A Life You Love — Margaux Joy DeNador

The DeNadors' Christmas Song – Merry Christmas!

 

Merry Christmas - DeNadors - Click to hear the song!

          
Happy Holidays!  Montage by Dudley DeNador

 

Four years ago, in December 2007, my husband, son, and I wrote lyrics for our first Christmas song. The song is called "Merry Christmas" and tells the story of how we feel about this beautiful, joyful, and magical time of year.

Following are the lyrics for it, and a link so you can enjoy listening to our song.

I am wishing you a wonderful holiday season filled with love, laughter, hugs, beauty, music, singing, dancing, prosperity, peace, joy, and fun!!!

Love & Joy,

Margaux

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Merry Christmas – The DeNadors' Christmas Song

Merry Christmas, there’s joy’s in the air.  There’s a fire in the fireplace.     It’s that time of year.
Merry Christmas, enjoying good cheer.      Come to the party,      Christmas is near.
 
Beautiful sights, happy sounds, music and laughter all around.
Shiny glass balls, a festival of lights, a tree full of beauty with an angel in flight.

Merry Christmas, there’s joy’s in the air.  There’s a fire in the fireplace.     It’s that time of year.
Merry Christmas, enjoying good cheer.      Come to the party,      Christmas is near.
 
Gifts of silver and gold, red and green.     What’s inside remains to be seen.
There’s frost on the window and the fire is warm. We’re singing together, there’s joy all around.

Musical Bridge:

Snuggled together there’re stories to tell, with the season’s images, we’re under the spell.
The scent of the feast, while good friends are near, relax and enjoy,  all the good cheer.

Chorus & Verse:
Merry Christmas, there’s joy’s in the air.  There’s a fire in the fireplace.     It’s that time of year.
The presents wait patiently,  under the tree… It’s almost time… ‘cause it’s Christmas Eve.

Come to the party… Christmas is here…

Lyrics:  Dudley, Margaux, and Zander DeNador
Music Composition: Dudley DeNador
Vocals: Dudley DeNador
Keyboards & Instrumentation: Robert Berry
Recorded: December 20, 2007 by Robert Berry at Soundtek Studios, Campbell, CA

Merry Christmas - DeNadors - Click here to hear the song! 

Holiday Music Review: The December People – What FUN!!!

When I hear the name Robert Berry, I smile. Why? Because he is a treasured friend, one of the most positive people I know, an awesome musician, singer, songwriter, and music producer… and he loves the holiday season. Robert has created an album of fun new rock interpretations of Christmas music with his band the December People!!! 

OK, I have to admit I love Christmas music — I start to play it right after Thanksgiving every year. If you love Christmas music and want something new and fun to hear, you'll want to check out this new album. 

Who are the December People?

They are a band of talented recording and performing artists with a unique concept — they perform well known Christmas songs with a classic rock style.

The band was created by Robert Berry, who has played with Keith Emerson and Carl Palmer as 3, as well as Sammy Hagar, Ambrosia, Greg Kihn — and his bands HUSH, Alliance, and The Robert Berry Band. The other members of December People are Gary Pihl the guitarist with Boston who has also played with Sammy Hagar; David Medd, keyboard player for The Tubes and Quicksilver Messenger Service; Mike Vanderhule, drummer and percussionist, from Y&T; and Jack Foster, a solo artist on Musea Records, on guitar.

 

My husband and I were lucky to be able to see — and hear — the album debut concert, which was held on November 13, 2010 in Monterey, CA, by a live feed on the internet.The photos above, and below, are of the concert. One thing we noticed was that these very talented musicians were having fun playing the holiday songs and it was wonderful to watch them perform. 

 

This morning the December People were on NBC TV for the San Jose Holiday parade. They played a medley of songs from the album. They looked happy, joyful, and sounded fantastic. The float looked great and the energy of the band plus dancing elves and santas added to the magic.

If you would like to see them live, they will be performing Friday, December 10, 2010 at The Avalon in Santa Clara, CA for the KFOX Can Jam. The doors open at 6 pm and the show starts at 7 pm. Admission is a $10 donation to Second Harvest Food Bank (per person) or 10 cans of food. For more information, click here.

Following are links for more information and to purchase the December People's new CD:

December People website - store, music samples, performance dates, information

Amazon - buy the album, hear songs, buy individual songs

 

 

Written by Margaux Joy DeNador – Sunday, December 5, 2010

Wishing You a Joyful & Fun Holiday Season!

 

My birthday is on Christmas Day and I love it. Over the years I've heard many people say, "Oh, you poor thing!" when they hear it — but I love it. Maybe it's because my mom always made me feel great about having my birthday on Christmas. She loved to tell the story about how "Silent Night" was playing when they took her into the delivery room and when she came out with me she heard "Joy to the World." 

My mom always made me feel like I was her "Christmas Joy" and it is one of the reasons Joy is my chosen middle name. I also like the name Joy because it reminds me to look for the joy in everything I do, see, hear, and experience. Just hearing the word JOY makes me focus on joy and feel good.

  

Santa and me — when I was three.

 

I feel LUCKY to have such a special day as my birthday. I always get to be with my family for my birthday. I am thankful to have my birthday be such a fun holiday and to be able to spend it with people I love.

Last year I received a note from my husband that said, “I want to thank you for being born on Christmas. You have re-infused Alex and me with the spirit year after year!”  What a great way to start my day! I left the note up to remind me how my love of the season can help others enjoy it more too.

 

My husband, son, and I have written and recorded a beautiful Christmas song. The song is called "Merry Christmas" and was recorded by our treasured friend Robert Berry, owner of Soundtek Studios, in Campbell. My husband, Dudley, sang the song and played guitar. Robert Berry did a masterful job on the keyboards and the recording of the song. 

I would love for you to hear our Christmas song — so please click on the link to read the lyrics and hear to hear the song. Merry Christmas, The DeNadors' Christmas Song

 

 

 

 

Several years ago, Wayne Dyer sent me a copy of a little book he wrote called “Happy Holidays!” and in the book he talks about how much he loves the holiday season and has lots of reminders of how we can enjoy them more as adults by being more like a child. 

 

Here is a quote from “Happy Holidays!” by Wayne Dyer:

"If you can get back to that time of your life when you were a child, enjoying every aspect of this glorious season, you can rid yourself of the 'holiday blues' permanently. As a child, the shopping was something that filled you with excitement, and you were able to ignore the crowds. The time you spent decorating, wrapping, celebrating, worshiping, and being with your family was a pure delight."

Children view the holidays as a positive, fun, and joyful time of year. It is possible to change the way you look at the holiday season and have more fun, more joy, and actually look forward to it each year.

Here are some reminders that help me feel more joy at this time of year:

* Look for ways to make it more fun than ever before

* Look for ways to give to others besides buying them expensive gifts

* Be thankful for all you have and your ability to give to others

* Enjoy the beautiful holiday decorations in the stores

* Stop and really look at the holiday lights and enjoy them

* Take time to enjoy your shopping experiences

* Find something to like about every gift you receive

* Allow children's joy and laughter to remind you to lighten up and be playful

* Laugh more — watch some funny movies and play games

* Enjoy the fantasy of the stories, movies, and decorations

* Be willing to be more spontaneous and have flexible plans

* Take time to relax and recharge your body, mind, and spirit

* Savor your present moments

* Create memories that you will treasure

* Appreciate the people in your life — enjoy spending time with them

* Give the gift of your time and love — and enjoy receiving time and love

 

The common themes for all of the ways of celebrating the Holiday season are time with people you love, a feeling of connection with people who may be far away, gifts of love, and time with people we love. In my opinion the Holiday Season is for giving and receiving the gift of love and having time with the people who matter most to you. 

The holiday season is a time for giving, loving, savoring, magic moments, beauty, wonder, believing, receiving, and having fun. It is an opportunity to share the gift of love and create memories that you will treasure. 

 

What are your favorite ways to spend your time during the holidays? Do you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa — or a blend of one or more traditions? What reminders would you add to my list? I would love to hear how you enjoy spending the holidays!

 

 

Here are a few last reminders for more holiday joy:

Give yourself the gift of love — take great care of your Self.

Give yourself the gift of time — with the people who matter most to you.

Give people you love the gift of your love, time, attention, and appreciation.

 

I wish you Love, Laughter, Hugs, Fun, Joy, and time to enjoy the holidays with your family and friends!

 :) Margaux

PS: Following are links for lists of Books, Music CDs, Audio Books, DVD Movies, and Art, Jewelry, and Sculpture. There are many great gift ideas in these lists. Just click on the links, below, to take a look:

Books

Music CDs

Audio Books

DVD Movies

Art, Jewelry, and Sculptures

Wishing You a Joyful Thanksgiving!

During this holiday week of Thanksgiving I've been thinking about gratitude and how good I feel when I remember to focus on all there is to be grateful for in my life. Are you feeling grateful for the people you have in your life? Do you feel grateful for all of the things you are able to have and do? Feeling gratitude comes from evaluating life in a way that reminds you to notice and appreciate all that is good. I've discovered that asking myself questions is the easiest way to focus on all that is good in my life. 

Following are some questions that help me focus on gratitude:

___ Who am I grateful to have in my life?

___ What am I grateful to have in my life?

___ Who do I feel grateful to be?

___ What do I feel grateful to be able to give?

___ What do I feel grateful to receive?

___ What do I feel grateful to have learned?

___ What do I feel grateful to be able to teach?

How do you feel after you ask and answer the gratitude questions above? Do they help you feel more grateful for the people, animals, places, things, and experiences you have in your life? What we focus on is what we feel and the questions help us focus on gratitude. 

One of the people I am grateful to have in my life is Cheryl Richardson. She is what I consider a treasured teacher in my life. Her latest email newsletter is about what she calls "The Thank You Game." To see her newsletter and read about how to play the game just click on the following link: 

Cheryl Richardson Newsletter: Week 47 - The Thank You Game: Share the wealth

During this week of Thanksgiving it is my intention to remember all that I treasure and to imagine all that can be. I hope you will too — remember all you treasure and imagine all that can be! 

The following Thanksgiving card was created by my husband for me to add to this message. Just click on the card to see it. 

We are both wishing you a joyful Thanksgiving!