December Song Giveaway #26: The Boxer

The Boxer

by Paul Simon 

In honor of Boxing Day, Jon is inSISTing I post this song. As he is not letting it go, I am acquiescing, just so I can enjoy the rest of MY Boxing Day.

How this giveaway works:
1. Post a comment below. One entry per person.
2. I'll use a random number generator to pick a winner.
3. If you already have the day's song but just feel like commenting because you love it so much, that's great! Just mention that you wish to be excluded from the giveaway. Or you can choose to use your entry to gift the song to someone else.
4. I will only be gifting songs legally and I'd prefer to do it through iTunes (with a few exceptions) so if you are the winner you will need to provide a valid email address.
5. The deadline for entry for each song will be noon the following day but be patient with me as I will not be able to get on iTunes from work.

 

December Song Giveaway #25: Joy To The World

Joy To The World

sung by Aretha Franklin

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great JOY for ALL the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord."





How this giveaway works:
1. Post a comment below. One entry per person.
2. I'll use a random number generator to pick a winner.
3. If you already have the day's song but just feel like commenting because you love it so much, that's great! Just mention that you wish to be excluded from the giveaway. Or you can choose to use your entry to gift the song to someone else.
4. I will only be gifting songs legally and I'd prefer to do it through iTunes (with a few exceptions) so if you are the winner you will need to provide a valid email address.
5. The deadline for entry for each song will be noon the following day but be patient with me as I will not be able to get on iTunes from work.

December Song Giveaway #24: O Holy Night

O Holy Night

as arranged by Sara Groves

I've been planning this song for Christmas Eve since the beginning of this little project. I love this new melody - for some reason it really made the lyrics seem fresh to me, especially the 2nd verse:

Truly He taught us to love one another

His law is love and His gospel is peace. 

Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother; 

And in His name all oppression shall cease. 

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, 

Let all within us praise His holy name.  

Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever, 

His power and glory evermore proclaim. 

His power and glory evermore proclaim.

I'd love to stay and chat but right now I get to spend some time with just my husband and my puppy. We just went to church, ate dinner (a mini Mexican feast made by my husband), and now we are going to open presents and watch Love Actually. This is becoming our Christmas Eve tradition and I love it.  

And we can't stay up too late tonight because look who we saw prowling the streets on our way home from church! And I don't want him to skip our house!

How this giveaway works:
1. Post a comment below. One entry per person.
2. I'll use a random number generator to pick a winner.
3. If you already have the day's song but just feel like commenting because you love it so much, that's great! Just mention that you wish to be excluded from the giveaway. Or you can choose to use your entry to gift the song to someone else.
4. I will only be gifting songs legally and I'd prefer to do it through iTunes (with a few exceptions) so if you are the winner you will need to provide a valid email address.
5. The deadline for entry for each song will be noon the following day but be patient with me as I will not be able to get on iTunes from work.

 

December Song Giveaway #23: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

sung by Judy Garland in Meet Me In St. Louis

I cannot believe that I forgot to post a song yesterday. So today, I'm going to go ahead and give you two. This is a scene from one of my favorite musicals, Meet Me In St. Louis, of course! It actually started out as a very sad song (read the original lyrics here) but thankfully a few minor changes to the lyrics were made and we now have this enduring Christmas favorite.

Enjoy - and if you haven't seen the whole movie, get thee to Netflix!

How this giveaway works:
1. Post a comment below. One entry per person.
2. I'll use a random number generator to pick a winner.
3. If you already have the day's song but just feel like commenting because you love it so much, that's great! Just mention that you wish to be excluded from the giveaway. Or you can choose to use your entry to gift the song to someone else.
4. I will only be gifting songs legally and I'd prefer to do it through iTunes (with a few exceptions) so if you are the winner you will need to provide a valid email address.
5. The deadline for entry for each song will be noon the following day but be patient with me as I will not be able to get on iTunes from work.

 

December Song Giveaway #22: It Came Upon A Midnight Clear

It Came Upon A Midnight Clear

by Sara Groves

I love this whole CD so you're going to hear a few more songs from it before the month is over.

How this giveaway works:
1. Post a comment below. One entry per person.
2. I'll use a random number generator to pick a winner.
3. If you already have the day's song but just feel like commenting because you love it so much, that's great! Just mention that you wish to be excluded from the giveaway. Or you can choose to use your entry to gift the song to someone else.
4. I will only be gifting songs legally and I'd prefer to do it through iTunes (with a few exceptions) so if you are the winner you will need to provide a valid email address.
5. The deadline for entry for each song will be noon the following day but be patient with me as I will not be able to get on iTunes from work.

 

December Song Giveaway #21: Silent Night (duet)

Silent Night (duet)

by Over The Rhine

I can't find any way to embed this one so you are just going to have to go to this link to listen. It is worth it, I promise. I've loved this version since the first time I heard it live years ago. In fact, I usually just put it on repeat. Beautiful and haunting.

http://new.music.yahoo.com/over-the-rhine/tracks/silent-night-duet--175559147

How this giveaway works:
1. Post a comment below. One entry per person.
2. I'll use a random number generator to pick a winner.
3. If you already have the day's song but just feel like commenting because you love it so much, that's great! Just mention that you wish to be excluded from the giveaway. Or you can choose to use your entry to gift the song to someone else.
4. I will only be gifting songs legally and I'd prefer to do it through iTunes (with a few exceptions) so if you are the winner you will need to provide a valid email address.
5. The deadline for entry for each song will be noon the following day but be patient with me as I will not be able to get on iTunes from work.

December Song Giveaway #20: 2000 Miles

2000 Miles

originally recorded (I think) by The Pretenders

Once again I am getting my song posted in the last few minutes of the day. I've barely had time to pick them out lately so I let Jon pick this one out. This video is a recording by Coldplay but Jon wants me to tell you that he likes The Pretenders version better.

How this giveaway works:
1. Post a comment below. One entry per person.
2. I'll use a random number generator to pick a winner.
3. If you already have the day's song but just feel like commenting because you love it so much, that's great! Just mention that you wish to be excluded from the giveaway. Or you can choose to use your entry to gift the song to someone else.
4. I will only be gifting songs legally and I'd prefer to do it through iTunes (with a few exceptions) so if you are the winner you will need to provide a valid email address.
5. The deadline for entry for each song will be noon the following day but be patient with me as I will not be able to get on iTunes from work.

December Song Giveaway #19: Lo, How A Rose E're Blooming

Lo, How A Rose E're Blooming

performed by Feist

How this giveaway works:
1. Post a comment below. One entry per person.
2. I'll use a random number generator to pick a winner.
3. If you already have the day's song but just feel like commenting because you love it so much, that's great! Just mention that you wish to be excluded from the giveaway. Or you can choose to use your entry to gift the song to someone else.
4. I will only be gifting songs legally and I'd prefer to do it through iTunes (with a few exceptions) so if you are the winner you will need to provide a valid email address.
5. The deadline for entry for each song will be noon the following day but be patient with me as I will not be able to get on iTunes from work.

December Song Giveaway #18: Toy Jackpot

Toy Jackpot

by Blackalicious

I am determined to see this through. Thirty-one songs in 31 days, all Christmasy/wintery/holidayish in one way or another. I'm getting this one in just under the wire. I think this Target ad is super cute and the song is catchy also. And, bonus, everyone can download it for free here.





How this giveaway works:
1. Post a comment below. One entry per person.
2. I'll use a random number generator to pick a winner.
3. If you already have the day's song but just feel like commenting because you love it so much, that's great! Just mention that you wish to be excluded from the giveaway. Or you can choose to use your entry to gift the song to someone else.
4. I will only be gifting songs legally and I'd prefer to do it through iTunes (with a few exceptions) so if you are the winner you will need to provide a valid email address.
5. The deadline for entry for each song will be noon the following day but be patient with me as I will not be able to get on iTunes from work.

December Song Giveaway #17: To Be With You

To Be With You

by Sara Groves

From one of my favorite singer/songwriters, here's a beautiful song about enjoying each other's company when we get together at Christmas. You'll have to listen carefully to catch all the words.

How this giveaway works:
1. Post a comment below. One entry per person.
2. I'll use a random number generator to pick a winner.
3. If you already have the day's song but just feel like commenting because you love it so much, that's great! Just mention that you wish to be excluded from the giveaway. Or you can choose to use your entry to gift the song to someone else.
4. I will only be gifting songs legally and I'd prefer to do it through iTunes (with a few exceptions) so if you are the winner you will need to provide a valid email address.
5. The deadline for entry for each song will be noon the following day but be patient with me as I will not be able to get on iTunes from work.

 

December Song Giveaway #16: Christmas For Two

Christmas For Two

by Sixpence None The Richer

Here's a romantic little holiday tune for you.

How this giveaway works:
1. Post a comment below. One entry per person.
2. I'll use a random number generator to pick a winner.
3. If you already have the day's song but just feel like commenting because you love it so much, that's great! Just mention that you wish to be excluded from the giveaway. Or you can choose to use your entry to gift the song to someone else.
4. I will only be gifting songs legally and I'd prefer to do it through iTunes (with a few exceptions) so if you are the winner you will need to provide a valid email address.
5. The deadline for entry for each song will be noon the following day but be patient with me as I will not be able to get on iTunes from work.

Social Networking Christmas

               

December Song Giveaway #15: Christmastime

Christmastime

by The Smashing Pumpkins

All I can say is...better late than never.

How this giveaway works:
1. Post a comment below. One entry per person.
2. I'll use a random number generator to pick a winner.
3. If you already have the day's song but just feel like commenting because you love it so much, that's great! Just mention that you wish to be excluded from the giveaway. Or you can choose to use your entry to gift the song to someone else.
4. I will only be gifting songs legally and I'd prefer to do it through iTunes (with a few exceptions) so if you are the winner you will need to provide a valid email address.
5. The deadline for entry for each song will be noon the following day but be patient with me as I will not be able to get on iTunes from work.

December Song Giveaway #14: All I Want For Christmas Is You

All I Want For Christmas Is You

by Mariah Carey

The last few days have been a little rough. Sunday morning my dad had to have his appendix out. Then yesterday (Monday) my mom went to the hospital to pick him up and while she was sitting there waiting for him to be discharged, she started feeling sick. Turns out she has pneumonia.


So, I've been behind picking my December giveaway songs. This one is not very creative but everyone loves it and if you are one of the few people that does not own it, leave a comment below and maybe you'll get it for free.





How this giveaway works:
1. Post a comment below. One entry per person.
2. I'll use a random number generator to pick a winner.
3. If you already have the day's song but just feel like commenting because you love it so much, that's great! Just mention that you wish to be excluded from the giveaway. Or you can choose to use your entry to gift the song to someone else.
4. I will only be gifting songs legally and I'd prefer to do it through iTunes (with a few exceptions) so if you are the winner you will need to provide a valid email address.
5. The deadline for entry for each song will be noon the following day but be patient with me as I will not be able to get on iTunes from work.

December Song Giveaway #13: I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm

I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm (Stuhr Remix)

performed by Kay Starr

from the album Christmas Remixed - Holiday Classics Re-Grooved

Ignore the super boring video and just enjoy the super groovy song. And yes, the super frigid temperatures are still influencing my song choice.

How this giveaway works:

1. Post a comment below. One entry per person.

2. I'll use a random number generator to pick a winner.

3. If you already have the day's song but just feel like commenting because you love it so much, that's great! Just mention that you wish to be excluded from the giveaway. Or you can choose to use your entry to gift the song to someone else.

4. I will only be gifting songs legally and I'd prefer to do it through iTunes (with a few exceptions) so if you are the winner you will need to provide a valid email address.

5. The deadline for entry for each song will be noon the following day but be patient with me as I will not be able to get on iTunes from work.

Mom's Winter Wonderland

Change of Plans

If you would have asked me last week at this time what my weekend would look like, it would have been very different.

What I planned on doing Friday night:

Journey to Bethlehem

What I actually did:

Thursday evening I came home from work with "hobbit feet." (I stole that term from my friend Debbie who is experiencing the same types of pregnancy symptoms.) My legs, ankles, and feet were extremely swollen and stiff. A quick call to my doctor put me at ease but I spent the rest of the evening with my feet up. After just a few hours at work on Friday, I was super swollen again so I packed up and worked the rest of the day from my office on the couch. Obviously, it wasn't a good idea to stand in line for an hour or more to walk through Bethlehem that evening so we piled in the car with Jeff, Amie, and Xavi and drove around looking at lights, including these and these.

What I planned on doing Saturday:

hula, baking cookies, Michael W. Smith at the Fox

What I actually did:

Started the day with a whole lot of relaxing (see reason for Friday night's change of plans) instead of dancing hula for an hour. In the afternoon, I went over to my parents' house and alternated this:

with this:

So at least I got the tastiest item on my to do list finished. I felt like I was on a cooking show because my mom measured out all of the ingredients for the cookies in little glass bowls. 

I had the Michael W. Smith concert on my list for a few months but apparently so did a lot of other St. Louisans because it sold out early. My dad can sometimes use his contacts from the station to get event tickets but since it was such a popular concert there were no media tickets left. That left us free to stop in at Jon's gym's Christmas party.

What I planned on doing Sunday:

Singing on the worship team at church and enjoying a meal with my church family

What I actually did:

We did our sound check for the worship team at church this morning and five minutes before the service was supposed to start I made a quick check of my phone. I had two calls from my mom and knew right away that there was probably something wrong since she should have been in the middle of playing for the services at her church. She was calling from the emergency room where she was waiting with my dad to find out what was causing his nausea and stomach pain. He must have missed his true calling because he correctly self-diagnosed with appendicitis. A few hours later, he was down one "very angry appendix" (as his doctor put it). Instead of spending the day with my church family, I spent it with my actual family in the hospital waiting room, but we created our own entertainment and having Maverick there helped.

I guess this weekend was good training for what it will be like our first few months as parents. We can make all sorts of wonderful plans as long as we are always prepared for them to change at the last minute.

December Song Giveaway #12: Baby, It's Cold Outside

Baby, It's Cold Outside

performed by Zooey Deschanel & Will Ferrell

giveaway is for the recording by Zooey Deschanel & Leon Redbone

I apologize for the late post - more on that later. We are having a super blustery day so this is the perfect song. Enjoy! And don't forget - if you want this song for your own, just leave a quick comment below saying, "I want it," or "pick me."

How this giveaway works:

1. Post a comment below. One entry per person.

2. I'll use a random number generator to pick a winner.

3. If you already have the day's song but just feel like commenting because you love it so much, that's great! Just mention that you wish to be excluded from the giveaway. Or you can choose to use your entry to gift the song to someone else.

4. I will only be gifting songs legally and I'd prefer to do it through iTunes (with a few exceptions) so if you are the winner you will need to provide a valid email address.

5. The deadline for entry for each song will be noon the following day but be patient with me as I will not be able to get on iTunes from work.

 

December Song Giveaway #11: I Wish It Was Christmas Today

I Wish It Was Christmas Today

performed by Horatio Sanz, Jimmy Fallon, Chris Kattan, and Tracy Morgan

giveaway is for the recording by Julian Casablancas of The Strokes

Today's song is a special request by Jon and his brother Jeff. Also, it is Saturday, so an SNL skit is appropriate.

How this giveaway works:

1. Post a comment below. One entry per person.

2. I'll use a random number generator to pick a winner.

3. If you already have the day's song but just feel like commenting because you love it so much, that's great! Just mention that you wish to be excluded from the giveaway. Or you can choose to use your entry to gift the song to someone else.

4. I will only be gifting songs legally and I'd prefer to do it through iTunes (with a few exceptions) so if you are the winner you will need to provide a valid email address.

5. The deadline for entry for each song will be noon the following day but be patient with me as I will not be able to get on iTunes from work.

December Song Giveaway #10: I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day

I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day

by Casting Crowns

I usually prefer traditional melodies but this one is really growing on me.

How this giveaway works:

1. Post a comment below. One entry per person.

2. I'll use a random number generator to pick a winner.

3. If you already have the day's song but just feel like commenting because you love it so much, that's great! Just mention that you wish to be excluded from the giveaway. Or you can choose to use your entry to gift the song to someone else.

4. I will only be gifting songs legally and I'd prefer to do it through iTunes (with a few exceptions) so if you are the winner you will need to provide a valid email address.

5. The deadline for entry for each song will be noon the following day but be patient with me as I will not be able to get on iTunes from work.