Prioritizing Family - Courtney and Trevor Thornton 2025

Connor Pay Year 2

Former BYU center Connor Pay is back for year two of his decade-long journey — and what a year it's been. From the highs of NFL mini camps with the Seattle Seahawks and Las Vegas Raiders, to an unexpected pivot into college coaching and international entrepreneurship, Connor's story is proof that God's plan is almost never the plan you made. In this episode: * The NFL dream — and what actually happened. Connor breaks down the brutal reality of life as an undrafted free agent: the bidding wars that went dark, the piece of paper in his locker, the flights that got canceled, and why not getting preseason film can end a career before it starts. * Coaching at BYU. How a conversation with head coach Kalani Sitake turned into a full-time staff position — and why Connor never saw it coming. * The We Are One Foundation. Connor is heading to Tonga in June to open an employment center for 130 remote workers, running in partnership with BYU Pathway. He's the VP of the foundation and co-founder of the affiliated company alongside Isaiah Kafue. * NIL, the transfer portal, and real talk about money. Connor lived on both sides of the NIL era and is now coaching guys through it. His message: you may never make this much money again — invest now. * Elder Rasband. A two-and-a-half-hour conversation about honesty, NIL, and revelation — leading to a friendship that ended with an apostle sealing Connor and his new wife Mallory in the temple. * Mallory. She DM'd him on Instagram. He responded. They got married in February. Two months in, he's already the one filling up her water bottle before bed. * D&C 88:73 and a phone password that finally made sense. One of the most quietly powerful "hand of the Lord" stories you'll hear — seven years in the making. * How to receive revelation — what Elder Rasband taught Connor's younger brother Austin that applies to all of us. Links: * Track your own decade: adecadenevertobeforgotten.com [https://adecadenevertobeforgotten.com/] — use the daily journal to answer a new question every day and watch your perspective change over the years * The app: adntbf.com [https://adntbf.com/] Want to follow Connor's journey? Tune in again next year — and next time, Mallory's joining too.

Faith and Big Decisions: Year 2 with Savannah Dean

In this episode of A Decade Never To Be Forgotten, Jethro catches up with Savannah one year after her mission. A lot has changed—she got married to her high school sweetheart Alec after reconnecting over the summer, and they moved fast with intention and spiritual confirmation. Topics covered: * How Savannah and Alec reconnected after their missions and decided to get married within months * Finding spiritual confirmation through peace rather than dramatic revelation * Maintaining good habits from missionary life in the "real world" * The importance of regular temple attendance and finding something new each visit * Early marriage adjustments (including learning to cook!) * Switching from nursing to Communication Disorders/Speech Language Pathology * Running her first marathon with minimal training—and losing four toenails * Looking ahead to graduate school and using her spiritual gift of loving people in her future career

Cali Year 2!

In this annual father-daughter conversation, Jethro D. Jones sits down with his daughter Cali to reflect on 2024 and look ahead to an exciting 2025. Cali shares her spiritual growth, her unique senior year with only three classes, her decision to serve a mission, and her travels to Germany. Key Topics Discussed: Spiritual Growth & Scripture Study * Cali's deep dive into Doctrine & Covenants study * Reading the Book of Mormon for the 9th time * Weekly temple attendance as a personal commitment * Making Jesus Christ a priority, not just a goal Senior Year & Time Management * Taking only 3 classes (English, Art, and Calculus) * Learning Parkinson's Law firsthand * Using free time for temple visits, walks with mom, and work * Earning the Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish Mission Decision * Announcement of serving a mission starting August 2025 * How the age change for sister missionaries influenced her decision * Feeling spiritually prepared and at peace with the choice * Hopes to serve internationally and learn a new language Germany Trip Highlights * Traveling with dad and staying with his mission friend's family * Running 14 miles through a former coal mine * Visiting Berlin, the Berlin Wall, and Prague * Experiencing authentic German culture (including pasta with watered-down ketchup) Looking Ahead * Monthly challenges leading up to the mission (No Spend January, meditation in February) * Track season and the steeplechase * Running Katya's fundraiser for Shriners Hospital * Graduating high school and trip to Scotland with mom * Forest Frank concert with sister Eloise Memorable Quotes: * "Last year I wanted to make Him a priority, but this year He is a priority." * "I'm the most ready person out there—I'm not gonna be shy about that." * "Being sad about it isn't really gonna change anything." Resources Mentioned: * A Decade Never to Be Forgotten journaling app: adecadenevertobeforgotten.com * Come Follow Me study program * Shriners Hospital fundraiser

Faith, Family, and Flow: Lessons from Year Two with Staci and Jethro

Introduction: Jethro and Staci reflect on the second year of their decade-long journey, setting the stage for a candid and insightful conversation. Lightning Round: Quick-fire questions about marriage, parenting, and personal growth, including communication, handling trials, and surprising lessons as parents. Family Traditions & Spiritual Practices: The importance of family vacations, daily prayer, and integrating spiritual habits into everyday life. Gratitude & Inspiration in Trials: Finding gratitude and peace during difficult times, and sharing recent books and talks that have inspired personal growth. Celebrating Small Wins: The value of acknowledging and celebrating achievements as a family, and how goal-setting and support foster a positive environment. What We Wish People Would Ask: Honest reflections on the questions they wish others would ask about their journey, and the joy found in growth and resilience. Trusting in the Lord Through Financial Struggles: Stories of faith, miracles, and provision during financial challenges, and the lessons learned from budgeting and trusting in divine help. The Doctoral Journey: Navigating the ups and downs of pursuing a doctorate, including closed doors, unexpected opportunities, and the importance of perseverance. When It's Right, It Flows: Recognizing moments of alignment and peace when following the right path, even amidst effort and uncertainty. Faith Without Works: The necessity of taking action, using agency, and working in partnership with faith to achieve goals and receive guidance. Milestones vs. Identity: Shifting focus from external achievements to embracing divine identity and finding peace beyond milestones. A Decade of Growth and Change: Reflections on personal and family growth, preparing children for independence, and the evolving nature of goals and expectations. Preparing Kids for Life: Teaching responsibility, life skills, and spiritual habits to children, and celebrating their unique paths and strengths. Generational Blessings & Spiritual Legacy: The impact of family heritage, faith traditions, and the compounding effect of generational efforts on spiritual growth. Closing Thoughts: Looking ahead to the coming year with optimism, gratitude, and a commitment to continued growth and discovery. Key Themes: Faith, family, resilience, personal growth, spiritual practices, parenting, financial stewardship, and the power of tradition and legacy. Takeaway: Jethro and Staci share a heartfelt, honest look at the challenges and blessings of their journey, offering wisdom and encouragement for anyone navigating their own decade of change.

Prioritizing Family - Courtney and Trevor Thornton 2025

In this episode, we catch up with Courtney and her husband Trevor Thornton for their second-year interview. The conversation starts with an introduction to Trevor and explores the couple's journey, including their decision to homeschool their children and prioritize family. They delve into the creation of a multi-year journal designed to help users reflect on their lives over a decade and how this has impacted their own experiences. Courtney opens up about how the loss of their daughter, Presley, has influenced their family priorities and spiritual growth. They also talk about their recent trip to Alaska and how it reinforced their appreciation for nature and God's creations. The Thorntons share their ongoing project of converting their annual blanket drive into a non-profit organization, aiming to support more NICUs and make a broader impact. They conclude with a discussion on their current church callings and their hopes for maintaining a strong family focus over the next decade. 01:35 Meet Trevor: Courtney's Husband 02:49 Trevor's Career Journey 04:07 Reflecting on Last Year's Interview 04:56 The Importance of Family 07:08 Homeschooling Challenges and Insights 09:55 Incorporating Real-Life Learning 17:13 Balancing Roles: Teacher and Parent 20:41 Spiritual Guidance in Homeschooling 34:27 The Impact of Losing Presley 43:46 Future Plans: Nonprofit Organization 48:33 Local Hospital Support and Blanket Donations 50:04 Reflecting on the Impact of Blanket Donations 51:13 Debating the Future of the Blanket Drive 51:47 The Emotional Significance of the Blanket Drive 53:13 The Purpose Behind the Blanket Drive 54:04 Balancing Personal Grief and Helping Others 54:51 The Decision to Continue the Blanket Drive 56:40 The Role of Faith and Divine Timing 01:00:51 Starting a Nonprofit: Steps and Motivation 01:05:23 The Importance of Taking Action 01:14:41 Family Trip to Alaska 01:17:26 Experiencing Spiritual Moments on the Cruise 01:20:05 Appreciating Nature and God's Creations 01:25:03 Future Priorities and Family Focus 01:28:20 Current Callings and Final Thoughts