It is Christmas Eve and we just received an unsolicited letter from a recent Heartlight graduate…a girl Mark once dubbed, “The angriest child I have ever met.” We can’t think of a better Christmas gift and wanted to share it with you as well!  With all our love, Jan and Mark

Hi Jan & Mark:

First, I know I didn’t really thank you guys a lot when I left, it was so unreal - that graduation dinner. Coming to Texas and being looked after by everyone, the talks with the counselors, and especially Susan and you made me finally feel the love and attention that I shut out for so long.

Heartlight saved my life, gave me a new chance in school, gave my family the hope and communication that they needed to let me go, and it brought God back into my life.

All of the times I thought I was ready to come home, every minute I stayed longer, I grew and learned more about myself.

I wish that you could feel the appreciation and gratitude I have for all that you gave me. Jan, hearing your story and feeling the empathy you share, and the advice and open-minded perspectives Mark gave to me, and just the warm, friendly, funny, genuine loving family of yours made me comfortable and trusting in you all, and it totally restored my heart — even though it didn’t happen overnight.

Thank you so much for not ever giving up on me, for listening to me, and for helping my family make it through another year. I can’t tell you how many times a day my mom says how grateful she is for all of this. She says that you, your family, Susan, and Angel are all angels, and we both truly believe that. I look through the pictures of everyone at Heartlight and I cry. I know I will never forget one memory from it.

I’m not going to stop writing, calling, and visiting you. I love you guys and I can’t imagine not having you in my life. You guys are family to me and my family. Please don’t ever stop being my family. I hope you know now that I’m not forgetting you or ungrateful.

I’m pretty excited — my first real sober Christmas!

I plan to go snowboarding in January for the first time. I’m stoked! After Christmas break I plan to get a job at a pet store and get my driving permit. I’ll be 17 and just getting it. I am a year behind in school, but I’m doing great. My GPA from this semester is 3.5! The school says I’m a great student. I haven’t heard that since the fifth grade!

Well, I really hope you guys are doing well. I hope you all have a great Christmas and a safe New Year. Please give Maile and Maycee hugs for me, and tell Blake and Melissa “Hi” as well. Again, thank you for everything,

Love,

(name withheld for privacy)