It starts with a couple of ingredients.  First, I've always been a computer / technology geek.  I don't get an opportunity to program too much at work anymore, so this lets me spin my propeller on my beanie cap a little.  Second, my wife has always wanted a nice Christmas light display.  Before this, she was lucky if I got the lights up by Christmas and down by July.  And the last ingredient is that I saw a computerized Christmas light display synchronized with music on the Internet.  Since I love music, computers, electronics, automation and my wife always wanted a Christmas display it was a great solution to build a display.  Plus, this gives our family a way to celebrate the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ in a tangible way and be able to share our faith with our community.