I have always loved music. I think it was inborn. I had some great exposure to music from the time I was tiny, so I'm sure that impacted me in some way. I don't love ALL music, but I do loves a lot of it. Christmas music is some of my most favorite. Rex won't let me listen to it year round, (and admittedly, even I would probably get sick of it right about March or April), but as soon as Thanksgiving is over, buddy, I'm all about the yuletide tunes.
Naturally, some of what I enjoy are the songs (and particular renditions of songs) that I grew up with. There are many however, that I never knew as a kid that are some of the most necessary songs for me to hear at Christmastime now. It's like it wouldn't be Christmas without those songs.
I've actually chosen a favorite Christmas song. I'm sure that those of you who know me well are picking your jaws up off the floor about now because you know that I don't choose favorites, particularly favorite songs. I like so many different songs so well that I don't like to commit to just one favorite. But, when it comes to Christmas songs, I've decided that there is one that moves me like none other, so for now, it is my absolute favorite, with many other favorites coming in close behind. It's called "O Magnum Mysterium" and it's by Morten Lauridsen. The song is an a cappella choral piece that I sang with the SWBTS Oratorio Chorus about 10 years ago, and it is breathtakingly gorgeous. If I knew how to put music on here, I would upload it, but since I don't, you should just get on YouTube and listen to it. There are many choirs that sing it on there--maybe I'll even upload the one from my CD.
I think if I had to choose one Christmas album that is my favorite, I would pick Nat King Cole's The Christmas Song. Gotta have that one, even if I don't have any of the others. Interestingly enough, neither my favorite Christmas song nor my favorite album were ones I listened to growing up. There are still plenty of those though. Maybe next time I'll make a top 10 list of my faves. That would be fun. Until then, I'm signing off and going to bed since it's late . . . again.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Tra-DISH-Un
I have always been a little put out by the whole idea of tradition for tradition's sake. But some tradition, I think, can be really good. Holidays seem to always be a time replete with traditions, at least in many families. My family always had certain traditions at Christmastime when I was young, but as I grew up, many of those have sadly gone by the wayside. As a matter of fact, I'm not sure there are any that have stood the test of time. Busyness and hectic schedules seem to be the primary enemies of those old traditions. What's more, I'm not sure Rex and I have ever established any of our own traditions for Christmas since we've been married. Every year brings something different and it's hard to make traditions stick when your plans are constantly in flux. Now that we have a child, I want that to be different. I want to have some special traditions that we share. I'm not sure yet exactly what they all will be, or how they will play out, but I am determined that we will have them.
We bought Nathan the Fisher Price Nativity this year, and gave it to him this past weekend. I wanted him to have a Christmas toy that he could play with, especially since there are so many other Christmas decorations that he can't play with. I chose the nativity because I want to use it to tell the story of Christmas--of the baby Jesus who was born that blessed night and brought light and hope to the world. I want the history to come to life for my young son and the truth of it to grow and deepen in the coming years as he hears it told again and again. He'll have visual and tactile learning as he also hears the Scriptures being read from Luke 2. And one day when he's older, I want him to be able to use the nativity to tell the story. That's one of the traditions I plan to begin with our family.
On a lighter note, Rex and I have also decided that each year we will take Nathan to the store and let him pick out a Christmas ornament of his choice. This year I actually picked one out for him--it's a miniature Tigger-in-the-Box, and Tigger actually pops out when you turn the crank. It's adorable. But next year, we'll let Nathan choose his own ornament and hang it on the tree. This is a fun way to make Christmas memories to enjoy every year, and also build Nathan's own ornament collection.
My brother and his wife were unable to come for Christmas last year, but they are definitely coming this year. We are so excited. One of the things that my brother wanted to do when they come is to celebrate some of our old family traditions. We used to always have our family Christmas on Christmas Eve. First, we'd all dress up and go to the Christmas Eve service at our church, which was always beautiful. On the way home, we'd take the scenic route and look at Christmas lights. Once we got home, we'd take some pictures in front of the Christmas tree, eat snacky-type foods and then sit around the tree and open our gifts to each other. Afterward, we always drank Braum's egg nog. So this year, in remembrance of our old traditions, we are going to try and do all those things on Christmas Eve. I imagine it will be very nostalgic, even though it will also be very different.
I'm looking for new and creative ideas for meaningful Christmas traditions and would love to hear what kinds of special things that others do for the holidays. Please share!
We bought Nathan the Fisher Price Nativity this year, and gave it to him this past weekend. I wanted him to have a Christmas toy that he could play with, especially since there are so many other Christmas decorations that he can't play with. I chose the nativity because I want to use it to tell the story of Christmas--of the baby Jesus who was born that blessed night and brought light and hope to the world. I want the history to come to life for my young son and the truth of it to grow and deepen in the coming years as he hears it told again and again. He'll have visual and tactile learning as he also hears the Scriptures being read from Luke 2. And one day when he's older, I want him to be able to use the nativity to tell the story. That's one of the traditions I plan to begin with our family.
On a lighter note, Rex and I have also decided that each year we will take Nathan to the store and let him pick out a Christmas ornament of his choice. This year I actually picked one out for him--it's a miniature Tigger-in-the-Box, and Tigger actually pops out when you turn the crank. It's adorable. But next year, we'll let Nathan choose his own ornament and hang it on the tree. This is a fun way to make Christmas memories to enjoy every year, and also build Nathan's own ornament collection.
My brother and his wife were unable to come for Christmas last year, but they are definitely coming this year. We are so excited. One of the things that my brother wanted to do when they come is to celebrate some of our old family traditions. We used to always have our family Christmas on Christmas Eve. First, we'd all dress up and go to the Christmas Eve service at our church, which was always beautiful. On the way home, we'd take the scenic route and look at Christmas lights. Once we got home, we'd take some pictures in front of the Christmas tree, eat snacky-type foods and then sit around the tree and open our gifts to each other. Afterward, we always drank Braum's egg nog. So this year, in remembrance of our old traditions, we are going to try and do all those things on Christmas Eve. I imagine it will be very nostalgic, even though it will also be very different.
I'm looking for new and creative ideas for meaningful Christmas traditions and would love to hear what kinds of special things that others do for the holidays. Please share!
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