Christmas Carols

In the Bleak Midwinter
Text: Christina G. Rossetti, 1830-1894
Music: Gustav Holst, 1874-1934


In the bleak midwinter, frost wind made moan,
earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
in the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain;
heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
the Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
but his mother only, in her maiden bliss,
worshiped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
if I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
yet what I can I give him: give my heart.




The Holly and the Ivy

The holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown,
Of all trees that are in the wood,
The holly bears the crown:
O, the rising of the sun,
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.

The holly bears a blossom,
As white as lily flow'r,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
To be our dear Saviour: Refrain

The holly bears a berry,
As red as any blood,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
To do poor sinners good: Refrain

The holly bears a prickle,
As sharp as any thorn,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
On Christmas Day in the morn: Refrain

The holly bears a bark,
As bitter as the gall,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
For to redeem us all: Refrain

The holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown,
Of all trees that are in the wood,
The holly bears the crown: Refrain




O Come O Come Emmanuel

The favourite O Come, O Come Emmanuel carol was originally written in Latin text in the 12th Century. The author of the words and composer to the music of O Come, O Come Emmanuel is unknown. It is , however believed that the melody was of French origin and added to the text a hundred years later. The Latin was translated into English by John Mason Neale in 1851.


O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
In ancient times did'st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.





Star Carol
John Rutter

Sing this night, for a boy is born in Bethlehem,
Christ our Lord in a lowly manger lies;
Bring your gifts, come and worship at his cradle,
Hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary!

See his star shining bright
In the sky this Christmas Night!
Follow me joyfully;
Hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary!

Angels bright, come from heaven’s highest glory,
Bear the news with its message of good cheer:
“Sing, rejoice, for a King is come to save us,
Hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary!”

Let us pay our hommage at the manger,
Sing his praise on this joyful Christmas Night;
Christ is come, bringing promises of salvation;
Hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary!





What Child Is This?

Words: William Chatterton Dix, 1865.
Music: "Greensleeves," 16th Century English melody


What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.

Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.





Silent Night

The origin of the Christmas carol we know as Silent Night was a poem that was written in 1816 by an Austrian priest called Joseph Mohr. On Christmas Eve in 1818 in the small alpine village called Oberndorf it is reputed that the organ at St. Nicholas Church had broken. Joseph Mohr gave the poem of Silent Night (Stille Nacht) to his friend Franz Xavier Gruber and the melody for Silent Night was composed with this in mind. The music to Silent Night was therefore intended for a guitar and the simple score was finished in time for Midnight Mass. Silent Night is the most famous Christmas carol of all time!


Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth "





O Holy Night

O holy night!
The stars are brightly shining.
It is the night
Of OUR dear Savior's birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till he appear'd and the soul felt His worth.
A thrill of hope
The weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks
A new and glorious morn!
Fall on your knees,
Oh hear the angel voices;
Oh night divine,
Oh night when Christ was born,
Oh night divine, Oh night , Oh night divine.
　
Chains shall He break
For the slave is our brother,
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy
In grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord, let ever ever praise Thee
Noel, Noel
Oh night, Oh night divine,
Noel, Noel
Oh night, Oh night divine.
Noel, Noel
Oh night, Oh, Oh night divine





Joy to the World


The words and lyrics of the old Christmas carol 'Joy to the World' were written in 1719 by Isaac Watts (1674-1748). The father of John Watts was a Non-conformist and so extreme were his views that he was imprisoned twice. His father's influence over Isaac was demonstrated when he choose to attend Non­conformist Academy at Stoke Newington in preference to a University. Watts was ordained as a Pastor of an Independent congregation. He wrote many hymns and Carols and was awarded a Doctor of Divinity degree by the the University of Edinburgh in 1728. The music to the carol is by George Frederick Handel (1685-1759).


Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

Our Love is Five

NOVEMBER 7

On this day, five years ago, you were born. So in love with you James! You are a blessing to our family and on our knees we give thanks to God for you.

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. Psalm 139:14

Mama, for my birthday, do you think we can slide down the berm?

Sand down the back of pants, sand in the hair, sand all over after sliding and rolling down the berm...silly, happy, giggly kids!

San Diego Botanic Garden

November 2, 2010

A lovely day with friends exploring the San Diego Botanic Garden...
(Free the first Tuesday of the month)

In the Children's Garden

While on our way...

Palm branches discovered; Imaginations run wild

Central Coast

Last week we were blessed to spend time with friends near the beautiful Central California Coast, hours from home. It WAS all documented, but not safe enough in my camera... the images disappeared with a couple of quick, unthinking, button taps; they remain in my memory. While packing the car, I was able to capture a few shots. Thank you Katie, we had a wonderful time at your parent's home with you and your daughters!

The first morning Julia and James were wakened by hearing "Hoo hoo hooo" of the Great Horned Owl! We observed many a new bird right through the living room window:
California Quail, Dark-eyed Junco, Plain Titmouse, Western Bluebird, and Acorn Woodpecker.

The Oak trees were riddled with evidence the Acorn Woodpecker had been around!

James found an Oak tree sapling and imagined that a squirrel some time ago had buried an acorn and forgotten about it.

Swinging on the Oak

We visited a beautiful farm and while we were their at sunset, rode on a tractor piled with hay that took us out where we could pick apples and gather little pumpkins. On the roadside, the children pulled sunflower seeds out of the big flower heads giving them happy faces. Within the farm we followed a friendly chicken and fed the animals, and then made our way through an awesome hay maze ~ a big, dark at times maze, I had a difficult time finding our way out kind of maze (glad we didn't send the children in alone).

Us mama's had our own kind of fun... We visited the warehouse of our favorite book company Beautiful Feet Books! And on the way home, we stopped in at the Book Loft in Solvang where there is a used book section upstairs where treasures can be found.

Before darkness set in the last night, we hurried to the beach to collect rocks. The night air was chilly and moist and couldn't wait to get back to the house for a campfire. The children helped gather twigs to get the fire started and then enjoyed their labor by keeping warm and eating S'mores under the stars. They were ready to run in the house when they heard the howls of a pack of coyotes in the distance! While getting ready for bed, all cozy and warm, we heard the start of rain, down pouring rain. We did notice the clouds rolling in and the timing was just perfect.