Rachel Spangler's Blog, page 25

25 Songs of Christmas: Day 11 – It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Well we are right buried under snow now.  I had to shovel multiple times today and the drive to the airport took an hour and a half longer than it normally does.  It would be very easy to start to dream of some place warmer, but despite all the inconvenience all I can think is it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

25 Songs of Christmas: Day 10 – It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

Happy Tuesday Folks

It’s snowing here, and I spent the morning in church singing Christmas Carols with my lovely wife while our friend Will played the piano.  It was probably a bit irresponsible to take the time off work, but I don’t regret a minute of it.  As we draw nearer to the holiday and the our pace picks up drastically I think it’s important to take time to enjoy the richness of this season..

Have you given yourself the freedom to do something for the pure joy of Christmas lately? Perhaps now is the time. Go ahead. Take a few minutes to yourself, close your eyes, breathe deeply, and meditate on this classic Christmas hymn.

25 Songs of Christmas: Day 9 – Go Tell It On The Mountain

So today we’re back to a more classic hymn.  Go Tell It On The Mountain is an African American spiritual dating back to at least the Civil War. It’s one I remember hearing a lot when I was a child attending a Southern Baptist school.  Maybe that’s why I like this version so much, it’s got all my childhood influences, a little country, a little gospel, a little blues.  I hope you enjoy it.

25 Songs of Christmas: Day 8 – All I Want For Christmas is You

Well last night I shared a traditional favorite, tonight I’ll swing to something a lot more modern and a lot more rocking. I love the classic faith based songs, but there’s nothing wrong with dancing a little bit in your sock feet in the kitchen…not that I have done anything like that

25 Songs of Christmas: Day 7 – God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Today’s song is God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. It’s a classic Christian hymn which is my favorite kind of Christmas song  The band is Jars of Clay who I really liked a lot as a teen.  It’s understated and the version I listen to most often, because it allows me to really focus on the lyrics.

25 Songs of Christmas: Day 6 – O Tannenbaum

Today is a big day on the Christmas calendar at the Spangler house.  Today we will get our tree!

We cut our own from a lovely tree farm about 20 minutes from home. It’s quite picturesque. And we got a dusting of snow last night, so it should be extra pretty today. It will also be extra special this year because of the friends joining us.  Jackson’s Big Papi is still visiting, and this will be his first time decorating the tree with us.

We’ll also have our friends the Straus-Singers with us once again.  They are Jewish, and we usually we have Hanukkah with them, and they get the Christmas tree with us. We’ve been celebrating together since Jackson’s first Christmas (his first tree was their first tree, too). After a two-year sabbatical in Texas, they are back, and we’re very excited to have them back in our lives and in our holiday traditions.

So after school we’ll load up the families and drive to the country get the tree, then haul it home (probably wrestle it in the stand), then spend 20 minutes adjusting it. We have appetizer-type food and listen to Christmas carols. We’ll string popcorn and drink hot chocolate. The kids will take turns hanging ornaments. Then we’ll dim the lights and put the angel on top.

It’s pretty idyllic in theory. The practice, however, never goes off without a hitch. It’s always a whirlwind. It’s always more hectic than I remember. It’s always exhausting. It’s always messy. It’s always funnier than we intend it to be.  And it’s always special.  That’s why it’s our tradition.

One other tradition for me on Christmas tree day is today’s song. My grandma would sing it to us every year.  We never did fully learn the words in German, but no Christmas tree tradition would be complete for me without at least humming along.

25 Songs of Christmas: Day 5 – Peace Carol

I’m going with something a little different today because Christmas brings out the kid in all of us.  My selection for day 5 is a beautiful song with a fun little twist.  John Denver and the Muppets, no one can resist smiling at that, right?

25 Songs of Christmas: Day 4 – The First Noel.

Sorry this is a little late, but I spent the day with friends and family and that’s very important to me.  Jackson’s Big Papi flew in to spend some holiday time with us. Then our friends Lynda and Niner joined us for dinner. It was just a boi, her wife and son, their baby daddy, and my editors/queer neighbors: we might not be a traditional family but we are a family nonetheless. Having a house full of loved ones finally started to feel like Christmas to me.  So, here you go, my first traditional Christmas Carol of the season:

25 Songs of Christmas er Hanukkah: Day 3 Hanukkah

The Christmas season is just getting rolling, but Hanukkah is already rocking this year.  And here’s something that’s not so much a secret, but I love Hanukkah too!

Sure I’m a Christian, but I love how this time of year so many people of faith are celebrating light in the darkness.  Jesus’s birth signified a light in the dark for Christians.  Solstice celebrates a return of the light to the natural world. Hanukkah is the festival of lights.  Too many times people talk about the things that separate people of faith, but I think we should celebrate the things we all share.

Also, I really love Hanukkah food!

25 Songs of Christmas: Day 2 – Carol of the Bells

Here’s a fun one to get your blood pumping this Monday morning. I usually go with classic renditions/artists, but I think it’s also important to support new(er) artists. I’ve just been introduced to this talented group of young people, and their entire Christmas CD is worth a listen/share/buy this holiday season.