I Cry Every Year

I can't help it. The first day that I let myself listen to Christmas music (the day after Halloween) - I lose it. It just fills me with SO MUCH JOY!

I know that listening to Christmas music isn't for everyone - not everyone has the desire nor the patience to start the repetitions of holiday classics this early. I do try and pace myself - to spread out the "introductions of the favorites" over a couple of weeks, but it's hard to hold back.

Over the years, we've put together a handful of Christmas mix albums, and while there are "new discoveries" every year that earn the "gold medal", many of the songs I love were recorded well over a decade ago.

So, here's the list of the songs that consistently put me in the joyful mood faster than any other. If you'd rather come back in a month to check out this list, that's perfectly okay with me, but these are some really, really amazing songs.... (fyi - they are arranged in alphabetical order...) (And if there's any favorites you'd like to recommend, please let me know!)

"Angels We Have Heard on High/Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" - Phillips, Craig, and Dean
"Breath of Heaven" - Amy Grant
"Call His Name Jesus" - Phillips, Craig, and Dean
"Christmas Angels" - Michael W. Smith
"Emmanuel, Little Town" - Amy Grant
"Go Tell It On the Mountain/Amen" - Phillips, Craig, and Dean
"Hark the Herald" - Steven Curtis Chapman
"How Great Our Joy/Joy to the World" - Phillips, Craig, and Dean
"Jesus, Born on This Day" - Mariah Carey
"Joseph's Lullaby" - MercyMe
"Let There Be Light" - Point of Grace
"Mary's Boy Child" - The Jingle Belles
"Far From Bethlehem" - Point of Grace
"O Come All Ye Faithful" - Steven Curtis Chapman
"Sing Noel" - NewSong
"A Strange Way to Save the World" - 4Him
"Welcome to Our World" - Michael W. Smith
"When Love Came Down" - Point of Grace
"Where Are You Christmas?" - Faith Hill