Christmas 2012

Happy Christmas, Everyone! 
{That includes my favorite people currently "across the pond"!}

Today we celebrate the first step of salvation,

With love from the Monti's

And... just because I can't help myself...

I found another great Christmas song that's meant for kids but seems to sum the whole thing up... 

It's About the Cross by Go Fish

Christmas Eve 2012

I found another great Christmas song to add to my list of favorites...

How Many Kings by Downhere

The chorus is great... 
How many kings stepped down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
How many gods have poured out their hearts
to romance a world that's been torn all apart?
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?
Only one did that for me.
      

And... I heard Luke 1 read in church today and something struck me today that I've heard a million times before and glossed right over. 

Verse  48 says 

"For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me..."

 Mary knew, even then, right after the angel told her of what was going to happen (not what HAD) that all the world to come after would know of her honorable place in history and the immense responsibility that was placed upon her. 

There's nothing monumental to my point here, just that I cannot imagine being a young woman told of such an incredible future that I was to have and have the sense to believe and know that my name would be forever known and held in regaurd. 

She was a pretty special chick if you ask me! 

And that is all! 

Happy Christmas Eve! 

Kid's Songs that You Won't Hate

If you remember, a long time back I did a post about Scripture put to music for kids. Thanks to the help of some friend I got a bunch of great ideas and picked my favorites.
This time around I wanted to share with you a few more of our family's favorites (meaning the kids love them and Hubs and I actually like them too) and maybe I've mentioned them before but it's because they're just so darn good!

First up... an oldie but a goodie...
Slugs, Bugs, & Lullubies by Randall Goodgame and Andrew Peterson

CJ LOVES "God Made Me" from this album which thankfully YouTube has a link to. Go ahead! Give it a listen.

A new favorite of ours is another in the series of Slugs and Bugs called
Slugs & Bugs Under Where? credited to Randall Goodgame with a bit of input from Andrew Peterson, again.

There are samples of all the songs on this album at The Rabbit Room. Miss Mak's favorites are "Lightning Bug" and "Under Where?"

OH! And there is also A Slugs & Bugs Christmas CD available which has a few fun songs on it as well as some great new Christmas songs.

So... if I'm super convincing and you just can't wait to listen to this goodness and you'd like to save a little cash you can buy the set of three there is a bundle available also at the Rabbit Room HERE.

Christmas Favs 2001 {Winter Snow}

Hi, Everyone!
I discovered this song a few weeks ago on the Chris Tomlin Christmas CD we just purchased. This song was neatly tucked in at the end of the playlist and I immediately fell in love. The lyrics tell the story of God's grace in sending our Savior, not in a fiery brilliance but rather in the simplest way possible.
I hope you enjoy it too!

Winter Snow by Audrey Assad

Christmas Favs 2011 {Baby, It's Cold Outside}

Last year was my round of "25 Things to Get Done Before Christmas".
I have nowhere near the amount of energy or time required to follow that up with another 25.
Goodness, 2.5 sounds daunting!
So instead, I figure I'll just pass on my favorite Christmas "stuff" that I have stumbled across.
This year, my first share is a song that Hubs and I found on a favorite site of ours called "The Rabbit Room". The site is sort of a community for Christian "artsy" people. There's lots of thought provoking posts, tons of suggestions for quality books and music, and plenty of things to make you laugh.
Anyway, this is not your typical go at the classic song so give it a try, listen real hard, and tell me what you think.

We think it's hilarious!

“Baby, It’s Cold Outside”

by Andy Gullahorn and Jill Phillips

Phil Wickham - Beautiful

I've been thinking about my little "ode to Andrew Peterson" I'd shared last week. I realized that, though music is an incredibly large piece of my life, it's not something I've purposely shared with you. Not only do I enjoy just having it on in the background to set the mood, or to dance with my kids in the living room, but I believe it's an incredibly amazing platform to share ideas, feelings, truths... in a way that's easy to relate to. That being said, I wanted to share a couple other songs I've grown to love over the past few months for their simple truths... Enjoy! 

Phil Wickham "Beautiful"

and...
I heard this song for the first time on the radio a few weeks ago. I was in my car, alone, driving home from the store and my self-absorbtion was really striking me. It's amazing how quickly we can become complacent and forget our true purpose as believers. This song was exactly what I needed to hear... 

Matthew West "My Own Little World"

Andrew Peterson

I may have lied a little on my profile... I do have a couple of favorites and this man's music is one of them.
I first heard Andrew Peterson back in high school and have yet to be disappointed by anything he's written. He has a way with words and often makes the most seemingly complicated concepts of the faith so very simple. Listen and enjoy.

"Dancing in the Minefields" is just one of my favorites from him. There are MANY others...

"Holy is the Lord" - a beautiful song about Abraham's call to sacrifice Isaac 

"The Penny Song" - "...even just a penny is a treasure..." 

"The Chasing Song" - everyone's chasing after something  

"The Land of the Free" - keeping a heavenward focus 

One of his most popular discs is his Christmas album called "Behold the Lamb" which is anything but your traditional Christmas music. He walks you through the story of Christ starting back with the Israelite captivity in Egypt. I especially love the title track "Behold the Lamb".

He even has an album for kiddos called "Slugs Bugs and Lullabies". It's silly and fun and sweet. We love it. I hope you enjoy him too.

Do Tell... {Christmas Music}

 

I've always been a music lover and Christmas time is no exception. I've put together a few of my favorites, in case you're in search of some new albums or songs and would love if you'd share your favorites with me. My list is, by no means, thorough , there are just too many to choose from!

Worship
Andrew Peterson's album "Behold the Lamb of God" {the title track is my favorite}
Mercy Me's album "Christmas Sessions"
Kari Jobe's song "Adore Him"

Instrumental
Rosemary Beland & Mark Bracken's album "Winterbourne"
Jim Brickman's album "Coming Home for Christmas"

Classic Christmas:
Bing Crosby's album "White Christmas" {I especially love his "I'll be Home for Christmas"}

Nat Cole's album "Christmas Songs" {j'adore his version of "The Christmas Song"}
Crystal Theory's album "Christmas Chillout" 

Now, seriously, don't be shy. I'm always looking for new music.

And if spending money on music isn't for you there's always Pandora.com {a free custom online radio station} and playlist.com {where you can create your own playlist, for free, using their library}