Thornton Mom

  Maddie started complaining of her tummy hurting about an hour before church.  I assumed it was because I turned off the TV and she had to give a talk in primary.  She seemed okay during sacrament meeting and even got to sit on daddy's lap.  She did a great job on her talk about the Holy Ghost.  A few minutes later her teacher told me that she was complaining about her tummy.  I went in to check on her and just as I put her on my lap she threw up.  Immediatly I was surrounded and taken care of by my ward memebers.  We took Maddie to the bathroom cleaned her and me up as best we could.  When I returned to the primary room to get my things the mess was completely cleaned up.  As I went to grab my other children someone volunteered to take them home for me.  It was so kind of everyone.  I felt so loved and blessed to be in such a great ward.  (Maddie has not had a problem since.) Book of Mormon, Alma 56:18-19

  Again, I am so blessed with good in-laws.  Yesterday I had volunteered all day watching little kids in the nursery of the church.  I had forgotten that I needed to stay at the church until 4:30 and that the girls would be getting home at 2:30.  I called my mother-in-law that morning and she went and picked them up and took them to her house.   When I called to tell her that I was finally on my way to get the girls she invited us over for dinner.  It was so nice to not have to cook when I was so tired.  I just felt very loved and taken care of last night.      Book of Mormon, Alma 53:20-21 "20  And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all—they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted. 21  Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep

Trying to stay cool. in the shade. We had a swim meet Tuesday.  Derek was with Elizabeth at the Temple and that left me with the other 4.  I felt so blessed that Angela came.  She is such a great help and a wonderful friend.  It was fun to hang out with her for the evening.  Samantha placed 2nd in a couple of her races, Go Samantha! John Derek came in first in back stroke and man he has a beautiful butterfly.  He looks like he was made for the stroke. Maddison swam in 2 main events and did great.  It is fun to see my kids happy. Book of Mormon, Alma 53:6 "6  And it came to pass that Moroni had thus gained a victory over one of the greatest of the armies of the Lamanites, and had obtained possession of the city of Mulek, which was one of the strongest holds of the Lamanites in the land of Nephi; and thus he had also built a stronghold to retain his prisoners."

Elizabeth Maddie John Derek Grandmommy and Grandaddy Cousin Caroline Samantha Tubing James We had a blast up at the lake with our cousins.  It is such a joy to be around family.  We love it!!   We tubed, swam, skied, ate, laughed, it was a good weekend.  Even little Michael got in a tube with Elizabeth.  He loved it.  He even turned around and rode backwards for a while.  That boy has lost his fear of the water.  It is so fun to see him so confident and unafraid.   Book of Mormon, Alma 52:21 "21  And it came to pass that Moroni, having no hopes of meeting them upon fair grounds, therefore, he resolved upon a plan that he might decoy the Lamanites out of their strongholds." This plan is used over and over again in this war. I am amazed at how many times the Lamanites take the bait. The Lamanites don't learn fr

Maddie, Samantha, Michael, John Derek As a child I remember going to my Grandparent's home in Tennessee.  One evening Grandpa encouraged me to look outside.  There I saw tiny lights flashing all over the field.  It is my fist memory of "fireflies."  I spent the week running after them and caching them in a jar hoping to make my own"firefly" lantern.   Not to long ago I introduced my children to catching fireflies.  They loved it.  When we arrived at the Lake House Friday it was evening and the kids saw the fireflies.  They ran inside asked for a container and began catching fireflies.  Samantha took Michael by the hand and I went with Maddie and we caught several.  Put them into the container and hoped for a lantern. We finally decided to let them go.  It was a sweet moment for me to see them all huddled around the container, enjoying a piece of nature that Heavenly Father made for them and me.  I am so blessed. Book o

Happy Father's Day!!   Happy Father's Day to the best man in the world.  How grateful I am to have such a wonderful husband.  His love and dedication to our family and to the gospel is amazing and appreciated.  Our family is so blessed to have him in our lives. Also Happy Father's Day to my father's.  My Father who has taught me so much and loved me for so long.  He is an amazing example of one who is dedicated to the Lord.  He has been a true blessing to me and my life and raising me to love the Lord.  To my Father in Law who is so kind and caring.  His love and appreciation is continually felt.  Happy Father's Day to my Heavenly Father.  I am so grateful to Him for ALL He has given me.  The blessings and joy I have in this life are because of Him.  His willingness to sacrifice His son that I may return to Him someday, is so sweet and kind.  I am so blessed to know His gospel and to know that I am His daughter. Happy Father's Day to my brothers, br

  Elizabeth is darling.  She is working so hard at her athletic interests.  She is really pushing her self in swimming and at this last meet she improved her time in all four strokes.  She is working really hard in volleyball and despite having a lot of inexperienced players on her league team she is cheering them on and trying to help them improve.  She is a wonderful girl and I am so proud of her.  I am grateful to be her mother.   Book of Mormon, Alma 48:15 "15  And this was their faith, that by so doing God would prosper them in the land, or in other words, if they were faithful in keeping the commandments of God that he would prosper them in the land; yea, warn them to flee, or to prepare for war, according to their danger;" June 2015 FHE,Faith,scripture study,

JD and Christian  We had our first swim meet.  Heavenly Father encouraged me to get someone to watch Michael and blessed me to get one of my sweet friends to watch him.  That made the night so easy.  Each of the kids did great.  It is so fun to see them swim, to see them hang with their friends, and to see them happy.  I think that swim team is a very good thing for our family. Book of Mormon, Alma 46:39 "39  And it came to pass that there were many who died, firmly believing that their souls were redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ; thus they went out of the world rejoicing." This is how I want to go "out of the world" I want to rejoice in my Lord Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for His love and kindness to me. I am so grateful for His atonement. I know it must have been so hard but He did not give up. He deserves every praise. I am so grateful for Him.

Saturday we had the privilege of putting bags of food together and taking them to people who needed them.  I was so delighted that my children could participate.  So many times service needs to be done but because of liability only youth or adults can help. We made an assembly line and bagged the food.  Even Michael helped lift the completed bag onto the cart.  We then loaded the bags into our cars and drove to a neighborhood.  We took the food door to door.  I was so impressed that my kids would knock on the doors by themselves.  Maddie even had a sweet conversation with a woman who was very grateful.  It was good to see them smile.   Book of Mormon, Alma 46:40 "because of the excellent qualities of the many plants and roots which God had prepared to remove the cause of diseases, to which men were subject by the nature of the climate—" I do believe that Heavenly Father provided treatment

Samantha was able to get a butterfly to land on her hand.  You can see it right on the tip of her fingers near her nose. The butterfly hung around.  It even came and visited daddy and Michael.  It was so fun as it allowed us to pick it up and allowed us to hold it.  This was on Friday.  It was a fabulous day.  Derek had returned from Ireland the night before and was able to just hang out at home on Friday.  We went to Elizabeth's drama class play that afternoon and then we all went to the pool that evening for swim team.  I don't think Derek got a break from the kids for the 4 hours we were there.  He is a wonderful husband and father. Book of Mormon, Alma 46:8 "8  Thus we see how quick the children of men do forget the Lord their God, yea, how quick to do iniquity, and to be led away by the evil one." I do think it is amazing how quick

Yesterday I had the privledge of giving a talk in my church meeting.  I spoke about what I have seen my husband do as bishop and how this ward has blessed my family.  I truly had felt the Spirit guide me in what I would say.  As I spoke I again felt the Spirit with me.  I was amazed at how my heart was touched, I cried through almost the whole thing.  I testified that my husband has the mantel of the Bishop and when he speaks as the Bishop his countanence changes and he no longer speaks as a man but as a servant of the Lord. Later I had to give a lesson in Relief Society.  As I did last time I prayed for the sisters of my ward individually, by name.  I was amazed that a sister I had prayed would be at church was there.  This is the second time I had prayed for my fellow sisters and she has come both times.  Vancouver, Canada 2013 My lesson was on Following the Living Prophet .  It was a simple lessons and I quickly was running out of things to say but still had a lot of time l

I had a fun visit with some of our friends yesterday.  We talked a lot and I learned a lot.  At one point she said that she has to rely on the Savior and the Atonement to make up for the love that she cannot give her children.  She loves them but her weaknesses do not always show that and she prays that they will feel loved through the Atonement.  I loved that idea.  In my life right now I am functioning good but not perfect.  I need the Atonement to make up for what I cannot give my children right now.  She also talked about how important siblings are.  That in China one of the problems with only having one child is that there are no aunts, uncles, or cousins.  The family network is gone.  How as parents we may not be able to give our children all the love that we would like but they are still getting loved from their siblings.  That as children we fought with our siblings but now as adults we are closest to our siblings.  This gave me great hope for my children, yes they fight an

Elizabeth's Little Mermaid Move Hanging out with friends at swim team. Getting ready to swim fast Swim team still takes most of our time in the aftenoons but it is good for me and for the kids.  It allows them time to be with friends and to exercise.  I am grateful that we have this opportunity and that my kids have made some good friends. Monday night I decided that I really wanted to finish painting my entryway.  I had taped the walls a few months ago and had slowly trimed all the edges.  My sister in law had come one day and helped get all the trim done.  But still it sat.  I had friends offer to help but wouldn't take them up on it.  I had finally decided to do it Thursday and would ask my friends to help.  But things didn't work out and I found myself emailing friends Monday night for help on Tuesday.  A friend showed up early and we got the first coat on.  As soon as she left my visiting teacher showed up in her painting clothes and helped put on the

Michale has become a very picky eater, as most toddlers.  He does not like to eat fruit or veggies.  But ever since he was little he has not liked strawberries.  When we went strawberry picking last year he would not touch them.  This year I hoped it would change but again no cute red face in the strawberry patch. Yesterday things changed.  We were at the pool, he was hungry and there were only grapes and strawberries.  He did not want either one.  But his hunger finally got the best of him and he ploped a grape in his mouth.  Not quite sure what to do I told him to bite on the grape and it would squirt in his mouth.  Oh this was cool.  He put another in and bit and laughted.  I decided that while he was being adventurous I would try a strawberry.  He actually put it in his mouth and bit down and didn't spit it out.  Instead he said, "It spit in my mouth, it's good!!"  He ate a few more strawberries and lots of grapes.  But I was so excited.  I mean how can someo

My kids laughed with me Saturday night when I realized that I had super glued my thumb and index finger together.  It was so amazing to me that I could not get them apart.  I am so grateful that I had finger nail polish remover and after a long time was finally able to get them apart.  It made me grateful for all five of my fingers. Last night as I was getting Michael ready for bed John Derek was sitting next to me and just started talking, I wasn't even sure if he was talking to me until I hear him say, "Thanks for helping me with my homework . . . all year I guess, and when you talk to dad tell him I said thanks for playing outside with me."  It really caught me off guard but was so sweet.  Just what I needed to hear. Saturday was a very difficult and emotional day.  But it was only one day.  I was so grateful for that. Book of Mormon, Alma 43:9 "9  And now the design of the Nephites was

Today I was enjoying talking to my mom on the phone as I drove to the temple.  She asked me, "How are you doing?"  Without thinking I replied, "Great!"  That answer caught me off guard.  Over the past several months if someone asked me how I was doing I would reply a half hearted, "fine."  But today I replied "Great," which had been my common answer for years of my life.  I had noticed that it was gone for a while, I just couldn't lie to people, I was not great. As I pondered this statement today I thought of several things that have made me "Great!" My Heavenly Father loves me.  He is happy with who I am.  Yes He is guiding me in my change to be a better person but He loves me.  The other day I was reminded of some special experiances I had had that let me know He is aware of me and loves me.  I was reminded that "I am enough."  When I am about to give myself a hard time for not doing or being _____ I remind my

I am so blessed.  Not only do I have the best husband in the world, I also have the best in-laws.  I remember that I didn't always feel that way.  When Derek and I first married I moved across the country away from my family and my culture.  I had a lot of growing up and a lot of things to get used to.  I remember not feeling comfortable around my in-laws.  Not understanding their "Southern" ways.  They were different from my family.  Neither of us had gotten to know the other before my marriage.  But we both had something in common, we loved Derek. Grandmommy and Michael looking at the pond. I remember one day deciding that I didn't like this.  That this relationship I had with my in-laws was strained and I wanted to change that, but I didn't know how.  So I turned to my Heavenly Father in prayer and asked for help.  Prayed that our relationship would improve, that we could love each other and enjoy each other.  I don't know how it happened but I

Samantha was in her 4th grade play yesterday.  It was awesome to see her so happy and enjoying it so much.  She did a great job.  She was not shy, she stood up and delivered her lines, she didn't even need a micraphone because she could project her voice so well, she smiled and was genuenly happy. Samantha had really wanted a lead part.  She worked really hard to memorize her lines.  She was the only kid in her class who go to be on stage for the whole play.  When the kids tried out the performed in front of their peers and then the peers voted.  Samantha won hands down.  Her teacher said she was by far the best and that no one came close to doing as well as she did.  She is such a joy and it is so fun to see her do something that she enjoys so much. Alma 43:14-15   14  Therefore, my son, see that you are merciful unto your brethren; deal justly , judge righteously, and do good continually; and if ye do all these things then shall ye receive your reward ; yea, ye sh

Elder L. Tom Perry died last week.  He was a member of the Quarum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He has been one of my favorite apostles.  When I was a teenager I remember my mom sitting at her sewing machine listening to something that was on TV in the other room.  She said, "I think that is Elder Perry talking, will you go tell me if it is?"  I replied, "I don't know what Elder Perry looks like."  She said that he was tall with jet black hair.  I went into the other room and looked at the television.  I saw a happy, jovial, friendly face with white hair and couldn't tell how tall he was.  I reported this to mom and she said, "Yes, that is Elder Perry."  Since that moment he has been one of my favorites. Book of Mormon, Alma 36:21 "there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy."