Holiday Blog Hopping ... and Busy, Busy, Busy!

Today is the third day of our Holiday Blog Hop, and it's Saturday! For many of us who work Monday through Friday, this is one of two days out of the week to get all those pesky errands done (shopping, cleaning). And this time of year we add all our holiday activities on top of it...like extra shopping. How many of us buy gifts not just for family but for teachers and coaches and babysitters and hairdressers, for grab bags and gift exchanges...and the list goes on. It can be overwhelming! Then there are the parties and activities--choral and band/orchestra events, plays and pageants, special holiday parties at work and other organizations. (I'm exhausting myself just writing about it all!)

Just when I start to let the inner grump in me come out over all this busy-ness, I realize it's these activities that, in part, make this a special time of year for many in our culture. And even when I'm most stressed out, I know there are some events that bring me back to the center, to the reason I celebrate "the holidays."

When I was a little girl, our church held a candlelight carol service every year, where all the choirs, from youth to adult, participated. We all processed down the big center aisle in our robes, carrying candles (battery-operated for the little ones), singing one of the traditional carols. The smallest children were at the rear, and I remember looking at that line ahead of me, thinking it went on forever, and how special, and honored, I felt to be part of the celebration.

Just remembering those services brings that feeling of "specialness" back in my mind, and for a moment I can exhale.

Do you (or did you) attend or participate in any special holiday events that bring you back to your center? If so, I'd love to hear about them!

Either leave a comment on this blog, or send me e-mail (leah@leahstjames.com) to enter the contest for a copy of Adrienne's Ghost (10 to be given) and a $25 Amazon gift certificate. I'll pass on the name of my winners for entry into the Holiday Blog Hop's contest for the super grand prize, a KINDLE FIRE! 

Good luck, everyone...and happy holiday hopping!

Holiday Blog Hopping

Hi, everyone! Welcome to the Holiday Blog Hop, and your chance to win prizes like free books and gifts cards...and a grand prize of a KINDLE FIRE!

Each day I'll be holding a random drawing to give away a copy of my ebook novella, Adrienne's Ghost. At the end of the "hop," I'll be drawing to send a $25 Amazon gift card!

How to enter, you ask? :-) Simple...everyone who posts a comment on my blog each day will be entered. Winners will be randomly drawn--one book per day, the $25 Amazon certificate at the end (drawn from all the winners). My winners will be automatically entered to win the grand prize (the Kindle Fire).

So let's get going!

Since this is a "holiday" blog hop, I thought it would be fun to talk about our favorite holidays things. I also love music, all kinds, and sing in my church choir when my life isn't too insane. (Believe me, it's for my enjoyment...not the choir's!) :-)

So for the next day or two, I'd like to hear about your favorite holiday music, from seasonal children's classics (Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer), to music that makes you laugh (thinking Adam Sandler anyone?), or the traditional sacred songs.

Personally, I like them all, but my favorite of favorites would be sacred Christmas music. Put on a CD of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing O Come All Ye Faithful, and I'm back to my childhood, listening to my mother's albums on the record player. (Yes, I am that old.) :-)  Or the more recent Mary Did You Know? That one makes me cry. (Check out this home-made but powerful a cappalla version by Jordin Sparks.)

I'd love to hear from you. What's your favorite holiday music?

And don't forget to check out main Holiday Hop page to access other author sites. Remember, the grand prize for the Holiday Hop is a KINDLE FIRE! :-)