Merry Greetings!

What do you like more -- Christmas or the build up to Christmas? These days it is hard for me to say. So much of my year is spent preparing for Christmas that when we reach these frosty, frenzied final days to Christmas I am simply awash in the Christmas Spirit.

There is snow on the ground, our lights, though windswept, are burning bright. My mailbox is daily yielding dozens and dozens of Christmas cards, thanks to the card exchanges on several Merry Network websites. And I've got the added glow of helping Santa deliver Christmas to some new friends -- three special families -- courtesy of Santa's Sleigh. I am a blessed man indeed!

Of course, there is much, much more going on:

In this issue:
-- Sounds of the Season
-- A Merry Old Soul
-- Ways to Countdown to Christmas
-- The Must See of MMC
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The Merry News is brought to you by:

Sounds of the Season

I have received hundreds of Christmas cards this season but I got a special thrill today when Jay's card showed up in my mailbox. There, against a festive red background featuring Santa himself, was a bold greeting from Jay and Merry Christmas Radio.

In our 2nd season of operation we have enjoyed such tremendous growth at MCR. Not only have we been lucky to be the feature Christmas station at Live 365 with a #1 ranking but we're now big enough that folks randomly send us email. We received one last night I was especially proud of:

I love the radio show!! I am a Marine stationed overseas and listening to your show makes me feel closer to home. Thank you !! -- Sgt Beger

Now that is what Christmas is all about! MCR is a labor of love and Jay has put alot of his love into it. It is nice to see appreciation for his efforts growing.

Likewise we're grateful for the support we are receiving from artists and labels seeking to grow the playlist at MCR. Two big names in Christmas music have provided music for broadcast and for sharing to our forum members:

Amy Grant has her Christmas Collection out this year and it is a keeper. I've played it over and over. Amy Grant’s career spans over 25 years and stretches from her roots in gospel into an iconic pop star, songwriter, television personality, and philanthropist. Grant has sold more than 30 million albums and won six Grammys® in multiple categories -- including three best-selling Christmas CDs. Take a listen here for a new holiday favorite from Amy Grant!

And don't forget to check out the new offering from Mannheim Steamroller as well -- take a listen! Over the years we have enjoyed a long, loving relationship with the great Christmas music of Mannheim Steamroller. This latest release features a slight departure from the classic sound of Mannheim Steamroller that will take Christmas listening to a new level of enjoyment.

Both of these new releases -- plus more new for 2008 -- are part of what makes MCR the rising star of the Merry Network!

A Merry Old Soul

My mother recently blogged about her annual trek to see a local production of "A Christmas Carol". Like me, she never tires of the tale. Other than the Nativity story and perhaps the origin of Old St. Nick himself there may not be a more beloved tale of Christmas.

To me, the story of "A Christmas Carol" makes seeing it more meaningful. Like all writers, Charles Dickens created it based upon life experiences and he had quite a few, dating back to the unfortunate days of child labor in Old England. It makes you wonder if some of our great works of Christmas were destined to be created based upon the real life tragedies of their authors. (Longfellow would be another Christmas author to explore in this way).

Dickens, called the Father of Christmas by some, did have a Wonderful Life. His is a story you should explore.

Ways to Countdown Christmas

With nearly 5000 posts and almost 200,000 views there isn't a more popular thread on the Merry Forums than Crown's countdown thread.

Begun years ago Crown 84 began daily countdowns to the season and to Christmas itself, filled with wit, wisdom, love and good cheer. Through that merry effort long time online friendships have been formed and continue to blossom.

This has been a naturally occuring thing and it has grown to such a devoted following that I am announcing that Crown -- Christmas-fan Extraordinaire and beloved fixture at MMC -- is hereby recognized as our official Countmeister.

In this official capacity Crown's tradition continues at MMC as the newest member of the Christmas Crew.

Crown will keep being Crown...and will advise us on our other countdown methods on MMC -- our new video advent calendar and, of course, our Santa updates.

Thank you, Crown -- and congratulations!

The Must See of MMC
We get thousands of new visitors to MMC every season. Some end up staying year round while others find their way back every fall. But I had to laugh at one busy Mom who sent me a PM the other day after finding us for the first time:

"I am very busy and don't have time to read everything here. Can you just give me links to the very best of MMC?"

What a terrible question to ask me! How do boil it down to just a few links? Here is a weak attempt:

The Nativity: A Story of Two Babies -- the single most popular page outside of our forums.

Christmas Legends -- our first research efforts came in this area and continues to draw big interest.

Santa Updates -- this started off-line and morphed into MMC back in the mid-1990s. We were tracking Santa before anyone else online.

Elf Ed Zachary -- Stuff this wry elf wrote more than a decade ago still draws email. I guess folks like an elf with an attitude.

The Merry Forums -- Simply the biggest Christmas forums on the Internet -- and the heart and soul of our community.

The True Story of Santa Claus -- Proof positive that Jesus and Santa ARE compatible. We try to give the honor, dignity and respect the Jolly Old Elf deserves. He is a hero to us.

Merry Christmas Radio -- It is the My Merry Christmas of the airwaves.

My Best Christmas -- True, user submitted stories of Christmas. Bring a hanky.

Christmas Traditions -- why we do what we do at Christmas

Christmas Culture -- movies, music, television and all other places Christmas is found in the media.

Secret Santa

With seven kids and one income Christmas in my house could be really expensive and quite chaotic. We try not to spend to much. Part of that effort has spawned what has become an annual tradition in my house: drawing names and playing Secret Santa.

Drawing names is fun -- because you're not supposed to tell anyone whose name you drew. Keeping secrets is tough in a house of six girls and one boy! To test it, one year I put seven names in the hat -- all of them my own. I told the kids to strictly keep it a secret. Then I sat back and watched chaos develop.

By the time I got home from work the next day I had a lot of explaining to do. What was intended to be a test for them ended up being a trial for me as I was held up as a greedy gift coveter bent on cornering the market on Christmas gifts. I explained my test but not a one of the kids believed me and the whole object lesson has gone down in family lore as the year I tried to pull a fast one. I am legend.

The kids are a bit older now and more savvy in the ways of secret Santa. Besides the purchase or manufacture of a modest gift (under $10 usually) you're supposed to do secret nice things for your selected person. Someone who is really savvy will do nice things for several people, just to throw everyone off. For the entire month of December guessing games go on to determine just who has whom.

Of course, as a designated driver, my wife, my eldest daughter or myself usually end up knowing at least one or two names. This weekend I took my two youngest kids out to make their purchases.

I cannot remember a time when I've enjoyed shopping more! For over two hours we went up and down nearly every aisle in a local Super WalMart, seeking Christmas treasure. Of course, being girls buying for girls, we spent a lot of time looking at clothes and shoes. Normally this ia cruel torture for me.

But being Christmas made it different. Especially after we emerged with two very confident shoppers -- one age 6, the other age 8 -- just beaming at the secrets they held in their plastic bags. It reminded me of what Christmas is all about -- giving!

-- All the best,
Jeff