When It's Not All Cookies and Carols

Despite my best efforts, not every minute of the Christmas season comes up cookies and carols. Our calendars fill up too quickly, my to-do list grows exponentially, we spend too much money, the kids bicker with one another, Will breaks his wrist...you understand, right? Maybe you've even been there too.

During my first holiday season of blogging I shared two of my favorite Christmas videos. When my second holiday season of blogging rolled around, I shared the two videos from the first year and added a couple of new favorites in the same post so I could easily find them on rough days. The third holiday season I narrowed down the videos from years past and added a few more. Same thing during the fourth and fifth holiday seasons. And now in the sixth holiday season, the tradition continues.

When something happens to dampen my holiday spirit, I go searching for my annual Christmas music post. For me, there is no greater emotional and spiritual boost than that I receive when I listen to and sing music centered around love and peace.

So here they are: my favorites from this year and years past, all in one place, so anyone who needs an emotional or spiritual lift - myself included - can find them when the need arises. All will warm your heart and remind you that love actually IS all around us…sometimes we just have to look for it. On YouTube.

Happy Christmas week, friends!

In case you're wondering, my criteria is simple…if the song gives me chills, it makes the cut. I'd love to see and listen to your favorite Christmas videos - I'm always growing my playlist - so please send them my way!

Hallelujah: Pentatonix

Perhaps the best song - and one of the best versions of it - ever.

The low notes in particular, especially during the fourth verse, 

make me feel like I'm having an out-of-body experience.

Deck the Halls

My favorite flashmob of all time.

The Christmas Scale

"It's hard to believe that the greatest message the 

world will ever hear is contained in one simple scale."

Someday at Christmas: Stevie Wonder & Andra Day for Apple

I tear up every time this commercial comes on television.

Silent Night: Us the Duo

I hadn't heard of this group until last month when they opened 

for Pentatonix. They're fun and quirky and incredibly talented! 

Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring

Another flash mob, this one by the talented Air Force Band.

Angels We Have Heard on High: The Piano Guys

I still get chills every single time I watch/listen to this video.

Joy to the World: Mormon Tabernacle Choir
I have always loved both this choir and this song; 
when they combine they sound like Christmas should!

That's Christmas to Me: Pentatonix

Their original Christmas song warms my heart.

"The best way to spread (and I'll add the words "and feel" in here as well) Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear."

Thanks, Buddy.