Although John terHorst was not "born" to us, he and his family are loved as a part of our family. His wife is a quiet, faithful woman who has diligently taught her children to "make good choices". She doesn't yell and berate, criticize and nag the children. She simply asks them if they are making good choices or reminds them to think about who they are. John backs her up and does the same with them. This photo was taken a couple of years ago but the children are all still beautiful inside and out.
Jeremy is very intelligent. He will be able to be whatever he decides he wants to be. Sometimes his cleverness can be frustrating to anyone who is responsible for him. He is very much like his father in that way. But Victoria is persistently requiring responsibility of him. Since Ammon's death, he has become "the man of the house". In Jeremy's case, that is a good thing. Jeremy likes to do adult things, despite his tender age of 6. Victoria asks him to retrieve something or help his siblings, and, for the most part, he does it. His prayers are very real and appropriate.
Martin is now 10 years old. This picture of him with his dog, Mystic, is a little small because Angela e-mailed it to us and I haven't "fixed" it, if I even can. Recently when we were at their house, Martin plopped down on the couch next to me with a Scripture Reader and announced he was going to read to me. I was a little surprised and asked why he wanted to do that. He simply said, "Because I want to play the computer". Angela has made a rule that when the children want to play on the computer, they have to read scriptures first. For now, the scripture reading may be just a means to an end. But some of what they read is bound to get through to them and be an influence in their lives. What a great way to start a good habit!
Louisa had her 6th birthday party when she was here this past summer. Susanne painstakingly helped her to write thank-you notes to all who came and gave her gifts. Susanne encourages her children to write thank-you notes and express gratitude and concern verbally or written to everyone in their sphere of influence. James regularly read scriptures to all of the children.
Aaron is a very agile, clever, but sweet boy. He is passionate in loving others and I love his exhuberant hugs. Lisa has taught him to say "Yes, ma'am" or "Yes, sir" and to use all the appropriate polite language, please, thank you, etc. Simply saying the right thing often puts him in the proper attitude of respect toward others, especially authority figures. He watches out for his baby sister and even tries to "take care of" his mother, an opportunity he has had a lot with his father's frequent prolonged deployments.
I am so grateful, and very proud, for the way my children are raising their children. I am reminded of the quote in the book of Proverbs- "Train up a child in the way they should go and when they are old they will not depart from it." I'm sure there are days in each of these families when the parents wonder if the children are ever going to "get it"! But they are certainly being taught the right things and, for the most part, they are really pleasant to be around. Thank you to all my children for being persistent in teaching good things to my posterity.
Jeremy is very intelligent. He will be able to be whatever he decides he wants to be. Sometimes his cleverness can be frustrating to anyone who is responsible for him. He is very much like his father in that way. But Victoria is persistently requiring responsibility of him. Since Ammon's death, he has become "the man of the house". In Jeremy's case, that is a good thing. Jeremy likes to do adult things, despite his tender age of 6. Victoria asks him to retrieve something or help his siblings, and, for the most part, he does it. His prayers are very real and appropriate.
Martin is now 10 years old. This picture of him with his dog, Mystic, is a little small because Angela e-mailed it to us and I haven't "fixed" it, if I even can. Recently when we were at their house, Martin plopped down on the couch next to me with a Scripture Reader and announced he was going to read to me. I was a little surprised and asked why he wanted to do that. He simply said, "Because I want to play the computer". Angela has made a rule that when the children want to play on the computer, they have to read scriptures first. For now, the scripture reading may be just a means to an end. But some of what they read is bound to get through to them and be an influence in their lives. What a great way to start a good habit!
Louisa had her 6th birthday party when she was here this past summer. Susanne painstakingly helped her to write thank-you notes to all who came and gave her gifts. Susanne encourages her children to write thank-you notes and express gratitude and concern verbally or written to everyone in their sphere of influence. James regularly read scriptures to all of the children.
Aaron is a very agile, clever, but sweet boy. He is passionate in loving others and I love his exhuberant hugs. Lisa has taught him to say "Yes, ma'am" or "Yes, sir" and to use all the appropriate polite language, please, thank you, etc. Simply saying the right thing often puts him in the proper attitude of respect toward others, especially authority figures. He watches out for his baby sister and even tries to "take care of" his mother, an opportunity he has had a lot with his father's frequent prolonged deployments. 
I am so grateful, and very proud, for the way my children are raising their children. I am reminded of the quote in the book of Proverbs- "Train up a child in the way they should go and when they are old they will not depart from it." I'm sure there are days in each of these families when the parents wonder if the children are ever going to "get it"! But they are certainly being taught the right things and, for the most part, they are really pleasant to be around. Thank you to all my children for being persistent in teaching good things to my posterity.
1 comment:
Thanks Mom!!!! We couldn't have done it without you and Dad! Love ~ Angela
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