Well, It’s Christmas Eve Eve

Yep, I meant to type Eve twice. It is the "eve" of Christmas Eve. For as long as I can remember it is my favorite day of the holiday season. It is not quite Christmas ~ I still have time to finish those special sugar cookies my family loves ~ I still have time to go out and pick up anything I might have forgotten (or in my case for this year ~ I still need to finish shopping ~ I’m just so thankful that Amazon.com was able to help me as much as they did!) ~ I still have time to send out a card or two ~ I still have time.

And that mentality certainly walks hand in hand with the way I have approached and am about to enter this very special time of year. I’ve slowed down considerably ~ trying to stroll through the hustle and bustle rather than dart frantically here and there. I've listened intently to the Christmas songs (Christian and secular). I’ve discovered that I won’t be humming "Santa Baby" anymore ~ that the description of the Grinch in "You Are A Mean One Mr. Grinch" is very vivid and he was a pretty sorry soul before his transformation ~ that "Breath of Heaven" is a Christmas song and one of the most beautiful I’ve ever heard ~ that Mark Lowry sings "Mary Did You Know?" much better than anyone else.

I’ve spent more time watching some movies and shows with the family (it has always been hard for me to sit through a movie) and I continue to be convinced that the-older-the-better is still the way to go. The Walton’s Homecoming with Patricia Neal (a native of my state!) and Richard Thomas (my first love in the 70's ~ don’t laugh) is pure and fresh. In one episode on the Andy Griffith Show, Andy and a young lady (played by Gail Davis) sit on the front porch and sing a precious love song entitled "Down in the Valley" ~ it is one of the prettiest love songs I’ve ever heard. And I plan to watch It’s a Wonderful Life ~ again ~ but this time sticking with it from start to finish.:)

Slowing down this Christmas required me to consciously decide to do so. It has always been such a rush-rush situation for me ~ and in the end it is invariably anti-climatic because once that intense pace concludes it has always been a major let down.

I have truly tried to make this a different Christmas for myself and the family. In many ways I believe I have succeeded. At least I hope I have. I have determined that strolling through the preparation and festivities of Christmas has allowed me to see what is going on around me ~ to really listen to those Christmas lyrics instead of just knowing the tune ~ to appreciate the sweet spirit and cleanliness of the movies and shows of a time long, long gone by ~ to exert my energies in a way that hopefully I won’t feel that anti-climatic feeling anymore.

So I enter Christmas Eve Eve in a different place this year ~ and you know what ~ I like it. Merry Christmas!!! P.S. Just so you know, the beautiful home pictured above is not my house. :)

Joy To The World

Okay, okay, so my second song on the playlist is a bit perkier compared to music I usually play. I can see some of you smiling. You know, I do have my reasons for playing soft, slow moving, inspirational, and-at- times tear jerking music. I have my reasons.

You see, when I was growing up my father was a rock-n-roller. He fought alcoholism much of his life and all of my life ~ up until the time of his death. And for as long as I can remember I was raised on rock-n-roll. I know more secular songs then I can count ~ and quite a few that I don’t care to admit. I have many memories of the bass being turned up so loud that my bedroom floor rumbled under my feet.

So, I came to hate music with a beat - in particular rock-n-roll music. I desired a music that was calming ~ a music that would speak to my heart and soul. I know it sounds sappy but I am a sappy kind of gal. And, so, I fell in love with music that was gentle and soothing ~ for me that was and continues to be the epitome of beautiful music.

Over the years, some friends and relatives have teased me about not listening to secular music or even something they call "gospel rock" ~ but the rock of it all is too close to what I listened to my whole life. I simply have no desire to listen to it. I've had enough beat already to last me more than a lifetime. But I did decide to branch out tonight and play this really peppy Christmas song. It is simply beautiful! So ~ Joy to the World ~ joy that our Savior did come ~ joy that He saved my soul ~ joy that He continues to save souls ~ joy for good music!