Thornton Mom

“In this day of increasing access to and preoccupation with materialism, there is a sure protection for ourselves and our children against the plagues of our day. The key to that sure protection surprisingly can be found in Sabbath observance” (“ The Lord’s Day ,” Oct. 1991 general conference). Derek and I went to a Stake Bishop's Council together earlier this month.  We were instructed that during this ever increasing time of wickedness the Brethren are encouraging us to focus on keeping the Sabbath Day Holy.  I have felt an urge to focus my energy to the Sabbath Day, especially the Sacrament and am looking forward to increased knowledge and application on how to do this.  Derek and I did decide that for the next 3 months we will focus on the Sabbath Day in our FHE, Missionary lessons, and Home Teaching lessons.  I am excited to see our Sabbath Day observance increase and to receive the blessings from our obedience.

Sometimes my kids get a hold of my phone.  It is always interesting to see what treasures I find in my gallery when I get it back.  Here are a few from this past week. I felt very humbled and blessed yesterday.  I had two people come visit and help me get the house back to normal.  I can get up and work I just can't spend a lot of time on my foot so keeping up with the house is hard.  I have been amazed at the outpouring of love people have shown me and my family.  We have cookies show up at our house, dinner almost every night, rides offered, play date invitations, people helping around the house, etc.  Just very very blessed.  I feel like maybe I do contribute to the ward.  It has been very reasuring to feel their love. Book of Mormon, Helaman 15:5 "5  And I would that ye should behold that the more part of them are in the path of their duty, and they do...

 First day of school.  How exciting and overwhelming.  Overall everyone was pretty excited and optimistic.  Samantha was the most worried and yet when she walked through the door after school here excitement and happiness was to the degree that her anxiety had been.  She was delighted with the whole thing. Elizabeth had the hardest time.  She discovered that she had not gotten into the drama class she really wanted and has been in for the past two years.  Sunday she decided to fast that she might be able to get into the class but discovered that the counselor would not budge.  I am so proud of her for fasting and for having the courage to talk to the counselor.  What an amazing young woman she is.   Book of Mormon, Helaman 13:14 "14  But behold, it is for the righteous’ sake that it is spared. But behold, the time cometh, saith the Lord, that when ye...

  This weekend we went with our good friends up to the Lake House.  It was such a joy to be there with them.  I loved watching the excitement of their children at all the options for entertainment.  I think my kids are becoming ungrateful for the Lake House.  They take it for granted.  But I think that is to be expected, they are only human.   Saturday Derek had to get gas to mow the lawn.  When he tried to start the car it would not turn on.  So he and our friend drove to Roanoke Rapids and got a new battery, came back and installed it.  The car started.  I felt so blessed that this happened on Saturday.  If Derek had not needed to get gas then he would have left Sunday morning for his meetings and our friends would have tried driving me home but the car would have been dead.  What a blessing that we were all able to make it home safely and in time for church.   New Testament, Act...

Annelise and I commiserated together.  We both have boots just on different feet.  The kids were cute getting stuff for each of us because we were proped up on the couch.  Mom was sweet and took on all the responsibility of taking care of us.  One day Annelise's foot started hurting so bad she could not walk.  It didn't make any sense.  She has continued to be in excruciating pain without knowing what the problem was.  How blessed I feel to know what is wrong and to know that it will have an end. Yesterday Annelise finally got her answer.  She has CRPS ( Complex regional pain syndrome) which means that her body thinks her foot should be in pain and sends signals to the foot to be in pain.  It will never go away but she will start physical therapy and pain management therapy to learn how to deal with it and to hopefully put it in remission.  Poor dear!!  Book of Mormon, Helaman 11:37-38 ...

It was a delight to have my mom and sister here.  It was so fun when my mom walked in the door I heard her familiar, "Hellllooo" and the kids went running.  They ran into her arms with hugs hugs and more hugs.  Even little Michael was ecstatic.  Grandma instantly became Michael's best friend.  He would come in and look up at her with his big blue eyes and say "pay wif me?"  Grandma's heart would melt and the next moment she would be in the playroom being served cake or playing with cars.  She is so sweet.  It truly was delightful.         Book of Mormon, Helaman 11:9 "he cried again unto the Lord, saying:" This is not just a quick prayer. Even though this is a prophet that has been promised he could have control over the elements he still prays fervently to Father. He begs, pleads, asks for specifi...

Today I went to my therapy session, not sure exactly what to talk about.  As I sat in the waiting room I looked over my goals that I had set for therapy.  One goal "To be more in love with my husband than I already am" I was able to check off.  Derek and I are doing great and I have noticed an amazing increase in love for him.  It has been delightful.  The next goal. "To be a mother who loves to be around her children," I realized is still in need of help.  We discussed this and she gave me some ideas.  Later I happened upon a wright up by, Jane Maynard , and read these words: Most of life is made up of small, mundane tasks. It’s easy to view those tasks as a nuisance, things that have to get done on the way to bigger and better experiences. But the true beauty of life is most often hidden in those day-to-day acts of survival. If we’re constantly complaining about those acts and wishing them away, we are missing out on life itself. I do...

So one benefit to me having a broken foot is that my mom came to take care of me.  What a blessing, what a delight, what a wonderful Mom.  Annelise also has a hurt foot so mom flew to Virginia, picked up Annelise and drove to my home straight.  She is a trooper. She made meals, took us to appointments, too the kids bowling and to the library, cleaned, did the never ending job of laundry, you name it and she did it.  She is so sweet. I feel so blessed to have my wonderful mom.  I am so grateful to her for her sacrifice.  She carries the world.  I loved just being able to talk to my mom.  We discussed kids, the second coming, gospel principles, life, recipies, it was wonderful.  Thanks Mom Book of Mormon, Helaman 8:4 "4  And those judges were angry with him because he spake plainly unto them concerning their secret works of darkness; neverthel...

My birthday was last week.  It was a memorable birthday, I have never had a broken bone on my birthday before.  We woke up and cleaned the Lake House and then drove home.  Dad T. drove my car and Mom T. drove his.  We stopped at Wendy's for lunch and then were back on the road again.  About 20 min. away from Wendy's I realized I had left my purse at Wendy's.  With the crutches in my hands I had forgotten to grab my purse.  We raced back, said lots of prayers, and were blessed that someone turned my purse in and nothing was harmed.  What a great blessing!!  What a great birthday present. John Derek made me this cute flag out of legos as well as a sign that read "Happy Birthday" out of legos.  Derek brought me home an orchid, my mother and grandmother got me a beautiful church outfit, Mom and Dad T gave me a beautiful scarf, and I bought myself feather dusters.  I told my children they were magic and they didn't believe me.  ...

Sweet Samantha Thank you mom for doing the laundry. Thank you mom for the comfort you give us. Thank you mom for doing the dishes. Thank you mom for cooking dinner  The other day I was getting stuff done and Samantha was playing with some of my magnets.  I asked her to stop and she immediately said, "Okay."  Then I walked over to the dishwasher and saw that she had written a little note telling me thank you for doing the dishes.  I was so surprised and felt so special.  I turned to her and said, "Oh, is this what you are doing?  Then go ahead and finish."  She did and I was delighted to find these little signs all over the kitchen.  She is a sweet girl and good at thinking of others.  She has been a huge help this last two weeks with my foot.  Stepping in when I need her.  Not needing to be asked, just doing.  It has been a delight and a blessing to have her helping me. Book ...

Our Sweet Amber (Hermana Thornton) leaves for her mission tomorrow.  She is going to Arequipa, Peru.  I am so very proud of her.  Amber is an amazing young woman.  She has a wonderful testimony, she is bright, beautiful, confident, smart, and capable.  I am so excited to see her grow and succeed.  She will be amazing. They had a pig picking for her Saturday night and then Sunday she gave her farewell talk which was amazing.  We then had leftovers at the Thornton's and said our last goodbyes.  What a blessing it is to be her Aunt. I think I am being bitten by the Family History bug.  Yesterday I went to Amber's ward and they talked about Family History in Relief Society.  I rolled my eyes and was not excited but thought oh well.  Then someone made a comment that disturbed me.  They said that there are a few temples now that are requireing you to bring your own names to the temple.  That they will not provi...

 We had our July 4th swim meet.  The kids got to put patriotic tattoos all over themselves.  They thought it was awesome.  Only after a few races we had a huge storm blow in and the meet was cancled.  When I told our coach that our family would not be there the next day because we were out of town she was not happy.  My family leaving takes 4 of her swimmers.  It was one time that I felt like having a big family really does make a good difference. Our next meet I missed as I have my broken foot.  My sweet sister in law and mother in law took them to the meet.  Derek was out of town.  It was very sweet of them. Angela has taken such good care of me.  She got the kids to the meet, invited the girls for a sleep over with Amber before she left on her mission.  Will brought JD home from the meet.  Then at 12:30 in the morning I got a call from Elizabeth and Maddison was throwing up.  Will cleaned her up and got h...

Wednesday began Summer Track out!!  Elizabeth went off to girls camp and me and the kids went up to the Lake House.  Thursday we went swimming in the lake.  I thought it was great because Michael could swim by himself with his new floaty and Samantha was taking such good care of him that I didn't have to get in the water.  But after several please to get in the water and my desire to exercise for the day I decided to jump in.  While pushing off with my right foot I heard a snap and felt pain in my foot then landed in the water.  I poped up saying "ouch" as calmly as I could.  But my kids knew something was wrong.  They tried to help me and finally I got out of the water. To make a long story short Dad T. took me to the ER and I had broken my 2nd Metatarsal bone, the bone above my 2nd toe.  So here I sit with people waiting on me hand and foot, taking care of my children and being awesome.  Michael has adopted Uncle Heath and Aunt S...

 Elizabeth was honored again this year at her school.  She received High Honors for her grades as well as "Outstanding Student" in Chorus.  She was honored before all the track 4 students and parents.  Derek and I are so proud of her.  She works so hard and does such an amazing job.  She is self motivated and finds joy in excelling.  I am proud to call her my daughter. Elizabeth with her friends. "The gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us to love and treat all people with kindness and civility—even when we disagree. We affirm that those who avail themselves of laws or court rulings authorizing same‐sex marriage should not be treated disrespectfully. Indeed, the Church has advocated for rights of same‐sex couples in matters of hospitalization and medical care, fair housing and employment, and probate, so long as these do not infringe on the integrity of the traditional family or the constitutional rights of churches . . . Our ind...