A Picture of Us

Ignored. Taken for granted. Unappreciated.... 
Sounds the way most of us feel. But I'm talking about my refrigerator.
During this month where it's fashionable to give thanks each day for our blessings, I want to go beyond family, friends... look for the unexpected and overlooked. (Something I should do everyday, not just during a month of Thanksgiving). 
Like the black appliance taking up wall space in my kitchen. Day in and day out, we take it for granted. It keeps our milk cool and eggs fresh, it's freezer stores our dinners. But in reality, it's truly a centerpiece in our lives' existence.
It's a photo album and family chronology; 
It's memories and mementos of places traveled and family outings; 
It's a reason to practice music "See that pile of bills from the music store? You better practice!"; It's a homework reminder with science project rules, music scores to review, and a reading log to sign; 
It's a message center with hand-written notes left for each other - sometimes practical, sometimes hilarious, sometimes both;
It's an art gallery of my youngest's creative talents and a repository of my oldest's needs: his creed and his social skills reminders;
It's a printed prayer card and snippets of favorite devotionals;
It is our social life: band calendar, work calendar, reminders. 
It's a statement of human kindness, and God's provision, as a friend gave us this beautiful appliance to use.  
It is a collage of Family. And it is a picture of... Love

The Love Note

I could sense her curiosity. No judgement, no condemnation, but her curiosity was palpable. She had no idea of years past. Of years in churches when I was determined my autistic son would worship with me, yet services would find me consoling him, entertaining him, and on the floor in back rows doing compression exercises and brush therapy. 

She didn't know how far we've come. She merely knew we were sitting next to her in church. She surreptioulsy watched as I held Robert's hands to keep him from picking his skin, or kept my hand on his knee to keep him from jiggling his leg. We may have been a quiet distraction from her worship, but I felt no censure. Still, in the hopes of acceptance, I felt compelled to write her a note. My note is below, as is hers. This is the best love note I've received in a long while...