A Playlist for a Happy / Sad / Sentimental Christmas Eve

Happy / Sad / Sentimental Christmas Eve playlist

Dear friends,

We attended my grandfather's funeral yesterday and it was sad, but also happy and plenty sentimental. In all, it was full of more grace than I ever expected. We drove the eight hours round trip in one day so I could be back in my own kitchen this morning.

I'm off to do all my baking in a mad rush of flour and sugar and melting chocolate. It'll be glorious. I've planned the soundtrack for my entire day. First I'll be listening in to the live streaming of King's College for the annual Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols (10 am EST) and then I'll switch over to this mix I made for our day. However you feel today, maybe one of these songs will capture your imagination and put a little song in your heart.

Tonight I'll keep singing with our beautiful, quirky, faithful church family. It's our first year to enjoy a true candlelight service. (It took us moving into a Synagogue to be able to celebrate Christmas properly!) We'll sing Silent Night while Jan brings the Christ candle down the aisle, leaning the flame into each row. Parents will watch with equal parts awe and terror as their little ones hover over the flame. There may even be a moment or two of that elusive thing we call Christmas magic.

I'll be standing in a row with my own children (most of them!) and will watch their own faces - now weathered a little bit by life, return for a second or two to the small, soft faces I've pondered in my heart all these years. I'll be missing fiercely one son and daughter-in-law and praying they'll find the mysterious joy of this event that changed the history of the world - the arrival of a baby God.

Joining you through the magic of digital music today. May the songs provide a joyful backdrop to the tangible sights, sounds, tastes, and textures of your day.

Merry Christmas, friends,

Tamara

p.s., I've squirreled away twelve days of Christmas gifts for you all. The first one will arrive in the dark of your Christmas morning tomorrow and I can hardly wait for you to open it!