摘要：
TheWarmthofHomePreface:Homeiswheretheheartis,andformanyofus,itistheplacewherewefeelt... TheWarmthofHome
Preface:
Homeiswheretheheartis,andformanyofus,itistheplacewherewefeelthemostcomfortableandsecure.Itisaplaceofwarmth,wherewecanbeourselvesandbesurroundedbythepeoplewelove.Thisisastoryaboutafamilythatfindscomfortintheirhome,despitethechallengestheyface.ThestorybeginsinasmalltownwheretheLiufamilylived.Mr.Liuwasahardworkingmanwhoranhisownsmallbusiness,whileMrs.Liutookcareoftheirtwochildren,LilyandLeo.Theylivedinamodesthouseontheoutskirtsoftown,butitwasaplacefilledwithloveandwarmth.Despitethesmallsizeoftheirhouse,Mrs.Liutookgreatprideinkeepingitcleanandwell-decorated.Therewerefamilyphotosonthewallsandcolorfulrugsonthefloor.Thefurniturewasold,butitwassturdyandcomfortable.Thekidslovedplayinggamesonthelivingroomfloor,orcurlinguponthecouchtowatchTV.
LilyandLeowerelikemostsiblings;theyfoughtsometimesbuttheyalsolovedeachotherdearly.Theywerealwaysplayinggamestogether,tellingstories,andlaughing.Mrs.Liulovedseeingherchildrensohappy,butsheknewthatlifewasnotalwayseasy,especiallyforMr.Liu.Mr.Liu'sbusinesswasstruggling,andheoftenworkedlonghoursjusttomakeendsmeet.Heworriedabouthowhewouldsupporthisfamily,andthiscausedhimgreatstress.Mrs.Liudidherbesttohelphim,butshealsohadherownworries.LilyandLeoweregrowingupfast,andMrs.Liuworriedabouttheirfuture.Shewantedthemtohaveagoodeducationandtobeabletopursuetheirdreams.Sheknewthatthiswouldrequirealotofsacrificeontheirpart,butshewasdeterminedtogivethemthebestpossiblestartinlife.Despitethechallengestheyfaced,theLiufamilyalwaysfoundcomfortintheirhome.Itwasaplacewheretheycouldforgetabouttheirworriesandjustbethemselves.Theywouldoftengatheraroundthedinnertable,enjoyingMrs.Liu'sdeliciouscookingandsharingstoriesabouttheirday.
Onewinterevening,asthefamilysataroundthefire,Lilysuddenlyspokeup."Mom,Dad,canweinviteGrandmaandGrandpaoverforChristmasdinner?"sheasked.Mrs.Liusmiled."Ofcourse,mydear,"shereplied."Itwillbewonderfultohavethemherewithus."LilyandLeowereoverjoyedatthenews,andtheyspentthenextfewdayspreparingfortheirgrandparents'arrival.TheyhelpedMrs.Liudecoratethehousewithlightsandgarlands,andtheybakedcookiesandcakes.OnChristmasEve,thegrandparentsarrived.Theyweregreetedwithhugsandkisses,andtheysettledinaroundthedinnertable.Thehousewasfilledwithlaughterandchatter,andeveryonefelthappyandcontent.
Astheysatdowntoeat,Mr.Liulookedaroundathisfamilyandfelthisheartswellwithlove.Heknewthattheyhadfacedmanychallengesovertheyears,buttheyhadalwayscomethroughthemtogether.Asthenightworeon,thefamilyexchangedgiftsandtoldstories.Theysangcarolsandplayedgames,andforawhile,theyforgotabouttheoutsideworld.Theywerewrappedupinthewarmthoftheirhome,surroundedbyloveandcomfort.Thenextday,asthegrandparentspreparedtoleave,Lilyhuggedthemtight."Thankyouforcoming,"shesaid."Iloveyou."Astheydroveaway,Mr.Liufeltasenseofpeacesettleoverhim.Heknewthatthechallengesoflifewouldcontinue,buthealsoknewthattheyhadahomefilledwithwarmthandlove.
Overtheyears,theLiufamilyfacedmanychallenges.Mr.Liu'sbusinessimproved,buttherewerestilltimeswhenmoneywastight.LilyandLeogrewupandwentofftocollege,leavinganemptynestbehind.Butthroughitall,thefamilyremainedclose.Theycontinuedtogatheraroundthedinnertable,sharingstoriesandlaughter.Theycontinuedtodecoratetheirhomewithloveandcare,makingitaplaceofcomfortandsecurity.Andastheygrewolder,theLiufamilybegantorealizethattheirhomewasnotjustaphysicalspace,butastateofmind.Itwasaplacewheretheycouldbethemselves,wheretheycouldfindloveandacceptance,andwheretheycouldbuildmemoriesthatwouldlastalifetime.Today,Mr.andMrs.Liuareretired,andtheyspendtheirdaysenjoyingeachother'scompany.Lilyisasuccessfullawyer,whileLeoisadoctor.Theybothlivefaraway,buttheyalwayscomehomeforholidaysandspecialoccasions.
Andwhentheydo,theyaregreetedwithopenarmsandwarmhearts.Theysitaroundthedinnertable,sharingstoriesandlaughter,justliketheydidwhentheywerechildren.FortheLiufamily,homeisnotjustaphysicalspace,butastateofmind.Itisaplacewheretheycanfindcomfortandlove,eveninthemidstoflife'schallenges.Andastheysitaroundthedinnertable,laughingandtalking,theyknowthattheyareblessedtohaveeachother,andthattheirhomewillalwaysbeaplaceofwarmthandlove.
