Thornton Mom

We did end up with another snow week.  In the last 2 weeks my kids have gone to one and a half days of school. This week the snow was beautiful!! We had a blast playing outside with family and friends.  We made forts, went sleading, had hot chocolate, it was a blast. I am so grateful for my Patriarchal Blessing.  It gives me such peace and comfort.  I know that my Heavenly Father loves me.  He gives me reassurance and knowledge to face the challenges I have.  I am eternally grateful for His continuing love and support.

About a week ago we got snow.  John Derek was the first one up that morning, he skipped breakfast, got dressed and went outside to play.  And play he did.  The cul-de-sac/street behind our house turns into the neighborhood sledding hill.  They were all having a blast.  Just as I started to get ready to go out and join the family (after getting each one ready to go) John Derek came in.  He had gone down the hill on a saucer and got his foot caught in a drain and then yanked out as he continued to slide.  We iced it for a while but as soon as he heard his friends outside wanting to play he was off.  A few minutes later he came in complaining again. So we took him off his feet and into the doctor for an x-ray. No broken bones but a possible injured ligament.  He was put in a splint and on crutches for a week. With the possibility of a boot for a month and maybe even surgery. Needless to say he was not excited.  But he was so blessed....

I woke my kids up for scripture study and 3 min. later the phone rings.  School has been canceled because of snow.  Derek is out of town until late tonight and we are stuck at home again. I ended up taking Michael in for a shot of antibiotics because he has had an ear infection for about 4 weeks.  The roads are snowy but we made it home safe.  Dreams of playing in the snow with my kids are shattered when my stomach starts to hurt and I have to lay down.  Oh how I wish Derek were home.  I take a nap and Elizabeth takes charge.  She cleans the kitchen and keeps everyone happy.  I get a notification that Derek's plane is delayed.  He sends me a text that he will try to get an earlier flight if they get out of meetings early and will call me once his phone is charged.  Oh, how I wish he were home. We turn on a movie and Derek calls.  The plane is delayed an hour and a half.  It is nice to hear his voice.  He asks if he c...

Wow, I was so impressed this morning when I logged into my account and saw a note from Google stating that "On March 23rd, Blogger will no longer allow certain sexually explicit content. Learn more here ."  Way to take a stand in such a wicked world.  I am so grateful to them for helping fight the evil all around us. For Family Home Evening Samantha had us act out the story, "Daniel in the Lion's Den."  It was a lot of fun.  Daddy was Daniel, Maddie a 'baby lion,' Elizabeth the head wise man, Me her minion, JD was the king, and Samantha was the Narrator/Angel.  We had a lot of fun. I am continuing to read my patriarchal blessing.  How grateful I am for it.  I am reminded how much the Lord loves me.  I am amazed that some of the things I have been worried about lately are talked about in my blessing and it gives me that peace and knowledge that it will all work out. 

Last night I prayed for strength and patience to help me with one of my childreen.  I had thoughs of why the Lord had sent this child to me and wondered if another parent wouldn't have been more suitable, had more time and was more empathetic.  Then the Lord let me know that I was chosen to be the mother of this child.  He knew I could do it.  This gave me the peace and calm I needed.  It was nice to feel His confidence in me.  I am truly blessed. My niece opened her mission call last night.  She is going to Peru.  We are so excited for her.

Samantha has a love for Beanie Boo's.  Samantha loves to collect things and to get every single one.  We keep finding new places that sell them but she ususally owns all of them.  She carries them around wherever she goes.  They give her a sence of security and love. "Make your Father in Heaven your personal friend.  Love Him, pray to Him.  He is interested in every facet of your life.  No problem is too small for Him to take an interest in." These lines from my Patriarchal Blessing get me through some of my tough days.  The fact that Heavenly Father is interested in my life even the small things is so comforting.  Satan will try to tell me that I should not pray about certain things but then I am graciously reminded of these lines and I begin to pray.  How sweet that there is someone who listens to me no matter what I am concerned about.  I am so blessed to be part of this gospel and truth.

Monday evening a storm came in.  The kids were released from school 2 hours early.  They have not been to school since.  The temperatures dropped after it snowed that evening and have not been able to melt the snow.  Our county is notorious for closing school if the the roads have even a slight amount of snow/ice on them.   The kids loved Tuesday, they went sledding.  Derek's work was canceled so he got to get out there with them.  We made cookies, invited friends over and had hot chocholate.  John Derek did hurt his foot (more on that later) but we still all had fun.   Samantha has an amazing ability to engage children, especially her younger brother and sister.  We went to a basketball game at church for Elizabeth.  Samantha swooped the younger two up, took them into the nursery and engaged them in "school" for an hour.  They followed her every instruction.  She has an amazing talent.  I am excited to se...

For our family activity this week, as a reward for filling the jewel jar we played Minute to Winit.  It was a blast. I had so much fun seeing my family be goofy and laugh.  Everyone's favorite part was a spontaneous marshmallow war that erupted when we were trying to throw marshmallows into our partner's mouth.  This was fun and simple.  I defiantly think we will need to do this again. The Virtue of Kindness Joseph B. Wirthlin, April 2005 General Conference "When we are filled with kindness, we are not judgmental. The Savior taught, “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.”" I need to follow the Savior and be more kind. Especially in my own home. How am I goin...

Depression is still rearing his ugly head.  It has been almost a week.  I feel overwhelmed and frustrated.  I have such a sweet husband who is so patient and understanding and who would love to cure me of this trial.  Today I resolved to focus on two things, exercise and scripture reading.  I am hoping this will help me overcome the black dog of depression. I took a lovely walk today and wished I had brought my good camera.  The Lord really made everything so beautiful and the sun was just right to make all the frost glitter and shimmer in its light.  Here are a few pictures I took with my camera. Book of Mormon, Alma 10:14-15 "14  Now it was those men who sought to destroy them, who were lawyers, who were hired or appointed by the people to administer the law at their times of trials, or at the trials of the crimes of the people before the judges. 15  Now these lawyers were learned in all the arts ...

Maddie lost her first top tooth.  She is so excited.  She is fun to watch as she talks with this big void in her teeth.  Sometimes I wish she wouldn't grow up so fast. So the three oldest are finally back in piano.  We have had a lot of different teachers over the past couple of years and I think this one is here to stay.  She is great.  Elizabeth sat down to practice for the first time in almost a year.  When I came in after her I found all the Disney Princesses lining the piano.  It is good to see my children not growing up so fast.  I love it!! “Awake My Soul!”: Dealing Firmly with Depression By Steve Gilliland 1. Consider how you’re looking at the world. You may think everything is going wrong, but usually a lot is going right, too. Are you being rational? Match your picture against reality. Get help doing this; see your bishop...

I am so proud of my Elizabeth.  She handed me a permission slip to sign for a movie her class is showing.  I looked the movie up and did not feel it was appropriate.  I knew this day would come.  That I would be faced with telling her that I was not going to sign the paper.  I knew it wasn't a matter of if as of when.  I pulled Elizabeth aside and asked her opinion.  I explained what was wrong with the movie and before I could finish she said, "I don't want to watch that movie."  I explained what wold happen, that she would have to go do some work on her own but she stood firm.  It is moments like this that I fell like the  hard work and difficulties of being a mom really get paid off. Book of Mormon, Alma 10:11 "11  For behold, he hath blessed mine house, he hath blessed me, and my women, and my children, and my father and my kinsfolk; yea, even all my kind...

My children are required to do chores.  Sometimes this goes over very well and other times not so well.  John Derek of late has had a difficult time.  One day he was asked to clean off the table.  He refused saying it was too hard.  He said, "Mom I will do anything except that."  Thinking I was really smart I told him if he cleaned the garage I would clean off the table.  Well, he accepted the challenge and began cleaning the garage.  After a few minuets I came out and found these piles of shoes.  He had found a way to make putting shoes away fun.  When he found a pair he put them together and added them to his tower.  Amazing . . . Over the weekend he and Daddy went camping with the scouts.  They shot clay ducks.  He thought this was the coolest thing and kept aything that was left over for his own personal treasures.  When I walked into his room this morning this is what I found.  What a cute kid!! ...

Yesterday I couldn't go to my regular Yoga class so instead I found an online video with yoga for children and did it with Michael and Samantha.  Samantha did great and worked hard.  Michael would do it for a few minutes and then get board.  Sometimes he would climb on me and say "hosy" (horse) and other times I would put him into a pose.  When Maddie had to exercises for her 30 min. Samantha suggested the video and I watched as the two girls did yoga together.  The last 3 minutes when they were relaxing I had Samantha, Maddie, and John Derek all sitting cris cross apple sauce with their hands at their heart.  I took a mental picture as I watched my children doing something I like to do and enjoying it. This morning Michael kept coming to me "go gut."  I would as if he was saying go gurt (a yogurt that I give him) and he would reply no and repeat, "go gut" again.  Finally he went and got my yoga mat, brought it to me and said, "go gut....

My nephew left on his mission almost a week ago.  We missed his farewell talk and saying goodbye because of sicknesses.  I am so proud of him and the decision he has made.  My little John Derek really looks up to his cousin and I am so grateful that he  has such a wonderful role model to follow after.  John Derek really wasn't excited about him leaving so we asked if John Derek could sleep over one more time.  John Derek loved it.  He got to hang out with two of his favorite cousins and really felt like he was as big as they were.  What a blessing to be surrounded by such wonderful examples of truth and righteousness. Recently my sister sent me a link to a talk she read.  As I read the talk this morning I was reminded about what I have been learning about the atonement.  How it is more than just a way to be forgiven of our sins but even more so a way to live in this world.  Here are some of my favorite quotes from this talk: ...

Well it's been a while.  We have had a whirlwind of fun and adventure as we journied to Utah and then back to North Carolina.  Just as we were about to aproach normalcy with school starting and schedules working we got sick.  Derek ended up with pnumonia, I had a cold, Michael and Elizabeth contracted hand, foot, and mouth disease, and Michael also ended up with ear infections in both ears.  Needless to say things have not been normal. But things are so good.  Derek has a great job that he can take sick days with, the kids are getting back into the swing of school, I am trying to get into a work out rhythm, we were blessed to have my sister come down and take care of all of us this weekend.  It made getting back to normal so much easier.  Michael is getting better, we are having such a blast seeing him get well and returning to the cute boy he is.  Yesterday, as I was showing my sister some of my favorite crochet patterns on Pintrest, Michae...