Itwasacoldafternooninwinter.Myoldestson,Stephen,wasatschool,andReed,myhusband,atwork.Mylittleonesweresittingaroundthekitchentable.Tomwasperfectingapaperplane,whileSamwasonanoilpainting

　　Itwasacoldafternooninwinter.Myoldestson,Stephen,wasatschool,andReed,myhusband,atwork.My littleonesweresittingaroundthekitchentable.Tomwasperfectingapaperplane,whileSamwas onanoilpainting.

　　ButLaura,ouronlydaughter,satquietlyandwas inherproject.Everyonceinawhileshewouldaskhowto thenameofsomeoneinourfamily,thencarefullyformthelettersonebyone.Next,shewouldaddflowerswithsmallitems.Shefinishedoffeachwithasunintheupperrighthandcorner.Holdingthemateyelevel,sheletoutalongsigh(叹息)of .

　　“Whatareyoudoing,Honey?”Iasked.Shelookedquicklyatherbrotherbeforelookingbackatme.“It’sa .”shesaid,coveringupherworkwithherhands.

　　Next,sheputherworkintoabox.Whenshehadfinished,shedisappearedupthestairs.

　　Itwasn’tuntillaterthateveningthatI a“mailbox”tapedontothedoorstoeachofourbedrooms.Therewerelittlenotessayingthatshelovedallofus.Shehadn’t SamorbabyPaul.Theyarepagesofcoloredscenesincludingflowerswithhappyfaces.“Hecan’treadyet,”shewhispered(低声说),“ hecanlookatthepictures.”EachtimeIreceivedoneofmylittlegirl’sgifts,it myheart.Iwastouchedathowcarefullyshepaidattentiontowhatwronghappenedtous.WhenStephenlostabaseballgame,therewasalettertellinghimshethoughthewasthebestballplayerinthewholeworld.AfterIhada day,therewasamessagethankingmeformyefforts.

　　Thissamelittlegirlisgrownnow,drivingoffeverydaytothestatecollege,butsomethingsaboutherhave changed.YesterdayIfoundalovenotenexttomybedside.“Thanksforalwaysbeingthe