Carols, Home, Holidays, a Funeral, and a Wedding

Music is a lot like food, you don't really think about it until you're hungry or until there's a need.  Me, I think about food all the time and music is the same.  It's not an obsession, just a part of life, like breathing.
The importance of music comes to the forefront, especially at Christmas time.  The holidays just wouldn't be the same if we didn't hear Christmas carols playing throughout our churches, homes, and places of business.   Although we love the Christmas music, it is more difficult to play and requires more practice...which reminds me... So, musicians, it is just an occupational hazard, we have to play "The First Noel" in the key of D major, almost just as written because each beat will have a different chord! In addition to the regular carols we are doing a Christmas cantata, it's been twenty-five years since the last one.  The LBT choir, adult ensembles, teen choir, and drama team will be presenting "Christmas at Home" by Ron Hamilton on December 19.
Just as Christmas wouldn't be the same without the carols, our church members' funerals need a special loving touch where music is concerned.  This week, Bro. Robert Peters, one of our faithful members and deacons, passed away of natural causes.  Today I took some time to make sure all of the piano and organ music was in order and appropriate for his service.  The order of service is ready and we are flexible to meet any of the family's requests.  This service will be held on Saturday, December 4, and we musicians will do our best to be a comfort and encouragement to the family and church membership.
Our daughter, Jessica, is getting married in two weeks.  This week was dedicated to getting all of her wedding music together and finalized.  Hey, since I'm the music coordinator shouldn't this be an easy job?  No, it's been one of the most difficult parts of this wedding.  It must be because she's been at every single wedding, heard every song sung - some good, some ... well, different.  I think we finally got it down.  I will have the opportunity to be on the listening side of the wedding music and I know that jut one song change would change the wedding atmosphere.  It is so powerful.
My husband, Scott, has been remodeling our den, which has created a domino effect.  I think I have straightened, stored, and thrown away all of the "dominos" that lost their places while we de-cluttered.  The one thing that was given priority was our CD collection.  Although downloaded onto mp3 players and computers, the cds in the cases are still valuable to me.  The Christmas music is some of our most precious, it is timeless and holds many memories.
Musicians, take your vitamins.  December is a music-filled month and needs our focus, rehearsals, and undivided attention.  Well, at least we can try!