I can’t stand the shopping–never could.

But I love to wrap presents–so much so that I usually volunteer at the mall to wrap present for strangers for whatever local charity is setting up shop.

I did cards and baked goods last year(miniature banana but and coffee cake loaves). This year since I will be seeing more family I will have to buy some stuff for the kids(under 18) and of course parents and grandparents. Not looking forwward to it at all.

Can’t we just have a great meal and spend time together?

Christmas CD to buy this year! Ledisi’s It’s Christmas! It has wonderful interpretations of sacred classics and some fresh new tunes to keep you moving. I just bought one as a Christmas gift in addition to my own. Produced by Quincy Jones and an appearance by Richard Smallwood on the first track. And if you don’t have it, Yolanda Adams’s “What A Wonderful Time” that came out last year. Tip: Go to half.com and buy both of them for cheaper. New and sealed!

I decided to take a break from editing my amazon.com cart which only has gifts for my nephew in it to check to see if there was a new blog, and voila…a new blog about Christmas shopping. This year I am, like so many, unable to do extended family/friends so baby boy gets the majority of my gifts along with my Mom and brother. This year has been a difficult year for our family. We just funeralized my grandmother a little more than a week ago and my grandfather passed the beginning of the year, so we have been talking about going away for this year’s holiday. My immediate family is so small and travelocity.com’s last minute trips make it very possible. So prayerfully come Christmas I will find myself on some one’s beach under the much needed healing rays of the sun and in the calming ocean blue waters.

Oh…I absolutely love Fred Hammond’s Christmas cd and break it out throughout the entire year.

Dr. Weems,

I’m not a big Christmas fan either, its just always so much more about shopping and going broke because the stores need to make money that about spreading holiday cheer. Naturally, I havent started and I decided to only buy presents for my parents since I’m between jobs. But the best Christmas CD that probably has the best chance of getting you in the spirit is LUTHER VANDROSS - This is Christmas! Wonderful CD and it never gets old!

I was wondering last week why this Christmas holiday seems strange. I did have a lot of excitement thinking about decorating my tree, but, even after taking it out, it took me a week to decorate it, instead of my usual “can’t wait to see it in full array” mindset.
I’m excited about going to Texas to see my son, but I am not excited about Christmas. I am hopeful about 2009 as the year I will turn 42 (on January 4), but this feeling I am not sure of. I am not anxious, fretting, or feeling guilty about not being able to purchase for people what I would like to. I stopped suffering from depression, November 1-January 1, years ago. But, for some reason or another, I am just not “feeling” holiday excitement. I’m not feeling pressed about not feeling anything.
Peace on earth and goodwill to all humankind.

i agree with kesha on ledisi. she was on the gospel music network over the weekend singing songs from the christmas CD. she was downright RIDICULOUS! her energy was great and her voice was on point.

We are gifting less and loving on each other more this year as well. Tis a shame that it took the economy to nudge us into finding out what is most important.

CD Recommendations: Donald Lawrence’s Christmas CD, it’s HOT!
Kirk Franklin’s Christmas CD is great. Has something on it for everyone, even your traditional sensibilities, Rev!
Israel’s Christmas CD called Timeless
Lastly: CD called the Real Meaning of Christmas by Verity Records. There are three different ones.

Happy Decorating! My Christmas tree has been up since the week before Thanksgiving.

@crt
You’ve gone through a lot of loss this year. My prayers are with you.

Okay, let me google this ledisi sister and go on itunes and find out what she’s like since the younguns’ swear by her.

@Rev. Kima
Since before Thanksgiving? Stop yourself.

One more CD to offer. A sister I just got hooked onto: LEDISI. She has a wonderful Christmas CD! Just the thing to get you energized, hanging those bulbs and stringing that holly!

Listen, i don’t know what you qualify as youngun; but they do speak the truth about Sista Ledisi she aint no joke and I know a little about singing and all.

Blessings during this season and much love to you and your family

Carmen

Ditto on Donald Lawrence’s CD. Though it was recorded almost 10 years ago, it is my rotation right now. I also want to recommend Dianne Reeves Christmas CD for jazz lovers. The name of it is “Christmas Time is Here.” Kelly Price’s CD is also nice.

My Christmas shopping was easy. I bought my sibling something that was in the budget and I bought my mom one night of rest in a suite. My other sibling just wants soaking cd’s. I sent out the Christmas cards to people I have not heard from in a long time. I love Christmas. I will wake up Thursday morning, sing Happy Birthday to Jesus, and thank God for every blessing I received this year. When Jesus is the center, stress is decreased and peace is increased. I put the manger scene up in the living room. That’s enough for me.

My Christmas shopping was done the day before Thanksgiving. This year my nieces and nephews were given $50 - not imaginative, but it kept me on budget. Besides they can combine monies that other family members give them and get one special gift that they want.

I haven’t put up a tree in 14 years because it’s usually still there for Easter. It’s just too much work.

What great suggestions for Christmas music.

It’s BAREBONES for real for me Rev. Weems. But if I could swing it, I’d buy Brian McKinght’s Christmas cd. I heard him and his teenage sons singing and playing from the album on The Steve Harvey Morning Show today and I was all smiles:-) (And for some reason, as I get older, my toleration of the constant Christmas rotation on the radio AND the fact that everyone “star” has a Christmas cd, really doesn’t excite me anymore).

renita:
i have a great cd suggestion. Putamayo has a new orleans jazz holiday/christmas cd that is worth listening to over and over again. check your local library to see if they have it (they often carry the Putamayo line) before you go out and open that wallet at the local bookstore or cd shoppe. borders often carries the putamayo line–very very good holiday cd

wishing you merry and bright days
stephanie

Like you I prefer online shopping. Call him Santa Claus or the UPS man. It makes no difference to me. I got my brick and mortar Christmas fix last week when I ventured into Kohls and found the lines winding their way through the store. Enough! Now I am back on the web and finishing up my (very short) Christmas list.

One of my favorite Christmas CDs is a Duke Ellington rendering of the Nutcracker Suite. The CD is called “Three Suites.” I highly recommend it if you are looking for something outside the Christmas box. It’s somewhat hard to find, but hey if you wait until after Christmas, maybe Amazon will put it on sale.

peace to you this holiday
simone

Just stopping by. Happy Holidays and what kinda Christian am I, a thinking one that loves God and accepts Jesus but don’t really call himself a Christian because I don’t accept everything the church spoonfeeds. But I dig your blog.
Mista Jaycee

I am a little late reading this blog but I am enjoying many of the comments I’ve read thus far.

I agree with Kesha and Talented Tenth and some of the others, who have recommended Ledisi’s CD. I’m in my early 40s and I think her music is da bomb. I saw her the first time she performed on Baisden After Dark and have liked her ever since. So I think her music resonates with people of all age groups.

I also recorded her Christmas special featured on the Gospel Music Channel. I have watched it several times and it has done wonders for my mood, throughout this season, which can get a little depressing if you lose your focus.

During the half an hour that she performed, Ledisi gave her testimony about almost giving up on the music business and how one of her more well-known songs was birthed from that period of difficulty.

So for those, who haven’t caught it yet, I am sure the network will feature it again between now and the new year. I believe it will minister to your heart and soul.

As far as shopping goes, weather permitting, I will be wrapping it up (no pun intended) on Christmas Eve, I am normally a last minute shopper anyway. I figure everyone should be done shopping so I will have free reign of most of the stores.