The sound of Christmas

I absolutely love this time of year. Christmas is by far my favorite season, in South Africa and in the U.S. My mom did a great job of making it such a special season and I hope to do the same with my family. One of my traditions is to buy a new CD or several Christmas-themed songs each year to add to our home playlist. I like to start playing it daily mid-November personally, just to get in the mood early. Where ever we may be living at the time, the music of this season does something extra special in my heart. Maybe it is the hope that was placed deep in me years ago that longs for days when there is no more war, pain or suffering. Some songs take me back to my childhood and others point my heart toward what I am truly longing for, my true reason for Hope in this season. The One who made the promise in the first place and gave us reason to hope after everything seemed hopeless, kept His word and made Him flesh.

However you may come to this season, I thought I would share some of my favorite CDs or compilations that I have purchased through the years. While I love chestnuts roasting on an open fire and Jack Frost nipping at the nose of those in cold places, I find I need songs that take my heart back to my true reason for Hope. So here is my list of holiday favorites. I hope you enjoy ;)

Bebo Norman: Christmas

Come, Let Us Adore Him: Compilation

Shane & Shane: Glory in the Highest

Phil Wickham: Songs for Christmas

Jars of Clay: Drummer Boy



Sara Groves : O Holy Night

Upon searching for links to these CDs I discovered a myriad of Christmas albums that I think would also help our hearts in this season. Here some new ones I am adding to my wish list for future Christmas albums :)

Christmas Album Wish List: 

Glory in the Highest(Chris Tomlin)

Hope for all the world(Phillips, Craig & Dean)

Christmas in Diverse City(Toby Mac)

Christmas All Around Us (Various Artists)

Bethlehem (Kari Jobe)

Taking My South African Husband to my Texan roots

Thanks to technology, satellites and google, last Saturday night I was able to show my husband the house and neighborhood I grew up in. I couldn't believe it when I saw it. I have told him stories of growing up in Houston, Texas and how much I loved those early years of my life there. I told tales of bike riding adventures to and from the neighborhood pool and the local 7-11. This was in the '80s when things were simpler and we were all vastly unaware of the innumerable dangers waiting outside your front door. Thankfully summer days and weekends were spent riding your red schwinn as fast as possible down to the pool and spending most of the day getting major sunburns and chlorine soaked bodies. I loved every minute of it. I showed him the park we used to play in and even the house where the bubble boy lived. Without leaving my parents condo in Atlanta, Georgia, we were able to travel nearly 830 miles to see my childhood home. What a great and inexpensive adventure we took. Somehow being able to show him those things brought happiness to my heart that night. 

Have you ever wished you could show the people you love the place you used to call home? Try it out on a date night; what a great way to have a deeper conversation with those you love.