Carols Sing It is Christmastime at St. Olaf and my heart is full. There are Christmas trees in the main entrance of every academic building and wreathes strung on every street light. Tonight is the first night of Christmas Fest - the time where over 500 St. Olaf choir students and the St. Olaf Orchestra come together to perform beautiful music for a room full of students, parents, and alums. In the caf, Bon Appetit is serving a classic Norwegian dinner - ham, potatoes, meatballs and, of course, lefse - with more cinnamon sugar and butter than one can imagine. Elderly people are spotted throughout campus wearing big smiles and Norwegian sweaters. While in line for more lefse, my roommate and I saw our favorite former Spanish professor and she gave us both a hug. There is just so much light and love on this hill this weekend and I am so happy I am here to experience it all. The Power of Christmas Music For me, Christmas music holds many emotions. I made a post about this last year but I can't help but repeat myself because that's how strong these emotions are. Unfortunately, certain Christmas songs bring back memories of my diagnosis. But fortunately these feelings remind me of all the love I was surrounded by during that scary and uncertain time. It is honestly one of the best feelings to be reminded of - and I hope it never goes away. I remember standing by our Christmas tree and taking selfies with my newly cut pixie while my favorite Christmas songs echoed throughout the house. I remember listening to Christmas music as I prepared for my hat party - and listening to it as I fell asleep after so many people had flooded my house and heart with hats, warmth and love. I remember listening to Christmas music when, after too many painful biopsies, we finally got the results - stage 2 Hodgkin's Lymphoma. And I was finally floooded witih relief. In light of all of these emotions, I thought I would (attempt) to share with you a (somewhat narrowed) list of some of my very favorite Christmas songs. To give you chills and feel like your heart is physically swelling: Mary Did You Know - Pentatonix Christmastime - Michael W. Smith Breath of Heaven - Amy Grant Home - Michael Bublé and Blake Shelton Almost There - Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant O Holy Night - Josh Groban Silent Night - Pentatonix Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Andrew Belle To make you feel like you can never be sad again: Cold December Night - Michael Bublé Gloria - Michael W. Smith Celebrate Me Home - Kenny Loggins God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman - The Barenaked Ladies Here is a spotify playlist of most of them if you would like to listen: Bridget's Christmas Playlist I hope you can all take comfort in these songs this holiday season. (Also, if you have any Christmas songs you love, please comment! I would love to add to my playlist). Love, Bridget
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