I feel like Christmas comes in stages. Once Halloween is over, it’s time to starting thinking about what gifts to give and when to schedule parties. Once Thanksgiving arrives, it’s time to switch over to full-time Christmas music. Once Advent begins — it really is Christmastime. At least in my mind. And this past Sunday was the first Sunday of Advent. It’s truly my favorite time of the year. At church, we lit the Prophesy Candle and read from the Old Testament, Isaiah and Malachi, foretelling the birth of the Savior.

At home, my candles haven’t been quite so symbolic. They’re just warm and cozy — Yankee Candle’s Balsam & Cedar and Spiced Cider and Cookies for Santa from their sadly-defunct Beanswax line of soy candles. They’ve made my house smell wonderful. They’ve made my house smell like Christmas as I organize gifts (and you’ll be hearing more about that in the future . . .), decorate,  sing along to Andy Williams and Perry Como. I love it.

Seriously though — I can hardly believe Christmas is almost upon us. We’ve got Christmas parties this weekend, our church’s cantata the weekend after that, caroling later on that week, and then — well, let’s just say I’ve got my fingers crossed for my first-ever white Christmas. In the meantime, I’m going to enjoy every moment of this incredible season that I possibly can!And I thought I’d go ahead and share my favorite Christmas soundtrack while I’m at it. . . .

Christmas Songs – Jars of Clay (This album makes me want to listen to Christmas music year round.)
Christmas . . .  From the Realms of Glory – Bebo Norman
O Come Let Us Adore Him – Various  Artists
Noel – Josh Groban
Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass Christmas Album – Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass (My mom grew up listening to this incredible Mexican-influence jazz Christmas album, and it has an incredibly, nostalgically and perfectly 60s feel. I love it so much.)
The Andy Williams Christmas Album – Andy Williams (It’s ubiquitous, and I don’t feel like it’s really Christmastime until I’ve heard his rendition of “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”)
Amahl and the Night Visitors – Gian Carlo Menotti/Original Cast (This is a short opera, the story of a poor boy and his widowed mother who house the Wise Men one night as they follow the Star of Bethlehem; my family grew up listening to this every year.)

Happy listenings!

~ Laura