A short wish list

In no particular order, my wish list, dear Santa: - For the faceless nameless banks who own our Boston real estate to approve our short sale. - For Millennials to use "literally" sparingly & appropriately. - For the cancerous cells attacking someone I deeply love to take a permanent vacation. - For Ryan on "Parenthood" to magically overcome his PTSD and marry Amber and let them have billions of babies with buzzcuts. - For more Bikram yoga, fresh guacamole, and AFAR Magazine in my life. - For inspiration to finish my manuscript. - For Michelle Obama and Terry Gross to become my best friends. - For a little dusting of snow. - For a sounder understanding of what I am doing here. - For a Fulbright to the South of France to research its beaches and pastry. - For photos of bikini betties standing in a conga line sucking in their stomachs to be banned from Facebook. - For my children to keep greeting me like Rosie O'Donnell greeted Tom Cruise on her show in 1996. - For Fifty Shades of Gray to disappear. - For my husband to keep loving me something fierce in spite of the frequent loss of my keys and glasses. - For my keys and glasses to not so frequently disappear. - For the Mac spinning wheel of death to only happen to pretty people. Just kidding. Haha, but imagine! - For the whole thing with Syria and Israel and Palestine and other sovereign nations along the Mediterranean to really just work it out for once and for all. - For students to cease beginning questions with, "So did you want us to...?" - For more love in my heart and less cavities in my teeth.

What about you?

*** Baby Girl's sabbath school class has been playacting out the Nativity story. She was underwhelmed by the role of Wise Man toting myrrh.

The role of Mary was truly impressive, however.

They were so cute in antlers, trust.

Throwback Thursday

You know what's crazy? Realizing this is your 12th Christmas with your Lovey Loverpants.

Much has changed.

Now our rooms are messier and our hearts are more full.

Visiting Kindness Upon

Yesterday a sleigh visited our house. It was coming to pick up the gifts that a few of my elfin friends had cobbled together over the course of a couple of days. One of my fellow coalition members had asked me if I could gather some specific items and swiftly. A survivor of human trafficking had been rescued and she needed to start putting the pieces of a new life together. And she needed underwear. And Rice-a-Roni. And size 10 shoes.

I put out a fleece to see if any in my campus community could help. Within 48 hours, I had four bags brimming for my coalition member to pick up in her sleigh. People came out of the woodwork, racing to help this woman, sight unseen. Gift cards and brand new sneakers. Stylish scarves and hip jackets. The sleigh would visit the home of the FBI who would give it to the survivor.

You guys. I have had Christmas fever for a couple of weeks now. I shut my office door so that my co-workers are not scandalized by the score of my life: "NSYNC - Home for Christmas." The chagrin!

Then I turned around and realized yesterday that the season had already ushered itself into my life, doors covered in glossy gift wrap busting down snow flurries rushing into my Christmas heart like a snowglobe shaken--just like that.

A love and defense of the most innocent members of our community. All wrapped up with a bow. A beautiful and humbling gift of which I was a part this week, encouraging my heart to keep this season aglow.