Blogmas Day 2: Wednesday Wonders

Happy Wednesday, and Day 2 of Blogmas 2020! Despite a doozy of a day we are here, and I’m excited about it. You wouldn’t know that if you saw my face on the other side of the screen but internally, I’m THRILLED.

I thought for our Blogmas each day could have a theme of sorts. Monday Morning Thoughts, Tuesday Tips, Wednesday Wonders…and the like. I really like a good theme, and some structure feels helpful for Quarantine J.

Wednesday will be all about wonder… all the things you’ve ever wondered *see what I did there* about me- your internet friend and hopefully comments from you that let me in on a little bit more of your world!

Wednesday’s posts will essentially be question and answers or as they call them in the internet realm “tags”. Each Q+A will be holiday themed. Today’s is simply called A Christmas Q+A. Lets hop right in!

What’s your favorite holiday movie?

My all time favorite holiday movie from here on out is Jingle Jangle. I saw it for the first time the weekend it was released and will absolutely be watching it again this holiday season- which I don’t normally do. I am not a big movie rewatcher.

I loved Jingle Jangle because it was so incredibly cast, designed, written, thought out, heart wrenching, and hope giving all at the same time. It took me through a roller coaster of emotions and I didn’t even want to get off of the ride at the end. My husband and I literally laid in bed after we finished the film just silently replaying our favorite scenes in our heads. We were both at a loss for words.

Also, the writer David E. Talbert has been writing plays for as long as I have been alive. I remember my parents friends bringing his plays over to watch. This specific story had been in the works for twenty years before he released it. It was a matter of hard work, never giving up, and divine timing and I just…can I get a hallelujah for a testimony?

*pauses for dramatic effect*

If you love holiday movies and haven’t seen Jingle Jangle then…you have plans this weekend.

Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

I am a Christmas Eve girl. When my siblings and I were younger our parents let us open one gift on Christmas Eve. At the time it was exciting! I remember staying up as late as possible just to remind my parents about our Christmas Eve gift. As we got older we started to care less about the gifts and more about our sleep. Eventually we switched over to Christmas morning for gifts. If Jake and I are blessed with a lil’ family, I think we’ll start a Christmas Eve tradition that surrounds principal, the true meaning of Christmas or both!

Favorite Christmas smell?

I would desperately like to say freshly cut trees. However, I have never had a live Christmas Tree before. I can imagine the smell though it’s all over Costco. I imagine fresh Christmas Tree paired with home cooked meals, and freshly baked sugar cookies smells a little something like heaven- so that is my favorite holiday smell in my head.

My real life favorite holiday smell is my Grandma in her White Diamonds perfume all dressed up and geared up to pass out presents to our whole family.

Which holiday do you celebrate?

I celebrate Christmas every year. I occasionally celebrate Hanukkah with friends and Kwanzaa with family. Our parents raised us with an understanding of both. I love the richness of the season. There’s so much tradition and culture everywhere you turn.

What’s your favorite holiday/Christmas song?

My favorite Christmas song is The Christmas Song also known as Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire. That song can take me however I feel and put me to the Christmas Spirit instantly. Leslie Odom Jr. Has my favorite version. That man’s voice is butter. My also favorite *cause it does not feel right ever putting Ella second…* is Ella Fitzgerald’s version of a song I heard that is for some reason considered Christmas music and also for some reason new to me called What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve.

I’ll be singing these for a Christmas set I’m performing and I could not be more excited.

What is at the top of your list this Christmas?

Joy is at the top of my list this Christmas. I think my favorite thing about Joy is that it doesn’t come from a place that I can access if I haven’t spent time with God. It’s a fruit that when cultivated properly can’t be taken away. Joy made its way to the top of my list when I realized that I would continue to be disappointed if I kept putting my trust in the things or people around me. Life will always be a roller coaster with ups and downs but Joy is something that can remain through all of the ups and downs because its rooted in Christ and Christ remains constant through it all.

Candy cane or gingerbread men?

Candy Canes forever! I can’t stand gingerbread…

What about you? What is your favorite holiday movie? Meal? What is at the top of your list this Christmas?

I’m excited to read what you share!

Love always,

J