A Santa Bag Full of News

Ho! Ho! Ho! Christmas Eve 2009 brings a Santa bag full of news: Senate Democrats voted to pass their version of Obamacare this morning which includes government funded abortion, Russia is developing a new generation of nuclear missiles, Ahmadinejad dismisses the West’s nuclear year-end deadline, Afghanistan suicide bomber kills eight people, slots casinos in malls may be the wave of the future, and delight of delights – top executives at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will receive $ 6 million year-end bonuses.

Seems like the perfect time to pull out the lock box and stow away the cares of the world.

 Christmas Time

Put your problems on probation
Run your troubles off the track,
Throw your worries out the window
Get the monkeys off your back.
Silence all your inner critics
With your conscience make amends,
And allow yourself some happiness
It’s Christmas time again!
Call a truce with those who bother you
Let all the fighting cease,
Give your differences a breather
And declare a time of peace,
Don’t let angry feelings taint
The precious time you have to spend,
And allow yourself some happiness
It’s Christmas time again!
Like some cool refreshing water
Or a gentle summer breeze,
Like a fresh bouquet of flowers
Or the smell of autumn leaves,
It’s a banquet for the spirit
Filled with family, food and friends,
So allow yourself some happiness
It’s Christmas time again!
~ Bob Lazzar-Atwood.

Day 11 of Twelve Days of Christmas offers three Christmas Eve videos.  The first reminds us of a ‘little old elf- so lively and quick’ by the Swingle Singers.

Here is the classic ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas:

The charm of the childhood Nativity Play is recalled as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra presents One December Bright and Clear.

Sarah McLachlan sings and strums a simple, sweet version of Oh, Little Town of Bethlehem.

Christmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself about you like a shawl. But it warmed more than your body. It warmed your heart… filled it, too, with a melody that would last forever. ~ Bess Streeter Aldrich

For centuries men have kept an appointment with Christmas. Christmas means fellowship, feasting, giving and receiving, a time of good cheer, home. ~ W. J. Tucker