Someday…

This is where my dreams are this Christmas…

Christmas smiles.

Today, I have many reasons to smile. Just a few:

• Yesterday, I got an email informing me that my dear friend Leeann had donated in my honor to Tennessee Bloggers for Education. As burned out with public education as I am, it is still something I fiercely support. The irony, of course, is that as a public educator I don’t have a lot extra to give to such a cause myself. I put the widget on my blog (to the right and down a bit there), though, to at least draw some attention to it. Special thanks to Christian for all of his work on this project. Super-special thanks to Leeann for such a thoughtful present.
• I guess it’s okay to talk about this since she posted it as her Facebook status yesterday (and we all know that makes it official)…my friend, and yours, the girl who never updates her blog but it’s because she’s obviously got quite a bit of life to live outside of it–Emily’s engaged! I’ve been waiting for this for a while. Actually, quite a few of us have. Emily and Sid are a great couple on many levels, and I can only imagine the fun, friendship, and mayhem that await them. Congrats, guys.
• A couple of hours after reading Emily’s changed status, I read that my friend Sarah–who was one of my bff co-teachers in The Wasteland–had changed hers as well. This is another one that’s been coming a while–she and Will are two peas in a pod–but there’s nothing like the little thrill that comes at knowing someone you love has just experienced one of the most exciting and life-altering moments she ever has or ever will. Congrats to you guys, too!
• Benjamin Button. Saw it today. No clue what the critics are saying or what I “should” think of it–it’s breathtaking. I loved Fitzgerald as an undergrad, but I’d forgotten what exquisite, tragic beauty he wrought from words and love and truth. This movie reflects that. And I’m a fool for such.
• This little girl, who’s having her first Christmas and is coming to see me tomorrow:

Oh, I just realized that I’ve gone and written a Thankful Thursday without meaning to. That’s a nice path to have found myself upon. My best for your Thursday and your Christmas.