A Little Christmas Cheer!

Ok, I know I'm cutting it close here, with only three days left, but I had to add a little Christmas music to my blog! So, my Merry Christmas play list will probably be up till the new year. I've been working on it for a couple days now. It just makes me happy listening to it. I've already had such a wonderful holiday. I feel like all of the rest is just extra!

Hugh had three interviews back home last week, and we got to have a little Christmas with our family, while we were there. It was soooo great! Watching the kids with their Mimi, Paw-paw, Nana, Granny, cousins, aunts and uncles was priceless. For some of you, it is a regular part of your everyday lives to have your families near. But, ours are half way across the country. So, getting to spend time with them is a real treat. It makes my heart want to burst. I would give anything to see my parents hold and play with my kids. So, when I get the chance to see them with any of their family, I drink it in, trying to memorize every moment. I'll post pictures soon.

So much of my best Christmas memories were centered around Christmas church activities. I love Christmas cantatas, concerts, candlelight and communion services. The Messiah's Hallelujahs chorus gives me chills. Last night our youth led our CHRISTmas Tribute Service, and some of my friends who are not members of our church came to see me sing. It meant a lot considering it was a balmy 5 degrees out with a wind chill of 12 below. Speaking of singing, I already got one of the best Christmas presents ever. My husband sang a duet with me two Sunday mornings ago. He hasn't sung publicly in some 14 years. All this time he has tried to tell me he is too embarrassed to sing in front of me, because I was the music major. Or that he couldn't really sing that well. Recently, I found a VHS of him playing the Pharaoh/Elvis part in Joseph, and it was all over but the crying, baby. I was no longer taking any of his excuses. He can sing! And I'm not just partial. You can ask anyone in my church. The boy can sing. It was great! And it meant the world to me. THANKS, Baby! Kisses~(Cause, I know you're going to read this.) I'm looking forward to our Wednesdays night Christmas Eve service. It just puts me in the Christmas-y mood thinking about it.

On a side note, I've been getting to do a lot of singing lately. I told y'all earlier that I'd elaborate on my night as a back up singer for Elvis....Well, mt friend Kristie planned a huge 60th birthday surprise party for her mother-in-law. She rented out the old opera house in Cortland for the occasion. It was wonderful. She had her sister-in-law plan the catering, and her father-in-law and husband take care of the music. Her husband grew up singing Elvis. His parents are huge fans. He is really really good. And this is coming from the female-Simon Cowell, speaking. Seriously it takes a lot to impress me. I'm kinda a music snob. I am considerate enough to keep my comments to myself, though. Well, and maybe my husband. Anywhooo, Glen had a whole concert set up. Seriously there were like 22 songs or something like that. There was a first and second set. He sang all her favorites, with Kristie and I on back up, and his father on guitar. We also had instrumental back ground music. His father actually took lessons for 3 or 4 months just to play for his wife's birthday. And at the end, he stepped out and had her dance with him on one song. It was so romantic, I couldn't help but tear up. I told him later to warn a girl, I almost couldn't sing on that song. I was trying hard to hold back the tears and crack in my voice. The party was a hit. Kristie and I even had matching outfits in different colors. We were a hoot.

Well, I had better get to a little house work. More later on our Christmas celebrations. Love in Christ Jesus! and Blessings to all!