Heart of Christmas

Kids sing with abandon. My youngest still lustily sings in the shower, much to our entertainment.

Our older boys laugh just a little too hard at him. I don't think they realize what they sound like singing along with their iPods.

I, on the other hand, have to be careful where I sing with abandon, because everyone abandons me when I sing. So, I only sing with abandon in the shower. When no one is at home. Including my neighbors. At least my cat enjoys it. Of course, she likes eating worms in the garage, but I digress.

The shower is where she gets bathed, too, and she just figures I'm caterwauling like she does during her bi-monthly bath. She watches me very closely, no doubt because she can't figure out why I'd torture myself like that.

About a year ago, I had the opportunity to sing with a different kind of abandon – the spiritual kind. Granted, I mostly stood and cried at the grandeur of hundreds of voices joined in the extraordinary beauty of the Messiah. But the Messiah sing-a-long at last year's Heart of Christmas Choral Festival was an inspirational experience.

It even inspired me to join our church choir. Poor choir.

My husband and our oldest and youngest sons sing in the choir, too. Which is a good thing – they help drown me out.

Our middle son is, according to him, not a singer. The closest he ever came to singing in public was during a student council skit in fifth grade. He tried to win their version of American Idol by borrowing a skirt and a wig and lip-syncing Lee Ann Womack's “I Hope You Dance.” I cried then, too – because I was laughing so hard.

Anyway, if you like to sing, or listen to beautiful music, or just cry in public, the Heart of Christmas is the place to be on Sunday, Dec. 9 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 650 N. Lovers Lane in Visalia. It's moved since last year; the festival outgrew the building they used the first year. It was such a big hit there was standing room only.

The Heart of Christmas will begin at 7 p.m. and it's completely free. You can even e-mail Sara Sutton, the event coordinator, at heartofchristmas@sbcglobal.net and she'll tell you how to get free sheet music and a CD to rehearse your part. Or stop by Zion's Books at 3640 S. Mooney, and pick up the free rehearsal CD.

Last year, over 750 voices joined together sing Handel's Messiah. This year nearly 1,000 vocalists are expected. And even more of the Messiah will be sung. Sara said this year includes: “And the Glory of the Lord,” “O Thou that Tellest Good Tidings to Zion” (with alto soloist), and just as last year, “For Unto Us a Child is Born,” and “The Hallelujah Chorus.”

There will also be a display of nativities from around the world – next to the crying that's my favorite part.

So whether you're a soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass or weeper, you'll fit right in. And with that many people singing even I don't have to worry about being off key, so I can sing with abandon.