the Eber Christmas song

When I was pregnant with Sam, we were supposed to get an ultrasound a few weeks before Christmas that would tell us if the baby was a boy or girl.  I was so excited and wanted to have a fun way to tell everyone what we were having so I decided to make a fun Christmas card to send out.  I sat down and re-wrote "Twas the Night Before Christmas" to talk about Kurtis and I and in one line, I would say if the baby would be a boy or girl.  Well, we had a big snowstorm the day of my ultrasound and the hospital was closed so I wasn't able to find out the sex of the baby until mid-January.  Needless to say, everyone got Christmas cards at the end of January!  BUT this spawned a crazy tradition for our family that has become in its own way, something of much anticipation-the Eber Family Christmas song.
Each year, I take an old Christmas song (usually a hymn) and re-write it to tell of our family and what the past year has been like.  In 2004, it was "Twas the Night Before Christmas".  2005, "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear"  2006, "O Little Town of Bethlehem"   2007, "The First Noel"  2008, "Hark the Herald Angels Sing"  2009, "I'll be Home for Christmas"  2010, "O Holy Night"
I won't say what song it will be for this year.  You have to wait till Christmas but I'd like to share how I come up with the songs.  Each year I haul out my hymnal and look over the list of songs.  Then I hum each tune and think about what has happened for us that year.  It usually happens instantly-that "Aha!" moment where I'm singing the first two lines of our family song before I've even hummed through the entire song.  For instance, last year Kurtis graduated from grad school, something that we'd been looking forward to for 5 years!  The song was either going to be the "Hallelujah Chorus" or "O Holy Night" b/c graduation was truly a "night divine!"  It came so easily and quickly to me.  I'm so thankful for a chance to show a little creativity and share with loved ones.  I even had a friend tell me that it was one of the highlights of the season for them to see what song I pick and how I rearrange it.  I'm not a musical genius and I won't be gracing any stages anytime soon but I'm so thankful to be able to share my love of music and my family in one swoop.  I thankful for a loving Father in Heaven who gave me a gift of music and allows me avenues to share it with those I love.  I really enjoy creating these fun songs and hope that they will continue to bring joy during the holiday season!