Thornton Mom

Happy Birthday Annelise!!  She came down for a visit on her birthday!!  So we got an ice cream cake from our wonderful nephew and celebrated with her. She insisted on giving everyone a gift for her birthday.  John Derek got a mustach straw.  The highlight of his day!! Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 20:8 "8  And he said unto them: He that eateth this bread eateth of my body to his soul; and he that drinketh of this wine drinketh of my blood to his soul; and his soul shall never hunger nor thirst, but shall be filled." In Relief Society they also talked about the blood and body of Christ. That when we come into Sacrament meeting when we look at the sacrament table covered with a table cloth that we can think about that being Christ actually laying on the table. That this is His body and His blood. As that image entered into my head I ...

I sat Michael down for lunch and asked him if he wanted sweet potatoes.  He said yes which surprised me because last time he didn't want them.  I put one on his plate and he at it in about 3 bites and asked for more.  I gave him another and he said, "No, two ones."  I gave him two, again "No, two ones."  So I handed him the bowl and he poured them all out on his plate and grinned.  I put two back and he ate all that was on his plate and one more.  For snack when he woke up from his nap he ate the other one.  Conclusion, Michael likes Sweet Potatoes. Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 20:3 "3  And it came to pass that he brake bread again and blessed it, and gave to the disciples to eat." This is the 2nd time He administers the sacrament. With the little time he was able to spend the administered it twice. This says something about it...

John Derek came home from school happy.  But within minutes was getting frustrated.  Nothing was going right and he was mad.  I finally sent him to his room.  A little while later he came down much more calm and said that he needed to talk to me.  He remembered that if he gets mad afterschool it is because something went wrong and school and he needs to talk about it.  So we went and got ice cream and picked Elizabet up from practice.  I was so proud of him for remembering to come talk to me.  I had even forgotten that.  But we talked, he got it out and then we had good discussions while we drove.   That evening I gave John Derek a hair cut.  In the middle of the cut he said, "I want to marry a wife that can cut hair, or maybe I can cut the hair, but one of us can cut hair."  We then discussed what he wanted in a wife, "Someone who reads her scriptures, is strong in the church, is good."  I was so impressed with ...

 For our marble jar our kids earned an evening at the pool.  They love playing with daddy.  I went and got Klondike bars and we had some fun family together time.    Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 15:9 "9  Behold, I am the law, and the light. Look unto me, and endure to the end, and ye shall live; for unto him that endureth to the end will I give eternal life." This gives me hope. When it is hard to push on when things are difficult I have hope and faith that in the end I will receive eternal life.

Two year olds . . . what more can I say.  I turn my back for 3 min and this is what I come back to.  Got to love it!! Sunday the Relief Society lesson was good.  The sister talked about how when she was a teenager she spent every weekend at home.  That her friends never invited her to parties because she didn't drink.  She even considered drinking just so she could feel included.  Years later she met a friend from high school and confided in the friend how no one wanted her around.  The friend said, "Don't you know?  Don't you know that the reason we didn't want you around was because we felt ashamed and guilty and didn't want to do that in front of you?"  This sister said she was stunned.  She couldn't believe that her standards that she almost compromised were that infulential to those around her and it gave her a different persepctive. She then asked one of the girls that has just graduated from High School to tell what she did ...

As I was driving the kids to school the other day I saw this pretty pattern on my window made by the condensation.  I am trying to take more time for my kids.  The beginning of the week I was very distratcted and didn't even do my 20 min. with each one after school.  But then my cleaning lady came and reset my house and I feel so free.  Yesterday I was able to get all my little routines done and other things on my list as well as things I have been wanting to do and then when the kids got home I was able to put all of my attention on them until it was time to eat.  I felt that was a true blessing.  That is why I am doing Flylady, to have more time with my kids.  It is amazing how doing a little everyday really does free you and give you more time. Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 15:2 "2  And it came to pass that when Jesus had said these words he perceived that there were some amo...

Yesterday was a busy day and full of blessings.  The night before our water heater had started leaking.  I called our home warranty and they said they would send someone out the next day.  I spent the evening emptying buckets of water until Derek got home and figured out how to empty the tank with a hose.  What a smart man.     The morning started off with a phone call telling me someone was going to come look at my water heater.  Within an hour a nice gentleman was at my house and ordering a new tank.  I had an appointment with my therapist in the afternoon and felt that I didn't need to get a babysitter and would just take Michael with me.  When the gentelman said it would be 2-3 hours before he was finished, I knew that would overlap my appointment.  I called my sweet mother-in-law and she came right over so the tank could still be put in and I could go to my appointment.  That also ment that Mich...

We celebrated John Derek and Aunt Angela's birthdays this past week.  It was a delight.  Aunt KoKo pulled out her amazing skills and made John Derek a football cake.  It was amazing and delicious.  She also made Angela her famous Chocolate Moose Cake.  She truly is an amazing cook!! We love being around family.  We wish we could have them all around us all the time but it is a delight that we have some.  It is nice to have that love continually around us.  We are very blessed. Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 9:14 "14  Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me." Christ makes it so easy. We just have to turn from our natural man and turn to Him. Sometimes this can be hard but as we continue to try and do it over and over again we will...

This past week for our marble jar activity we had a Minion party.  I knew that one way to spent time with my children would be to make food into Minions.  And so we created Minions out of bananas or twinkies.  It was a lot of fun.  We used yellow and blue melting chips and black frosting for the details.  The kids favorite part were the edible eyes.  Michael came over as I was finishing the first Minion and sat on my lap.  Once I got the eyes and the mouth on he screamed in delight, "Minion!!"  Then every 2 min. he was asking if he could eat a Minion.  He just did not want to wait until the party.  We did Pin the Goggles on the Minion and Minion Bingo.  It was so fun to see everyone so happy. The Power, Joy, and Love of Covenant Keeping ...

 This past week I went to lunch with the Elementary kids.  It is amazing that just me coming to lunch with them, sitting at a special table, and picking two friends to eat lunch with can make these kids feel so special.  I really think I need to do this more often.  It is good for them to feel special. Hanging out with John Derek and his friends made me realize how "normal" John Derek is.  When I was trying to get a picture each of the boys took turns making weird faces and of course trying to photo bomb the picture.  Just like my John Derek does all the time.  He is awesome.  I got to see Maddie in a setting I don't usually see her in.  She was happy and confident.  I got to meet friends of hers and was told what a good girls she was by her teacher and how much they enjoy having her in their class.  She really is a good girl. It was fun to see Samantha truly enjoying her friends.  I met girls I had never met bef...

Little People/Come Unto Him Got to love "new" old toys.  As Michael and I have sat around for over a week we have gotten very board.  When the big kids went to school we got really board and a little stir crazy.  One day the kids asked if they could get the large Fisher Price Little People out of the attic.  I thought this was a great idea.  We put some of our toys that we were tired of playing with in the attic and got down the Little People.  They had a blast.  It kept Michal entertained for hours.  That was such a blessing.  Even the big kids came home from school and played.  Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 9:14 "14  Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me." Christ makes it so easy. We just have to turn from our natural man and tur...

Elizabeth has had a hard time coming home and adjusting to real life after being at Aspen Grove with her cousins and new found friends.  She really enjoyed it up there.  But as Michael does he can put a smile on anyone's face even for early morning scripture study and jet lag. Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 7:21 "21  And it came to pass that the thirty and first year did pass away, and there were but few who were converted unto the Lord; but as many as were converted did truly signify unto the people that they had been visited by the power and Spirit of God, which was in Jesus Christ, in whom they believed." They had to be strong in order to be prepared for the coming of Christ and to stand up in such a wicked world. Much like we are being asked to do today.

 I remember 16 years ago thinking I would never forget that day.  That was the day I married my best friend and we would always be newlyweds . . . Fast forward 16 years 5 kids, busy work schedule, church schedule, 9 year old's birthday, oldest returning from a trip to Utah, and a broken foot and you get our life.  We woke up on a normal day, went about our normal activities of dropping kids off at school and going to work.  It wasn't until lunch time that one of us remembered it was our anniversary.  So Happy Anniversary to my still very best friend.  When I am in your arms I do still feel like we are newlyweds.  I wouldn't trade these last 16 years for anything and I look forward to another 16 years and infinity more. Chapter 15: The Sacred Callings of Fathers and Mothers ...

We celebrated John Derek's Birthday this past week.  He has been so excited for it.  He reminded us for at least two weeks how long we had until his birthday.  We took him to Mellow Mushroom for dinner and then on to a toy store where he bought a Spinner.  It has been fun to see him play on it. John Derek is a good kid.  He truly tries to do what is right.  After we got his toy we picked Elizabeth up from the airport.  John Derek and I dropped Daddy off at the counter and we parked the car.  He was a perfect gentleman.  Helped me pull into the parking spot, opened the door, and even pushed me in a wheelchair (It was fun he went as fast as he could go down this long stretch.  I laughed and giggled it was fun to move so fast.  When he came to the end he said, out of breath, "Mom, your heavy!")  I am grateful to have him for my son. Chapter 1...

Daddy saw this Luna Moth as they were leaving for school.  Everyone jumped out of the car to get a better look.     Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 5:1 "1  And now behold, there was not a living soul among all the people of the Nephites who did doubt in the least the words of all the holy prophets who had spoken; for they knew that it must needs be that they must be fulfilled." Wow! That is amazing that they ALL knew.  I think about our country and wish the same statement could be said.  I do think that when the Twin Towers fell in 2011 our country turned to God.  It was not the whole country but a lot of it.  And it wasn't very much longer until we forgot again.  Just as the Nephites are about to forget again.  I am just so disappointed in our country right now.  With the gay marriage ruling I feel that our country has turned.  That we a...

Waiting for the rest of the family to gather for early morning scripture study. "My default assumption is that good sense and patience will triumph in our many challenges in life.   If we live wisely, our lives will go smoothly.   LDS folks may especially be vulnerable to the rosy world view.   We expect to be blessed for doing what is right.   Then the sky falls...We ask, What did I do wrong?   Didn't I have enough faith?   Is God mad at me?   It turns out doing good does not guarantee a life of contentment and fulfilled dreams.   We may be blessed for our efforts with the gift of serenity or new challenges.   God will provide precisely the experiences that can lead us to greater faith and a closer relationship with Him.   We can move resolutely and peacefully to our next rendezvous with God or shake our washing machine hoses at heaven....Maybe life is designed to deliver a solid and growing measure of failures for each of us--e...

Elizabeth is having a blast.  I love this picture of her.  She is so happy, it has been a while since I have seen that smile.  I am so grateful that she was able to go and be with family.  To feel that eternal love and acceptance.  Her own little EFY. Sunday Maddie was taking a bath and turned the water too hot.  Normally you would think that you should just turn the water to cold and cool the bath down.  Well, things don't work like that here in the Summer in North Carolina.  When you turn the cold water on it is cold for a few minutes but then turns warm.  The weather is so hot that the water coming from outside the house is warm.  Only the water that has been sitting in the pipes and cooled by the air conditioner is cold.  So we could not get the water to cool down.  I made Maddie get dressed in one of my shirts and go bring me cups of ice that we dumped in the bath.  She thought that was pretty cool!! ...

Friday Derek and I put Elizabeth on a plane by herself and sent her to Salt Lake City for a family reunion at Aspen Grove.  I was nervous, she was nervous but I also had a great inner peace.  I knew that the Lord was with her and me.  That He approved of what we were doing and that He would watch after her.  I was so grateful.  She had a layover in Baltimore and I planned on talking to here there and making sure she found her gate but then realized that I would be in the temple when the plan landed.  My mom was wonderful and took over this role.  When I called after the temple I found that Elizabeth had found her gate without a problem and that she had gotten on the plane and it was in the air flying to Salt Lake. She arrived in Salt Lake and was greeted by Grandma and Grandpa.  She was so excited and so proud of herself.  I was so proud of her too.  It took a lot of confidence but she did it!!  She will be gone for a week and...