So, in class this week we were talking about Christmas traditions from around the world. They simply defined a tradition as something that you do every year: birthdays, holidays, vacations, etc. And while that's true, it seems that me slacking off on my blog has become a weekly tradition. Sorry.
Nonetheless, now that my vacation has started, I'm here. (On a side note, you may have noticed my love for commas. I am a bit comma-happy, and I tend to overuse them. I just figure that anyplace I would pause in conversation deserves a comma...if only for dramatic effect. Oh, and I realize I overuse ellipses too...but whatever.)
As the countdown to Christmas is nearing an end, I thought what better time to talk about Christmas traditions (not around the world, but among our friends and families).
When I was young, Christmas always started the weekend after Thanksgiving. That's when we would buy our tree and decorate the house. It was also usually when Advent would start. We would spend the next 4 weeks getting things ready for the big day. We would buy and wrap presents, bake cookies, and write letters (or in my case, terrible poems) to Santa. But we would also light the candle on the Advent wreath, read Bible stories, help out and church, and celebrate the true meaning of the season.
Sometimes we would go to South Dakota to be with our extended family, but I don't remember much about those. What I do remember are the ones we spent at home. We always went to the children's mass on Christmas Eve (they do a short little reenactment at that mass). We would eat supper, and after we got the kitchen cleaned up we would open presents. We all had our own spots around the living room (Brad at the table in the corner, Mom on the love seat, Jaime on the bricks between the fireplace and the TV, Dad and Josh on the couch, and me on the floor next to the piano). We would get the gifts from under the tree and pass them out to each of our designated spots. We would then try on any clothes we got, play with the toys we got, set out cookies and milk for Santa, and go to bed. When we woke up, we would go down stairs to find our stockings full, a gift for each of us under the tree, and that the cookies had been eaten!
When I met Kevin, it was just another sign that we were meant to be together when I found out that his Christmas traditions would fit like a puzzle piece with mine. They always opened all of their presents on Christmas morning, which left him available to spend Christmas Eve with my family, and I was available to spend Christmas morning with his.
And now that we're married, not much has changed...theirs just a little more travel involved. We still buy our tree and decorate our house the weekend after Thanksgiving. We still celebrate Advent as a way of preparing ourselves and our kids for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. We still buy and wrap presents. Then in the days right before Christmas, we drive home to Abilene so we can enjoy the time with our families. We still do Christmas Eve with my family (including the Children's mass...only now it's my kids who participate in the reenactment). We still have our spots in the living room...only now we have spouses and children to fill out those spots. And after the gifts have been opened, clothes have been tried on, toys have been played with, and cookies have been set out for Santa, we put our kids to bed. The grown ups get to stay up late watching movies and/or playing games, eating Santa's cookies, and filling stockings. In the morning, we get to watch our kids wake up and be amazed by the fact that Santa ate his cookies and left more presents. Then we go to Kevin's side of the family and open presents with them. But more importantly we play games with, talk with, laugh with, and spend the day with them. And when we get back home, we get to see that Santa remembered to visit our house, too!
Kevin and I are so blessed to have both of our families in the same town. It truly makes holidays so easy. We get to share the joy of gift-giving with everyone, while not missing out on quality time with anyone. This year is sure to be one of the best Christmases ever! All of my siblings will be together with spouses and kids in tow. But this year we will also be joined by a newcomer to our family...my baby brother's fiance. I'm so excited to be able to spend so my time with my family (both sides), get to know my future sister-in-law a little better, watch Hannah and Mason spend time with their cousins (all 11 of them), and celebrate the birth of our Savior with everyone I love most.
So Merry Christmas! What are some of your traditions?!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Albums...
So, the Grammy nominations came out Wednesday night. And I think that I'm pretty pleased overall. Eminem got a stellar 10 nominations. Lady Antebellum, Bruno Mars, and my boy Jay-Z got several as well. I could definitely pass on Lady Gaga, but I think it should be a good show!
In honor of the music, I thought I would do a blog that I never really thought I would do before. I've always heard people who talk about "albums that changed their lives". And I would always think, "Really? It changed your life?!" I mean I am a music lover to the core, but I never really got that statement. But now, I think I was being a little too broad, or a little to literal...or something. A life changing moment, or album for that matter, doesn't necessarily have to be something huge or noticeable to others. So keeping that in mind and keeping in the spirit of the facebook thing (that I somehow missed), this post is going to be about: Albums That Changed My Life!
Here's the criteria: any number of albums that either literally changed your life somehow (even in a small way) or the way you look at life (or looked at life at the time). They sucked you in and took you over. These are the albums that you use to identify time, people, places, memories, and emotions.
In an attempted order by date (of my appreciation, not necessarily it's release):
1) Ropin the Wind by Garth Brooks = This is the first album that I remember loving (I'm thinking around 5th and 6th grade). I can remember individual songs that I thought were awesome long before this, but we're talking albums here. I remember listening to this tape (yes, cassette tape) over and over. It was then that I made my life goal to see Garth Brooks live in concert. It's still a goal that I have, by the way...just in case you ever get an extra ticket. :)
2) the Forrest Gump Soundtrack = So we're flashing forward a few years to around 8th grade. I went to see this movie with my dad and my sister. I enjoyed the movie, but I didn't fall in love with it until high school (when it became one of my all-time favorites). But I was able to instantly fully appreciate the music. The music spanned the 50's, 60's, and 70's without being corny or cliche.
3) the 1996 Grammy Nominees compilation = I didn't actually get the CD until the summer before 10th grade, but the music was a showcase from my Freshman year. I can't even give this album a review that will do it justice, so check out this one on Amazon. That was a great year for music!
4) Big Ones by Aerosmith = So a lot of Aerosmith was before my time. I remember getting this CD for my cousin, Jeremy. Then a year or two after that I finally got my own, and I was in rock heaven. I would do some serious jamming out in my bedroom. But more importantly, this album got me interested in finding and listening to their earlier stuff. And it inspired me to make another life goal to see Aerosmith in concert. (So, ideally Garth Brooks and Aerosmith need to put on a show together...that sounds likely doesn't it?)
5) Crash by Dave Matthews Band = Ah, this is Junior year. I was 16, and I was sure that all the guys who had asked me out since middle school (who I had always turned down, because I wasn't old enough to date) would be ready to try again. I was sadly mistaken. They all had girlfriends, and so did the guys I actually liked...and so did just about everyone (or so it seemed). I spent many a night shut away in my room feeling sorry for myself and seeking solace in the unique music of DMB.
6) Conspiracy No. 5 by Third Day = This was still my Junior year. When I wasn't busy being depressed about my lack of dates, I was very involved in and loving my Life Teen youth group at church. It was the year that solidified my strong faith and the year of my confirmation. We went to a Third Day concert in Abilene, and it was the best thing I had ever been to. I bought the CD and never looked back. It is still one of my favorites: singing praise and rocking out at the same time...pretty awesome.
7) A Place in the Sun by Tim McGraw = Skip ahead a little to the summer after I graduated. This album was pretty much the soundtrack of my first year with Kevin. Virtually any time Kevin and I drove anywhere, this CD was playing. I vividly remember him singing the songs as he walked throughout the Pizza Hut while we were working. I would just rest my head on his shoulder and listen to him sing. Of course, I would also pretend to be Faith Hill and sing an awesome duet, but whatever. This one still makes me smile.
8) Monster Ballads by various awesome 80's rockers = So even though I grew up in the 80's, I was a little young to appreciate the sheer awesomeness of the rock from that decade. But it was at this point when my love and devotion to this music started. I remember playing Here We Go Again by Whitesnake over and over on the juke box at Pizza Hut. There's nothing like a good power ballad to help you really belt it out!
9) Country Grammar by Nelly = This was the summer after my Freshman year of college. I already had a general appreciation for rap and hip-hop from people like Snoop Dogg and Tupac. But this album, with it's sweet beats, smooth rhymes, and entertaining lyrics spoke to me. This was the beginning of my love affair with hip-hop. I don't do gangsta rap, but this album paved the way (for me) for: Jay-Z, Kanye West, Eminem (not slim shady), BOB, and others.
Now that I'm thinking about it, it seems rather strange that I don't have one for the last 10 years. Maybe I'll do some more thinking and save that for another day. But anyway, how about you? Do you have any albums that changed your life?
In honor of the music, I thought I would do a blog that I never really thought I would do before. I've always heard people who talk about "albums that changed their lives". And I would always think, "Really? It changed your life?!" I mean I am a music lover to the core, but I never really got that statement. But now, I think I was being a little too broad, or a little to literal...or something. A life changing moment, or album for that matter, doesn't necessarily have to be something huge or noticeable to others. So keeping that in mind and keeping in the spirit of the facebook thing (that I somehow missed), this post is going to be about: Albums That Changed My Life!
Here's the criteria: any number of albums that either literally changed your life somehow (even in a small way) or the way you look at life (or looked at life at the time). They sucked you in and took you over. These are the albums that you use to identify time, people, places, memories, and emotions.
In an attempted order by date (of my appreciation, not necessarily it's release):
1) Ropin the Wind by Garth Brooks = This is the first album that I remember loving (I'm thinking around 5th and 6th grade). I can remember individual songs that I thought were awesome long before this, but we're talking albums here. I remember listening to this tape (yes, cassette tape) over and over. It was then that I made my life goal to see Garth Brooks live in concert. It's still a goal that I have, by the way...just in case you ever get an extra ticket. :)
2) the Forrest Gump Soundtrack = So we're flashing forward a few years to around 8th grade. I went to see this movie with my dad and my sister. I enjoyed the movie, but I didn't fall in love with it until high school (when it became one of my all-time favorites). But I was able to instantly fully appreciate the music. The music spanned the 50's, 60's, and 70's without being corny or cliche.
3) the 1996 Grammy Nominees compilation = I didn't actually get the CD until the summer before 10th grade, but the music was a showcase from my Freshman year. I can't even give this album a review that will do it justice, so check out this one on Amazon. That was a great year for music!
4) Big Ones by Aerosmith = So a lot of Aerosmith was before my time. I remember getting this CD for my cousin, Jeremy. Then a year or two after that I finally got my own, and I was in rock heaven. I would do some serious jamming out in my bedroom. But more importantly, this album got me interested in finding and listening to their earlier stuff. And it inspired me to make another life goal to see Aerosmith in concert. (So, ideally Garth Brooks and Aerosmith need to put on a show together...that sounds likely doesn't it?)
5) Crash by Dave Matthews Band = Ah, this is Junior year. I was 16, and I was sure that all the guys who had asked me out since middle school (who I had always turned down, because I wasn't old enough to date) would be ready to try again. I was sadly mistaken. They all had girlfriends, and so did the guys I actually liked...and so did just about everyone (or so it seemed). I spent many a night shut away in my room feeling sorry for myself and seeking solace in the unique music of DMB.
6) Conspiracy No. 5 by Third Day = This was still my Junior year. When I wasn't busy being depressed about my lack of dates, I was very involved in and loving my Life Teen youth group at church. It was the year that solidified my strong faith and the year of my confirmation. We went to a Third Day concert in Abilene, and it was the best thing I had ever been to. I bought the CD and never looked back. It is still one of my favorites: singing praise and rocking out at the same time...pretty awesome.
7) A Place in the Sun by Tim McGraw = Skip ahead a little to the summer after I graduated. This album was pretty much the soundtrack of my first year with Kevin. Virtually any time Kevin and I drove anywhere, this CD was playing. I vividly remember him singing the songs as he walked throughout the Pizza Hut while we were working. I would just rest my head on his shoulder and listen to him sing. Of course, I would also pretend to be Faith Hill and sing an awesome duet, but whatever. This one still makes me smile.
8) Monster Ballads by various awesome 80's rockers = So even though I grew up in the 80's, I was a little young to appreciate the sheer awesomeness of the rock from that decade. But it was at this point when my love and devotion to this music started. I remember playing Here We Go Again by Whitesnake over and over on the juke box at Pizza Hut. There's nothing like a good power ballad to help you really belt it out!
9) Country Grammar by Nelly = This was the summer after my Freshman year of college. I already had a general appreciation for rap and hip-hop from people like Snoop Dogg and Tupac. But this album, with it's sweet beats, smooth rhymes, and entertaining lyrics spoke to me. This was the beginning of my love affair with hip-hop. I don't do gangsta rap, but this album paved the way (for me) for: Jay-Z, Kanye West, Eminem (not slim shady), BOB, and others.
Now that I'm thinking about it, it seems rather strange that I don't have one for the last 10 years. Maybe I'll do some more thinking and save that for another day. But anyway, how about you? Do you have any albums that changed your life?
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