Merry Christmas. And may your New Year's dreams come true.

Well, it's Christmas Eve. One of my favorite days of the year. I love it when Nat King Cole sings about finding it hard to sleep tonight and having it actually be tonight. I love it when the newspaper prints the letter to Virginia. (Ignore those naysayers in the comments, I say.) I love singing in the church choir, like I will two times today, and prepping the prime rib for the big dinner tomorrow.

I love the colored lights on my Christmas tree, and driving by all the other homes with Christmas trees burning brightly in the windows. I love the treats, the macaroons and the peppermint bark and the butter brickle. Oh, and the marshmallows dipped in caramel and rolled in rice crisp cereal. Plus peanut butter blossoms, and ice cream. And candy canes, and chocolate. I think you get the idea.

And the music, the good and beautiful music, sacred at church, secular in the car and sometimes at home, my dad playing with the phone on the piano while I listen rapt on the other end. I love that on Christmas Eve I'll turn on the radio to the station with the Christmas music, and let it play all night long, unlike any other night of the year.

We'll wake up, make some coffee and enjoy the quiet and solitude. There are some presents to open, and stockings. Mmm, stockings. Arguably my favorite part of the presents ritual. They'll be some surprises, I'm betting. I'm looking forward to that part, too. There's just so much to enjoy. Dinner with the neighbors, apple cider, champagne, wine, cocktails, egg nog. Plus FUN!

If you're celebrating the birth of the Savior, or enjoying the magic of Christmas, or renewing your faith in the spirit of Santa and Christmas, or whether you're doing nothing at all, I hope you enjoy it. Peace on Earth, goodwill towards men, and all that stuff.

Merry Christmas!