perspective

this past monday our week was turned upside down, along with many of our belongings.

after returning from work on monday afternoon steve found jade locked on the back porch and our house ransacked by some people whom we know nothing about, but know who we are by the pictures displayed around our home.

and although we are saddened and have a deep feeling of vulnerablility that may never go away, we are amazed at the support we have received. it is amazing how much love has come out of something so evil.

and you can always count our boys in for some reminders not to take things so seriously. so this post may not have any pictures, because we no longer have a camera, and there may be some typos, because we only have my very mini laptop. but i wanted to share the sweet moments in the heethuis household this week. because, it is still our home, and that can never be taken away.

sweetness #1: wanting to use this as a teachable moment for gibson, i vaguely told him that i had a really bad day on monday and was so thankful for everyone who sent me a note or said something nice to me and even gave me chocolate. after i had finished i asked him what he thought about what i had just said. and not surprisingly he made a comment about the ice cream he was eating. the dialogue that followed went like this...
m: gibson did you hear anything i said?
g: in a very frustrated voice he responded, mom i don't have a car.
m: why do you need a car?
g: to go to the chocolate store.
m: you don't have to buy chocolate to be kind.
g: i'm sharing my fries with you aren't i?

sweetness #2: in one of the rare moments that steve and i were together this week, we were trying to discreetly discuss the very tense circumstances when elliott bounded into the room with his flashlight, placed it on the floor and declared, "i'm going to jump over the candlestick".

sweetness #3: at bedtime tonight i asked the boys who would like to pray. elliott quickly volunteered and began quickly and confidently: "i pledge allegiance to the flag, of the united states of america...." and that is where it ended because gibson could only hold his laughter so long.

thank you to everyone who made our week a little bit sweeter. we are eternally grateful.

we wish you all much sweetness and a feeling of safety in your home on this first winter night.