Your Favorite Christian Music Artists' Christmas Memories

* Josh Havens (from The Afters) Christmas Questions:

What is your favorite Christmas memory? As fun as Christmas was when I was a kid, nothing beats being a parent and watching my own kids excitement on Christmas morning that's the best gift.

What is your favorite Christmas family tradition?  Half of my family is Dutch and in Holland they celebrate Sinterklaas on December 5th. Over there, it's bigger than Christmas on the 25th is. Children place their shoes or boots by the door or windows and wait for Sinterklaas and his helper, Swarte Pete to drop goodies and presents in them. It was great to celebrate both traditions as a kid because it was like getting 2 Christmases!
What's the gift you'd most like to see under the tree with your name on it? An envelope with airplane tickets for my family and I to go to Holland to visit family.

Tell us about that one gift you wanted most badly as a child.  I wanted a video game system called Turbo graphics 16. My parents wanted us to do other things with our time, so I never got one...but what I ended up doing with my time was going to my friends house to play his. If only we'd have guitar hero back then!

* Francesca Battistelli Christmas Questions:

What is your favorite Christmas family tradition?  My mom always sets up a small nativity scene on a table in my parents' house. As a kid, she used to hide the baby Jesus in a Grandfather clock until Christmas day when I got to put him in the manger. It was all about keeping it true to the story...if he wasn't born until Christmas Day, well, we weren't going to put him out until then!

What's the gift you'd most like to see under the tree with your name on it?  Well, my camera just broke, so I would love a new camera to document my life on the road! This stuff is too good to forget.

Tell us about that one gift you wanted most badly as a child.  Did you ever get it?  I wanted a white dollhouse with a green roof and green shutters. I got it! It's still in my old bedroom back home!

* Natalie Grant Christmas Questions:

What is your favorite Christmas memory? My family was traveling in our motor home from Seattle to San Diego to visit my grandparents. We stopped at a campground and met a man and his 5 children. His wife passed away from cancer, he had lost his job and as a result, their home. They were living in a trailer at the campground. We gave them all the presents we had in the camper and the food in our fridge. I was only 6 years old, but I will never for get what it felt like to help someone in need. Best feeling in the world.

What's the gift you'd most like to see under the tree with your name on it?  A vacation to anywhere.
 
Tell us about that one gift you wanted most badly as a child.  The baby doll that came with her own baby diapers and would go potty. Gross now cool then.
 
Did you ever get it? Yes

* Plumb Christmas Questions:

What is your favorite Christmas memory?  The first Christmas I was married. My family was in Africa so we visited with my husband's side a bit but spent the actual day of Christmas as newlyweds...I'll never forget how special it was for us to officially be our own family.

What is your favorite Christmas family tradition? Giving Xmas to someone else. We buy one present for one another and then take whatever budget we would have otherwise and give it to or spend it on someone else. Now with kids it helps them to see the real meaning...the giving...that God gave us his Son...the most amazing gift of all.

What's the gift you'd most like to see under the tree with your name on it?  We bought a new home this year...I have three healthy and happy children...I married Superman...I am breathing in and out...to be honest...there is literally nothing I need...nothing...so I want us to be able to give a lot more than ever.

Tell us about that one gift you wanted most badly as a child.  Did you ever get it?  MiMi Baby and yes...after crying in the store that I didn't think I was going to get it my Dad ruined the surprise, which I deserved ruined, and told me they already had it. But I loved that doll and still have it...maybe Clementine, my daughter, will enjoy playing with it one day.

* Sara Groves Christmas Questions:

What is your favorite Christmas memory? One year when my dad was in youth ministry, he got to be Santa, and came in on a helicopter to greet the kids in our town.  I remember knowing it was my dad and having to be quiet about it so as not to ruin the gig for the other kids, but I was so proud. 
 
What is your favorite Christmas family tradition?  My family has always picked names for a Stocking Person.  All year long on trips and vacations you buy little things for your person, remembering them, and praying for them.  On Christmas morning we reveal who we have had all year and give them all the gifts we have collected in their stocking.  It is a lot of fun, and is definitely everyone's favorite tradition. 
 
What's the gift you'd most like to see under the tree with your name on it?  This year's request is for a bike rack for my car... and knives, we are in serious need of some good knives.  A person can get injured trying to cut a tomato at our house.

Tell us about that one gift you wanted most badly as a child.  Did you ever get it?   I remember in Jr High I wanted a certain brand of jeans that were grossly overpriced.  I did not expect to get them, but on Christmas morning, they were under the tree.  I think that was the first time I realized that there was a giver behind each gift.  At the time I would give my mom a hard time for not wearing more trendy clothes... I realized that Christmas that my mom and dad went without a lot so that I could have the stuff I felt I 'needed'.  I remember feeling deeply grateful and getting some perspective on my folks.  

* Laura Story (writer of "Indescribable") Christmas Questions:

What is your favorite Christmas memory? I think our Christmases are always special.  For the past three years, Martin and I have stayed in Atlanta and I have led worship for the Christmas Eve service at Perimeter.  There is something about a couple of thousand people singing "Silent Night" acapella by candlelight.  After celebrating Christmas Eve with our church family, we drive late into the night to Spartanburg where we wake up to the smell of hot cider and cinnamon rolls in the house where I grew up.  It is by far my favorite time of year!

* Phillips, Craig and Dean (Dan Dean) Christmas Questions:

What is your favorite Christmas memory?  Christmas morning...my wife buys the entire family matching pj's and we all get up and read the Christmas story and then open very special gifts from one another.

What is your favorite Christmas family tradition?  Wearing matching PJ's and watching a Christmas movie together on Christmas Eve.

What's the gift you'd most like to see under the tree with your name on it?   This year...a HD TV.  (About a 62 incher, but I am not greedy...any size will do (;<)

Tell us about that one gift you wanted most badly as a child.  Did you ever get it?  At about 8 years old I was dying for a bicycle...which was asking for a lot at that age.  I got it...a beautiful chrome beauty with banna handle bars and green grips. 

* Phillips, Craig and Dean (Randy Phillips) Christmas Questions:

What is your favorite Christmas memory?  Driving late after Sunday night church to Louisiana, pulling up in the driveway of my grandparents- waking up to see their silver, Teflon tree with the 4-colored light show.

What is your favorite Christmas family tradition?  Praying together before we eat.  Every kid prays and it's so sweet the things they say.

What's the gift you'd most like to see under the tree with your name on it?  I would love tickets to the NCAA National Championship where the Texas Longhorns will play Florida Gators. A gift certificate to Victoria Secrets where I can shop for Ms. Phillips An award from INO stating that PCD's latest CD just went Platinum.

Tell us about that one gift you wanted most badly as a child.  Did you ever get it?  I Wanted a pony.  Never got it, thank God

* Leigh from Point of Grace Christmas Questions:

What is your favorite Christmas memory?  The year me and my two sister's got socks in our stockings - we looked outside and "Santa" brought us the BIGGEST trampoline in the world (thus the reason for socks,  you can't wear shoes).  That was the BEST Christmas for me as a child.

What is your favorite Christmas family tradition?  Eating my Mom's cooking and playing "dirty santa" with all of my cousins.

What's the gift you'd most like to see under the tree with your name on it?  The return of my diamond necklace that I lost last year.  My husband gave it to me because he knew I wanted it so bad.  I hate losing things.

Tell us about that one gift you wanted most badly as a child.  Did you ever get it?  I wanted a chalkboard and paddle.  My years of school - teachers had paddles during bus duty and if a kid misbehaved - well you got a spank.  I loved playing teacher as a child and I wanted those two things in order to be "official".  I got the chalkboard and my daddy made me a paddle.  You should have seen me with my imaginary kids.

* Todd Smith from Selah Christmas Questions:

What is your favorite Christmas memory?  My favorite memory was last year when my three girls finally got into Christmas.  Two years ago they were more interested in the boxes the presents came in.  Last year seeing them get so excited made me feel like a kid again.
Another is our first Christmas tree in Congo.  I was six, and we had nothing.  Our barrels filled with supplies and all the presents mom had bought in advance were held up in customs.  Our fake Christmas tree was in there too.  My dad took a tin bucket and filled it with dirt and we found Palm Branches and stuck them in the dirt.  We made ornaments out of paper and put them on the branches.  We had nothing but I remember that one better than all the rest.
What is your favorite Christmas family tradition?  We do an international meal every year. We get some Japanese, Chinese, Thai, and Indian food to name a few. It's great because you don't have to cook, and clean up is easy.  My wife and I started a tradition with our girls last year.  There is a book called "The Elf on the Shelf".  It comes with a little red elf.  The book talks about how Santa sends out little elves to every one's house. The elf watches the kids and reports back to Santa if they have been naughty or nice. They can talk to him, but they are not allowed to touch him, and he doesn't talk back to them.  We named our elf Scout and he shows up Thanksgiving night, and stays until Christmas Eve, than he flies back to help Santa deliver the presents. Every night when the girls go to bed I put him in a different spot. They have to find him in the morning. It's a lot of fun when they finally find him thinking he's flown back from the North Pole.

What's the gift you'd most like to see under the tree with your name on it?  Lessons to finish getting my flying license.  I have about 30 hours left.  I love flying.  My wife hates flying and it scares her to death when I go up.

Tell us about that one gift you wanted most badly as a child.  Did you ever get it?   I wanted a Tonka Truck.  I got it.

* Fernando Ortega Christmas Questions:

What is your favorite Christmas memory?  Being in New York City one year at Christmas. The Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center the ice skaters, the lights, cold. It was fantastic.

What is your favorite Christmas family tradition?  Eating posole at my parent's house on Christmas Eve.

What's the gift you'd most like to see under the tree with your name on it?  The new macbook.

Tell us about that one gift you wanted most badly as a child.  Did you ever get it?  A grand piano. I never got it until I started making my living at music.