Our house is crazy right now. I’m still trying to finish decorating our house (our tree has been up for two weeks and has no ornaments since Charlotte confiscated the Elmo ornament for her tree!) while also trying to get ready to leave this afternoon with Kelly for the Deeper Still conference in Birmingham. We have been planning this weekend since May and I’m so excited about it! I can’t wait to hear some great teaching and enjoy wonderful worship and have some more quality girl time with Kelly! IT should be a great weekend!
But there is lingering stress over getting our house looking good. I’m hosting a baby shower here next weekend for my good friend Leigh which I am SUPER excited about but my hours of the day have shortened by 1 since Charlotte’s just taking one nap a day now instead of two and there’s SO MUCH that still needs to be done! I’ll get it done I’m sure, I just want everything to be perfect for Leigh and Jack! We’re also having a Christmas party the next weekend so everything’s got to stay in good shape until then also! Craziness!
But we are enjoying the Christmas season so far. Seeing it through the eyes of a child who is starting to understand, or at least be amazed, is so much fun. Every time Charlotte sees a Christmas tree her eyes light up and mouth opens in delight. She can point out baby Jessus in the nativity’s that we have and we’re working on teaching her that Christmas is baby Jesus’ birthday. This is going to be such a wonderful holiday!
Helping get me in the mood is what I have to say is THE BEST Christmas playlist ever created. I’m telling you, it is awesome! I mentioned it on Twitter a few days ago and got a request to share it so I’m going to. Believe me, you need to download every song that I list if you don’t already have it! BUT I’m always on the lookout for new songs that will become my favorite so if you have a favorite song that I don’t include, please tell me about it because I’d love to try it out! I can’t promise it will make my awesome list (you can sense my half-joking-ness right??) but I will download it and give it a try! So without further ado… here’s my awesome Christmas playlist! (listed in alphabetical order based on album name since that makes it easier for me to look at it on my iTunes and make sure I tell you everything, but I listen to it in random shuffled order)
1. Kenny Chesney, “Just a Kid”
Great Christmas album (All I Want For Christmas is a Real Good Tan) but this song is the best.
2. Faith Hill, “A Baby Changes Everything”
I’m sure everone knows this song but I maintain that it is a wonderful song.
3. Third Day, Christmas Offerings — the entire album
FANTASTIC album! I love the fact that it’s more up tempo than most Christmas albums which makes it so good. My favorites are “Born in Bethlehem” and “Christmas Like a Child”.
4. Point of Grace, “Not That Far From Bethlehem”
Again, a great album but this song just speaks to me about the real meaning of Christmas.
5. Chris Tomlin, Glory in the Highest — the entire album
As you can see I’m more into the rock-ish versions of songs this year. Chris Tomlin is a fantastic artist and I love everything that he does. He’s able to get me seriously worshipping no matter if I’m cleaning the house or sitting down doing a devotional. My absolute favorites from this disc are “My Soul Magnifies the Lord” (if you don’t download another song I list, download that one!), “Glory in the Highest”, and “Born That We May Have Life”.
6. Kristin Chenoweth, “Born on Christmas Day”
I really like Kristin Chenoweth as an actress and so was excited to download her Christmas album, A Lovely Way to Spend Christmas. It has some great traditional Christmas songs on it but this is my favorite and the only one that made it into this year’s playlist.
7. Steven Curtis Chapman, “This Baby”
Steven Curtis Chapman’s Music of Christmas album is awesome and has been one of my favorites since I was little. But this song is the one speaking to me most this year.
8. Travis Cottrell, Ring the Bells — the entire album
Another FABULOUS album! Travis is an awesome performer and someone I had never heard of before I started following the Lifeway bloggers. My favorites from this album are “Ring The Bells” with Natalie Grant and “Jesus Saves”.
9. Alabama, “Christmas in Dixie”
If you live in the South how can you have a Christmas playlist without having this song on it?!? Reminds me that even though we don’t get snow every year it’s still lovely celebrating Christmas in the South.
10. Dave Barnes, Very Merry Christmas — the entire album
This download is new this year, again after the recommendation of the Lifeway bloggers (you know BigMama and BooMama right??). While I’m not 100% familiar with all the songs yet I know by Christmas I will be and so far I’m very happy I got the album. Right now favorites are “I Pray on Christmas” and “Mary and Joseph”.
11. Harry Connick Jr, What A Night! A Christmas Album — the entire album
A more traditional album but after seeing him in person in New York this summer I couldn’t not include it. Great traditional songs with Harry’s bluesy vibe to them. I especially love “Winter Wonderland” which his daughter Kate sings with him.
12. TobyMac, “This Christmas (Joy to the World)”
Another non-traditional song that I LOVE and that speaks to me about Christmas. Definitely a great one!
I hope this list gets you in the Christmas spirit like the playlist does me! But now off to finish up my packing and hit the road to Birmingham!
