December 2007 Offering Of The Month: "White Christmas" Written by Irving Berlin, arranged by Mac Huff © 1940, 1942 Irving Berlin, renewed 1968, 1969 Arrangement © 1975 This month's offering is a minor milestone for us as it's the final one for 2007. (duh!) Having now stated the obvious, I want to share a thought that seemed innocuous to me at first glance, but after reflecting on it, kind of struck me as being quite a perceptive touch from a friend who wrote to me recently, after November's "deadline" was barely met, "Congratulations on sticking to your monthly plan for a whole year now." It occurred to me that I managed to get out some music in every calendar month this year *without* compromising my time with my family, my church, & my job. And while I did at times have to compromise on some *sleep*, that I was able to accomplish this was only through God's grace & provision: By blessing me with a supportive, loving, understanding, beautiful, & musically talented wife & life partner Kirsten, who manages our household, our family, daily details, is choir director, background vocalist extraordinaire, my very best critical ear, & web site proof-reader/editor (you all have no idea!!), God has provided me with more than I deserve. By blessing me with two wonderful daughters who love me unconditionally, but keep me humble in so many ways seen & unseen, God has provided me with fun, tenderness, & quite a mirror, while teaching me patience, responsibility, & perhaps providing just a small glimpse of what it must be like to be Him. By bringing other musicians into my church's worship team, (an answer to a long-standing prayer), I was able to participate on a rotational basis rather than playing every week, thus God provided me *time* to record some of this music. By placing my family & me in a nourishing, encouraging, yet reproving church environment, where we can grow & flourish spiritually. By continuing to provide me with a great job through many periods of upheaval in other areas of my life (& even in my professional life!), God has provided for me & my family, & has allowed me to have access to many cool electronic musical tools, toys & gadgets that enable me to translate what's in my ears & fingers, to some files on a hard disc that people can download & listen to. (Aside/sermonette to my Christian buddies out there: if you're not tithing, you're missing out on the blessings the Lord has for you!) And by placing me among the greatest group of friends & family anyone could ask for in all stages of my life -- many of whom I've reconnected with this year via this little forum and some of whom were featured here this year -- who have been a tremendous encouragement all year, as well as contributing many bits of constructive criticisms & suggestions which have made the music & the web site better. May I always remain thankful for & keenly aware of what God has done for me. As for this month's musical offering, 'tis a fun little ditty I just recorded as way of saying THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU!! Those who know me best & know how much I love cold weather (NOT!) will appreciate the irony in the song selection, but I just fell in love with this musical arrangement since I first heard some buddies in college sing it & have always wanted to give it a try... "May all your Christmases be bright." :-) Thank you, God bless, a Happy Christmas & a Very New Year to you & yours, To download the music, RIGHT CLICK: "White Christmas" 2:38 and choose "Save Target As".