Cassie's Journal - December 19, 2013

Okay, this is going to start out as a musical update with a touch of personal immodesty to go along with what I hope everyone knows was a really thrilling, happy, and very Christmassy day.

Let’s start with a music clip of the song Michael and I picked to sing.  We based our duet on the harmonies from this trio; and yes, I think our version was even better! :^)

Here’s the lyrics breakdown for how Michael and I sang the song:

Not That Far From Bethlehem

Me (Solo):

          Underneath the stars
          Just a simple man and wife
          Somewhere in the dark
          His words cut the silent night

Michael (Solo, as if he’s Joseph):
          Take my hand, for the child
          That you carry is God’s own
          And though it seems the road is long
Chorus 1 – Michael – Melody; Me – Harmony

          We’re not that far from Bethlehem
          Where all our hope and joy begins
          For in our arms we’ll cherish him
          We’re not that far from Bethlehem
Michael (Solo):

          Let us celebrate
          As the Christmases go by
Me (Solo):

          Learn to live our days
          With our hearts near to the child

Michael:  Ever drawn

          Me:  Ever Drawn(echo)

Michael: Ever close

          Me: Ever Close(echo)

(Me – Melody; Michael – Harmony – through to end of song)

          To the only love that lasts
          And though 2000 years have passed

Chorus 2
          We’re not that far from Bethlehem
          Where all our hope and joy began
          For when our hearts still cherish him
          We’re not that far
          We’re not that far from Bethlehem
          Where all our hope and joy began
          For when our hearts still cherish him
          We’re not that far, we’re not that far
          From Bethlehem

So we stole the show with that; made Moms and Grandmas cry; and I don’t mind admitting that Michael and I had one of those musical moments that musicians dream about where the song is just perfect.  I’m okay with getting laughed and whistled at when I didn’t make sure that we were out of the spotlight before throwing my arms around Michal’s neck and kissing him fairly enthusiastically either.  We did have other really great musical moments, though, so let’s go over them too – staring with the Kindergarten class.

They sang the ‘Christmas Is’ song from Elf on the Shelf; and for those of you reading this in the future; here’s a YouTube link for a piano-only version:

Christmas is a time of joy and peace

A time for spending with the family

It teaches us to share

Show others that we care

Christmas is a time for forgiveness

That is why we all believe in Christmas

It’s a time of love, joy, and peace

It’s a time of faith to believe

More than presents under a tree

Topped with a star

Christmas is a time for forgiveness

That is why we all believe in Christmas

Christmas is a time for forgiveness

‘Cause we carry Christmas in our hearts

I certainly wouldn’t try to state that the kids pulled off a perfect performance; but they were absolutely adorable, and we had a blast with them as they charmed and entertained the audience.

Michael was accompanying other acts too, but next up for me was the Grade One class.  They did a medley of songs from the Muppet Christmas Carol movie.  I don’t have a clip to share with you that’s close to what they did; but the songs were ‘It Feels Like Christmas’, ‘One More Sleep ‘Til Christmas’ that they ended with ‘one more sleep ‘til school’s out, and ‘Bless Us All’.  Their performance earned laughs in the right places and was just as entertaining as all of the acts were for the younger grades.

Finally, the Grade Four class sang ‘I Do Believe in Christmas’ from another newer kid-favorite Christmas movie – The Search for Santa Paws.  Here’s another song clip that’s similar to the version they sang this afternoon:

Whenever I hear a Christmas song

I want to get up and sing

Wherever there’s love I sing along

And find some bells to ring

Wherever there’s Angels up above

Wherever there’s Christmas trees

There’s gonna be peace and hope and love

And wonderful memories

There’ll be laughter, there’ll be song

We’ll go caroling all night long

Believing in Christmas makes it magic can’t you see?

It’s better to give than to receive

Blessings for you and me

Staying up late on Christmas Eve

Will there be presents for me (spoken, excited question)

There’ll be laughter, there’ll be song

We’ll go caroling all night long

Believing in Christmas makes it magic can’t you see?

I do believe in Christmas

I believe in love

As sure as there is Santa ringing sleigh bells up above

I do believe in harmony, in family, and good cheer

Throughout the year

Whenever there’s hope in the air

Whenever we light the tree

Whenever there’s love in our prayers

That’s Christmas time for me

Whenever I hear a Christmas song

I want to get up and sing

Wherever there’s love, I sing along

And find some bells to ring

There’ll be laughter, there’ll be song

We’ll go caroling all night long

Believing in Christmas makes it magic can’t you see?

For you and me

I do believe in Christmas

I believe in love

As sure as there is Santa ringing sleigh bells up above

I do believe in harmony, in family, and good cheer

Throughout the year

I do believe in Christmas

I believe in love

As sure as there is Santa ringing sleigh bells up above

I do believe in harmony, in family, and good cheer

We do believe in Christmas - Throughout the year

There were some mini solos in the song, and Jessica had one of those parts; so that was Michael’s favorite song that we accompanied; and Jessica certainly is showing signs that she’s inherited her Daddy’s musical gifts – though she’s seemed to be more interested in the piano than the guitar each time Michael and I have practiced with her class.  Their song was definitely the best performance that I helped with the music for; and it was another hit with everyone in the room.

Michael, Rowen, and I played two songs with the band too; and with that, and the musical skit we did with our own class; Michael and I didn’t actually get to have a lot of time to relax and enjoy the rest of the show.  That was okay too, because what we did seemed to be way more fun than mostly just watching the show has been each year since I moved here.  I know for sure that I’ll never forget any of those magical moments with him, our friends, and the younger kids.  I also won’t forget the hugs and kisses from my favorite people, or how proud our families were of us today.

While the concert was the highlight of the day for me, there was a lot more going on to write about; starting from first thing this morning when Mom, Violet, Ehlana, and I had some fun picking out clothes and jewelry for me and doing our hair in braids and curls – though I needed to do a bit of a touch-up on the hair at lunchtime.  Mom went with pancakes and bacon for breakfast, so with all of that and the Tai Chi that Michael joined us for; that all got our day off to a great start.  Michael and I spent the morning practicing music and helping to set up the gym for the concert.  Pretty much everyone in the band helped with the second half of that; and we had a mini practice too once the instruments, stands, and chairs were set up.

We had lunch on the fly, and spent most of our break either getting ready for the concert or helping with the younger kids – particularly for the groups that needed to either be in costumes or have them ready to change into between performances.  There was even a small crew of teen volunteers helping out with that in one of the rooms adjoining the gym.

The concert was more than two hours long, so we were late getting out of school by the time we’d finished the snacks, drinks, and meet and greet in the main hallway outside of the gym.  That meant that Michael and I couldn’t stay to help with the clean-up because we needed to be at the Inn to help with the dinner rush; but Rowen and Tim stayed, and there seemed to be enough help – including from some of the parents and grandparents.

Michael and I aren’t out in the dining room at all when we’re working at the Inn, but we were already a top story on the gossip network by the time the first customers stopped in for their meals or Christmas parties.  Miranda and Stephanie were happy to keep us updated on the latest; and that helped to make for a very entertaining few hours.  We were also really, really busy.  Having Jake and Stephanie as extras helped, but we were also really glad when Miranda and Jacob set us free earlier than we’d expected.

The main reason for that is because Michael, Rebecca, and I were invited to a Christmas movie night at my house.  That sounds funny, but Violet and Dillon were hosting it, and had originally just planned on having Jake, Stephanie, Josiah, and Christina hanging out with them in the living room.  The decision to invite us too came sometime after the concert; and we were happy to accept and get to spend a couple of hours with our favorite teens.

Ethan and Ehlana watched the movie with us, and according to them; it was necessary so that Rebecca would have a cuddle buddy too – or two.  That earned a little teasing for Ethan; but he just thought that was funny and happily cuddled with Rebecca and Ehlana.  Having toddlers in the room meant going with a family-rated movie.  The guys in the room were okay with that because that replaced the Christmas chick flick that the girls had wanted to watch – though that just ended up being the second show that they watched after the bedtime intermission for Ethan and Ehlana.  Michael and Rebecca went home then, and Mom and I went up to bed.  She’d taken the opportunity to do some work in the office after taking the afternoon off, and though I got ready for bed right away; she ended her night with some Jacuzzi time first.

The only other news I have for tonight is that Dillon is staying overnight.  He has the guest room across the hall from Violet, though I seriously doubt that he’ll be sleeping in there whenever their movie night wraps up and they get around to going to bed.  Again, I’m good with that precedence, and though they didn’t talk about it while we were around; I won’t be very surprised to find out that Stephanie goes home with Jake and Christina either ends up at Josiah’s or he stays with her at Uncle Adam and Aunt Leanne’s.  Since they could probably work one or two night feedings with Zack into that; I’ll lean that toward door number two on that one.

Aunt Leanne would certainly love that – and not only because of the extra sleep!

I’m going to have a third early bedtime in a row if I don’t start thinking too much about how nice it would be to have my own boyfriend cuddle buddy tonight.  This has been an even better remember-forever day than I’d hoped for, and with just one more sleep until our Christmas holidays; the fun is really still just getting started.  While our Moms will have a problem with same-room sleepovers for quite a few more years, I can always dream of some hot Christmas moments with Michael.  That certainly sounds like more fun than having visions of sugar plums dancing in my head; and worth hurrying off to sleep to explore and enjoy.

Happy it’s almost Christmas vacation; and until next time...

...Live long and prosper, fellow Magi of the Light!