25 days of Christmas, Day 3

The gift of hearing.

I am guilty, like probably many of you, of taking my five senses for granted.  One of which is the sense of hearing.  I am reminded at Christmas time how very special this gift from our Lord is.  When Christmas music is playing, I am blessed to hear and very much feel the words of love, praise and blessings.

For those of you who are unable to hear the music, or know people who are unable to hear (my nephew is partially deaf) I know you are still able to feel the vibrations and enjoy the music.  And hopefully you feel it in your heart as much as I do.  Amazing how one sense may not have been given to someone, but it does not stop them from enjoying the words and the beat of the songs!

Hearing is nice, God is great, and people are special!    

There are so many different types of Christmas music out there for all to enjoy.

Here are a few of my favorite Christmas songs.

"Away in a Manger"

"Hark the Herald Angels Sing"

"It Came Upon a Midnight Clear"

"Joy to the World"

"O Come, O Come Emmanuel"

"Silent Night"

"O Little Town of Bethlehem"

"The First Noel"

"I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas"

I just love Christmas with the Chipmunks, they take me back to my childhood!  "ALVINNNNNNNNN"!

Along with the Chipmunks the songs below take me back to my childhood and singing at the top of my lungs with my dad every time they came on.

"Frosty the Snowman"

"Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer"

"Mr Grinch"

"Run, Run, Rudolph"

"My Two Front Teeth"

"Nuttin For Christmas"

"I Saw Mommy Kising Santa Clause"

Still a fav of mine.....

"All I Want For Christmas Is You"

Marilyn Monroe's (not THE Marilyn Monroe)

"Santa Baby"

This song melts my heart and reminds me what Christmas is all about.

"The Christmas Shoes"

And of course,

"We Wish You a Merry Christmas"

There are so many more songs that warm my heart and take me back to my childhood, along with reminding me what Christmas is all about.  These are just a few I thought might bring a smile to your face as they do mine.

So, this year, turn up your radio when you hear Christmas music.  Sing at the top of your lung.  Get your kids singing with you and create memories for them.

Enjoy the beauty and the gift of sound, and remember music is sound for our soul!

25 days of Christmas, Day 2

A little something in the mail to let you know someone was thinking of you.......

I love getting Christmas cards in the mail. Not only because most people send ones with pictures of their family. But, because it meant they took a few seconds to fill out an envelope to send you a special little something to let you know they were thinking of you this Christmas Season.  Cards may seem silly to some, but to me they warm my heart with joy!

(What really tickles me is when I get cards that I created for friends or family...like the above card)

25 days of Christmas, Day 1

As the Christmas season approaches I start recognizing how many things remind me of the beautiful season and fill my heart with joy.

So, I have decided that I will do 25 days of Christmas.  Or at least try to do it, let's be honest a day might pass me by. But, I'm going to try my hardest.  I am starting now, because there will be days missed, since I will be away from the computer.

The first Day of Christmas:

Every year on Christmas Eve, since I was very little I have loved to watch Christmas movies.  But, Jeremy's family has changed that tradition for me just a little bit.  His mother was born on Christmas Day so we celebrate her birthday on Christmas Eve.

So, now on Christmas Day we watch one of my very favorite Christmas movies, and I am sure is a tradition for many of you as well.

We watch "A Christmas Story'.

Some of you know I have tons of nieces and nephews, but one in particular reminds me of this movie.  Max.  He's a big boy with the most sensitive heart you could ever imagine in child that is in Kindergarten.  He's just too cute.

But, the reason Max reminds me of this movie is because he looks just like Ralphie. No joke!  To top it all off...he asked for a B B Gun this year! Hilarious!

I thought I would share the First Day of Christmas by honoring Ralphie and Max, what  "A Christmas Story".

Gudorf Family Pictures Peek.....

When shooting Jolie's 7 month pictures Deanna and Dan brought along their two other adorable kiddos, Jordan and Jacob.

So, we did a couple family pics before we did Jolie's 7 month shoot.

I like to refer to the Gudorf's as The Blonde Bunch!

 They are such an adorable little family and I just love them all.

Jolie is 7 months and growing...

A little peek for D.....

One of my very good friends is an big OSU fan.  I kept thinking I could convert her, but she loves her Buckeyes as much as I love my Wolverines!  So, I will let it slide that we don't see eye to eye on a usually brisk day late in November.

We did a few family pictures of her and the kiddos in their Buckeyes gear.  You will notice that her hubby is not in the picture....that is because he is a Notre Dame fan.  Yuck!  At least D and I have one thing in common, we do not like Notre Dame.

Here's a little peek...

Ms. Ava's Sneak Peek

I have taken pictures of Ms. Ava since she was 3 months old.  It's hard to believe she is 18 months already.  I am not sure where time has gone, but I wish I could take a bit of it, slow it down and hold it in my pocket for another day.  Luckily for me, I get to kind of do that with my job.  I get to capture a moment and freeze it for safe keeping to enjoy through out time!

Here's a little sneak peek

Love this picture, I think it looks like music notes in her eyes....(no photoshopping on it people, it just turned out like that)