Long days
 And even longer nights
I think time and again
 Something's not right
Those tell tale signs
 Upon my face
Grow more obvious
 It's time they trace
And I think to myself
 My youth has gone by
But then you come home
 And I see my beauty in your eyes.

Children are special
 Especially these
God blesses these children
 With special needs.
Days full of battles
 My will against yours
It takes much of mine
 To not slam the doors
The day often dissolves
 Into my own sobs and cries
And then you come home
 And I see my strength in your eyes.

The day gets started
 I'm already behind
It's hard to get going
 I run out of time
One more mess to clean
 More Laundry, more dishes
My heart -
 It feels bitter and useless
And just when I think
 Compassion and passions all lies
That's when you come home
 And I see my love in your eyes.

(Vicky Ashmore is a military wife and the mother of two children at Malmstrom AFB in Great Falls, MT. Her son Christopher has autism.)