It's Christmas Y'all!!!

I use music as mood therapy. When I pick up the kids from school and they are hyper from the long day of learning I slip a little classical music on car stero to calm them down. Or if we are on the way to school and they are sleepy we crank up the Silly Songs with Larry from Veggie Tales. If we're on our way to church and have had a less than spiritual experience getting ready for the day (who wrote "Easy Like Sunday Morning"? Obvious heathens, because I've NEVER had an easy Sunday morning) I'm likely to be blasting the gospel choir music to get us in tune.

I found myself needing some music therapy of my own as I tried to prepare for Christmas this year. Normally I'm the one skipping Halloween altogether and putting my tree up instead. Yes, we have actually had Thanksgiving dinner next to the twinkling lights of a completely decorated tree. My husband's family rents a chalet every year at Christmas in Gatlinburg, Tennessee and General Conference can tend to be a summit for holiday planning. We even have a website dedicated to gift exchanges, recipe's and who's on what team for dinner preparation. I have a drawer dedicated to obnoxious Christmas sweaters. I have a kid tree and a mommy tree and my daughter may just twist my arm into getting her a hot pink one just for her room. We are SERIOUS about this holiday y'all.

But this year, I just wasn't into it.

December 1st was dawning and I didn't want to see one red table cloth, one bow, or hear a jingle bell. Since closing our business this year our game room is crammed full of office furniture and files so there's no room for a kid tree this year. The rest of the house is overflowing with leftover furniture, below the wreath on the door handle is a lock box for realtor's who want to show our house which we reluctantly put on the market. So what! I'm having a stinky year and it's a little harder to sing those plucky Christmas carols.

So...back to the therapy. I dug out Celine Dion's Christmas album, "These Are the Special Times". Oh, I know she's not Spirit filled or baptized. I wish she were. But there is something in the reverance of "Oh Holy Night" that stirred my spirit.

A Thrill of hope

The weary world rejoices

For yonder breaks

A new and glorious morn

Fall on your knees

Oh hear the angel voices

Oh night divine

Oh night when Christ was

Oh night, Oh Holy Night

Oh night divine

I felt something melt a little. I think I even got a little misty. There were no lights decorated in preparation for his arrival so God lit the heavens with angels. The nations were in turmoil. The faithful were weary. The inns were full. But at the appointed time the miraculous was accomplished in an insignificant barn in Bethlehem. An event that has inspired songwriters throughout the ages. Maybe I'm not back to my jolly old self quite yet, but there is a quiet hope, a subtle thrill at least, at the mere remembrance of the gift of redemption. The words, the music, the celebration of Christ's remarkable arrival in such an unremarkable way gives lift to my soul.

So I light the candles. I hang the shiny bulbs. I even smile and hum along with Celine. And if the temperature ever gets below 80, I may just put on one of those sweaters.

A (Short) List of Christmas Favorites:

Christmas Song: "Oh Holy Night" the Mariah and Celine Dion versions...interchangeably

Christmas Snack: It's called "white trash" and it's white chocolate mixed with Chex cereal, peanuts, pretzels and m&m's and I'm so embarrassed to eat the unfortunately named mixture I only eat it at Christmas.

Fave Christmas Feast side dish: My mom-in-law's oyster dressing is SERIOUS y'all.

Fave Album: Lee Greenwood's Christmas album is the best hands down.

Movie: "ELF" LOVE IT!!!!

Best gift ever: One year my husband took one of my friends with him Christmas shopping so that he would have a better idea what to give me and I got the full Aveda skin care line that year.....sigh...good times.

Ultimate Venue: Every year the Ballestero's take over Gatlinburg, Tennessee. It'll be another tender Tennessee Christmas again this year.

Fave After-Christmas Diet: THE SOUTH BEACH DIET!!!