Christmas Countdown - #1 - Oh, Holy Night

If I could sing, I would sing this song all the time.  

The range of the music is incredible.

And only so many singers can do justice to the words and sentiment...

Like Josh Grobin...

Thank you for reading my blog,
and I hope you enjoyed this countdown...!

I wish you and your family and friends
a most Peaceful and Loving 

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Countdown - #2 - Little Drummer Boy

There are some images that just get stuck in your head, and this version of "Little Drummer Boy" is permanently etched into my brain.

It's from the TV series "West Wing," and Toby Ziegler arranges a military burial for a homeless vet that died from exposure at the Vietnam Memorial wearing a coat that Zeigler donated to charity.

Tears, chills, this scene does it to me every time...

That's why it's my #2.

I hope this Christmas Eve finds you and your loved ones safe, warm and protected.

Christmas Countdown - #3 - Santa Baby

Ok, this is my one naughty song of the bunch....
and my number 3 most favorite Christmas song ever.
Props to Eartha Kitt, but I always liked Madonna's version just a little better...


My favorite line, of course,
"Come and trim my Christmas tree, with some decorations bought at Tiffany's."

Christmas Countdown - #4 - Christmas Child

I searched the web for a long time for this song.

I only remembered singing it once during a 

Christmas music presentation at our church when

I was in high school.

And the only words I remembered well

was the opening lines,

"I heard a knock upon my door,

midnight Christmas Eve."

Our version was soft and slow,

with bells and pianos and guitars.

And, I never forgot it...

And, am glad I found a version of it.

"I heard a knock upon my door

Midnight Christmas Eve
Half asleep I hurried down
My visitor to receive

At first I thought no one was there
Then all at once I saw
A little baby lying there
Crying there at my door

Refrain:
Loo, loo, loo, loo, loo, loo-lee

Loo, loo, loo, loo, loo lie.

Loo, loo, loo, loo, loo, loo-lee

Loo, loo, loo, loo, loo lie.

I took the baby in my arms
On that winter’s night
The church bells never rang so clear
The stars never shone so bright

And as I gazed upon the face
Of the foundling child
It seemed the angels on my tree
Looked down at me and smiled

Refrain:Loo, loo, loo, loo, loo, loo-lee

Loo, loo, loo, loo, loo lie.

Loo, loo, loo, loo, loo, loo-lee

Loo, loo, loo, loo, loo lie.

I thought about the Holy Child
That Christmas long ago
And that was when I saw the note
Lying there in the snow

“Please whoever finds my child,
Be good to him and kind.
God Bless You.” That was all it said
“Mary” it was signed"

Christmas Countdown - #5 - Carol of the Bells

As I move into my Top Five of Christmas song....

There is some music that can just move you in a certain way.
That can bring out the full emotion of the season.
Every year, this song does it for me.
And, this version is both chilling and inspiring...

"Hark how the bells,

Sweet silver bells,

All seem to say,

Throw cares away

Christmas is here,

Bringing good cheer,

To young and old,

Meek and the bold,

Oh how they pound,

Raising the sound,

O'er hill and dale,

Telling their tale,

Gaily they ring

While people sing

Songs of good cheer,

Christmas is here,

Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas,

Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas,

On on they send ,

On without end,

Their joyful tone to every home

Dong Ding dong ding, dong Bong"

Christmas Countdown - #6 - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

As I stated in a prior post,

I've spent a lot of Christmases away from home.

During the lean years, we managed to somehow

always afford a tree...

and, when I was too busy to decorate,

somehow my now-hubby still managed to make 

Christmas special...

Like searching through the boxes while I was at work

this one Christmas Eve, so I'd have a little surprise

when I got home and could share a few

precious hours with him until the next overnight shift.

"Through the years we all will be together

If the Fates allow

Hang a shining star upon the highest bough

And have yourself a merry little Christmas now"

Christmas Countdown - #7 - Wizards of Winter

Before I saw the original video many years ago, 

I had never ever heard of Trans Siberian Orchestra. 

Now I am a fan. 

I still love this song. 

Love, love, love this video. 

And can't wait to be able to create my own light display like this...  

I keep dreaming... 

and collecting lights...

Christmas Countdown - #8 - Sleigh Ride

I don't know why, but I actually prefer the acoustical version moreso

than the sung one.... just my preference...

"Just hear those sleigh bells jingle-ing 

Ring ting tingle-ing too

Come on, it's lovely weather

For a sleigh ride together with you

Outside the snow is falling

And friends are calling "Yoo Hoo"

Come on, it's lovely weather

For a sleigh ride together with you

Giddy-yap giddy-yap giddy-yap

let's go

Let's look at the snow

We're riding in a wonderland of snow

Giddy-yap giddy-yap giddy-yap it's grand

Just holding your hand

We're gliding along with the song

Of a wintry fairy land

Our cheeks are nice and rosy

And comfy cozy are we

We're snuggled up together like two

Birds of a feather would be

Let's take the road before us

And sing a chorus or two

Come on, it's lovely weather

For a sleigh ride together with you

There's a birthday party at the home of Farmer Gray

It'll be the perfect ending of a perfect day

We'll be singing the songs we love to sing without a single stop

At the fireplace while we watch the chestnuts pop

Pop! Pop! Pop!

There's a happy feeling nothing in the world can buy

When they pass around the coffee and the pumpkin pie

It'll nearly be like a picture print by Currier and Ives

These wonderful things are the things

We remember all through our lives."

Christmas Countdown - #9 - It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

I hate to admit it, but

I really miss snow.

I grew up in Southern California where the 

weather varied from warm to hot

to warm to rainy and

then back again.

I really knew nothing about seasons until I moved to

the midwest during med school

I then proceeded to stay in cold places like

Chicago, Boston, Minneapolis, Buffalo.

After 10 years you really get used to changes in seasons.

Now I'm back in Northern California where the weather

is luke warm, foggy, pleasant, then the rain starts

in October and ends around March.

Christmas to me means snow...

and, I miss it...

Christmas Countdown - #10 - I'll Be Home For Christmas

I've traveled a lot over the last several years.

From College to med school to internship and residency,

there's been a lot of times that just the thought of being home for

Christmas made the journey worthwhile.

I think that on every trip home, I probably 

had this song running through my head.

I'm sure that a lot of people can certainly relate.

This year, it's another trip away from home to work

in Sacramento over this next week.

I'll be driving home to arrive just before Christmas Eve.

You can be sure I'll be thinking of a nice warm fire,

all my decorations, and my hubby and fur kids waiting for me

there in our wonderful home...

"Christmas Eve will find me

where the love light gleams.

I'll be home for Christmas,

if only in my dreams."

Christmas Countdown - #11 - Holly Jolly Christmas

Who doesn't love Rudolph...?

And, reindeer??

I have a collection of silver reindeer that I've been

slowly building up over the years...

The herd is back and bigger than ever...

and this song from "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer"

is definitely a Christmas favorite...!

"Have a holly jolly Christmas
And when you walk down the street
Say hello to friends you know
And everyone you meet!"


Before tomorrow's entry heading into the Top 10,
here's a bonus Honorable Mention...

Remember this almost 30 years ago...??
Do They Know It's Christmas..?

Christmas Countdown - #12 - Happy Holidays

This song always puts me in the mood

for Christmas...!

"It's the holiday season,

with the whoop-de-do and hickory dock,

and don't forget to hang up your sock,

cause just exactly at twelve o'clock

he'll be coming down the chimney,

coming down the chimney,

coming down the chimney down!"

Christmas Countdown - #13 - Do You Hear What I Hear...?

Christmas is my most favorite holiday and time of year...
I LOVE to decorate, and bake, and eat, and buy presents, and and and.... And, I do love the music... but, please, not until the day AFTER Thanksgiving...

This year, I thought I would do a countdown to Christmas, and share with you my 13 mostest favorite Christmas songs...

#13  - Do You See What I See?

I can still remember this song from first grade.

In fact, I think this Bing Crosby recording is the one I remember.

  

I can still imagine the lonely field.

The shepherds, the sheep, a shining star...

I want to say there were finger puppets involved...

"Said the king to the people everywhere, 

"Listen to what I say (what I say, what I say).

Pray for Peace, people everywhere.

Listen to what I say (what I say, what I say)

A child, a child sleeping in the night,

He will bring us goodness and light.

He will bring us goodness and light.""