Christmas time is HEEEERREEE!

***WARNING*** This entry you are about to read is more than likely going to have a major tangent and a slight brag. Please do continue reading but have grace on these personal hiccups, sometimes that is just how I roll. ***

Can you just hear the Charlie Brown gang singing this little ditty? Last year I posted about favorite Christmas shows/movies that usher in this holy time to me. Yep. The list is still unchanged for me. At this writing I have heard Buddy the Elf proclaim to a mall Santa that "..(he)sits on a throne of lies.." not being the real Santa and all. And we have watched Linus tell Charlie Brown and all American viewers the real meaning of Christmas from his recitation of the Gospel of Luke chapter 2. Amen Linus. I will catch up on the rest of my faves the week of Christmas I am sure.

But just yesterday I was asking my dear family their favorite Christmas songs. And I was surprised to hear their faves. So here goes another list.:

6. I like them all. Really. I have what Jane Austen would call a "serviceable voice" (slight brag warning) and will readily belt out any Christmas song that comes to mind, Jingle Bells, Winter Wonderland (Liz Phair does a great version of this), The Christmas Song (ala Nat King Cole please), O Tannenbaum, Mele Kalekimaka (Bing), etc. But since I want to finish this entry today I will try my hardest to stick to five.

5. Carol of the Bells. I like the instrumental versions a lot but the first time I heard this it was just voices and it is haunting, lovely, and evocative of the season (ooh, evocative, cool word, I even like just saying it...anyway). This was Anna's favorite. Good choice.

4. White Christmas by, who else, but Bing Crosby, of course. Well, now how in the world does a lifelong Texan, who has never seen a white Christmas (rainy, yes, snowy NO) in her whole life, find this song to pluck at her heart strings. It is EVOCATIVE I tell ya. I picture the dreamy scenes of Christmas it paints and aspire to help create that for my sweet familia, minus the snow.
3. It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year. Andy Williams and his rich jolly voice out singing the swinging brass playing the tune. I just gotta sing along when I hear it and pump up the volume to 11.

2. Silver Bells/Silent Night. These are David's and Sara's favorites respectively. Silver Bells is such a nostalgic song of the celebration that so many share and the "Merry Christmases" you hear being shared even amongst strangers. Silent Night was my favorite growing up because the tune so easily fits a child's range. But truly this dear song of praise and worship sung at midnight candlelight Christmas mass growing up (I grew up Catholic) was a time of awe and wonder to me.

And now my tangent. My hidden secret joy about Christmas music. It cannot deny the joy of the season of God's greatest gift of Love to us...Jesus the Christ. I know secular songs are on my list and I do dearly enjoy them but the songs of Christmas that grip my heart and yes even bring tears to my eyes are the ones that give glory to our Lord and Savior and remind us of the AMAZING LOVE laid at our feet by our Gracious Heavenly Father. And people around the world are hearing these songs of the gospel everyday through the mediums of the internet, TV, radio and all around really. And His word does not go out in vain. So now to my top favorite song:

1. O Holy Night. Josh Groban, Celtic Woman, Martina McBride have lovely versions but the melody and words give glory whenever sung.

O Holy night the stars are brightly shining

It is the night of our dear Savior's birth

Long lay the world in sin and error pining

'til He appeared and the soul felt its worth

A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices,

for yonder breaks a new and glorious morning

Fall on your knees, Oh, hear the angel voices

O night divive! O night when Christ was born!

O night Divine! O night , O night divine!

Merry Christmas dear friends! Joy to the World indeed.