The Sounds of the Season

I officially cannot wait til Sunday to start listening to one of my favorites CD's of all time.



I can't say enough wonderful things about this album. For me, this is the soundtrack of Christmas. The melodies are beautiful, the orchestration fantastic, the arrangements are brilliant, the lyrics are powerful and moving and lovely. It's practically perfect.

(Practically, because truthfully I could do without track #5. It's just hokey. So I just skip that one. The rest are fabulous.)

"Song for the King" brings me to tears every time and there's not a word in the song. It takes me right to the side of the manger, in the hay, staring at the Newborn King in awe.


"It's a Wonderful Christmas" evokes so many visual images and cheery feelings... playing in the snow, decorating the tree, hiding a special present in a stocking, eating cookies in the middle of the night, candlelight, firelight... it's all in one song.


"Sing Noel, Sing Hallelujah" is one of the best. It says it all.


"All Year Long" makes me cry every time.


"Audrey's Gift" is just so precious and gentle and beautiful.


If you don't have this album, get it. You won't be sorry. (No, I'm not getting paid to say this. Smitty has no idea I'm promoting his CD.)



Ooooohhhhh...... it's almost here!!!! I can hardly stand it!!!!
Advent is coming!!!!

Autumn Glory

I first published this post last year around this time. I just love autumn!


This is a perfect day. If I could create my own world, the year would be loaded with days like today. There's a bright blue sky above me, crisp, cold air on my cheeks, and the gorgeous colors of fall swirling around my head, compliments of the breeze.

The leaves are performing their autumn ballet, and I am a delighted admirer.


For me, there's never enough autumn in the year...I could never tire of this beautiful spectacle God creates. It's so rich with color and texture and flavor. Suddenly I crave hot chocolate and pumpkin spice...apple cinnamon...I'm under the spell of coziness. May the spell never be broken! My spirit comes alive in autumn, and the prelude to winter compels me to sing "Glory to God!"

Praise!

Surprise! Praise! is up a day early this week, and if nobody minds, I think it'll be published on Saturdays from now on. Here's my thinking... many people like to have an "unplugged" Sunday and I can certainly understand that. Plus, there are lots of other great memes going around that occur on Sundays as well (though, really, what can be better than Praising God, right? wink wink).

This way, people who want to participate with Praise! can do so either on Saturday or Sunday, since Praise! will be up most of the weekend. Okey-dokey?

I really enjoy doing this weekly post and I love hearing your Praises! to our magnificent God. Please help me spread the word so Praise! can grow!

It's been a busy but good week, and my heart is full of thanksgiving and Praise! to God!

Praise you, Lord, for this most glorious autumn day! I love autumn... the colors on the trees around here have been gorgeous, and I wish it would last much longer. But alas, the leaves are quickly falling and many of the trees are bare. But that's okay, because it means WINTER is coming! I love winter!!

Praise you, Lord, for successful baking this week. Santa Claus cake for the school auction, snowflake cookies, pumpkin-spice waffles with homemade whipped cream... it's been smelling fabulous in this house all week!

Praise you, Lord, for being our King! We have a gracious, loving, merciful, compassionate, kind, and accessible King!

Praise you, Lord, for your faithfulness when we are unfaithful.

Praise you, Lord, for being slow to anger when we are sinful.

Praise you, Lord, for giving us your sweet Mother to guide us and raise us up when we are low and lost.

Praise you, Lord, for your patience and the many good gifts You give us.

Praise you, Lord, for being our Provider. May we learn to be good stewards.

Praise you, Lord, for our freedom in Christ. And I'm thankful for my freedom as an American.

Praise you, Lord, for this Thanksgiving week. May our hearts truly be grateful and may we be generous in sharing.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Please join me in Praising our wonderful God, and let His Praises ring!

Blessings,

Jennifer

(Oh My! Do you realize what just happened?!? It just dawned on me this very second... I didn't Praise God for chocolate!!! GASP!)

Faint of Heart Need Not Apply

While thinking about recent events, political, religious, and terrorist, I sat down and penned the following:


Our society is made of bendy, cowardly stuff these days. The travesty at Fort Hood last week is only the latest proof. We're in desperate need of a vaccination, alright, but not for the swine flu. We need a massive shot in the arm of courage to help strengthen us against this rampant virus of godless political correctness.

After this terrible, heartbreaking week, I think if I hear one more person extolling the virtues of diversity I'm going to throw up.

Click to continue reading...


Bless you all. Thanks for reading. If you feel so inclined, you can share your thoughts here or at Catholic Online. I always enjoy reading what others have to say.

Jennifer

Praise!

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You." Isaiah 26:3

I find myself looking forward to this post every Sunday because it's good for me to sit down and really think about all the reasons I have to Praise God. It's good for me to remember who He is and that He never changes.

I am very thankful today to have a computer that's functioning. We had a complete crash -- a meltdown -- and I thought I might lose everything I had saved, including things I'd begun writing but hadn't finished.

My very smart husband found a way to salvage everything, but he had to ditch Windows completely and use a different operating system. Linux Ubuntu it's called, and so far, so good. Thank God.

Computers are a pain in the tushy.

I'm Praising God again today for our military families. My heart still hurts for the victims of the jihad at Fort Hood, and my thoughts are frequently with them. God bless them and carry them and heal them.

Praise God for people who are not afraid to speak the truth. Praise God for people with moral courage.

Praise God for the rain that fell, after the rain fell, after the driving rain came, after the showers that lasted for three days. We're soaked.

Praise God for the delicious loaf of banana bread I made last night. With a cinnamon-sugar topping that got nice and crusty on the top, it smelled like heaven. Tastes yummy, too!

Praise God for the start of my favorite time of year. Love it, love it, love it! Let the holiday baking begin!

Praise God for my very loving, patient, hard-working, and thoughtful husband. I don't deserve him.

Praise God for my wonderful daddy who turned 70 yesterday. I'm a blessed daughter.

Praise God for peppermint mochas.

Have a blessed week everyone. Share those Praises!