Thornton Mom

Pilot Maddie and Co-Pilot Michael We went to the park the other day.  It was nice outside and we all needed some fresh air.  It was fun to see my darlings playing with each other, helping each other (Samantha helped Maddie climb to the top of the "spider web,") and chasing "helicopters" as they flew down from the sky.  It was nice to have fun with my children. Chasing Helicopters JD at the top of the web. Samantha helped Maddie to the top.  What a nice sister. The Infinite Atonement (Illustrated Edition) , by Tad R. Callister Pg. 327--"There may be yet another reason for advocacy, particularly Christ's: it brings about a spiritual bonding between Christ and his children that cannot be achieved in any other way.  It is the thread that knits our hearts and souls together.  Who among us could watch him plead our case with fervent passion, listen to him rehears the grueling events of Gethsemane, hear his expressions of unbridle...

 Happy Thanksgiving!!  We had a wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday.  We started with a drizzly 5K.  Everyone walked and our cousins even joined us.  It was fun to accomplish this together.  We spent the afternoon with family eating, laughing and enjoying Michael's birthday.  During the 5K Michael becaome quite attatched to his uncle.  When it was time to sing "Happy Birthday" he left my lap and sat with his uncle.  He was delighted to have everyone sing to him. I am so grateful to have married into such a wonderful family.  I feel at home with them and love to be around them.  They are strong in the gospel and teach me and encourage my children.  What great examples they are and how blessed I am. Book of Mormon, Alma 5:60 "And now I say unto you that the good shepherd doth call after you; and if you will hearken unto his voice he will bring you into h...

   I love seeing my little boy sleep!  It is the sweetest thing. And when his dad wakes up and bring him into bed because he knows I am so tired and then the two of them fall asleep I am even more in love with them. The Infinite Atonement (Illustrated Edition) , by Tad R. Callister pg. 324- - Elder Callister relates a story told by Elder Packer of a man who went into debt but when the debt became due the debtor had no money to pay.  The creditor demanded justice and the debtor begged for mercy.  Elder Callister quotes: "The debtor had a friend.  He knew the debtor well.  He knew him to be shorsigthed.  He though him foolish to have gotten himself into such a predicament.  Nevertheless, he wanted to help because he loved him."  Elder Packer goes on to say that the friend became the mediator, payed the debt to satisfy justice and showed mercy. What I found so interesting was the line "He thought him foolish to have gotte...

JD's Buddies  Recently I was able to go on a field trip with John Derek.  It was fun to spend time with him.  As I watched him interact with the people around him I was amazed to see how much influence he has.  Everyone wanted to be with John Derek.  If he switched to something else they would switch.  If he said to move on they moved on.  I love seeing him be a leader instead of a follower.  Butterflies by John Derek When he first was in Kindergarten he was a follower and the people he followed were not good examples.  The Lord told me to hold him back a year, this put him as the oldest in his class and he shines.  He is a leader, he is still kind and concerned about others.  Viewing Water Creatures We loved the field trip, he took pictures of butterflies and even got to look at different creatures that live in wetlands.  We concluded with Daddy joining us for lunch.  It was a delight to be with my buddy. ...

Well my last post about the Refiners Fire was all too true.  Elizabeth is really feeling the heat as she is on this basketball team.  It is pushing her further than she has ever gone.  Since I have experienced life I know she will come out of this and learn something from it, but she cannot see that.  And I understand because there are some lessons in life we can only  learn through our own experiences.  Being a parent has taught me more and more about God and the patience He has for us.  When I look at her and tell her that she will get through this and she doubts my words am reminded of the complaints I send Heavenward when things are going wrong.  I know my Father is telling me that I will come off conqueror but it is hard to know that without experience. So I guess I am grateful for my trials, and am very grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who will listen and will bring me peace.  I hope that with His help we can bring that peace t...

Sometimes I forget how therapeutic it is for me to write this blog.  I get turned around in the winds of life and loose sight of what gives me the help I need.  I sometimes justify why I am too busy to read scriptures, and that listening is good enough.  But then as I sit and write I hear the Lord speak to me, through the words in my mind.  I am energized, brightened, and given peace. It is amazing to me that we human beings so quickly forget what makes us truly happy.  The words of the Lord, exercise and fresh air, healthy nourishing foods, being in the company of loved ones.  I find myself too often thinking that watching one of my favorite movies, or eating chocolate, or just having a few minutes alone will bring me peace.  But the truth is that being with my husband, reading to my children, reading the scriptures, writing in my journal, exercising regularly, and eating God made food is what nourishes my soul and body. In this video, the woman s...

Derek and I chaperone the Halloween Dance at Church Look at all those wrapers!! My princess of organization!! Sorting candy, building towers and enjoying candy! Book of Mormon, Alma 1:26-28 "26  And when the priests left their labor to impart the word of God unto the people, the people also left their labors to hear the word of God. And when the priest had imparted unto them the word of God they all returned again diligently unto their labors; and the priest, not esteeming himself above his hearers, for the preacher was no better than the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than the learner; and thus they were all equal, and they did all labor, every man according to his strength. 27  And they did impart of their substance, every man according to that which he had, to the poor, and the needy, and the sick, and the afflicted; and they did not wear costly apparel, yet they were neat and comely. 28  And...

One of my favorite books is King Bidgood's in the Bathtub by Audrey Wood & Don Wood.  I have loved it ever since my mother introduced it to us years ago.  Naturally I introduced it into my own home and it has become a family favorite. Sunday morning we were getting ready for church and Maddison was in the bathtub.  I told her it was time to get out but she said, "I think I will stay in here all day." I replied, "Help, Help called the Mom when the sun shone bright Maddie's in the bathtub and she won't get out.  Oh, who knows what to do?" Maddie laughed and replied, "I do cried the bishop when the sun shown bright, get out it's time to go to Church." Maddie continued, "come in cried Maddie with a Church, Church, Church, today we Church in the tub." At this we broke out laughing.  Maddie kept going, "Help, Helped cried the Mommy when the sun sank low.  Maddie's in the bathtub and she won't ge...

I ran into a woman today who's husband is a bishop.  We started talking about being the wife of a bishop, the ups, the downs, the how do you?, the what do you do?, it was good.  Then she caught me off guard when she said, "but don't you think the blessings outweigh the difficulty?"  I decided that I needed to write down what blessings I am receiving while my husband is in this calling: The biggest thing I have seen in myself is my patience incerase.  Now I still loose it from time to time, but I can tell it is not as much, that when things happen my patience is so much greater, I don't react with so much harshness but with patience and love.  Even when I am in the middle of something that should make me so upset I stand in awe about how well I am handeling the situation and know that is a gift from Heavenly Father. We felt the need to involve our children in several afterschool activities.  One day I realized that I would need to be 3 places on Tuesda...

A few days ago I was feeling burdened by the role of mother.  I was feeling more like a maid/cook/caretaker and not someone who my children valued.  A few hours later Samantha, John Derek, and Maddie came in with several roses that they had picked off our rose bush and gave them to me and told me that they loved me and thanked me for being such a good mom.  It was the pick me up I needed.  God has so many tender mercies, He lets me know He is listening, that He cares and that I have value to Him. Michael was fussy a few days ago and would want to sit with me and read a story.  3 days in a row he fell asleep on my lap.  He never does this and it was so sweet to cuddle and sing my little boy to sleep. Derek got up this morning and brought Michael into our bed.  I had not even heard him cry.  It was cute to wake up to them both sleeping soundly.  What a sweet husband I have. "Mothers, cherish that role that is so uniquely yours a...

Daddy, Michael and Maddie Maddie as Elsa, she threw her cape like that at every house we went to.  She wanted to make sure they knew who she was. John Derek as a bat who plays soccer. Michael as a little monster, but with that smile you would never think that.  So Cute!! Elizabeth as our beautiful Cookie Monster (I have never seen Cookie Monster look so good.) Samantha as a TY inc. Angel Bear Ready to take the neighborhood by storm. We had so much fun trick or treating.  Michael would go to a house collect his candy (usually about 10 feet behind his sisters) then get to the end of the driveway and shout "Go."  Then he would run as fast as his little legs could carry him to the next home.  It was the cutest thing.   I have really been trying to follow the Spirit and as I look back on this Halloween I am amazed at how involved the Lord was in getting the costumes and for the right price. Elizabeth really wanted to b...

Elizabeth just finished her first season playing Volleyball for Durant Middle School, Go Dolphins!! Samantha wrote this poem about if she were in charge of the world.  I love reading my kids work and getting a clearer gimps of who they are.  Like, canceling mushrooms, permanent markers, candy bar would be a vegetable and if a person did not brush their hair they could still be allowed to be in charge of the world. “Lord, Is It I?” By President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, October 2014 General Conference "well-being. If our weaknesses and shortcomings remain obscured in the shadows, then the redeeming power of the Savior cannot heal them and make them strengths. Ironically, our blindness toward our human weaknesses will also make us blind to the divine potential that our Father yearns to nurture within ...