BIG changes

I think I have mentioned that I take a while to process things from time to time.

It's tricky for me - cause I have things churning around in my head that I think about,
but I have this crazy idea that I need to figure it all out before I talk about it.

My friend, Heather Hendrick is great at putting her feelings right on out there..........
for the world to see
all raw and sometimes ugly
I think she's cool for doing it
I'm still too worried that someone will think I have lost my mind
(which is crazy, cause some people think that anyway)

SO...........usually, I have one good friend that I bounce things around with.
crazy thoughts
insane ideas
fits of rage
ugly, mean things
and then acceptance into the path that I am moving in

In San Diego, that person was my sista from another mista Angel Stoner

Angel would:
give advice if needed
tell me I was right, if needed
tell me I was wrong, if needed
or just listen

Since moving to Guam - poor Sam has got the ear-full
no transition time..........just WHAM!
this is where I am at
and it has NOT been pretty

The big change has been coming since the earthquake in Haiti on January 12th, 2010

I felt like I wasn't doing what I had been called to do

I have always had a passion and a heart for adoption

for children

I always thought that "one day" Mike and I might end up in Haiti with a big house full of extra kids

It made me furious to have to move to Guam -
because I was getting farther away from Haiti, where I was supposed to be.

Then I started this bible study (click to watch)

What if..........

my plan is not God's plan?

What if.........

he called me to do something,
and I didn't do it
because it wasn't in the right place according to my ideas?

What if.........

God wants Mike and I to care for children HERE
in Guam?

If you feel like you know what God wants you to do
but the details aren't working out
If you can't understand why it is taking so long
for everything to come together
I encourage you to order this Bible Study

Ask someone to do it with you
to hold you accountable
to ask you the hard questions
and then spend time in prayer

Mike and I are starting the paperwork to become foster parents here on Guam.
We ask for your prayers
Doing what God wants us to do
is not always easy
But it's always right

Please pray that we can show God's love,
in a real and practical way,
to a child (or children)
that need to feel his love so desperately

to children that have never been loved
in the way that God intended

Mia update

Here is Mia's nice dog bed

Here is Mia while Michael is at school

Smack talk is not taken lightly

Some of you may remember my post after the Padres season ended. 
Basically, I am a tomboy I guess.

I really, really, love sports.

Especially my Padres, and also, Auburn football.

I have found over the years as a Navy wife, that most women DO NOT share my love of sports.**
And that most men don't know what to do with it. 

Maybe they find it odd talking sports with a chick........I don't know.

But it somehow makes me a target for teasing.

I have such a love for my teams, that I don't take smack talk lightly.

It really annoys me - honestly, a lot.......and somehow, this makes the target bigger.

But I have satisfaction in Auburn's 13-0 record.........

and.........


these...........


photos..............

(authors note:  if you live in Guam and you recgonize this office - these photos can not be used against me.

and consider yourself warned if you want to SMACK TALK any DUCK mess.......I can get you)

WAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRR  EAGLE!!!!!!!!

footnote:

**There are exceptions to this rule of course.  A higher percentage of women from the south understand the love of college football.  And I had a good group of Padres loyals that were women in San Diego.

Swimmer update

We are so proud of Zion and his progress with swimming.
He is continuing to improve in a lot of ways.
His endurance is certainly greater.

He is swimming for 1 1/2 hours each Tuesday and Thursday.
When he started, he was so tired after swimming that he would be half asleep in the van before we got home.
Now he is swimming strong throughout the entire practice.

He is also improving on his kick and stroke / form.  

Michael is swimming also, (for exercise purposes between soccer seasons)

He doesn't love swimming, but he is pretty good at it.

Since most of the islanders are not very tall,

they look at Michael with wide-eyes and get excited about those long arms and legs.

It's funny to me, because Michael is so very "Eyeore" about the whole thing!

December Daily

Some of you may have read my Thanksgiving post last week here

and wondered about The December Daily
So, just click those words and it'll take you to the "get started" place.

For the Thornton's December Daily - visit by clicking here
Yeah, I know, it's not as SCRAPPY as Ali Edwards

It's a blog

But..........I hope to transfer the ideas and photos to a scrapbook,
(before I die)

I know the Christmas season is busy, so check in when you can.
and don't forget to jot down your own treasures this Christmas season.

Merry Christmas!!!

Just Shameless Bragging..........

Yesterday I posted two photos of my Christmas trees and gave a shout-out to my cousin who sent me photo tips for that Christmas glow. 

So.........I have to add, 
I have super, cool relatives!!

I mean, seriously........

Check out some of these photos
by my cousin Wes Craft, the photographer (*mentioned above)

And click this link
for my cousin, Amanda Duke Brown, the artist

and did I mention that another cousin, Scott Garrison
published a book recently?
Check it out here


Although I don't see my extended family often,
I love them all and I am so very proud of their accomplishments!

Last but not least.........we are all such a very good-looking bunch!  :)

Scott, the author

left - my mom's brother, Uncle Rod
Aunt Becky in pink
Amanda (artist)  and her hubby Chris
smack middle, Lydia
(this is an old picture, Lydia is married now with a new baby!)

left to right
Ben and Rachel
Reni and Ellis
(Rachel and Ellis are siblings and NEW parents)
This photo was taken last Christmas



My mom, (right) and her siblings
Aunt Ramona
Uncle Rod



more Christmas........

In San Diego, we had a two story house.

So.........I had a Christmas tree upstairs and one downstairs.

This year, they are side by side in the living room.

Am I crazy?

Some would say yes.

But.........the "white" tree is "MY" tree with matching ornaments and such.

And the tree with colored lights is the "BOY" tree with all their hand-made ornaments from their younger days. 

Both are very important, so I couldn't choice one over the other.  We decorated the boys tree last Monday.  Here are a few snapshots. 

The white tree

the boys' tree

(*special thanks to my photographer cousin, Wes Craft for the tips on capturing the GLOW of the Christmas tree!)