Hello friends and family
and Merry Christmas!

I'd like to share with you some highlights from this year:
In February we crashed our Suburban into another truck whose driver pulled out in front of us. This turned out for the good. First we (Bob and I) were fine- no children in the car and the man we hit was fine also. The Suburban was OLD and we needed a new vehicle anyways. We ended up getting more for the Suburban than we could have sold it for. So Bob bought us a Chevy van on ebay and we drove a rental car to Tampa, Florida to pick it up. We also bought our friend's, the Hamiltons, '92 Cadillac for Sarah (which we also used until be bought the van).

In July we drove the van across the country. We saw St. Louis, Rocky Mountain National Park, Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park on the way West. We saw Yosemite National Park with my dad (grandpa). It was also fun to visit Knotts Berry Farm and The Reagan Library with my brother Jon and his family. That was the main reason we went (to see my family) and we had a great time with everyone there.

In October Bob and I drove Sarah's Cadillac to Boca Raton for my 20 year high school reunion. It was great to see everyone and how they're doing, since mostly they're all doing great. Also I was struck by the other two great milestones in my life that happened the very same year:1984 was when I asked Christ to be the Lord of my life. 1984 was also when Bob and I began dating. We received the award for "the longest years married" and "most children" at my reunion.

Sarah (17), who is now a senior at Peach County High was doing a great job with everyone else when we were gone, getting them to soccer games, drum lessons and even church on Sunday. Sarah is preparing to go to college next year, where she hopes to keep playing soccer. She wants to become a nurse. In October she was also busy cleaning out our basement more thoroughly than I had done earlier this year. She was preparing for a birthday party for two of her friends who turned 18 the same week. They had fun.

Teddy (14) is in the ninth grade at Peach County High. Bob coached his soccer team this fall and Sarah helped out some along with playing for her traveling team. Teddy is taking drum lessons from a member of our church who is in the Air Force Band. He hopes to be in the Peach County High marching band next year. He is in the gifted program and doing very well at school.

Ian (11) is in the 5th grade at Byron Elementary and made it on the honor roll. Claire (8) is in 2nd grade and also received all As and one B (same as Ian). She has made great progress in her first year of "regular school". Ian played soccer in the fall and will play basketball this winter. When not playing sports or skating with Claire he loves video games! Claire has taken dance classes for the first time this year and is interested in trying gymnastics in the near future.

Lydia (4 in Jan.05) is in the older 3s & 4 yr old class at Byron Baptist Preschool and is also learning a lot. She already can almost write her name and has memorized a long Bible verse for Christmas. She loves Dora, Care Bears and everything purple.

I always start early thinking about what this letter will be about. I felt last years Christmas letter was my worst. Was it even what God wanted me to write? It wasn't until this October that I realized last year's letter made one friend think about how she was responding to her prodigal daughter. Perhaps it was the first step towards understanding true grace for her. I hope and pray so.

In October we began a series on "Extreme Love" at church. I also read the story of the prodigal over. (Luke 15). Then one Sunday morning, in his series on Love, my pastor did a sermon on it. The Prodigal Son story illustrates God's love very well. He started by saying that many people have a wrong view of God. I found another message online at www.new-life.net/prodigal.htm about God's love which said the same thing. Does God only love us based on our good works/performance? Then I heard yet another message on Christian radio. This was a series about Prodigals. It was a program called Family Life Today talking about "Forgiveness and unconditional love".

Do you think you're too great a sinner to come to God? Not so! His grace IS AMAZING. He even forgave me! The apostle Paul said, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst." (1 Timothy 1:15) In the book of Isaiah chapter 1 verse 18 it says "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool."

Is it time for you to return to the Father's loving arms?

With Love and blessings, The Storys: Bob, Susan, Sarah, Teddy, Ian, Claire & Lydia

Our web site: www.wondrous-story.com


Home Tonight
By Chris Rice

I've come to my senses
How did I get so far from home
The lies dissipating
Revealing I'm so alone
And I remember now how strong love can be
And I wonder how did I ever leave

Burn your fire on the altar
Leave a candle on the porch
I'm still too far away to see it
But I'm aching for its warmth
And I'm so tired and cold and dark and lonesome
But still I hear your song inside
So sing it louder if you want me home tonight
Sing it loud now, 'cause I'm comin' home tonight

This isn't the first time
I've wandered away from home before
You'd have every reason
To slam and dead-bolt the door
But I remember now how strong your love can be
And I wonder how you might welcome me

Burn your fire on the altar
Leave a candle on the porch
I'm still too far away to see it
But I'm aching for its warmth
And I'm so tired and cold and dark and lonesome
But still I hear your song inside
So sing it louder if you want me home tonight
Sing it loud now, 'cause I'm comin' home tonight

Into your arms, to my back yard
Where I used to play
How I miss the days...

So burn your fire on the altar
Leave a candle on the porch
I'm still too far away to see it
But I'm aching for its warmth
And I'm so tired and cold and dark and lonesome
But still I hear your song inside