Silly Mom Thoughts

I have decided to take a break from my short story entry to write a blog. Okay, it’s actually less of a break and more of a writer’s block, if I’m being honest. If you have a great way for a Nazi soldier-turned-good to smuggle 6 concentration camp refugees out of Poland, I’d love to hear your suggestions.

But I digress… Lets talk about something a little more festive, shall we?

In my opinion, Christmas music is one of the best things about this time of year. Although Turk is a big ‘ol Scrooge who says no one should listen to Christmas music before Thanksgiving, I have been known to pop in my favorite Christmas songs around mid-November. I realized today that I have a pretty eclectic mix of songs on my Christmas playlist. Take a look for yourself:

My Spiritual Christmas Playlist

• All Is Well by Michael W. Smith- This song is peaceful and angelic and reminds me of an amazing concert I was involved in with my church’s choir.
• Breath of Heaven by Amy Grant- I loved this song before I had children, but since I have become a mother I have truly found personal meaning in the lyrics. “I am waiting in a silent prayer. I am frightened by the load I bear.” How true those two sentences are for any pregnant mother.
• Silent Night by the Celtic Women- Need I say more?
• O Holy Night by pretty much anyone- When this song reaches its peak at “Fall, on your knees…” it sends chills down my spine.

My Traditional Christmas Playlist

• Frosty the Snowman
• Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer
• You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch

My Popular Christmas Playlist

• Carol of the Bells by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra- Intense and totally exciting. My kind of music. Plus, I have a weakness of orchestra-infused rock.
• Tennessee Christmas by Amy Grant- I grew up listening to this song, and although I’ve never been to Tenessee, the lyrics mirror some of the things about the Northwest (like the part about no snow)
• Christmas in the Northwest by Brenda White- The entire song speaks to growing up in the Northwest, but these lyrics are especially poigniant to me: “Take away the presents/I still would have a tree/For Christmas in the Northwest/Is a gift God wrapped in green”
• Christmas Shoes by Bob Carlisle- Cheesy, yes, but it still brings tears to my eyes!
• This Gift by 98 Degrees- My 9th grade self dreamed of being proposed to on Christmas Eve, and this song was what popped that idea into my head.
• Where are you Christmas by Faith Hill- I enjoy this song less for the Christmasiness of it, but more for the message of growing up and trying to find your place in the world.

My Off-Color Christmas Playlist

My family has a tradition of watching a South Park Christmas special every year. I realize that South Park is the furthest thing from “Christmas” as they come, but I can’t help but giggle at it. So, there are a number of Christmas songs that I enjoy that aren’t your traditional holy Christmas songs…

• O Holy Night by Eric Cartman- This line does it to me every time, “Jesus was born and so I get presents, thank you Jesus, for being born…”
• Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo- Who doesn’t love a good poop joke? “Squeeze him ‘tween your festive buns!”

One Christmas Eve, my mom and I went to a candlelight service after watching the South Park special. We were in a giggly, silly mood anyway, and once the piano player started the first bars of O Holy Night, we nearly lost our composure and started laughing. Ahhh, Christmas memories.

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Alright, enough procrastinating, back to my story.