My Christmas Playlist: Part 1

Dec 5

Dec 5 My Christmas Playlist: Part 1

30 minutes of Christmas music — collected and curated by Kimberly

This Christmas by Hunter Hayes

A bright and happy, ever so slightly sappy, holiday song perfect for twirling around your kitchen with your kids, your significant other, or just yourself. 🤍

Cold December Night by Michael Bublé

Michael Bublé may be a Christmas music staple by now, but this sweet Christmas wish wrapped up in a Hallmark movie-bow (you may recognize it from the ending scene of “Twelve Dates of Christmas”) was the song Trevor and I picked for the first dance at our cold December wedding. 🤍

Christmastime by Michael W. Smith

The first time I remember hearing this song was at a Christmas choir concert circa 1999. I think one or both of my older sisters had a solo and I remember the excitement I felt listening to this group of voices come together.

Later this song was included in a compilation Christmas CD released by Samaritan’s Purse, and during the musical intro, Michael W. Smith shared about traveling with Operation Christmas Child to Bosnia. I had his story memorized as I listened to that CD over and over and I would tear up every time.

Now this song reminds me of all that and more — shaking gloves-with-sewed-on-bells, we sang this to hundreds of people over many Christmas seasons during my childhood. But more than all these memories, it still fills me with hope and joy at the reason we have a Christmastime. 🤍

White Winter Hymnal by Fleet Foxes

While the a cappella cover by Pentatonix has made this song more mainstream, I still have a soft spot for the hipster-before-it-was-cool vibes of the original. Plus, how can you beat this claymation music video? 🤍

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen by Tenth Avenue North

I love my husband dearly but he is a bit of a Scrooge when it comes to Christmas music. He thinks December 1st - December 25th is the only appropriate time to listen. Me on the other hand? I listen to Christmas music (in my car or in my earbuds) all. Year. Round.

But even Scrooges can be moved by music and this is Trevor’s favorite Christmas jam. 🤍

First Snowfall by Michael W. Smith

In this ethereal instrumental, a vivid moving picture is painted of the first few snowflakes of the seasons swirling along the whims of the wind. In less than three minutes, an entire story has been told without a word being spoken. 🤍

Just A Girl by Brandon Heath

From the very first line, there’s an urgency in Heath’s voice — an energy willing you to listen to this music-story with unbiased ears. The lyrics illustrate a familiar story but in a unfamiliar way — at times the music almost feels like it fades away while perfectly complementing this emotional journey.

When your heart is nearly so overwhelmed that you can’t handle any more

the song ends.

And you realize you want to listen to it all over again. 🤍

Silent Night by NEEDTOBREATHE

With such a well known and well loved song, it is incredibly difficult to bring anything new and fresh to the table musically.

Without rewriting the lyrics or adding a chorus, using just harmony and a few simple instruments, Silent Night transports you to a candlelit country church — enthralling you to close your eyes and lift your voice to the Savior Babe. 🤍