Happy New Year - Celebrate!

Happy Birthday Jesus - Brooklyn Tabernacle

Silent Night - Mannheim Steamroller

Wexford Carol - Alison Krauss and Yo Yo Ma

This is still the most beautiful rendition of this carol I have ever heard.

Blessed Is The Child - Kristen Trayer

Carol of the Bells (for 12 cellos) - Steven Sharp Nelson

If you like your classical music with a modern twist, you're going to love this guy. Steven Sharp Nelson (The Cello Guy) is half of a duo called "The Piano Guys." The other half is Jon Schmidt.) They just released their first album "YouTube Hits Vol. 1. You can go to thepianoguys.com to read all about them and buy the music.

The first video is Steven playing "Carol of the Bells (for 12 cellos)." The second is called "Classical Music at 180 mph." The third is "Cello Wars Light Saber Duel."

O Holy Night - David Archulet, and Special Announcement

This is one of the most heartfelt renditions of this song I have ever heard. Listen to this, then watch the second video to see why he is so emotional.

Camouflage and Christmas Lights

Away In A Manger - Susan Boyle

Do You Hear What I Hear? - Eclipse

While You Were Sleeping - Casting Crowns

And The Winners Are . . .

"Pride and Popularity" goes to Bonnie.

"Cold River" goes to RandomlyKait.

"Crossed" goes to Donna Weaver.

"Variant" goes to janneish.

Congratulations to the winners! Happy reading, everyone!

Go Tell It On The Mountain - Toby Keith and Jewel

Angels We Have Heard On High - David Archuleta

A Baby Changes Everything - Faith Hill

Christmas Medley - North Church iBand

This is pretty cool! Who knew there were so many instrument apps on iPad and iPhone? (Not me. I'm an HP and Android kind of gal.) There is actually a Christmas hymn, mixed in with all the secular music. Listen for it at 1:40. The OCD part of my brain wants to run up on stage with my little lens cleaning cloth and wipe all the fingerprints off the screens.

Breath of Heaven - Amy Grant

Joseph's Lullaby - Mercy Me

I wonder sometimes about Joseph, who was technically Jesus' stepfather. He was the man chosen to protect and provide for the Savior of the World. He must have been a very good man.

Ding Dong Merrily On High - Christmas Flash Mob

This happened on the afternoon of Black Friday. I wonder how many shoppers had been awake all night and thought they might be hallucinating?

A Social Network Christmas

Pearl Harbor Day - I Won't Be Home For Christmas

I saw a comment on YouTube as I was searching for the right video to put up today. It said, "A real hero doesn't wear a cape. A real hero wears dog tags."

Thankful - Josh Groban

Christmas seems to be edging out Thanksgiving more and more all the time. At least the Christmas merchandising is doing that. What would happen if we start overlapping Christmas with some extra Thanksgiving?






Here's a thought. If someone says, "Oh, you don't need to get me anything for Christmas," take them at their word. Check out Heifer International where you can buy a heifer, or a flock of geese, or even a llama to give to a family in a 3rd world country so they have the resources to improve their lives. Then you can customize a gift card to the person who has everything, explaining you have made a donation in their name.

I Was Not His Father - Michael McLean

This is from "The Forgotten Carols" by Michael McLean. You can buy the CD here. There is also a companion book and DVD.

O Come All Ye Faithful/Hallelujah - Mariah Carey and Patricia Carey

Their singing styles are different, but you can certainly tell where Mariah gets her talent. I knew Patricia Carey was an opera singer, but I never knew what her voice sounded like until now.

Do You Have Room? - Shawna Edwards

"Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus." ~Neal A. Maxwell~





If you like this song, you can go to Shawna Edwards website, where she is offering your choice of either a free copy of the sheet music or the original recording. All you have to do is leave a comment on her blog telling either (1) your favorite Christmas memory, or (2) how you are making room for the Savior in your life. Click on the button in the right-hand column and follow the instructions. How easy is that?

Los Pastores a Belen - David Archuleta and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir

I can't find a good translation of "Los Pastores a Belen," but it has something to do with shepherds running to the stable to see the Christ child (and I think somebody loses a shoe, and there's something about bread). Whatever, I'll probably be singing along every time I hear it, even if I don't know what I'm singing.



This was from the 2010 Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert. You can buy the CD, or the DVD of the whole concert, with David Archuleta and Michael York, at this link.

Christmastime - Hilary Weeks

I just love Hilary's voice. And I love her trust in God. From her blog:

"I have learned that God's hand is ever present in my life, that His miracles and promises are real, that He makes us enough and more, that every good gift comes from Him, that He is aware of this project, that He has inspired me to reach for lofty goals, that He will provide a way, that there are reasons for everything, that we can trust Him, that if we follow where he leads we'll find ourselves in amazing places, that He loves me and that the future is incredibly bright."

Sometimes, I just need to hear somebody say that.

Hilary just released a new album called Every Step, which debuted at #6 on Billboard's Christian Albums list. The first single is "Beautiful Heartbreak." You can find the video here. If you know someone who likes more mellow Christian music, this would make a very nice Christmas present.

"Christmastime" is from Hilary Weeks' album of the same name. You can click here to order it from her website.