Speaking of reasons to smile...

Several weeks ago I posted these pictures with little explanation. I'll give a short one, now.

Among the things that have been making me smile so much this winter is the thought of what I'm going to do at the end of it.

Some of you may know what happened to my dear friend Melissa and her family last year. It was my birthday when tragedy struck them, though I didn't know about it until the next day. Around six months later, she made a decision the same date in 2014 would find her doing something positive, even celebratory. In defiance of despair and in hope of joy, she decided to plan a trip, and she wanted me and my family to come along.

Melissa does not do things small, or subtle.

As I learned upon reading the letter, this Hogwarts acceptance notice is actually an invitation to accompany Melissa & her family to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park in Florida. This is how I get to spend my birthday this year.

You guys, I couldn't. even. deal. Me! Go to Florida! It momentarily broke my brain. In a good way.

Definitely the happiest feeling of the season.

For some reason, the Florida part is what really got me stuck. It was about 5 degrees out at the time, so my first reaction was to the fact we'd get to go to Florida. To a proper beach, as well as to the theme park. 

Here are my kids taking up my chant:

But now, I'm getting really excited about visiting this park. We've been reading The Sorcerer's Stone to Miles, so he has a clue, and I'm enjoying revisiting the books in preparation. I'll probably get further with them when I finish Medieval Lit.. But the illuminated picture in my mind, saturated with color, of my friends and my family all geeking out together at the park, and having other Florida adventures, has been an endless source of happiness. It's like Vitamin D implanted in my brain.



And I am in amazement too, at my friends and their vision, and their generosity. That they want to spend this important day doing this, with  us.. staggers my mind. Here's to love and hope and life, friends!

Speaking of winter, and smiling: stay tuned for pictures and relation of our adventures in 20+ inches of snow last week! One of you must have taken up praying for snow... someone to whom God listens very, very carefully! And probably the second happiest feeling of the winter was our celebratory frolic when Virginia Tech cancelled classes on Thursday.