"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, lean not on thy own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths."
Proverbs 3:5-6

Dear friends and family,
We hope this finds you all well. We are hanging in there following a busy and stressful year! Sarah (15) and Teddy (12) are in public school and doing well. Ian(9) and Claire(6) are homeschooled and also doing well. I just put Lydia (22 months) in "Mother's Morning Out" at a near-by church, 2 days a week from 8:30-noon, so I can better concentrate on Ian and Claire's school work- She's really enjoying it. Ian and Sarah were able to play soccer and had a lot of fun. Sarah has her "learner's permit" and is driving us crazy!

We have been through much this pass year, but God is teaching us to rely on Him. We left a church we had been going to for twelve years and taught 2nd graders in Children's Church for ten years, Sarah and Teddy grew up there! It has been a difficult transition for us all. I felt misunderstood and betrayed by people I had trusted. When I was just beginning to recover from that situation…my brother passed away suddenly. Paul had a heart attack on August 24th, he was 45. My other brother's long time friend commented before he knew how he died: "He had such a big heart!" Our new church family is comforting. My parents had a memorial service for Paul in October. I went with, Ian, Claire and Lydia.

I was on my way North to my parents in Arroyo Grande, California from my brother Jon's place in Santa Clarita. I had Ian, Claire, and Lydia in the back seat of our rented Chevy Malibu. I found a Christian radio station and this song (words below) came on. I had never heard it before. I guess the reality of why I was there hit me and the pain of the past months also. We headed to the Pacific Coast Highway for that beautiful drive along the ocean. In Luke chapter four Jesus reads this verse about Himself, "The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon me; because Jehovah hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound" Isaiah 61:1. If you're going through a difficult time, why not give Christ your heart? I know He can be trusted with it.

With Love and best wishes for 2003, the Story family
{Bob, Susan, Sarah, Teddy, Ian, Claire & Lydia}

Bring Christ Your Broken Heart
Written by Brian White and Joe Beck
Sung by the contemporary Christian group
"Sierra", on the album "Change".

If you've carried your burdens as far as you can go
If you've reached the end of your own strength
And you just can't go on
If you days are filled with questions
And the answers they just don't come
If you've put your faith in those who let you down
If the road you're on seems like shaky ground
Turn your eyes toward heaven, He is waiting there
You'll find the peace your longing for in His care

CHORUS
Bring Christ your broken heart
He will comfort you
With love to heal your deepest hurt
And grace to see you through
Fall into His open arms
Bring Christ your broken heart
Bring Christ your broken heart

If you've prayed for the sun to shine
Only to watch it rain
And if you find you're weary from the struggle
Don't think you can try again
When love is just an empty word
That echoes through the canyons of your soul
And you wonder just how long you'll feel this way
Will you have the strength to hold on one more day

There is One who hears you and who understands
Place your wounded soul into His nail-scarred hands.

GIVE ME THY HEART
"Give Me thy heart" says the Father above,
No gift so precious to Him as our love;
Softly He whispers, wherever thou art,
"Gratefully trust Me and give Me thy heart."

"Give Me thy heart," says the Saviour of men,
Calling in mercy again and again;
"Turn now from sin and from evil depart,
Have I not died for thee? Give Me thy heart."

"Give Me thy heart," says the Spirit devine,
"All that thou hast to My keeping resign;
Grace more abounding is mine to impart,
Make full surrender and give me thy heart."

Eliza Edmunds Hewitt (no relation)
From the book "When I'm On My Knees- Devotional Thoughts on Prayer for Women"
by Anita Corrine Donihue.