Thornton Mom

Here are a couple of cute pictures of Michael sleeping.  I came into his room to get him up and he had used his book as a blanket. While we were at swim team he walked over to an empty patch of cement and laid down.  I guess he was tired.   Book of Mormon, Alma 34:21 "21  Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening." I pray to Him daily. It is such a blessing and comfort for me to know that He is there and that He cares and that He loves me. Many times Satan will try to convince me that I pray too much, that my little tiny problems are not what the Lord has time for. But then I read scriptures like this and I feel that I am doing exactly what He wants me to do. My patriarchal blessing says, "He is interested in every facet of your life. No problem is too small for Him to take an intere...

  Last night was John Derek's first Pinewood Derby.  Daddy and him made a car called "The Mobster."  I was so impressed with John Derek, his car did not perform very fast but he won the award for the most original.  He went around telling me and everyone else the rest of the night that he won the award for the most realistic car.  He was quite proud.   Book of Mormon, Alma 34:4 "4  Yea, even that ye would have so much faith as even to plant the word in your hearts, that ye may try the experiment of its goodness." I am amazed at how little God requires to start the process of faith and gaining a testimony. All you need is hope a desire.   Book of Mormon, Alma 34:16 "16  And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and en...

Derek and Michael on the "little boat"   We always have fun at the Lake.  We feel so blessed to be able to go up there whenever we want.  My inlaws are so kind to encourage us and to support us going there.     Derek has a lot on his plate.  It was so nice to see him relax up at the Lake.  I felt like his burdens were lifted for a little while and he was able to be himself and enjoy his time.  He deserves it.   Book of Mormon, Alma 33:20 "Now the reason they would not look is because they did not believe that it would heal them." Do I believe that He can heal me? Yes, I do. I believe that this depression can be healed and that I will no longer have to struggle with it. But I do not feel that that is His will for me. I keep feeling that I have to go through this depression in order to help others. That I ...

For Memorial Day weekend we went to the Lake.  We invited our cousins from Virginia to join us.  It was a blast.  We all played and had so much fun.  I took each of the cousins out on the Jet Ski and both of them said, "That was so AWESOME!!"  I am so glad to have family to hang out with.  What a joy.   A few weeks ago I taught a lesson in Relief Society on the Book of Mormon .  One of the Sister Missionaries made the comment that she has used other forms of scripture as well as conference talks in her scripture study but when she makes sure to read of of the Book of Mormon every day things run smoother and life is just a little bit better. I decided to take up this challenge.  I had gotten out of the habit of reading the Book of Mormon and instead was reading conference talks and so forth.  So I picked up where I had left off and began reading. I have been amazed at how smoother things have been lately.  I was insp...

Okay you ask, "Why do you have a picture of your sink?"  Let me tell you.  About 2 weeks ago I started a program called the Flylady .  It is a cleaning program but goes so much deeper than that.  It helps with my protectionism, shows me why I have been living like I do, fills in a lot of questions about myself, teaches me to accept me for who I am, to enjoy life, to not get angry at the little things . . . in other words, I really do like the program.  I feel like it is helping me to be a better person for me and my family. Well the Flylady's signature 1st step is to clean your sink, to make it shinny.  This you are supposed to do every night before you go to bed so that in the morning you are greeted with a clean sink.  And so for the past 2 weeks before I go to bed I have shined my sink.  Last night I was tired,  I had not slept well the night before, was not myself all day, had the kids help me clean up before dinner because they we...

Samantha at the pool Things have been going pretty good the last few days.  I am defiantly in my up swing.  It is nice to be on top for a little while.  It is nice to know I have a Heavenly Father who lifts my spirits and allows me peace to help rejuvenate myself.  What a kind and wonderful Father. Book of Mormon, Alma 30:40-41 "40  And now what evidence have ye that there is no God, or that Christ cometh not? I say unto you that ye have none, save it be your word only. 41  But, behold, I have all things as a testimony that these things are true; and ye also have all things as a testimony unto you that they are true; and will ye deny them? Believest thou that these things are true?" I think this is the coolest scripture. When we doubt and wonder if there is a God all we have to do is look around and see what we have, this ear...

Maddie with some of her friends. Swim team began yesterday.  The kids are so excited.  On the way to the pool John Derek kept asking me "How much longer?" every two minutes.  He was so worried we would not get there in time (I had left 10 min. early.)  They were just so excited.  Swim team has its advantages and disadvantages.  I do love that it gets my children outside and moving for several hours.  Such a stark contrast to what we do at home.  I wish there was something that we could do similarly during the fall and winter.  But I am grateful that they can all play in the water and do their individual lessons.  I am grateful that we have this opportunity. Book of Mormon, Alma 29:16 "Now, when I think of the success of these my brethren my soul is carried away, even to the separation of it from the body, as it were, so great is my joy." ...

We went to the pool Saturday and had fun.  Some of the kids invited friends over.  Samantha invited a friend that she really enjoys at school.  As the mom and I talked we found that our daughters had a lot in common.  More than just the she likes this but it was deeper.  They both have high anxiety, difficulty making and keeping friends, breakdowns, sweet and kind around those at school but different when they get home.  It was so refreshing to hear that Samantha is not alone.  It was comforting for me and for this girls mother.  It also made me realize why this friend has stayed with Samantha.  I thought she was just a sweet girl and was afraid Samantha would soon loose her but instead they work well together and can sympathize with each other.  It was such a great blessing for me.  What a sweet Heavenly Father I have. Michael giggled and giggled as he poured water on himself.  Such a delight. I read about the Anti-N...

Those who knew me as a teenager are stunned when I tell them that I have 5 children.  As a teenager and young adult I lothed the idea of being a stay at home mom.  IF I had any children it would be one or possibly two and I would not stay at home with them.  The truth is that in my heart I knew that I would have more children and the thought of being a stay at home mom and "not doing anything with my life" scared me.  I saw no worth in motherhood. This morning I was reading someone's blog and they talked about how much they enjoy motherhood. I love being a parent. It's the toughest job I've ever had. But it's also the sweetest and most fulfilling. I understand why "multiply and replenish the earth" was God's first commandment to our First Parents. (Where would we be without that admonishment?) It is the step, if we choose to take it, that can bring us the most joy, and bring us the most personal growth. Parenthood is trul...

Michael and I drove down to Derek's work for lunch.  On the way there Michael fell asleep.  When I arrived Derek looked in the car and started laughing, this is what he looked like.  Such a cutie!!  The next day I was driving Elizabeth to school and she wasn't in a great mood.  I said a prayer and asked Heavenly Father to help me know how to engage her and cheer her up.  I immediately thought of the photo of Michael and showed it to her.  She started to laugh, but not just because he is cute but because he is doing "her pose." Book of Mormon, Alma 26:22 "22  Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls...

My wonderful Elizabeth.  She was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society yesterday.  She was very excited.  I am so proud of her.  She works so hard at school and tries so hard to be good.  Her teachers think she is wonderful and she is such a good girl.  This is what I wanted.  This is what I hoped for my children in living away from Utah.  That their goodness would radiate and impact the lives of those around them.  Elizabeth is a living example of that.  I am so so proud of her. ook of Mormon, Alma 26:19 "19  Oh then, why did he not consign us to an awful destruction, yea, why did he not let the sword of his justice fall upon us, and doom us to eternal despair ?" God is always merciful. Even to the wicked. He gives us every chance He can to change. He will provide every opportunity we need to chang...

A few weeks ago John Derek had to give a talk in church about Joseph Smith .  We reviewed the story of the First Vision together and he knew it.  Then when we were in Sacrament Meeting he decided he wanted to write his talk down.  This is what he wrote: "Joseph Smith--He looked around for a church and he didn't know what church was true.  So he read the scriptures and found out how to pray and he prayed in the woods for which church she should go to and Jesus and God came down and Joseph Smith got to see them and they said no church is true so he built one." I was so proud of him.  He really did a good job.  It is sweet for a mother to see that the things she is teaching are sinking in.  What a blessing he is to our family and what a great missionary he will make. Book of Mormon, Alma 26:12 "12  Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast o...

John Derek came running in the house, "Mom, you have to come look at this . . .  and you probably want a container!"  I was unimpressed.  Trying to get dinner on and waighted down with the stress of the day.  When I didn't jump up and run he said, "It's a Turtle!"  Then I jumped and ran!! I love turtles.  I think it has to do with the turtles my Grandfather would bring back from his visits to Tennessee.  I think it was so sweet that my John Derek knew my feelings and wanted to share with me something he knew would make me happy.  We all had fun holding and playing with the turtle.  Even Michael was mesmorized.  It was a nice break to a busy day.  I emailed Derek the above picture.  He said that the best part was knowing how I was feeling right then and knowing how excited I was.  I love that he knows me so well too. Book of Mormon, Alma 24:18 "18...

Happy Mother's Day!!  I had a wonderful surprise arrive at my house Saturday evening and it came with homemade cheesecake.  My sister Annelise came to visit for Mother's Day.  It was delightful.  As I was getting ready for church I had a pair of pearl earring my mother had given me for Christmas that I wanted to wear.  But the back of the earring was glued to the pearl and I couldn't get it off.  I have tried several times to wear them but it hasn't worked.  As I held the earring in my hand again I decided to read my scriptures.  At the end of scripture study I had an idea and followed through on it and off came the back of my earring.  I was delighted and truly felt that this was a special Mother's Day gift from my Heavenly Father. Samantha made me breakfast in bed.  She and John Derek gave me cards they had made at school.   Elizabeth spoke in Sacrament Meeting.  Her talk was very sweet.  I kept a copy and will ...