definitely feeling it now

I've had this virus thing for the past week that may be at least partly to blame for my slow motion speed getting into the spirit of the season.

The tree really helped.  It smells so so so good in the house.

Tonight I was debating whether or not to go to the 6:00 zumba class.  I haven't been to a class since last Wednesday because I just didn't feel up to it.  I felt so much better today, but still wasn't sure I was ready for all of the movement and the breathing that zumba requires.  Mostly the extra breathing.  Because of the virus thing.

When we got home from work, the drummer was here, probably working on a secret project (shhh, don't tell) and he mentioned that his wife's 7th grade Christmas choir program was tonight.

I love me a Christmas concert.  So no zumba, but 7th grade choir and band and orchestra concert.

My oh my did that concert bring back memories.  It all started when the choir and band and orchestra performed a medley of familiar Christmas carols and invited the audience to sing along. 

Obviously I remember many Christmas concerts with our kids performing.  I remember looking forward to those concerts because I always felt the holidays in me after a concert with the kids.

I remember many years ago going to my elementary school early, probably one day each week in December, to sing Christmas carols.  There was a guy who went to the schools in my district during December to sing carols before school started.  I loved that. Such a great gift to kids.  I remember learning the words to The Little Drummer Boy and thinking it was the best Christmas song ever.  I thought it was a brand new song since I'd never heard it before.  Not so.  I'm not that old.

I remember gathering at my friend Lisa's house for yummy food with good friends and our families in my old neighborhood and then heading out into the neighborhood singing carols to our neighbors.  That felt so satisfying in so many ways.

I remember driving with the kids in the car, singing carols together, when they were younger, usually at night on the way home from Jack's parents' house after Sunday evening visits in December.  I love singing with my kids.

And I remember listening every year to my favorite Christmas cd, a University of Utah choir recording that included Lisa's oldest son.  It has become a sweet tradition, a familiar friend.

Every year I make a list of the things I want to do before Christmas.  It usually includes baking and candy making and cheeseballs, sending out cards, buying, wrapping, giving presents, setting up a tree--and I always forget, but am always reminded, that music stirs up my feelings about Christmas so quickly and so deeply.

Christmas music.  Such a simple thing, often costs nothing, but gives me so much every year.