Merry Christmas Eve! Today was a wonderful day! Our chapel service this morning was a service of Lessons and Carols, so lots of God’s word and lots of singing! And, as always, we had communion. It was really nice. Then I went home for a little bit and then back to the chapel for 1300 rehearsal of the Hallelujah Chorus. That rehearsal went well and afterwards it was home again for a little bit. I had to be at Base Operations at 1500, and our barbershop chorus caroled for their Christmas party. It was a lot of fun, and we got a picture with Santa – I’ll upload tomorrow and you’ll be able to see “Santa’s Militia”. LOL After we were done singing, I got a new country for my collection – New Zealand!
Once that was done, I was finally able to relax for a while and I did a little bit of cross stitching after dinner. And I had nice chats with Ryan and Mom and Dad and my buddy P. It was a good afternoon. And then in the evening (2000) was the Protestant Candlelight Christmas Eve service. It was a very nice service with the Brass Quintet, Woodwind Quartet, and even guitar (along with flute and oboe) for Silent Night at the end. There were probably over 100 – maybe even close to 200 – people in attendance! And with all those candles – WOW. Yes, Mom, I cried when I sang Silent Night. There were people from the U.S., Korea, Afghanistan (they’re Muslims and don’t celebrate Christmas, but there were some Afghan soldiers there!!), Great Britain, and probably other countries too. What an awesome thing!
After our service and before the Catholic Mass at 2200, we had a community sing along. We sang lots of Christmas songs, and then we ended with the (possibly) first-ever performance of The Hallelujah Chorus from The Messiah. The Brass Quintet accompanied us, and it went really well! Of course, after all that singing, I don’t have much of a voice left. But that’s ok.
Once I got back to my hooch, I stitched for a few more minutes while I burned CD’s of the pictures I took today for the members of the barbershop chorus. Then I played Santa and put my gifts for the females in their stockings. Of course, one was too big for her stocking, and it’s precariously balanced sort of in her stocking and then on the beads and garland we have up all over. LOL I also delivered gifts to a few of my guy friends.
I’m off to bed now.
armytbonegirl 