Your Refrigerator: One or the Other …

It may seem like a strange thing to think about, but refrigerator doors have been on my mind for awhile. For the most part, every one I’ve ever seen in a home setting falls into one of two categories.  What about yours?
 
Is it

• clear or cluttered?
• empty or embellished?
• bare or bountiful?
• void or voluminous?
• austere or art gallery?

 
This is my Mother’s refrigerator. It really does look like this … all.the.time.  I don’t ever recall it being littered covered with anything. Ever.

 
Most of the time, I’m right there with her!

 
But some of you will remember that my grandson has lived near me. What most of you don’t know is that Little Man and this Nonna (and Poppa when he’s home) have spent virtually every weekday together while his parents worked — for the entire 20 months of his little life. (I first told you about Little Man HERE when I shared our favorite playdough recipe with you.)
 
Through those months, my refrigerator door became an art gallery, a learning station, and even a ballet barre — although his favorite dance moves were more jerky than flowing.

 
We learned everything from animal sounds to alphabet letters …

 
and experienced everything from playdough …

 
… to finger paints.

 
Life was tiring but wonderful!

 
But only days ago, just before Renaissance Man and I left for Brazil, Little Man and his parents packed up the little Leap Frog barn … and moved away. They now live in Columbus, Georgia where Little Man’s Daddy is stationed at Ft. Benning. He’s active duty military, and I told you about him HERE.
 
Tomorrow I’ll return home to an empty, though still-sweet-fingerprint-covered, refrigerator door. Sometime this week I’ll clean it … and put away the books and toys Little Man left at Nonna’s house … and un-childproof my rooms.
 
We’ll all start discovering what the next phase of our lives will look like.

 
Little Man and his parents will be fine. He’s already enjoying the park near his house. He told me yesterday via Skype that he’s met a little boy named Wyatt. Maybe over time he and Wyatt will become friends. For now, he and his “standby” friend, Honey Bear, are making the necessary adjustments.

 
Nonna and Poppa will go home and start making ours, too.
But if Little Man holds out those sweet arms one more time and says “Hold” when we’re talking on a computer and I can’t pick him up …  Well, I’m not sure how many times I can survive that!
 
But today, as I end my week with the children of Hope Unlimited for Children in Brazil, my thoughts turn quickly to children and grandchildren everywhere, the importance of strong and healthy family relationships, and to the sacrifices made by our military families.
 
I pray your relationships with your family members are positive ones. If not, there is always hope for improvement … and this week leading up to Easter is a wonderful time to  discover the Hope of Easter.
 

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!
I have overcome the world.”
–The words of Jesus found in John 16:33

 
Did you notice the Mother in the Kitchen (aka Praying Lady) figurine on top of my refrigerator in the first “art gallery” picture? I wrote about it HERE and HERE if you’d like to know why it’s there.
 
So tell me … what does YOUR refrigerator door look like?
 
I’m linking to Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch. Check it out for lots of fun befores and afters!

Related posts:

A Thanksgiving Remembered The Silent Sacrifice MILITARY FAMILIES: Day 26 of 31 Days of Creative Caring Finally … Let the Stories Begin!