With just a few days before Christmas and inspired by the recent TV version of Sound of Music I thought I’d share a few of my favorite things about Christmas.

1. Christmas trees.  As I kid I would spend hours following the strings of lights and garland around the tree and stare at the artistry of the ornaments. Still do sometimes.

2. Christmas music. In fact one of the most delightful discoveries a few years ago was learning that the 12 Days of Christmas begin on Christmas Days and continue until January 6 and Christmas carols are appropriate all through this time, even if most of the radio stations stop on Christmas day.

3. Christmas eve services at our church, singing “Silent Night” as we light candles and turn out the lights.  Not just a sentimental moment but the joy of looking on the faces of friends with whom I’ve spent the last 23 years of my life.

4. Gathering with Ben, Hannah, and Marilyn to bake pizzelles several weeks before Christmas and the smell of anise that lingers in the house for weeks.

5. The way the late afternoon sun shines on our nativity scene at this time of year.

6. Singing great Christmas music with Capriccio Columbus. This year we are performing a wonderful Magnificat and other pieces.

7. Remembering how our son would be up at 3 am in the morning pacing down the hall from his room to our living room to see if Santa had come.

8. Rolling over in bed, realizing we don’t have to get up early Christmas morning any more!

9. Watching A Charlie Brown Christmas and listening to the exquisite music of Vince Guaraldi, and wishing he had lived longer to create more of this.

10. Listening to the gospel stories of the birth of Christ and wondering at amazement that God would come into our world not as a conquering hero but a helpless baby to so identify with our life and condition.

Thanks to all of you who have followed the blog during these first months of figuring out how to do all this. I wish you all great joy this holiday!