This Swedish proverb symbolizes the happiness and joy I find in music. It reminds me of my grandmother, Selma Alida Johnson Johnson, who was born in Hajom, Sweden in 1875. She loved to hum and sing. I love to, as well.

My hobby, and perhaps my gift, is to find meaning in life's experiences and to share my journey with others through story and song.

My story has been swirling around in my mind for decades; every few weeks, I find a new arrangement of a song I know or maybe a brand-new song that is a perfect fit for my collection of playlists.

Three of my favorite artists include Sissel (from Norway), Andrea Bocelli (from Italy), and The Nelons (from Atlanta).

Unfortunately, three members of the Nelon family were killed in a plane crash in Wyoming this past July. The youngest of the family, Autumn Nelon Streetman, was not on board the plane. She gave birth to her first baby, Rhett, on Dec. 1, the date of her mother Kelly's birthday.

The Nelons recorded a new album, "Loving You," which was released on Aug. 30, just one month after the plane crash.

One song from that album has captured my heart. It is called "We've Always Had a Song." I bet Selma Alida Johnson Johnson would have loved this chorus: "We've always had a song to sing, always had a melody; always had words to write in the best and worst of times. We've always heard the harmony through ups and downs, a symphony is playing all along, we've always had a song.

"The Lord's Prayer," performed by Andrea Bocelli with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and "O Helga Natt," (O Holy Night), sung in Swedish by Sissel have also become holiday favorites.

Christmas affords us the opportunity to engage with a wide variety of songs, vocal and instrumental. Christmas songs have a way of evoking memories and emotions like no other genre of music. From the heartwarming lyrics to the catchy melodies, they capture the spirit of the season in a way that words alone cannot.

Enjoy the music of the season and Merry Christmas to you and to those you love!