.
FOUR. YEARS.
What started out as me being all millenial-ish AKA miffed that other people were having delightful little swaps and the Lutheran ladies weren't in on the fun has turned into all of us being one year away from a five-year-anniversary of mug swappery!
Earlier this year, a lot of you joined in the non-mug mug swap, where you sent e-gifts to our pastors, deaconesses and others on the front lines of spiritual care this year. It was great seeing firsthand how big the hearts of LCMS women can be.
So here we are--finally--ready to swap real mugs again in 2020. Two things I ask in advance: (1) Please don't sign up in you aren't 100% committed to sending a mug. I like this swap. I don't like having to follow up with people because they didn't uphold their end of the deal. Don't be that girl. (2) Thank you in advance for your patience. I've got a four little children and a husband to care for, and this mug swap--as fun as it is--isn't my first priority. They are. So thank you for being understanding if I don't reply to a query or email super fast.
Now . . . are you ready to swap?
SIGN UPS ARE NOW CLOSED!
1. I'm going to pair you up with another Lutheran gal and send you both the information you'll need to know about one another (names and addresses, etc.). You're matched up with one person, and she's matched up with you.
2. Put together a little care package for her. Add as many goodies to the package as you'd like -- as long as it doesn't cost you more than $20.00 -- but you have to at least include a mug. (I mean, this is why it's called a mug swap.)
3. Stick that package in the mail! (But seriously, for real, because having to track people down who don't hold up their end of the bargain makes me grumpy.)
4. Give your mailman the friendliest wave ever while waiting for your package to arrive. He holds the keys to you getting that mug . . . and maybe the presidential election . . . so go easy on him.