"Man, she had that glow": That lyric from George Strait’s "I Saw God Today" applies these days to Jo Dee Messina, who’s expecting her first baby to arrive in early 2009.

Jo Dee’s pregnancy reflects an enthusiasm for life, thanks in part to her marriage to Chris Deffenbaugh, and she’s made an effort to share her good fortune during the holidays. On Thanksgiving Day, she ran the five-mile Boulevard Bolt, which raises money for the homeless. And on Christmas Eve, she sang in Nashville’s Riverfront Park for a homeless gathering in which visitors received a meal and a service from the Wildhorse Saloon and the Brentwood United Methodist Church.

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"They always say it's a season for being grateful and for sharing," Jo Dee told The Tennessean. "All year, every year, should be the season of giving. I always end my shows by saying, 'Do something kind for someone you don't even know because that is how each person can make a difference, whether they are famous, not famous, rich or poor.' You can truly make a difference in someone's life by doing something — not thinking of yourself but thinking of other people."

After delivering her baby boy, Jo Dee will hit the road again with an acoustic tour in the spring. The schedule kicks off with an April 16 show in Verona, N.Y.