Christmas in the Country CD Review and Giveaway

 

I’m a member of the Family Christian Bloggers and they provided me with a free copy of Christmas in the Country.

 

Christmas in the Country is a collection of songs from popular country artists featuring, Randy Travis, Travis Tritt, LeAnn Rimes, Little Texas, Steve Holy, Kenny Rogers and Wynonna, John Michael Montgomery, Clay Walker, Bryan White, Holly Dunn, Kathy Mattea, The Bellamy Brothers, Neal McCory, Big & Rich, and Glen Campbell.

 

The album starts off with Randy Travis – Meet Me under the Mistletoe. This song has the vibe of classic country. The song is about falling in love and meeting your lover under the mistletoe and who doesn’t want to receive a romantic kiss as a first gift! I know, I do!!

The second is a classic radio hit featuring vocals from Travis Tritt called Santa Looked a lot like Daddy. It’s a humorous Christmas song and this one is about a boy witnessing his mommy kissing Santa and he is confused as to why.

The third song is one by LeAnn Rimes and it’s the classic White Christmas. This one makes me recall watching out the window and seeing snow falling and everyone is getting ready to go out after they unwrap their gifts. LeAnn Rimes does an excellent job hitting all of the high notes in this song and her voice is simplify stunning.

Track number four is Here Comes Santa Claus by Little Texas. This one has a country rock feeling to the track and it makes you want to rock out waiting for Santa to deliver presents. I also like how this one talked about how peace would come to all if we would follow the light and giving thanks to God for our many blessings and how we all God’s children.

The five song is one by Steve Holy and Jingle Bell Rock reminded me of an oldies tune mixed with today’s music. The guitar licks in this song is amazing and it makes you to want to get up and dance.

Track six is a duet by Kenny Rogers and Wynonna called Mary Did You Know and this song gives me chills. This one asks the question to Mary if she knew the child, Jesus she was carrying was going to change the world.

Track seven is a classic song called Santa Claus is Coming to Town by John Michael Montgomery. I especially miss hearing John Michael Montgomery on the radio. I liked how this version had a wonderful piano solo part and kids will love his voice. Track eight is a soulful song called Please Come Home for Christmas by Clay Walker. This one is about begging your lover to return home by Christmas or at least by New Years. Clay Walker sings this one with such passion like he’s lived this song! It also has magnificent guitar riffs towards the end of the song that really bring the song alive. Track nine is a classic song recorded by many artists called I’ll Be Home for Christmas. I really enjoyed the violin parts that added a sad ambiance and longing to get home to be with your family and friends. Track ten is a Latino song called Feliz Navidad by Holly Dunn. It had a nice drumbeat in the middle of the song. It makes listeners to want to dance along to the track. Track eleven is a song called the Christmas Song by Kathy Mattea. I love the instruments in this track and it sounds like a classic country Christmas song.

Track twelve is by the Bellamy Brothers – Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree. There isn’t a song that the Bellamy Brothers can’t cover. This one has a rocky edge to it that country lovers will love! Track thirteen is one called Merry Christmas Darling by Neal McCoy. This was the first time that I have ever heard this Christmas song and I like how it described the perfect Christmas scene of being by the cozy fire. Track fourteen is by Big & Rich – Blue Christmas and it has such a rock feeling throughout the entire song and it’s different than the typical version of Blue Christmas. I like this version way better and the guitar parts blew me away with how epic they sounded. Track fifteen is called Brightest And Best by Glen Campbell and this one is about shepherds travelling to meet our Savior. It gives me the Heavenly in awe feeling!   I would recommend this amazing country Christmas album especially to any country music fans who are fans of classic country and today’s country. It has the perfect mix of both styles of artists. Even if you’re not a huge country music lover the album is still enjoyable. I really like how this album had classic Christmas tunes and some new songs that I haven’t heard before. The songs are all family friendly and everyone will adore listening to these by the fire. My top five songs are Santa Looked a lot like Daddy, Here Comes Santa Claus, Mary Did You Know, Please Come Home for Christmas, and Blue Christmas. If you’re looking for a wonderful produced album featuring great country artists, then check out this CD! Family Christian has graciously provided me with a Family Christian $10 appreciation certificate to giveaway to a luck reader!

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Mission Completed

I had my run for St. Jude’s Research Hospital on Saturday, June 12. It was extremely hot in Nashville, TN. The humidity was smoldering to anybody’s body. The run was at 8 am. This little girl named Ellen Taylor kicked off the 5k run with the National Anthem. One guy juggled balls during the whole walk/run. I don’t know how he did that. I did good to walk and run it. Then two girls walked and hula hooped the whole run. I only had about two months to prepare for the run. I could only run for 0.31 miles. Then my right foot started killing me, but I finished the 5k. Most people walked and some ran the whole time. But the reason we all came together was for the children not for being first.

Someone recorded this video of Ellen Taylor performing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaJKOWvhL5g

I would like to thank everyone who has read and supported me during this run/walk. Thank you everyone who donated or who has ever donated to St. Jude’s. I even saw young kids ranging from 3 to 16 helping one another. I even saw some older people helping and running. The world would be a much better place, if we all would just reach out and move along and help one another. We can’t live in fear or let our doubts hold us back any longer. So thank you for reading any of my posts.

I went to Nashville for the CMA Fest too. It was my first time going and it was a blast. I only went to three of the four nightly concerts. I was hurting and too sore to stay for the last night. But I got to see a lot of artists and TV show stars. I even got to met some of them, which was awesome. I went to the Convention Center which is where artists sign at booths. My favorite would have to be Point of Grace. They made me feel like they cared about me as a fan. We connected and Leigh even remembered my name. Point of Grace did a free concert at the Music City Zone and Leigh said, “We met Andrew today. Hey Andrew” I got a picture of her pointing at me. I about flipped out. If you ever get the chance to go to the CMA Fest, it is worth it. It was crazy and hot though just to warn you. Nashville is very hot! Two of the best singers at the nightly concerts would have been Carrie Underwood and Martina McBride. They rocked it! Everyone who performed was great! But they were my favorite, if I had to pick two.

I also heard of a new artist, Danny Gokey. Yes, he is from American Idol too. I got his new CD this week and it is great. I like most of the tracks and I agree with this dude. His first single called, “My Best Days Are Ahead of Me” is a song about looking ahead in life and not living in the past.

Here are the lyrics:

“Life hasn't always been a party but mostly it's been good There's only one or two things that I'd change if I could I don’t get lost in the past or get stuck in some sad memory yah My best days are ahead of me

Age is nothing but a number Sometimes I have to wonder What does it really mean But hey I’m still putting it together I keep getting better if I keep getting better I can be whatever I want to be My best days are ahead of me”

Here is the powerful video for the song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qqus079lUz8

I know we all have some things we regret but the past is the past. We CAN’T change it. No matter how much we would like to change some things. We all make mistakes. But all we can do is pray for forgiveness and receive it. Then move on. As the song says, “My Best Days Are Ahead of Me” we have to believe that.

Who knows maybe I will run another one completely one day.

“Forget perfect. Perfect is boring! Our bodies are beautiful, no matter how narrow our cultures definitions might be. Embrace your perceived imperfections- they make you unique- and love who you are. It’s the only way to move forward.” Jillian Michaels “Winning By Losing” Page 6

Oh and my supporters raised $500 dollars for the run. Which I couldn’t have done it, without you thank you again. I made my goal with everyone’s help. $5,110.00 was raised by Team Messina so far. They are still counting the donations. I believe you can still donate so I don’t have any clue, when they will stop the donations. $27,019.10 has been raised for the St. Jude’s so far! Let’s just pray that we help save a life with all the donations and maybe we will find the cure to cancer!

Sad Times But There's Still Hope

Day 4 – Monday, May 24

I went a total of 2.51 miles today. I burned a sum of 158 calories. I took a whole total of 5302 steps.

Day 5 – Tuesday, May 25

I had to go to a love ones funeral today. It was a very sad day. But she lived a long life. She was one of the nicest ladies you could ever meet. She always went to church and she helped spread the love. That is what church is all about. I know her family misses her very much. But she is in a place with no pain now. She is sitting up there with Jesus and dancing away. I got to see some of my family and her friends. It’s kind of sad you only see this many people when someone dies. We should always be this close, when we are alive. I know many people are busy making a living, but take some time to spend it well with people you love. Think of how many people we could reach out to, if we just would do it. I remember how she used to get me off the bus sometimes. I also remember hanging out with my cousins at her house many times. This song was a song I thought fit her life. She had a lot of love to go around. I wanted to put this song on a family slideshow we did for my whole family at Christmastime. But we found other ones to include on it instead. But my point is I had the honor and privilege to be a part of my family’s history. She sat near my dad at my family Christmas dinner. He had to tell her who most of the people were. But she knew some. Her memory has been going for a while. But I know now in Heaven she remembers everything. She knows her family. The song is called, “Some Things Never Change” by Sara Evans. I want to thank the pastors and the church members who helped provide food for her huge family and friends. They had two rows of maybe 6 tables. They had to add another row. We had that many people. I didn’t count the tables I am estimating. But anyone who came saw a lot of people. Thank you. Thank you to the pastors who said nice things about her. Thank you to the people who sung at the funeral. Thank you for your prayers and your condolences.

Here is “Some Things Never Change”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkIWI1YH3nI

Another song that popped in my mind during these crazy times was a song by Mandisa. The song is called, “You Wouldn’t Cry (Andrew’s Song)”. The song is a about someone who is already in Heaven. He or she is telling that it is going to be okay. Jesus has them and you. Sometimes we get stuck in wanting to know why. I can’t answer that question. All I know is if I died I am going to Heaven. I know it’s hard when you lose someone you love. But we have to have hope that one day we will see them again someday. I know it hurts when someone leaves us on this earth. But if they knew Jesus and you do then you will see them again.

Listen to Mandisa’s “You Wouldn’t Cry (Andrew’s Song)”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFOdA52sjFA

Some of the lyrics are listed below:

“All you saw was pain All you saw was rain But you should see me now Moments filled with tears Lasted all those years disappeared somehow You never said goodbye On your knees you cry You’re still asking why, but Blue has never been bluer True has never been truer Honey never tasted so sweet There’s a song in the breeze A million voices in praise A rose has never smelled redder The sun has never been brighter If I could find the right words to say If you could look at my face If you could just see this place You wouldn’t cry for me today.”

If you like to see Andrew’s Story, check out the link below: Mandisa shares the message behind the song.

http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=980a2cb94bf283772d30

Day 6 – Wednesday, May 26

I went a grand total of 3.00 miles today. I smoked a total of 206 calories. 6347 steps were taken by me today.

Day 7 – Thursday, May 27

All I have today is a song to share.

Here is some of the lyrics of “You're Gonna Be” By Reba McEntire.

You're gonna fly with every dream you chase You're gonna cry, but know that that's okay Sometimes life's not fair, but if you hang in there You're gonna see that sometimes bad is good We just have to believe things work out like they should Life has no guarantees, but always loved by me You're gonna be

Here is the video for “You’re Gonna Be”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kLs4VdfFlQ

“‘Cause anything worth doing is worth doing all the way Just know you'll have to live with all the choices that you make So make sure you're always givin' way more than you're takin'”

So let’s listen to these lyrics! That is the truth.

You can be whoever you choose to be. You can choose to love or choose to hate. It’s all a decision.

Check out:

http://sites.google.com/site/theofficialandrewsmith/week6

Change Your World : One Step at a Time

Maybe you’re wondering how we can help others. If fact maybe you feel small and like it doesn’t matter. Sometimes we have no clue on how to reach out to one another. Sometimes maybe we stereotype each other based on their appearance and how they act. Granted we are all human. We all feel emotions and we all think with our minds. But helping one another and being kind to one another makes a HUGE different. It makes the world a better place. After all this is only our temporary home.


We only live on this earth for so long. But it all comes down to living and loving along your trip in life. You only have one life to live and love. Yes, things will bring you down sometimes. Yes, you will make mistakes and have to be forgiven. But you have a life, you have been given. That’s why it is important to love each other.

I know some people have hurt you. Maybe I have. But it is essential we forgive one another for each other’s mistakes. We only get one trip to pass through this life. It’s your choice on, if you stay negative and depressed. But you can be happy, if you will choose too. Reading and knowing God helps me get through this crazy ride called “Life”.

We need to be happy in this life. Yes, you will sometimes feel down and sad. But you can get happy and whole again with Jesus. We need our friends and our family. I know some of you dread seeing your family and maybe even some of your friends but you still need to show them love. I don’t know what you’re going through right now but God is still in control. I know sometimes we like to ask the questions why. I can’t answer the why questions. Neither can you. We just have to hang on in this life. If they know Jesus, then we will see them all again someday. Just keep believing things will turn around for the better. Right now, you may not be able to see why things turned out the way they did. But God is still there for you.

Life is way too short to hold on to anger and regrets. You can’t do anything about your past. But you can change your future. You have to heal from whatever is hurting you right now. Maybe its anger and lashing out at people, feeling depressed about your life, hating yourself, abusing someone (or yourself), bitterness, fearful, and anything else. God can take your past and forgive you, if you did something wrong. He can also heal your past that may have hurt you. Maybe you need to forgive people who hurt you. I know I have hurt people with words and actions. I have been hurt by actions and words as well. But God can heal you. I have been working with God to help me heal and let go of some of the pain of my past. I know it is hard to forgive sometimes. Nothing in you sometimes wants too. But it frees you from the pain and hurt. People make mistakes daily and need forgiveness. We all do. We all are human and hurt one another.

Sometimes helping someone is lending a helping hand, donating money, your time, things (clothes, etc), praying, smiling, and loving one another. It doesn’t have to make a huge impact on the world. I know sometimes we think we have to see our names in lights or on TV. But that doesn’t mean everything in life. 15 minutes of fame will always fade away. Look at how much stardom changes for the celebrities out there. One minute you’re in the next you’re fading away.

We have to focus on helping someone, when no one is looking, and there are no cameras around. We can all have an impact on the world but by bring love not hate. We have enough haters out there. We have to love and help people, who can’t give us something in return. This world is not all about you and getting presents. All the presents in the world wouldn’t make you happy. Yes, it might for a day. Then you’re going to the store again to buy something else new. You’re looking to be filled up. Only Jesus can fill that void. I am not saying to never buy anything just don’t buy the whole dept. store. Unless, you own the company would you need all that stuff. I know some people fill that void with drugs, sex, being in love with yourself (thinking you’re better than everyone else), greed, hate, and loving things too much. You need to love yourself but not be in love with yourself. The world isn’t just about me or you. I know it’s hard to give and love people sometimes. But we have to as Joyce Meyer says, “Do It for God”.

I want to share with you a song called, “Change” by Carrie Underwood.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H0EY4Rrpf4

What are you telling yourself? Maybe you’re telling yourself, you can’t help someone because you have too many problems. You can smile can’t ya! Then smile a little! There a number of different ways to help. You can give money or your time. Now get out there and lend a helping hand. Make someone else’s life better for good. It’s your choice.
Here are some of the lyrics to “It’s Your Life” by Francesca Battistelli:

“It’s your life What you gonna do? The world is watching you Every day the choices you make Say what you are and who Your heart beats for It’s an open door It’s your life To live the way that you believe This is your opportunity To let your life be one that lights the way”

Week 6

Day 1 – Friday, May 21
I went a total of 1.85 miles today. I burned a total of 112 calories. I took an accumulation total of 3928 steps.

Day 2 – Saturday, May 22
I went for a grand total of 1.51 miles in my running journey. I burned a total of 99 calories. I took 3208 steps in the shoes, which were made for walking scenario.

Day 3 – Sunday, May 23

I went an impressive 1.15 miles today on the treadmill at that. Yes, that is right. I smoldered a total of 83 calories. I obtained a full amount of 2433 steps in this day and time.

In leaving you, with some hope, here is a song called, “No Boundaries” by Kris Allen.

“With every step, you climb another mountain Every breathe, it's harder to believe You'll make it through the pain, weather the hurricanes To get to that one thing Just when you think the road is going nowhere Just when you almost gave up on your dreams They take you by the hand and show you that you can There are no boundaries”

I am not giving up on running a 5K! I haven’t given up and I won’t! Too many people are depending on me. It is all for a wonderful cause. I am doing it for cancer patients, who are getting treatment at St. Jude’s. If you can help in any way please do.

Check out my Google Site.

http://sites.google.com/site/theofficialandrewsmith/