Merry Christmas! This story always makes me laugh and get mortified all at the same time. I hope that this was NOT the case for all of you this year...
I was taking a shower when my 2-year-old son came into the bathroom and wrapped himself in toilet paper.
Although he made a mess, he looked adorable, so I ran for my camera and took a few shots.
They came out so well that I had copies made and included one with each of our Christmas cards.
Days later, a relative called about the picture, laughing hysterically and suggesting I take a closer look.
Puzzled, I stared at the photo and was shocked to discover that in addition to my son, I had captured my reflection in the mirror ---wearing nothing but a camera!
Each week I Am A Reader, Not A Writer chooses five questions, posts her answers, and invites everyone else to answer the questions, too! I decided to join in this week. Here are her answers.
The questions:
Red or Green? Favorite Christmas Carol? What do you want for Christmas? Favorite Holiday Treat? Favorite Holiday Tradition?
My Answers:
1. Red or Green? Red! My favorite color is pink, so naturally I go with red at Christmas time. :)
2. Favorite Christmas Carol? Oooh, that is a tough one. Ever since I was little, I have LOVED Christmas music and sing it year-round. But if I have to choose, I'd say "O Holy Night". I love playing that song on the piano.
3. What do I want for Christmas? Books! Plus, I'm getting a GPS from my parents, which I'm rather excited about. I tend to get lost easily.
4. Favorite Holiday Treat? My grandma's peanut butter balls and all of her Christmas cookies! Ohhh, and her Christmas jell-o! And cheesy potatoes. I know- not really a treat, but I think they are. ;-)
5. Favorite Holiday Tradition? I really like getting all dressed up on Christmas Eve and going over to my dad's cousin's house. There are usually about 60 of us over there. We have a lot of fun together. :)
First of all, Merry Christmas, everyone! I hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas day.
I started working on this song on the piano my junior year of high school but never had the time to finish learning it. I do want to do that sometime. I wanted to share this song today because the Hallmark Christmas movie I'm watching right now is all about these unique nutcrackers the guy makes and sells. I love this song.
This is a Christmas classic, so it had to be shared. Plus, I love that movie. It's my favorite Christmas movie.
White Christmas by Irving Berlin, sung by Bing Crosby I'm dreaming of a white Christmas Just like the ones I used to know Where the treetops glisten, and children listen To hear sleigh bells in the snow
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas With every Christmas card I write May your days be merry and bright And may all your Christmases be white
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas With every Christmas card I write May your days be merry and bright And may all your Christmases be white
I don't have much to say about this one, so I'll let this info do the talking: "'Hark the herald angels sing' Christmas Carol was written by Charles Wesley, brother of John Wesley founder of the Methodist church, in 1739. A sombre man, he requested slow and solemn music for his lyrics and thus 'Hark the herald angels sing' was sung to a different tune initially. Over a hundred years later Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) composed a cantata in 1840 to commemorate Johann Gutenberg's invention of the printing press. English musician William H. Cummings adapted Mendelssohn’s music to fit the lyrics of 'Hark the herald angels sing' already written by Wesley."
Hark the Herald Angels Sing Hark the herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King! Peace on earth and mercy mild God and sinners reconciled" Joyful, all ye nations rise Join the triumph of the skies With the angelic host proclaim: "Christ is born in Bethlehem" Hark! The herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King!"
Christ by highest heav'n adored Christ the everlasting Lord! Late in time behold Him come Offspring of a Virgin's womb Veiled in flesh the Godhead see Hail the incarnate Deity Pleased as man with man to dwell Jesus, our Emmanuel Hark! The herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King!"
Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Son of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings Ris'n with healing in His wings Mild He lays His glory by Born that man no more may die Born to raise the sons of earth Born to give them second birth Hark! The herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King!"
Everytime I hear this song, I want to get up and dance! It is sure to put me in the Christmas mood! I love to play this song on the piano, too.
Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree Rocking around the Christmas Tree at the Christmas party hop Mistletoe hung where you can see Ev'ry couple tries to stop
You will get a sentimental feeling When you hear voices singing "Let's be jolly; Deck the halls with boughs of holly" Rocking around the Christmas Tree Have a happy holiday Everyone's dancing merrily In a new old fashioned way
Rocking around the Christmas Tree Let the Christmas Spirit ring Later we'll have some pumpkin pie and we'll do some caroling
You will get a sentimental feeling When you hear voices singing "Let's be jolly; Deck the halls with boughs of holly" Rocking around the Christmas Tree Have a happy holiday Everyone's dancing merrily In a new old fashioned way
This is a song that my mom used to sing to me when I was a little girl. I LOVED this song. When I was in middle or high school, I realized that this song was in our one big Christmas piano book. So I learned how to play this song and do it every year now. :) Except we have never sung it with the country twang that is used in the video below. Lol.
Old Toy Trains Old toy trains, little toy tracks Little toy drums coming from a sack Carried by a man dressed in white and red Little boy, don't you think it's time you were in bed?
Close your eyes Listen to the skies All is calm, all is well Soon you'll hear Kris Kringle and the jingle bells
Bringin' old toy trains, little toy tracks Little toy drums coming from a sack Carried by a man dressed in white and red Little boy, don't you think it's time you were in bed?
Close your eyes Listen to the skies All is calm, all is well Soon you'll hear Kris Kringle and the jingle bells
Bringin' old toy trains, little toy tracks Little toy drums coming from a sack Carried by a man dressed in white and red Little boy, don't you think it's time you were in bed?
Close your eyes Listen to the skies All is calm, all is well Soon you'll hear Kris Kringle and the jingle bells
Bringin' old toy trains, little toy tracks Little toy drums coming from a sack Carried by a man dressed in white and red Little boy, don't you think it's time you were in bed?
When I was little, we had this song on a Christmas kids songs cassette tape. We'd listen to this song ALL the time in the car. I remember one instance in particular where we were belting this song out as we drove in the dark. For the longest time, not many people knew of this song when we talked about it. However, in recent years, it has become more popular, and I now hear it on the radio. It's even in the one book of Christmas songs that we have for the piano. I like to play it from time to time on there.
Nuttin' For Christmas I broke my bat on Johnny's head; Somebody snitched on me. I hid a frog in sister's bed; Somebody snitched on me. I spilled some ink on Mommy's rug; I made Tommy eat a bug; Bought some gum with a penny slug; Somebody snitched on me.
Oh, I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas Mommy and Daddy are mad. I'm getting nuttin' for Christmas 'Cause I ain't been nuttin' but bad.
I put a tack on teacher's chair Somebody snitched on me. I tied a knot in Susie's hair Somebody snitched on me. I did a dance on Mommy's plants Climbed a tree and tore my pants Filled the sugar bowl with ants Somebody snitched on me.
So, I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas Mommy and Daddy are mad. I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas 'Cause I ain't been nuttin' but bad.
I won't be seeing Santa Claus; Somebody snitched on me. He won't come visit me because Somebody snitched on me. Next year I'll be going straight; Next year I'll be good, just wait I'd start now, but it's too late; Somebody snitched on me.
So you better be good whatever you do 'Cause if you're bad, I'm warning you, You'll get nuttin' for Christmas.
There are apparently at least 2 versions of this song. I had a hard time finding the version I grew up with. I kept coming across the much slower version, and that one just drives me nuts because it's so much slower than I'm used to! Haha! So here is the version I like.
This was one of the first Christmas songs that I learned to play on the piano when I was in kindergarten or first grade. It was already my favorite Christmas carol at that time, but now it will always hold a special place in my heart. As a little girl, I was absolutely obsessed with the nativity, Baby Jesus in particular. We could not pass a nativity scene without me having to stop and stare at it for the longest time.
Away in a Manger Away in a manger, No crib for His bed The little Lord Jesus Laid down His sweet head
The stars in the bright sky Looked down where He lay The little Lord Jesus Asleep on the hay
The cattle are lowing The poor Baby wakes But little Lord Jesus No crying He makes
I love Thee, Lord Jesus Look down from the sky And stay by my side, 'Til morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay Close by me forever And love me I pray
Bless all the dear children In Thy tender care And take us to heaven To live with Thee there
I love the CD this song is from. I remember a couple years ago listening to this CD, and this song in particular, as we drove around my grandparents' subdivision in Michigan, looking at all the beautiful Christmas lights after our family Christmas. I felt so blessed to know that I have a family like the one described here...and that I always have had one. I didn't have to wait. I had such a family from the very beginning. I am blessed.
All I Really Want by Steven Curtis Chapman Well I don’t know if you remember me or not I’m one of the kids they brought in from the home I was the red-haired boy in an old green flannel shirt You may not have seen me – I was standing off alone I didn’t come and talk to you, ‘cause that’s never worked before And you’ll prob’ly never see this letter anyway But just in case there’s something you can do to help me out I’ll ask you one more time
All I really want for Christmas Is someone to tuck me in A shoulder to cry on if I lose Shoulders to ride on if I win There’s so much I could ask for But there’s just one thing I need All I really want for Christmas is a family
Well I guess I should go ahead and tell you now If it’s really true about that list you have Somehow I always seem to end up in a fight But I’m really trying hard not to be bad But maybe if I had a brother or a dad to wrestle with Well, maybe they could teach me how to get along And from everything I’ve heard Sounds like the greatest gift on earth would be a mom
All I really want for Christmas Is someone to tuck me in A shoulder to cry on if I lose Shoulders to ride on if I win There’s so much I could ask for But there’s just one thing I need All I really want for Christmas
Is someone who’ll be there To sing me “Happy Birthday” For the next 100 years And it’s OK if they’re not perfect Well, even if they’re a little broken, that’s alright ‘Cause so am I
Well, I guess I should go It’s almost time for bed And maybe next time I write you I’ll be at home
‘Cause all I really want for Christmas Is someone to tuck me in Tell me I’ll never be alone Someone whose love will never end Of all that I could ask for Well, there’s just one thing I need All I really want for Christmas All I really want for Christmas is a family
It's not Christmas without a little Joy to the World! How can you not be in a good mood while listening to this song??
Joy to the World Joy to the World , the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And Heaven and nature sing, And Heaven and nature sing, And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.
Joy to the World, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found, Far as, far as, the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love, And wonders, wonders, of His love.
Something more: The words and lyrics of the old Christmas carol 'Joy to the World' were written in 1719 by Isaac Watts (1674-1748). The father of John Watts was a Non-conformist and so extreme were his views that he was imprisoned twice. His father's influence over Isaac was demonstrated when he choose to attend Nonconformist Academy at Stoke Newington in preference to a University. Watts was ordained as a Pastor of an Independent congregation. He wrote many hymns and Carols and was awarded a Doctor of Divinity degree by the the University of Edinburgh in 1728. The music to the carol is by George Frederick Handel (1685-1759).
I love listening to this song all year long- not just at Christmas. The lyrics are so sweet and a wonderful reminder. This song is on the Christmas Shoes CD. That's how I originally heard of it. It's also on Newsong's Best Of album, or whatever it's called.
Light Your World by Newsong Two doors down one rocking chair is rocking She sits there all alone, her husband dead and gone The best years of her life they spent together He was always strong, but now she's on her own And the telephone never rings No one laughs, no one sings It's quiet there Does anyone care?
(Chorus) Light your world Let the love of God shine through In the little things you do Light your world And though your light may be Reaching only two or three Light your world
A knocking at her door breaks the silence She looks out to see a little boy from down the street She cracks the door, surprised that he came over Flowers in his hand like a little gentleman He said, 'I picked these just for you I hope you like the color blue Could I stay a while I love to see you smile.'
(Repeat Chorus) Light your world Let the love of God shine through In the little things you do Light your world And though your light may be Reaching only two or three Light your world
It only takes a little time To show someone how much you care It only takes a little time To answer someone's biggest prayer
This has become one of my very favorite Christmas songs in recent years. I love to listen to it, sing it, and play it on the piano. Playing it on the piano is probably my favorite way to enjoy it.
O Holy Night O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pining. Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices! O night divine, the night when Christ was born; O night, O Holy Night , O night divine! O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
Led by the light of faith serenely beaming, With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand. O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming, Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land. The King of kings lay thus lowly manger; In all our trials born to be our friends. He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger, Behold your King! Before him lowly bend! Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Truly He taught us to love one another, His law is love and His gospel is peace. Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother. And in his name all oppression shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, With all our hearts we praise His holy name. Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we, His power and glory ever more proclaim! His power and glory ever more proclaim!
Fascinating tidbit for you: The words and lyrics of the old carol 'O Holy Night' were written by Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure in 1847. Cappeau was a wine seller by trade but was asked by the parish priest to write a poem for Christmas. He obliged and wrote the beautiful words of the hymn. He then realised that it should have music to accompany the words and he approached his friend Adolphe Charles Adams(1803-1856). He agreed and the music for the poem was therefore composed by Adolphe Charles Adams. Adolphe had attended the Paris conservatoire and forged a brilliant career as a composer. It was translated into English by John Sullivan Dwight (1812-1893).
You really didn't think I'd leave this song out, did you??? I remember the first time I saw this movie. I was at my grandma's house in Michigan when it came out. Mom, Jen, Ma, and I all settled in with our blankets and pjs to watch it. Mom, Jen, and I were lined up on the couch, and Ma was next to us in the recliner. By the end of the movie, we were all crying and just kept passing the kleenex box up and down the row. :) Yes, that IS a good memory, even though it involved crying. ;-)
Christmas Shoes by Newsong It was almost Christmas time, there I stood in another line Tryin' to buy that last gift or two, not really in the Christmas mood Standing right in front of me was a little boy waiting anxiously Pacing 'round like little boys do And in his hands he held a pair of shoes
His clothes were worn and old, he was dirty from head to toe And when it came his time to pay I couldn't believe what I heard him say
Chorus: Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time You see she's been sick for quite a while And I know these shoes would make her smile And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight
He counted pennies for what seemed like years Then the cashier said, "Son, there's not enough here" He searched his pockets frantically Then he turned and he looked at me He said Mama made Christmas good at our house Though most years she just did without Tell me Sir, what am I going to do, Somehow I've got to buy her these Christmas shoes
So I laid the money down, I just had to help him out I'll never forget the look on his face when he said Mama's gonna look so great
Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time You see she's been sick for quite a while And I know these shoes would make her smile And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight
Bridge: I knew I'd caught a glimpse of heaven's love As he thanked me and ran out I knew that God had sent that little boy To remind me just what Christmas is all about
I didn't listen to or sing this song much until I got into high school. Then it was a part of our Christmas program every year, so we would sing it a couple times each year. Our program list of songs was too long to spend much time on any one song. Working on these beautiful Christmas songs is one of the things I DO miss about high school. I just chose to go with the Carrie Underwood version. It seemed to be one of the more normal versions. :)
Do You Hear What I Hear by Carrie Underwood Said the night wind to the little lamb Do you see what I see Way up in the sky little lamb Do you see what I see A star, a star Dancing in the night With a tail as big as a kite With a tail as big as a kite
Said the little lamb to the Shepard boy Do you hear what I hear (Do You Hear What I Hear) Ringing through the sky Shepard boy Do you hear what I hear (Do you hear What i hear) A song, a song High above the trees With a voice as big as the sea With a voice as big as the sea
Said the Shepard boy to the mighty king Do you know what I know (Do You Know What I Know)
In your palace wall mighty king Do you know what I know (Do You Know What I Know) A child, a child Shivers in the cold Let us bring him silver and gold Let us bring him silver and gold
Said the king to the people everywhere Listen to what I say ( Listen to what I say) Pray for peace people everywhere Listen to what I say (Listen to what I Say) The child, the child Sleeping in the night He will bring us goodness and light He will bring us goodness and light
I love that this song has gotten so popular in the "mainstream" world and is hopefully causing people to stop and think about the true meaning of Christmas and all the Christmas story implies.
A Baby Changes Everything by Faith Hill Teenage girl much too young Unprepared for what's to come A baby changes everything
Not a ring on her hand All her dreams and all her plans A baby changes everything A baby changes everything
The man she loves she's never touched How will she keep his trust A baby changes everything A baby changes everything
And she cries Ooh she cries Oh ohhh...
She has to leave, go far away Heaven knows she can't stay A baby changes everything
She can feel it's coming soon There's no place there's no room A baby changes everything A baby changes everything
And she cries And she cries Oh she cries
Shepherds all gather 'round Up above the star shines down A baby changes everything
Choir of angels sing Glory to the newborn king A baby changes everything A baby changes everything Everything, everything, everything Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
My whole life has turned around I was lost, but now I'm found A baby changes everything, yeah A baby changes everything
Even though it IS almost Christmas and this would probably be more effective at another time of the year, I still wanted to share this song.
Don't Save It All for Christmas Day by Avalon Don't get so busy that you miss Giving just a little kiss To the ones you love Don't even wait a little while To give them just a little smile A little is enough See how many people are crying Some people are dying How many people are asking for love
So don't save it all for Christmas day Find a way To give a little love every day Don't save it all for Christmas day Find a way 'Cause holidays have come and gone But love lives on If you give on Love
How could you wait another minute A hug is warmer when you're in it Oh, baby that's a fact And saying I love you's always better Seasons, reasons they don't matter So don't hold back See how many people in this world So needful in this world How many people are praying for love
repeat chorus
So let all the children know Everywhere that they go Their whole life long Let them know love
I had to buy this song off iTunes after it was played so much on the radio maybe 2 years ago??? Something like that. It's one of those songs that gets stuck in your head and just keeps getting played on repeat. Or at least that's how it is for me. ;-) I was so bummed to find out that they don't have this song on playlist.com. I wanted to add it to my Christmas playlist for my other blog, but I couldn't find it. :(
One Child by Natalie Grant The seed, it grows and somehow becomes a life It moves, she knows that her baby has arrived, She's so scared, but she's so blessed She lays down her fear for the hope at her breast for she knows...
[Chorus:] One million chains could never hold back this moment in time One thousand dreams could never dream what this moment truly means Heaven and earth, they cradle the infinite Joy born on this night For it only takes one Child to forever change the world
He stands beside her, he'd share her pain if he only knew how He whispers 'I love you' as he gently strokes her brow He's so scared, but he's so blessed There's a thundering pride pounding deep in his chest For he knows...
[Chorus:] One million chains could never hold back this moment in time One thousand dreams could never dream what this moment truly means Heaven and earth, they cradle the infinite Joy born on this night For it only takes one Child to forever change the world
Christ is born, we are blessed Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess That we know..
[Chorus:] One million chains could never hold back this moment in time One thousand dreams could never dream what this moment truly means Heaven and earth, they cradle the infinite Joy born on this night For it only takes one Child to forever change the world
This Baby cries and for the first time The world hears the voice of God weep Mary sings a lullaby As the Hope of the nations gently falls asleep She knows this is the one Child To forever change the world.
When I was little, I just knew this song was one of my mom's favorites. I remember someone singing it in our old church and going home to tell Mom (who was sick) that they played her favorite song at church. I would hear it from time to time after that and loved it each time, but I still didn't hear much of it. Then I got Amy Grant's latest Christmas CD 2 years ago, and this song was on there. I have that CD copied onto my laptop here at school, so for the past three Christmases, I play this CD almost constantly while I'm at school. This song gets me every time. :)
My Grown-Up Christmas List by Amy Grant Grown-up christmas list Do you remember me? I sat upon your knee; I wrote to you With childhood fantasies.
Well, I?m all grown-up now, And still need help somehow.(can you still help somehow) I?m not a child, But my heart still can dream.
So here?s my lifelong wish, My grown-up christmas list. Not for myself, But for a world in need.
No more lives torn apart, That wars would never start,(and wars would never start) And time would heal all hearts. And everyone would have a friend, And right would always win, And love would never end. This is my grown-up christmas list.
As children we believed The grandest sight to see Was something lovely Wrapped beneath our tree.(wrapped beneath the tree)
Well heaven surely knows That packages and bows Can never heal A hurting human soul.
No more lives torn apart, That wars would never start, And time would heal all hearts. And everyone would have a friend, And right would always win, And love would never end. This is my grown-up christmas list.
What is this illusion called the innocence of youth? Maybe only in our blind belief can we ever find the truth. (there'd be)
No more lives torn apart, That wars would never start, And time would heal all hearts. And everyone would have a friend, And right would always win, And love would never end, oh. This is my grown-up christmas list.
This is my grown-up christmas list.
I totally got chills watching this video, just reflecting on some things going on in my life and the lives of those around me.
