my favorite CHRISTmas song

It's that time of the year when it's considered "legal" (figuratively) to play Christmas songs. It's all over the place - radio stations, shopping malls, TV commercials/shows, etc. I love it because I love the spirit these songs bring about Christmas, especially if those songs are indeed about our Savior (not Santa. Gosh, I hate "Santa Baby")

My husband and I have the same favorite Christmas song (well, at least he said so just recently). It's been my favorite since I was a little girl, maybe because I liked the melody even though I didn't understand much of the lyrics back then. The melody is so powerful, it always gives me the goosebumps.

Then one day, while we were visiting my relatives in California during the holidays (and attended their ward at church), this young man sang my favorite song. Only, I didn't know the COMPLETE lyrics before then. So when I heard him sing it with parts of the lyrics I've never heard before, I almost bawled. He sang it so well and so powerful and meaningful, I totally felt the message of the song. Before that day, I didn't pay so much attention to the song even though it was my favorite because I heard it all the time. But ever since that day, I always, ALWAYS stop and listen to the song and relish the whole meaning of it as it plays on our computer/radio.

I've attached a video below to go along with the song although it's not really the whole song in it. I'm having a hard time finding someone on Youtube with a complete lyrics of this song. As you read the lyrics & listen to the video, try not to overlook the message of the song no matter how very familiar it already is for you. I was actually singing it in my head as I was typing it here and I got the goosebumps again. The message is sweet.

(John Sullivan Dwight's Version)

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,

It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,

'Til He appear'd and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! O hear the angels' voices!

O night divine, O night when Christ was born;

O night divine, O night, O night Divine.

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,

With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.

So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,

Here come the wise men from Orient land.

The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;

In all our trials born to be our friend.

He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger,

Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!

Behold your King, Before Him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another;

His law is love and His gospel is peace.

Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;

And in His name all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,

Let all within us praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,

His power and glory evermore proclaim.

His power and glory evermore proclaim.

The Magic of Christmas...

Guess what! WE ARE FINALLY DECORATING FOR CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR!!!!!!

Yep! You got that right! We.are.decorating our house!!! For the first time in three years! We also bought our first Christmas tree.

setting up our first Christmas tree

It's actually my very first Christmas tree my whole life since my family and I always used a makeshift one. I will put up another picture once it's all decorated with ornaments (which won't be a lot - we're going to build up our number of ornaments as the year goes by). It's a big tree, we're actually gonna have to rearrange our furniture. I've also put up our handful of Christmas decor - a nativity, stockings, coasters, and 2 ornaments. It's not much but it's a start.

My sister-in-law made us a big decorative tile a few years ago with words from Luke 2:11: "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Chris the Lord." I still have to get a plate easel for it to stand next to our nativity. But there is another thing I want to add next to our nativity though (opposite the Luke 2:11 frame):

I found it from Pinterest and I love the message. It'll be perfect next to our nativity and it matches the other tile that my sister-in-law gave us. I would love our kids to see this all the time so each of us will be reminded that Christmas is not about the presents but about the birth of our Savior.

There are several Christmas songs that remind me most of the Christmas I knew when I was growing up. The top 2 for me are:

Carnie & Wendy Wilson's whole "Hey Santa" album

Ryan Cayabyab's album

The lantern in the beginning of the video (Ryan Cayabyab's) is actually the specialty in my hometown. I remember going home from school (an hour jeepney ride) watching these beauties in the streets, their lights dancing in the dark. They're beautiful.

On Christmas Day

Merry Christmas everybody!

On the 1st day of Christmas

This song is far too common or always heard that we hardly listen to the message of the song.  I had a hard time looking for the really complete version of this song before I found this video. His lyrics are also altered a bit, and he skipped the third verse (that's why I added the little girl's version at the bottom. She sang the third verse at 2:11 timestamp). Check the Wordpress one for, I think the original one. Most of the ones who sang this song (including Celine Dion and Josh Groban) didn't include the second verse, which is my favorite part of the song (especially the "behold your King" part). Today, I want you to try, as you listen to the song, to read the lyrics and really take into your heart its meaning.

Oh holy night, the stars are brightly shining,

It is the night of our dear Savior's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
'Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
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 born.
Oh night divine! Oh night, oh night divine!

Led by the light of a faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star is sweetly gleaming,
Here came the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay in lowly manger;
With all our trials, born to be our friend.
He knows our need, to our weakness no stranger,
Behold your King! Before the lowly bend!
Behold your King! Your King! Before Him bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother.
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
Noel! Noel! Oh night, oh night divine!
Noel! Noel! Oh night, oh night divine!
Noel, Noel! Oh night, oh night divine!

This is one of my favorite songs that is being played during the Christmas season. I really love this song. I always sang it when I was just a little girl. But I only knew the first verse then. I heard the complete song 2 years ago in my grandparents' ward at church. A member of their ward sang it and he did so well, it sent chills down my spine. The second and third verses always hit home for me. 

I don't like doing the shortcut of the word "Christmas" like other people do (they write it as x-mas). For me (in my opinion), it's basically taking out the very word/name to whom the holiday season is being celebrated for.

Let's not forget, while opening our Christmas gifts, what the true meaning of Christmas is. It is to celebrate our Savior's birth. I am eternally grateful and indebted for His birth. Without Him, we will not have the chance to go back to our Heavenly Father's presence.

Merry Christmas!

Breath of Heaven (Amy Grant)

Today I was thinking about the woman

who was courageous to accept her calling

to carry the Savior in her womb.

Because of her (and Joseph's) willingness and acceptance 

of what she was called to do, our Savior was born. 

I cannot speak for Mary.

I don't know how or what she felt 

when she carried the Savior in her womb.

Or how she felt when they were looking for a place

to stay the night she went into labor.

She had a lot of things that she went through.

But I've been pregnant before.

I've experienced what it is like to fear the unknown.

Although my experience is totally different from hers,

I could, at least in some little ways, relate to the song and think

that maybe that's how she felt.

But like I said, I don't know how she really felt.

I love this song.

I have traveled many moonless nights

Cold and weary with a babe inside.

And I wonder what I've done.

Holy Father, You have come.

And chosen me now to carry Your Son.

I am waiting in a silent prayer.

I am frightened by the load I bear.

In a world as cold as stone,

Must I walk this path alone?
Be with me now, be with me now.

Breath of heaven, hold me together.

Be forever near me, breath of heaven.

Breath of heaven, lighten my darkness,

Pour over me Your Holiness,

For You are Holy, breath of heaven.

Do you wonder, as you watch my face,

If a wiser one should have had my place?
But I offer all I am for the mercy of Your plan.

Help me be strong.

Help me be.. help me!

Breath of heaven, hold me together.
Be forever near me, breath of heaven.

Breath of heaven, lighten my darkness,

Pour over me Your Holiness,

For you are Holy!

Breath of heaven, hold me together,

Be forever near me, breath of heaven.

Breath of heaven, lighten my darkness,

Pour over me Your Holiness,

For you are Holy!

Breath of heaven.

On the 8th day of Christmas

I've always loved this video.

This was posted on Youtube last year. 

I think it's a perfect message in my blog today because 

today and/or tomorrow, a lot of us will be busy thinking about Christmas gifts to buy 

and to give to each other. 

It's a good reminder to me what I need to focus on today, tomorrow, and always.

"The spirit of Christmas illuminates the picture window of the soul. 

To catch the real meaning of the spirit of Christmas, we need only drop

the last syllable and it becomes the spirit of Christ."

- Pres. Thomas S. Monson

On the 11th day of Christmas

"I had an overwhelming feeling of calm and peace come to me.."

"I felt this warmth coming over me like I've never experienced in my life..."

"Almost like a hug which was wrapped around me..."

"... it was indescribable. It felt like pure love.  At that moment I knew without a shadow of doubt that Jesus Christ lives and that He is the epitome of love ..."

"The birth of the Savior means to me is that the world has a chance to change, the world has a chance  to become what He intended to become in the beginning, the world has a chance to accept His love and follow Him..."