Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas!!! Today marks the end of our Music Advent so I have two songs that I want to share because they both have different messages that I want you to remember today. The first song is Hallelujah (Light Has Come) by Barlow Girl. I know this week some of the Christmas songs haven't really been "classic" Christmas carols but I wanted everyone to remember the meaning of Christmas. Sunday I talked about Christ being a gift to us, today is the day to celebrate and remember that God gave us His only Son to show His love; I can't imagine that kind of love. That is the ultimate act of selflessness. Parents, could you imagine giving your only child away to someone who needed them? I can't and I'm not even a parent. This song is sung as though it is Mary singing about Christs' birth. She is in awe of this little baby and she is praising God that He allowed Christ to come down and save us. Such a beautiful song, keep it in mind today as you celebrate with your loved ones.

The second song that I would like to share is Where Are You Christmas? I think this is a good song to end our advent. I just heard this arrangement a few days ago and fell in love with it. I like instrumental music but I think the little girl at the end adds so much to the song. I almost cried the first time I heard it, just sayin'. The message that I want you to gain from this song is that the joy and peace of Christmas doesn't have to come just once a year. Keep your heart and mind open with thoughts of love and joy, and you can have that Christmas feeling all year round.

 

Where Are You Christmas w/ lyrics 

I know that life is hard and it's difficult to keep those thoughts of love and joy all year. So just remember that there is someone out there who loves you so much that He gave you His son. It is that love that should drive your year. Show compassion to those around you, think of others before yourself, and you will receive blessings that you never thought possible. 

  

^"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." Matthew 5:7-9

Merry Christmas and God bless, 

Jessy <3

Music Advent Calendar - Merry Christmas Darling

Merry Christmas Darling.../dreamy sigh. This song is dedicated to all of those friends and family that I can't be with this Christmas. I want to wish my Mom and Dad, Alex, Bailey, and Michael, Aunt Beth, as well as all of my in-laws, a very Merry Christmas. I can't spend Christmas with any of you this year and I just want to say that I love you all and I miss you.

There are also so many friends that I wish I was spending time with too. I am not going to name names because I don't want to forget anyone. lol You all know who you are. :) I would love to have one year when I could gather all of my family, and my friends (who are my extended family), to have Christmas with Andrew and I; I guess I have to start playing the lottery. That would be the most awesome Christmas ever. /let down sigh...Until then just know that I love you; I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year.

Sending Christmas Wishes,
Jessy <3

Music Advent Calendar - I Celebrate the Day

I older I get the more I see commercialism taking over the simplicity of Christmas. The real reason that we celebrate Christmas is to celebrate Christs' birth, not see how many presents we can get underneath the tree, or who has the best decorations outside their house. The reason we give presents is because Christ was given as a present to us, and I think that has been forgotten. I love this song because it reminds me that Christ is a present that was sent from God; he was born so I can live with Him someday. I urge you to remember Christ's gift not only at Christmas but always. Lets try to take away the Christmas commercialism and focus on helping others, spend quality time with family and friends, and remember what Christmas is all about.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. ¹⁰ Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. ¹¹ For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” ¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

^{Luke 2: 8-14 NKJV}

Remembering Christ this Christmas,

Jessy <3

Music Advent Calendar - All I Want for Christmas is You

How could I forget this song?! It's a classic! They play it every year, on all of the Christmas stations. Maybe to a fault. lol Doesn't matter, I still love it!

What is your favorite Christmas song? Is it one of the ones I've listed, or do you have another one?

Music Advent Calendar - The Grinch Song

The Grinch...of course I couldn't go the whole 25 days without putting this song in there. Have you ever actually listened to the words to this song? They are hilarious!!

Hope you don't have a Grinchy Christmas,
Jessy <3

Musical Advent Calendar - Carol of the Bells

Okay, so as I was saying, I am definitely finding new arrangements that I love. This video combines a new arrangement with lights. I love it!! I've always loved it when people make their Christmas lights sync with music, they are brilliant and have more patience than me. This song is just pure awesomeness!

Enjoy!
Jessy <3

Music Advent Calendar - The Christmas Song

Ahhhh, the Chipmucks; I love them! They are so cute. This has been one of my favorite songs since I was a little kid. I love how they want to sing it over and over, I would've let them. lol

Your Caroler,
Jessy <3

A Day of Silence

Today is the blogger day of silence for the victims of Newtown so I will only post once but I have a song that I want to share. I had a different song picked out for today's Music Advent Calendar, but this one seemed more fitting for a day of silence. Casting Crowns takes a classic song and makes it truly beautiful.

Peace on Earth is something that we strive for but like recent events prove, the Earth may never attain real peace. This song says, "There is no peace on earth...For hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men."

Even though there may be no peace on Earth this song also holds a promise that says, "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep. The wrong shall fail, the right prevail with peace on earth, good will to men." Only God is strong enough to give the peace that passes all understanding. I don't know why such horrendous things happen but one thing is for sure, God always uses everything for good. Even in the darkest hour, He gives us a glimmer of hope and love.

Today I pray for the people of Newtown, I pray that God will give peace to those families that are without their children this Christmas. My prayer is that God will take this horrible situation and use it for good and my hope for you is that you will remember what Christmas is really about. Put the Christ back in Christmas this year; hold your family tighter, show love to others, and open your heart and mind to what God has to show you.

 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. 
Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27

With Love, 
Jessy <3 
 

Music Advent Calendar - Silent Night

Silent Night, what a classic. I love Olivia Newton John's version, she has such a pretty voice

Your Caroler,
Jessy <3

Music Advent Calendar - Mary Did You Know?

Mary Did You Know is a song that reminds me of Mom-mom. She used to have Kenny Rogers album and would listen to it over and over at Christmastime. I also love the message in this song.

Is there a Christmas song that makes you nostalgic?
Jessy <3

Music Advent Calendar - Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer

Mele Kalikimaka reminds me of Mom-mom, this song reminds my Mom of Mom-Mom. I had never seen the video for it before. It's not quite the video that I had pictured but it makes me laugh. Was I the only person who thought Cousin Mel was a guy? Probably...lol

Lover of Fun Christmas Songs,
Jessy <3

Music Advent Calendar - Mele Kalikimaka

Mele Kalikimaka /happy sigh....This song reminds me of Mom-mom, my Grandma, not really sure why but it does. It makes me smile every time I hear it. :)

Wishing you a Hawaiian Christmas,
Jessy <3

Music Advent Calendar - Il est né le Divin Enfant

I had never heard this song in French until this year. I've heard it sung in English by ze French Peas. So I'll include both just in case you haven't heard the song before. I'm sure some of the words are different, but you'll get the gist. :) Enjoy!

Lover of French Carols & Veggie Tales, 

Jessy <3

Music Advent Calendar - Santa Baby

Okay so a few days back I told you that there are some songs that must be sung by certain people, this another one. I love Santa Baby, but it MUST be sung by Ms. Eartha Kitt. She makes it sound so flirty and fun, and that's how it should be. Are you picky about any Christmas songs and their artists?

 

Your Picky Caroler, 

Jessy <3

Music Advent Calendar- Angels We Have Heard on High

This song was one of my favorites when I was growing up. It brings back fond memories of Christmas plays, and singing in our small church's choir. :)

Your Reminiscent Caroler,
Jessy <3

Music Advent Calendar - Grown-Up Christmas List

This song always brings back memories of a very hard Christmas. One Christmas, about 16 or 17 years ago, someone very dear to my heart was going through a really rough time in their life. I remember the tears, the heartbreak, and this song. I was old enough to know the truth about Santa so this was my prayer. My prayer was that God would take away this persons pain and suffering, and replace it with joy and peace.

Christmas is always portrayed as this happy, fun, joyous time of the year but in reality sometimes Christmas is not. I think at Christmas-time we tend to reminisce a little more than usual. We remember the good times, we think about our loved ones, and we all have the "perfect Christmas" laid out in our minds. But then the more we reminisce, the more we remember the loved ones that we've lost, the friends and family that are too far away, and the hard times that we've experienced over the years.

This Christmas my prayer for you is that your Christmas will be blessed; that you will be filled with love, joy, and peace even if you are in the midst of sorrow and suffering. Try not to dwell on your past, but instead look forward to your future. Mary and Joseph were not rich, they were far away from home, and baby Jesus was not born in the perfect place, but God blessed them. I think God planned Christ's birthday in such a way in order to remind us that there is hope, light, and joy even if you feel like you are sitting in the gutter; remember that Christ laid in a manger among the sheep.

 

Jessy <3

Music Advent Calendar - O Holy Night

I love the older carols. O Holy Night is so simple and pure; it's beautiful. I really like this version, these women have such amazing voices. There is not much else to say, it is pure beauty.

Your Speechless Blogger,

Jessy <3

Music Advent Calendar - The 8 Polish Christmas Foods

Ok so call me a little kid but I love VeggieTales. I have the whole Christmas album that this song is from and I thought this would be a little more fun than The 12 Days of Christmas. So on the 8th day of our Music Advent I present to you The 8 Polish Christmas Foods. Enjoy!

 

Your Young at Heart Caroler, 

Jessy <3

Music Advent Calendar - What Child is This?

This has got to be one of my absolute favorite Christmas carols. I loved singing it when I was little. While putting together the list of songs for this Music Advent Calendar I realized that I've gotten away from listening to some of the "older" carols. I think I'm going to have to put some of these on my iPod so I can enjoy them again. :)

Going back to the basics,
Jessy <3

Music Advent Calendar - Baby, It's Cold Outside

There are some Christmas songs that have to be sung by certain artists, "Baby, it's Cold Outside" is one of them. This the version that I grew up listening to and I can't bring myself to listen to any other version. I've heard some on the radio and cringe; I feel like they've tainted the original song. So call me old school, but I love this version of this song. I hope you do too! :)

Your Old School Caroler, 

Jessy <3