About six or seven years ago, I finally got brave enough to try making my own pumpkin puree. Once I did it, I realized it wasn’t very intimidating or difficult at all, plus it’s absolutely delicious. (It also freezes well). Of course with lots of fresh pumpkin on-hand, I had to find new recipes to use it in, besides just pumpkin pie.
Thankfully, the internet loves pumpkin recipes in the fall, so my options were nearly limitless. We’ve had everything from pumpkin ice cream and cinnamon sugar pumpkin seeds to pumpkin cornbread and pumpkin soup, with all kinds of goodies in between. However, of all the recipes I’ve tried, only one has become our must-have fall pumpkin tradition: Old Fashioned Pumpkin Cookies.
Old Fashioned Pumpkin Cookies
The first time I made them, our family fell in love with these yummy, super soft cookies, so I made more to share with Brad’s family. The cookies were a big hit with them, too, especially with Brad’s grandpa, who wasn’t in the best of health and living with Brad’s parents at the time. He was a very picky eater, so when he talked about how much he liked those cookies, I took it as a big compliment and determined to make them for him as often as I could.
Later, during one of his short stays in a nursing home, Brad and I visited Grandpa, taking along pumpkin cookies for him to enjoy. While we were there, the nurse brought in Grandpa’s medicine for him to take, and I watched with a great deal of amusement (and a bit of admiration) as he took his sweet time eating just one cookie – like, 15 minutes, at least – just to avoid taking his pills. (Even the nurse was amused, albeit a little frustrated with him). I have no doubt that the other cookies were eaten much quicker when the nurse wasn’t around. 🙂
Because of Grandpa, who passed away several years ago, these cookies have become a special tradition for more than just how delicious they are. To this day, I can’t think of pumpkin cookies without thinking about him. Each time I make these pumpkin cookies, I smile at the memory of how Brad’s grandpa always smiled when I brought them to him and how thoroughly he managed to enjoy one cookie in particular.
Combine powdered sugar, vanilla, milk, and butter.
Whisk together until smooth.
Drizzle over the cookies. Enjoy!
By the way, this is a really easy recipe to make, and while I prefer to use fresh pumpkin puree, you can use canned pumpkin. (If you’d like to try making pumpkin puree, this post from Somewhat Simple, Homemade Pumpkin Puree, explains it fairly well. This is pretty close to how I make my puree, with the only difference being that I put some aluminum foil over the top of the pan to keep the heat in, so it usually only takes about an hour to cook. You definitely want the smaller SUGAR PIE PUMPKINS, not the big jack-o-lantern kind.)
My recipe is adapted from Libby’s Old Fashioned Soft Pumpkin Cookies. I use less sugar than the original recipe because they are sweet enough, especially when you add the icing. (I also make and use less icing.)
So, here’s a new pumpkin cookie tradition for you to add to your fall must-makes:
This fall must-bake is a simple recipe for yummy, super soft pumpkin cookies drizzled with glaze. One of our family's autumn baked goods favorites.
Get more ideas, recipes, & encouragement from this real-life mom as I experience God’s faithfulness through the joy and chaos of motherhood.
For the last few months, this third pregnancy has had me slightly off my game more so than my other two pregnancies did. The tiredness, nausea, yucky taste, and more have been a bit of a struggle, especially with having my two boys to keep up with. Now that I’m a little more than halfway through, I’m feeling a bit better, for now (I know that the end-of-pregnancy uncomfortableness is still ahead of me).
With all the not-so-fun things that come with pregnancy, there are still so many wonderful parts of pregnancy than make up for the inconveniences and discomforts.
Here are 8 of My Favorite Things About Being Pregnant
#1. Expectant Mother Parking
Okay, this might sound silly, but I was so excited the first time I was able to pull into one of those special parking spaces. I had seen them popping up at various stores not long before I became pregnant with Elijah, and I thought that it was such a nice consideration for expectant and new mothers. I waited until I was rather obviously pregnant before taking advantage of them, so you know I was happy to have a shorter walk into the grocery store at that point.
#2. Special Consideration from Others
Similar to the expectant mother parking, it’s always nice when people are extra kind to you, and when you’re pregnant, most people are especially kind and helpful. Sure, some people might be a bit too free with their advice or invading your personal belly space, but for the most part, you are treated with a courtesy and friendliness that is often only experienced during the holiday season.
#3. Ultrasounds & the Heart Doppler
Few sounds are as beautiful as hearing your baby’s heartbeat, especially for the first time. It’s the highlight of every doctor’s appointment. That deep little “swish, swish, swish” sound is reassurance that your little one is doing well.
And while I’m not a fan of having a ton of ultrasounds while I’m pregnant, it is pretty exciting to have that visual confirmation of your baby’s growth. Seeing the profile, and yes, finding out whether you are carrying a boy or a girl, is a milestone that every mother waits for (even if you don’t want to know your baby’s sex before he/she is born).
This is how Josiah looked in utero.
#4. Feeling the Baby Kick
Even beyond the ultrasound, this is the milestone I look forward to and cherish: feeling the baby move. Trying to explain the sensation to someone who’s never been pregnant is pretty much impossible, but once you’ve experienced it, it’s something you’ll never forget. (I’ve had dreams that I was pregnant and in those dreams, I felt that baby moving…crazy.)
And, yes, as the baby gets bigger, those flutters and shoves become jabs and hard kicks and “please quit pushing on my ribs.” But even with those more powerful movements, you are bonding with your baby, learning their personality before you officially meet them.
For me, Elijah was my little ninja. He liked to kick, and kick, and kick. He also showed his stubbornness early by kicking me every time I moved to my left side, and he would continue kicking until I rolled to my right. Yep. I even warned Brad about this one.
Josiah’s style was more parkour. He flipped, kicked, and shoved constantly, and that has carried over since birth. He is our little daredevil who never walks when he can run, who climbs EVERYTHING just so he can jump off it. We’d kind of hoped he would be a bit more laid-back than Elijah, but…nope.
We’ve already been praying about this third boy. 🙂
#5. Comradery with Every Other Mother in the World
Just like you bond with your baby while you’re pregnant, being pregnant also gives you an instant bond with every other woman who has ever been pregnant or become a mother in some way. You’ll exchange stories about your experiences during the months you carried your babies and share your birth stories and the first-six-weeks-with-a-newborn stories.
Despite what we hear about “mommy wars,” I’ve found that most moms are super supportive and encouraging, and that kind of community is a wonderful thing.
#6. Deeper Appreciation for My Mother
Nothing makes you appreciate your own mom like becoming one yourself. Experiencing pregnancy, labor & delivery, and life with a little one, you can’t help but think about your mother, now that you know what she went through for you.
Thankfully, my mom and I have always had a very close relationship, and my pregnancies have only brought us closer. Not only has she been the one I go to for advice, encouragement, questions, and prayer, but my mom has been there with me through each labor and delivery. She has coached me through two un-medicated natural deliveries, knowing the pain I was feeling but helping me stay focused and determined through it all. (She’s not a professional doula, but she totally could be!) And of course, she has always been ready to help during those early weeks (and anytime, no matter our kids’ ages, actually), even if she just does dishes for us or sits with the baby while I get a nap.
#7. Deeper Appreciation for My Husband
Pregnancy and parenting aren’t easy, but it is easier when you have a supportive, on-board partner to share it with.
Most any given day, I know that I have a rather fabulous husband. He has been fabulous from day one. But I am reminded even more so of his fabulousness when I’m pregnant and once we’re in the midst of caring for a newborn.
Not only does he help with our boys even more and take care of additional household chores when I don’t feel well or just physically can’t, but he does it with joy. He insists that I rest when I need to because he knows I have a tendency to push myself maybe more than I should. He does whatever he can to help me through the unpleasant parts of pregnancy, whether it’s stopping on his way home to pick up more salt & vinegar chips to help me with the nasty taste in my mouth or massaging my achy legs at night even when he’s really tired himself.
In the delivery room, if my mom is the coach, he’s my cheerleader. I know it’s tough for him to see me go through it, but he’s never left my side. And once our babies arrive, he is the sweetest of daddies, changing their first diapers and waking in the night along with me to bring the baby to me for feedings (in the weeks that Brad is off from work) or doing his best to soothe a cranky little one, sometimes falling asleep in the rocking chair himself.
#8. A Baby
This sounds kind of obvious, but the best part of being pregnant, the one thing that makes all the difficult, painful moments worthwhile is that moment when the doctor hands you your squirmy, wrinkly little one and you really meet your baby for the first time. That moment, and about a million others over the next year (and years). Loving and caring for this child, watching them grow and learn, knowing that God has a unique and divine purpose and plan for him, and seeing that plan slowly unfold through his personality and talents, his likes and passions, and God’s leading – there really is nothing better.
It doesn’t change, either, from your first baby to your second or third or so on. Each one brings a new, unique joy and love to your life.
It is absolutely the best part of being pregnant.
So, moms, what would you add to the list? What is something you love or loved about being pregnant?
This post contains an affiliate link, which means at no additional cost to you, I may receive a small commission when you make a purchase through the link.
Of all the things he received for his birthday, there is one thing that both he and Elijah have been playing with more than any other: The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game.
I could claim all kinds of “awesome parent” points for this since it was from Mommy & Daddy, and I picked out the game… except that with Easter and birthday party prep, I kind of overlooked getting him a present until a couple days before his birthday. (Brad and I have been considering getting the boys a swing set or playset for our yard, but we hadn’t found one yet, so we kept putting off getting Josiah’s birthday gifts, just in case we came across a swing set before his birthday.)
Thankfully, my instincts were good on this one. I knew I had seen comments about how much families liked this award-winning game, so I figured it would be worth a try. Besides, we (read: Mommy) can only play so many games of Candyland.
The boys even played this game in their blanket fort.
From the minute we opened the box, the boys were intrigued (and fighting over the adorable “squirrel squeezer”). With their little tree trunks in front of them, they barely let me read over the very easy directions before they started trying to play.
It’s a really simple game with a spinner, acorns in five different colors, tree trunks for “stashing” your acorns, and the aforementioned cute little squirrel squeezer that you use to pick up the acorns. The object of the game is to collect all 5 colors of acorns before anyone else, but you have to watch out for obstacles on the spinner that slow you down: the Sad Squirrel that causes you to lose your turn and the wind storm that blows all your acorns back to the main tree.
Without a doubt, our boys’ favorite thing to land on is the Sneaky Squirrel because then they get to steal an acorn from someone else. They are positively delighted to get to be so mischievous. Of course, they don’t really enjoy it when someone else steals their acorn, so it’s been a great game for teaching them to be a good sport.
That first day we played several rounds of the game, and we’ve played it nearly every day since. They played it with their grandparents, and Josiah even took it over to his cousins’ house this past week to introduce them to the fun. Watching the four boys play it together was hilarious and precious. They all loved the sense of accomplishment when they managed to collect all their acorns and win a game.
As a parent, I appreciate the simplicity of the game, which makes it easy for my 3-year-old to play without help, while not being too young for my 5-year-old (or Brad and I) to have fun. The game is designed to help encourage color identification, as well as matching, sorting, strategic thinking, hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills and pre-handwriting skills, and I can already see improvement for Josiah in some of those areas.
So even if it was more of a last-minute gift, it has turned out to be a great one, one that our entire family enjoys playing, and one that has easily become our boys’ new favorite board game.
Somehow it’s the last day of 2015, and while we are looking forward to many good things in the coming year, there were quite a lot of things I loved about this past one.
Just for fun (and to share with you), I jotted down a quick list of some very random, new fun things that were my favorites of 2015. (Since they are rather random, they aren’t in any particular “most favorite” order.)
By the way, this post contains affiliate links, which means that at no additional cost to you, I may receive a small commission when you use the links to make a purchase.
Here you go:
#1. Blogging. I mean, that was kind of the biggest new adventure for me this year, and although I don’t love the sometimes late nights (writing with little guys running around does not work well, so I have to work during naptime or bedtime), I’ve thoroughly enjoyed sharing my heart, meeting new people, and doing something new that challenges me every day. Hopefully you’re enjoying my blog, too.
#2. Our Family Membership to COSI. Last New Year’s Eve we used a discount that Brad’s work offers and purchased a one-year family membership to COSI (Center of Science and Industry), one of the best children’s science centers in the country. Brad and I had both been there often as children, and now that our boys are big enough to enjoy the hands-on exploration and learning, we knew that it would be something we would use often. I actually think we’ve used it even more than we expected. It’s been especially good for Elijah and his growing interest in all things scientific (he recently brought home a dead fly because he wanted to “do an experiment” on it and “cut it open to see its blood.” We’re sure to have some fun years ahead of us.). It’s become our go-to for family field trips, and we knew that renewing for next year was a definite “yes.”
#3. Periscope. My favorite new app this year is definitely Periscope. An extension of Twitter, Periscope is a live video app that allows anyone to broadcast themselves to the world. Followers of the person get a notice whenever a broadcast begins (a little whistle sound bite), and with a few swipes, you can see and hear the video and interact with comments and by “giving hearts,” the Periscope version of a “like.” Broadcasters see the comments and hearts live, and so they can reply or respond to their viewers. The “scope” (video) is available for 24 hours on the broadcaster’s profile for replaying, in case you miss part of it or can’t watch live.
I have to say that when I first heard of Periscope, I’m pretty sure it was in one of those articles about “apps you should be aware of if you’re a parent” because in the wrong, unwise, or unsupervised hands, I can see it being stupidly dangerous. However, there are so many people using it for good, to teach and help people, and in that way, it’s a pretty cool app. For example, broadcasters can offer a DIY, where you can follow along, step by step, and you can ask questions as they are sharing.
I started following a few people on Periscope around the start of the Write 31 Days challenge, and the organizer of the challenge used it to give us instructions, encouragement, and, again, to answer questions we had. Since then, I have found a community of Christian women and different bloggers who use the app to connect and encourage each other with everything from tips on parenting, daily Bible devotionals, book clubs, sharing funny moments, and even prayer times. How cool is that?
#4. The Humbled Homemaker. I’ve been reading posts by Erin Odom, The Humbled Homemaker, for at least a year or more since many of them have made the rounds on Facebook, but it wasn’t until I started researching to blog myself that I really began following her blog consistently. She writes mostly about motherhood, natural living, and saving money, so I always find something of value on her site. I also follow her on Pinterest and Periscope, and she is just awesome.
A Christian wife and mom of 3, she won a place in my favorites with one of her earlier Periscope broadcasts, where she jumped on for a quick video to tell us about an experience she’d just had in her local coffee shop. She was real and honest, sharing a story of how she had overheard some teenagers talking about some not-so-great stuff and how God had nudged her to reach out to them. It was inspiring to see her heart for the teenagers, her obedience to God, and her excitement and nervousness about stepping outside of her comfort zone in that small way.
#5. The Lost Heiressby Roseanna White. Since Roseanna White is one of my favorite Christian fiction authors, I expected to really like her latest book, The Lost Heiress, which came out in September (that was one of the reasons I signed up to be a part of her launch team). However, I not only liked it – I loved it! Plus, I got to interview Roseanna, which was even more fun. I’m excitedly awaiting the release of the second book in her Ladies of the Manor series, The Reluctant Duchess, which debuts in April!
#6. Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World by Kristen Welch. I haven’t even completed this book yet, but I can tell you that it’s easily my favorite nonfiction book of the year. I talked a little bit about it earlier this month, and I will be sharing more about it in January because it is just so good. Every chapter has been both reaffirming and challenging to how Brad and I are trying to raise our boys with a Godly worldview and grateful hearts in a culture where they could easily become self-centered, demanding, and entitled. (The book officially releases January 26, but if you’d like to read the first chapter, you can find it here on the Tyndale House site. Also, you can preorder the book, through January 25, at RaisingGratefulKids.com for $16. When you pre-order, you will receive a free Global Family Kit and free shipping on both the book and the kit, which will be delivered in January.)
#7. Amazon Prime. Brad and I finally signed up for Prime when Amazon had a special a few months back, and since that time, we’ve been asking ourselves why we waited so long. Not only do we LOVE the free 2-day shipping (soooo wonderful to have at Christmas time!), but we enjoy the streaming, ad-free music stations and the movies and television shows as well. (Try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial)
#8. Serving on our Preschool Team at Church. While I have been working with the preschool team since late last year, this was my first full year of serving as a preschool Sunday school teacher at our church, and I just love it. I look forward to my month of teaching and seeing those sweet, and sometimes ornery, little faces every Sunday morning. Children’s ministry is just part of who God designed me to be, and I find that I am ministered to just as much as, or more than, my students are each time I get to be with them.
#9. Kings Island Blue Ice Cream Recipe. This is one of my favorite recipes that I’ve made this year because it represents two things. First of all, it reminds me of our family trip to Kings Island this summer and all the wonderful memories we made with our boys, including our first tasting of the famous Kings Island Blue Ice Cream.
Secondly, this recipe is the result of my persistence to replicate that tasty Kings Island treat. When I couldn’t find a copycat recipe online, I began experimenting and concocting in my kitchen until I came up with one that worked well enough for my family. It has since become one of my most pinned items on Pinterest. Apparently others like the yummy blue ice cream, too.
#10. Great-Grandma Edith’s Never Fail Pie Crust. Similar to my quest for a recipe that captured the awesomeness that is Kings Island Blue Ice Cream, I’ve always been on the lookout for a homemade pie crust that I could make successfully that was delicious and easy to work with. All it took was a conversation with my grandma this year and her sharing my great-grandmother’s pie crust recipe with me. Suddenly, my pies are “as easy as pie” and scrumptious, too.
#11. Old Fashioned. If you have not seen this movie yet, put it on your list of “Must See.” Hubby and I saw it for our Valentine’s Day date (one of very few date nights this year), and we both enjoyed it, so, so much. This Christian indie film is funny, romantic, and pure in heart, and it doesn’t skimp on production quality. For more about the film, you can check out the Plugged In review.
#12. Inside Out. This is one our whole family loves, and we were all excited when we got it as a Christmas gift from family. It tells the story of 11-year-old Riley as she adjusts to her family’s move to a new town, but it does it from the inside out – with her emotions being the main characters. Another good movie from Pixar, it’s one we’ll be watching for years to come I’m sure.
#13. Sweet Cinnamon Spice Tea. In Lape Haven, we aren’t coffee people, at all. I’m 100-percent a hot tea or hot chocolate person. I love trying new teas, so when I found this one on sale at Kroger one day, I had to get it. The warm cinnamon-ness is perfect on a cooler day, especially with a good drizzle of honey to sweeten it up. Yum.
#14. Romans 12:12. This year, this verse has been my “Mommy motto.” Even though it’s been written on my kitchen chalkboard since last summer, I’ve really needed the reminder in that verse throughout this year: “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
My nephew’s newborn session
Love this picture from my cousin’s senior pictures
My boys are my favorite subjects!
#15. My camera & new lenses. Okay, so my camera isn’t new to 2015, but I did get a couple of new lenses this year, a 50mm for last Christmas and a replacement 18-200mm zoom lens. This year I’ve continued to learn more about shooting in manual and got lots of practice by doing several photo shoots for family and a couple of friends, including my nephew’s newborn shoot, another nephew’s senior pictures, and my cousin’s senior pictures, too. Of course, my favorite pictures of the year are always going to be the ones of my boys. They are my favorite subjects of all. (Earlier this year I shared my tips and what I’ve learned about taking great pictures of your kids.)
So, those are some of my favorite things from 2015. I can’t wait to see all the new, wonderful things that come our way in 2016.
Happy New Year!!!
What about you? What is one of your favorite new things from this past year?
This post contains an affiliate link, which means that at no extra cost to you, I may receive a small commission if you use the link.
Of all the holidays on our calendar, no other day has as many songs about it as Christmas does. From Christmas carols to holiday classics to brand new songs released every year (who HASN’T done a Christmas album?), you can fill December entirely with songs all about Jesus, winter, Santa, and general “Christmasness.”
As I began thinking about all things Christmas earlier this month, I realized that I have a lot of truly wonderful and precious memories tied to specific Christmas songs. Stop and think about it. I bet you do, too.
Just for fun, and for a few sentimental smiles, I’ve compiled a list, in no particular order, of memory-rich Christmas songs and why they mean so much to me.
#1. O Holy Night: When I was younger, my mom was given a musical Christmas decoration of an angel kneeling at the manger, a little baby Jesus resting on the hay. When you wind it up, it plays “O Holy Night.”
Not only was it one of “Mom’s special decorations” in my mind, the song itself is beautiful. Several years later, I would sing it with our high school choir, kneeling for the entire song – all the verses – holding a lit Christmas candle. In a darkened sanctuary, it was pretty powerful.
But perhaps one of the sweetest links to the song has come in the last couple of years, when Elijah started asking me to sing it to him at bedtime (only one verse). I’m not sure why he latched onto that song in particular, but I’ve sung “O Holy Night” to him countless times, from January through December. It was only just this past month that he even realized that it was supposed to be a “Christmas song.” Since it isn’t the easiest song to sing, there have been nights I’ve felt somewhat self-conscious about my singing, but Elijah’s smile still beams sweetly, happily, no matter how imperfect my voice.
#2. Christmas All Over Again: This song was the very first song on my mom’s “A Very Special Christmas 2” CD. This meant that every year, the day after Thanksgiving, this was usually the first song blaring as we started decorating our house for Christmas, singing, dancing, and laughing all the while. The song is VERY danceable! It’s kind of my “let the Christmas season begin” anthem now.
#3. The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late): Growing up, my brothers and I probably would have picked this as one of our favorite Christmas songs. It’s classic. However, it earned its place on my list when it became part of my annual Christmas-light-viewing tradition with a few of my closest friends.
Every year around the holidays, anytime we were out and about at night (which, since I was generally driving them home from a youth meeting, was at least once a week), I would drive us around to see Christmas lights in the neighborhood. Our soundtrack for the ride was my Billboard’s Family Christmas Classics, which included “The Chipmunk Song.” As part of the festive fun, we always sang along, but one night one friend decided to be stubborn. She wouldn’t sing a word. So, I kept replaying the song until we finally got her to sing at least “Me, I want a hula-hoop!” and my night was made, along with a memory that is still silly and precious to me. I can’t hear that song without thinking of them.
Here’s an official lyric video, so you can follow the bouncing ball and sing along! (This is for you, Amanda!)
#4. Hark! The Herald Angel Sing: Believe it or not, this was the first Christmas song that Elijah learned at least a verse of. Sure he knew parts of “Frosty the Snowman” after multiple out-of-season viewings of that Christmas cartoon, but it was repeatedly watching “A Charlie Brown Christmas” at two-years-old that taught him “Hark! The Herald Angel Sings.” Not only did he like the cartoon, he also had a Charlie Brown book with the story, and at the end, they all sing the carol. We all had to each time as well. Elijah even sang it for his Grandma Lape as part of her Christmas gift that year.
#5. The Little Drummer Boy: Okay, this one’s kind of mean, but I can’t help it that that’s how the memory was made. Haha.
When I was a young teenager, we were up at my paternal grandma’s for Christmas and went to her church’s Christmas service. As part of the program, an older lady with rather unnaturally bright red hair and a red dress (yes, she reminded me of a much older “Annie”) sang this very song. She stood still and stiff for the most part and was sooo serious as she sang her “pa-rrrrrrum-pum-pum-pums,” rolling her “R’s” excessively and shaking her head along with her vibrato that I couldn’t help but giggle. (And giggling in church is dangerous because when you aren’t supposed to laugh or giggle, it’s even harder to stop.) I wasn’t the only one who got tickled, though, so I didn’t feel as badly. That lady forever changed that song for me. 🙂
#6. The Twelve Days of Christmas: In the middle of December 1999, my entire immediate family moved from Georgia back up to Ohio. My sister’s family and my dad had already headed north a week or so earlier, with my oldest brother returning back to Georgia after an issue with one of the vehicles. My mom and I had waited for my youngest brother to finish his semester at school, so when we finally pulled out of the driveway, we each were driving one of the four cars in our little caravan making the 13-hour drive.
Since this was back before everyone had cell phones, we couldn’t communicate much with each other while we were driving, but when we had a rest stop, I remember my mom telling us what radio station she was listening to because she’d found one that was playing Christmas songs.
Once we were back on our way, one car following the other, “The Twelve Days of Christmas” came on. To show that we were hearing the same thing, Mom and I counted off the number for each of the twelve days’ items, using one hand, holding it up so that we could each see the other person’s through the back window or rearview mirror. (Eleven and twelve were a bit trickier.) It was how we sang along together while we were all in different cars.
#7. Emmanuel: Written by my father, who is a published singer/songwriter, this is a very special Christmas song. I wish I had a recording uploaded to share with you because telling you about won’t really do it justice.
However, from the time he wrote the song (back when I was much younger), I always looked forward to him ministering with it at Christmas time at church. No matter how many times I’ve heard it, it’s still powerful. Below are the lyrics, at least. (Copyright Jerry Holman)
Long ago and far away
In a place that far from here
A Babe was born into the night
He knew creation, He hung the stars
But the love He had for man
Compelled Him to leave His paradise.
He became Emmanuel, God with Us.
Emmanuel, God Most High
Unashamed He left His throne
Taking on the form of man
And He became, and He is, Emmanuel.
Then came the time as it was told
By the prophets of old
For Him to bleed and die upon the tree
He was spotless, without sin
Neither was guile found in His mouth
But He gave His life so we might go Free.
He became Emmanuel, God with Us.
Emmanuel, God Most High
Unashamed He left His throne
Taking on the form of man
And He became, and He is, Emmanuel.
As always, there are more I could add. “Sleigh Ride” is my mother’s favorite, and “Wonderful Christmastime” is my mother-in-law’s most hated, so we tease her with it. “The Christmas Song” was my paternal grandpa’s favorite, and I can’t help but think of him when I hear it.
So many songs throughout this month bring back thoughts of Christmases past, and as we’re listening to and singing them with our boys, I know we’re making new memories that we’ll cherish for many Christmases to come.
Do you have a special Christmas memory linked to a Christmas song?
With Christmas less than two weeks away, it’s time to really embrace the season by watching all my favorite Christmas movies and television specials and singing along to Christmas carols and fun holiday songs all day.
Sure I’ve already caught a couple of films and shows, and we have had Christmas music playing off and on since the day after Thanksgiving, but I think that everyone generally has a few very special movies and songs that they just have to enjoy every year. This week, I’m going to be sharing my lists with you, and as part of the fun, I’m also going to be doing a GIVEAWAY! (More on that in a bit)
There is nothing like a few good Christmas movies to get you ready to celebrate the holiday. Cuddled on the couch with your family, sipping hot chocolate, and munching on Christmas cookies while you all laugh, sing, or even tear up thanks to a film you’ve probably seen so many times you can quote it by heart. It doesn’t matter. Favorite Christmas movies never get old or lose their charm.
For me, I have a huge list of holiday features that I appreciate, but there are 9 movies that I have to make time for each Christmas, in order from “Really Want to See It” to “Absolutely MUST SEE It.” (I’ve included an affiliate link to each movie, which means at no additional cost to you, I may receive a small commission when you use the link.)
1944, MGM Musical/Romantic Comedy. Judy Garland, turn-of-the-century costumes, a delightful cast, entertaining storyline, and catchy music make this such a fun film any time of the year because the movie doesn’t just take place at Christmas. The story follows the lives of the Smith family over the course of the year leading up to the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis. However, a lot of the best stuff in the show happens during the climatic Christmas Eve scenes, including Judy singing the iconic “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” to her on-screen little sister, Margaret O’Brien.
My favorite part: Either the after-the-party scene where Judy Garland has the “boy next door” help her turn out the lights in the house, or the Christmas Eve ball, including the conversation between the two older girls as they get ready for the evening. Oh, and the early-dinner-scheming in the beginning of the film.
1996, Romantic Comedy. Denzel Washington & Whitney Houston star in this remake of the classic Carey Grant Christmas movie, The Bishop’s Wife. While I like both versions of the movie, the music in The Preacher’s Wife makes the newer film my pick. (Sorry, Carey.) Denzel is an angel named Dudley, who is sent to help a busy, giving preacher, a preacher who is so focused on his work for God that he tends to overlook his family. However, Dudley’s arrival seems to cause even more trouble for the minister.
My favorite part: The children’s Christmas program is adorable, and when Dudley “fixes” the preacher’s little boy’s firetruck.
2000, Comedy. The live-action adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ book and the 1966 cartoon is always fun. While other adaptations of Seuss classics have gone horribly awry (ugh…The Cat in the Hat!), this one is pretty perfect. I love how fully they embraced all things Seussical and Who, and Jim Carey plays a good, mean Grinch. Watching this with my boys makes it even better.
My favorite part: Spoiler alert – When his heart changes, of course, and he returns Christmas! Also, when he tries to sing along with the Whos as they celebrate around their Whoville Christmas tree. “Fah Who Foraze, Dah Who Doraze” is just fun to say.
1995, Romantic Comedy. If you’ve never seen this one, you have to. Sandra Bullock plays Lucy, a lonely girl who is smitten with a handsome stranger who passes her tollbooth every day. When she jumps on the tracks to save him after he’s mugged and fallen in to a coma, his family mistakes her for his fiancée. Only one person doesn’t believe the story, his charming brother (Bill Pullman), who is determined to find out just who Lucy is.
My favorite part: Oh, there are sooo many great scenes and endlessly fun quotables. This is a movie that my mom and I try to see together every year, and it’s always just as funny. One of our favorite scenes is the one around the dinner table with all of his family talking about the mashed potatoes and John Wayne. Watch the movie, and you’ll understand.
2004, Comedy. Do I seriously need to write a description for this one? Will Ferrell is Buddy, a human who grew up as an elf. Once he realizes this, he goes to New York to meet his father, who has managed to wind up on Santa’s naughty list. Hilarious, heart-warming, and joyful. One of the best family Christmas movies!
My favorite part: The quotes. All the funny quotes. Oh, the initial meeting between Buddy and his dad with the impromptu “Christmas-gram”and when Buddy decorates the toy department. Or discovers the mailroom. And when he takes Jovie (Zooey Deschanel) on a date. “Francisco….
2004, Biblical Drama. This is a beautiful depiction of the story of Mary, Joseph, and the birth of Jesus. While I’m still a bit amused at how easily Mary actually delivers her baby (seriously, I’m pretty sure Mary had to work a little bit for it) and annoyed by the fact that the wise men show up so early (they would have been a year or more later in arriving), I love this movie. It shows the real emotions, humor, and struggles that Mary, Joseph, their families, and friends may have dealt with. It’s so easy for us to forget that these people actually lived – they aren’t just characters in a story. Seeing their humanity brings the Christmas story that much closer to home, stirring my heart to the awesomeness of Jesus as Immanuel, God with Us.
My favorite part: I love Joseph. Seriously, he’s my favorite character. Mary and Joseph’s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem and their journey to caring for each other. Also, the comedic side of the wise men is pretty great.
1954, Musical Romantic Comedy. You had to guess that this one made my list. It’s one of the all-time greatest Christmas movies. Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, tons of singing and dancing, and Christmas! The story is about two army buddies who come to the aid of their former commanding officer by putting on a Christmas show at his Vermont lodge. With the aid (and adoration) of a sister act, all they need is a little snow to make it perfect.
My favorite part: Can I first share my least favorite? Vera-Ellen. She drives me crazy throughout the whole movie because she’s constantly looking at the camera, especially during dance routines, and it’s just weird. I mentioned this once to a friend, and she said now that she’d noticed it, it was bothersome. So, sorry if this changes the movie for you.
Okay, the good parts – the banter between Bing and Danny and the songs and dances. Obviously.
1940, Romantic Comedy. Hello, Jimmy Stewart! He is one of my classic Hollywood favorites (I mean, he’s just great, isn’t he?). In this film, Jimmy is a head sales clerk at a small store, and he’s corresponding with a girl that he’s never met. Meanwhile, a new sales girl (Margaret Sullavan) is hired on at the store right around the Christmas season, and she and Jimmy Stewart’s characters do not particularly care for each other…or do they? 🙂
If you recognize some of the plot, it may be because this movie was remade twice: once asIn the Good Old Summertime with Judy Garland (I like this one, too) and more recently as You’ve Got Mail(Tom Hanks & Meg Ryan – I don’t like this one).
My favorite part: When Jimmy Stewart’s character finds out the identity of the girl he’s writing. Watching him interact with her from then on is funny and sweet and swoon-worthy all at the same time.
1946, Drama/Comedy. There really isn’t another Christmas movie that captures it all for me like this one does. Humor, music, struggle, faith, and hope. Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey is perfect. In the move (if for some sad reason you’ve never seen it), George, in desperation, wishes he’d never been born and miraculously gets the chance to see just what the world would be like without him.
My favorite part: Walking Mary (Donna Reed) home from the dance – “What is it you want, Mary?” and “This is a very interesting situation.” His stand against Potter. When he meets Clarence – “Well, you look about the kind of angel I’d get.” His joy as he runs through the town, shouting, “Merry Christmas,” to everyone and everything just because he’s happy to be alive. And of course, the end, where all of his giving and sacrifice are rewarded.
I also have an Honorable Mention list or an “If I can fit them in” list, which includes Miracle on 34th Street, In the Good Old Summertime, Bachelor Mother, Little Women (1994 version is my favorite), National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (Brad has an edited, more family-friendly version), The Nutcracker, Holiday Inn, Home Alone, & A Christmas Story.
I realize that everyone’s list is different, and I might not have mentioned your number one “Absolutely MUST SEE It.” Sorry. As I said before, I like a lot of Christmas movies. But they can’t all be my favorites. 🙂
Speaking of favorites, this week one holly jolly reader will win one of my “Absolutely MUST SEE It” favorite Christmas movies along with three more holiday films.
My special Christmas giveaway
is a TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Holiday, a 2-disc set which includes my #2 favorite – A Shop Around the Corner – as well as three more Christmas movies: the beloved Christmas in Connecticut, the 1938 version of A Christmas Carol, and the cute It Happened on 5th Avenue. Along with the movies, the prize pack includes a selection of Land O Lakes Hot Chocolate in a variety of flavors. My boys enjoyed helping me taste-test the different options, so they could pick their favorites.
TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Holiday
A selection of Land O Lakes Hot Chocolate
The giveaway starts today and is open until Thursday 11:59pm, with the winner being announced on Friday.
So, did your favorite Christmas movies make my list? What would be your #1 MUST SEE Holiday film?
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