Thursday Thirteen

So I have seen many of you do this theme lately and I thought, hey, why not. So, here are 13 of my favorite Christmas songs. Oh, and I apologize for the redundancy in my descriptions of the songs. I think I say I looove it under each one. It is very early in the morning, I am not awake yet, and my writing skills are lacking quite a bit at the moment.

1. O Holy Night. - This is my absolute favorite Christmas song. I love it. I love most renditions of it that I hear. Although, yesterday I heard a gal on the radio who just butchered the beautiful song. But, this is my favorite to listen to and to sing. I looooooooove it!

2. Silent Night - Such a beautiful song. I think of it as a lullaby. I love to listen to Jewel's version of this song. Having been in choirs most of my life, I have sung this song many, many times....even in German. I can still even remember the German translation......Stile Nacht.

3. Jesu Joy- So, this song wasn't written to be a Christmas song, but it is on many Christmas albums. I think we use the song more often in weddings. But I love performing this song and listening to it.

4. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear/Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem- Okay, so when I was a kid, I had a Cabbage Patch Kids Christmas album. On it was a version of It Came Upon A midnight Clear that would flow into Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem. It was my favorite song on the album and I think I would listen to it over and over and over again. To this day, I still looove listening to these two songs, just not by the Cabbage Patch Kids.

5. Breath Of Heaven - What a gorgeous song and it really beautifully captures how Mary felt. I love hearing the story from Mary's perspective. Amy Grant has the best version that I have heard thus far. I used to perform Breath Of Heaven every Christmas at my church. GREAT SONG!

6. Coventry Carol- I performed this song as a child while in The Phoenix Girls Chorus and I always loved it.

7. Candlelight Carol- I have heard a few versions of this song, but my favorite is on Neil Diamond's Christmas album which I purchased a few years ago specifically for this song. I had heard it on the radio and loved it so much. I love the melody and the lyrics. Beautiful. If you have never heard it or have never heard Neil Diamond's version, I suggest you do. It's BEAUTIFUL!

8. The Chipmunks Christmas song- So, I don't remember the name of this one right now off the top of my head. But I know you must know what I am talking about. It is the one where the Chipmunks sing about what they want for Christmas and for santa to not be late. It's a cute song. I also had this album as a kid and it was my FAVORITE album because of the cover.
On the cover, the calendar is opened to December 21st, which is my birthday, so I loved that my birthday was on the album. I used to listen to the Chipmunks sing tons of Christmas songs over and over again. It must have driven my parents crazy.

9. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Such a beautiful song, especially when sung by Frank Sinatra. I was in the musical, Meet Me In St. Louis, which is where this song is from. So, it also has sentimental meaning.

10. All I want For Christmas Is You - Yes, the song by Mariah Carey. I hate to admit it, but it's fun to sing and I love how it starts out slow and then all of a sudden, you're jamming to it. It's got a great beat. I do think it is way too overplayed however.

11. Ave Maria - If sung by the right person, especially in a huge concert hall or church, this song is absolutely breathtaking.

12. Veni Veni Emmanuel - Another song I loved performing at Christmastime. I just really love it...don't know why.

13. I'll Be Home For Christmas - I love the lyrics...I love the melody. And I love that I will be home for Christmas this year. :o)


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Theatrical Thursday Thirteen

header image by goofy girl

Here are 13 roles that I have either had or would like to have someday.

1. The bunny who didn't want to hop..in...the bunny who wouldn't hop (my first play ever in first grade).

2. Rosie in Really Rosie

3. Tootie in Meet Me in St. Louis. That was actually a fun role. Although upset to be cast as the little girl my senior year in the high school play, she was a fun character.

4. Amaryllis in The Music Man. Again given the role of a kid in my High School production. I think it had to do with the fact that I am tiny.

5. Sandy in Grease. The role I for some reason always wanted to have. I had a blast doing it and worked with a great cast. A few of them have gone on to do so much more. One is doing Mama Mia on Broadway. Another has been in a couple of movies. And one gal has a couple of hit dance singles.

6. Hodel in Fiddler On The Roof. I actually didn't audition for this show. The gal who had that part, had to leave a few weeks before production. So, I was called, asked to do it and told that I had three weeks to prepare. I LOOVED playing Hodel though. It was a fun show.

7. Harem Girl in Sideshow

8. One of the fifty bagillion children in The King And I

9. Okay, if they ever come out with a musical version of Moulin Rouge, I would love to play Satine.

10. I have always wanted to play the part of Beth in Little Women.

11. Belle in Beauty and The Beast..on Broadway of course, would be a fun role.

12. And I would love to be Emma in Jekyll and Hyde

13. Finally, I think the narrator role in Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat would be super fun!

Thursday Thirteen

As some of you know, I run a day care out of the house. I do a curriculum with the kids that I found online called Letter Of The Week. I am responsible for coming up with their activities and crafts, although the curriculum makes great suggestions. I wanted to share with you 13 sites I have found for some great, fun and free crafts, templates and coloring sheets.

1. Brightly Beaming Resources
This is the site where I found the free curriculum that I use with the kids at my in home day care.
It was designed by a home schooling mom. The one I am using introduces one letter each week and incorporates math science, music, social studies and a Bible lesson.

2. First School This has great crafts and coloring sheets

3. Danielle's Place
Tons of crafts and activities. Also a huge section of themed Bible lessons along with crafts. There are even Bible lessons associated with each letter of the alphabet and each one comes with a handwriting practice sheet for the letter. Some of the printable templates and things are free. For others, you can pay a small fee to become a member and receive access.

3. DLTK'S
Lots of awesome crafts and coloring sheets for all sorts of themes

4. Sesame Street Coloring Pages

5. Coloring Book Fun
Many licensed character coloring pages

6. Free Printables
85 free printables with all sorts of themes ranging from weather to Paul Bunyan

7. Everything Preschool
Many themes and each one includes Songs, Books, Art, Games, Science, Coloring Pages and more.

8. Fingerplays
Tons of finger plays that you can do with the kiddos

9. Alphabites
Tons of activities to do for each letter of the alphabet.

10. Little People Coloring sheets

12. Little Mermaid coloring pages
Will be in high demand since the movie just came out.

13. Best Book Alphabet
Tons of crafts and printables for each letter of the alphabet

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Positive ways to see children -- Oh and just for the record, I unfortunately can't take credit for these. They are from a handout I received during training for my Family Child Care Home license.

1. The child isn't bossy, he is a natural leader and a good director.

2. The child isn't clingy, she is affectionate.

3. The child isn't naughty, he is independent, assertive and persistent.

4. The child isn't sneaky, she is inventive.

5. The child isn't a tattletale, he seeks justice.

6. The child isn't too talkative, she communicates well.

7. The child isn't timid, he is careful.

8. The child isn't talking back, she is courageous and honest.

9. The child isn't loud, he is expressive.

10. The child isn't goofy, she is creative.

11. The child isn't spoiled, he knows how to get attention when needed.

12. The child isn't stubborn, she is persistent.

13. The child isn't shy, he can entertain himself and is inner directed.

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Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen things about my hospital stay over the weekend after having baby Isaiah.

1. I was blessed with such amazing nursing staff. The nurse who was with me during my labor was soo wonderful and helpful. In fact, I think I may send a little thank you card her way. It's just so wonderful when the person taking care of you actually cares about you. She was made to be a nurse and she had genuine care for me.

2. I received three meals a day from the cafeteria and then two snacks a day that I took from the nourishment pantry because I am nursing. My hubby had food from the cafeteria the first day as well and didn't like it AT ALL. I ranted and raved to him about the food the first day. In fact, my breakfast Saturday morning, about 4 hours after I had the baby, tasted like something from a four star restaurant. It was french toast, fruit and cereal and it was DELICIOUS. In fact everything I ate that first day was simply divine to me. But by Monday, I began noticing just how not so good the food really was and I was dying for my food at home.

3. There is nothing better after having a baby, then getting the okay from your nurse 24 or so hours later that you can take a shower. I think it was the best shower in my life.

4. By Monday, when I had gone 3 days with about only 3 hours of sleep total, I asked the pediatrician, with much concern, If they give numbing medication during c-sections. He looked at me dumbfounded. I then realized what I had said. I then said, sorry, my brain stopped working. I mean during circumcisions. I felt so dumb!

5. In the room we stayed in the full 3 days, there was an extra bed. My hubby was able to get rest and sleep on a bed. With my first, all Steve had was a chair, poor guy!

6. Water has become my best friend. I was given this nifty jug with a straw to drink water out of. It is 30 ounces and there are little markers on it so you can see exactly how many ounces are left in the jug. Something about nursing, makes you crave water. Maybe because it is so important to drink. Anyway, they let me take my jug home with me, I was so excited, and let me tell you, all I seem to drink lately is water. You have to understand, I have never loved to drink water!

7. In the nourishment pantry that we got to take from two times a day, there were snacks with our names on them, but then you were allowed to take from anything else in there if it didn't have a name. Things ranged from fruit to graham crackers, things like that. I always got excited when there was a can of 7UP in there. I am not even that big of a fan of 7UP, but I tell you what, over the weekend, it was delightful!

8. One of the midwives who came to do vitals and see how I was healing, couldn't believe how great I looked. She told me that I was made to have babies and should have more. Well, right now, two is definitely PLENTY!

9. My baby boy has gas, lots of it. And I think it's because boys will be boys, but he toots like nobody's business. And my little man stinks up a room.

10. I perfected the technique of swaddling over the weekend. I never got it completely down with my first. But nurses came in sooooo many times during my stay and would swaddle him up when they were done checking him. All of that observation has made me a swaddling expert,

11. I was peed on twice. It's crazy how much that stuff shoots up in the air.

12. I spent so much time in the hospital just staring at my little guy. It was wonderful.

13. It's so nice to get those discharge papers and go home.

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Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Nice things you can do. Courtesy of Do One Nice Thing

1. Make a Get Well Card for a child in the hospital

2. Donate a phone card through the USO for military families to be able to talk to their deployed loved ones.

3. Pay for the meal behind you in the fast food drive thru.

4. Help hospitalized children feel better by letting them watch your used videos and DVDs. Kidflicks collects and and sends them to hospitals. Send films to Kidflicks, 11755 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1450, Los Angeles, CA 90025

5. Become a Senior's Angel. You can "adopt" a senior from a nursing home and send them little gifts, cards, and letters each week to bring a bit of sunshine to their lives.

6. Participate in the ongoing teddy bear provider program to the Edendale Hospital Children's Ward and Hillcrest AIDS Orphanage in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Purchase a teddy bear through Bears Without Borders, to be given to a child.

7. The Fisher House at Fort Sam Houston, Texas is a guest house for families of wounded U.S. service members.
It's a home away from home, a wonderful supportive environment for families dealing with difficult situations. Their loved ones are being treated at Brooke Army Medical Center, home of the largest military burn unit in the U.S. and an advanced rehab center for amputees.
There's a way we can help: Art supplies would be greatly appreciated. Fisher House guests of all ages would benefit, and service members too. Through art they can express feelings that are often hard to articulate.
If you can, please send a pack of crayons, markers, colored pencils or other art supplies to:
Fisher House
Brooke Army Medical Center
Building 3623 George C. Beach Road
Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234-5000

8. Pay for the person behind you on the toll road.

9. Recycle your empty inkjet cartridge for the Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation and help make a difference for seriously ill children.

10. Do you have a lot of your child's artwork laying around. Send the ones you don't want to hold onto in your scrapbook, to Color A Smile. They collect crayon drawings from school children and distribute these drawings to Nursing Homes.

11. Are you getting married? There are many Gift Registries that will donate a percentage of your gift purchases to a charity of your choice. A few of these partner stores are Macy's, JcPenney and Target.

12. Give a birthday present to someone who may have their birthday forgotten. Foster kids are frequently moved from home to home, and their birthdays often fall through the cracks. But we can give a foster child something to celebrate. When you're out shopping, buy an extra toy or book, drop it into a padded envelope unwrapped, and mail it to:
CLCLA-Children's Law Center.
c/o Princess Ramey, Esq.
201 Centre Plaza Dr., Suite 10
Monterey Park, CA 91754
(323)980-1700

13. The Letters From Home Campaign is currently collecting many items to send to the troops. All donations need to be in by July 16, 2006. Please visit their website to see a list of the items that they are requesting.

Now, get out there and do something nice. :o)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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