Thornton Mom

We went with extended family to see the new Star Wars. I LOVE R2D2 Elizabeth wanted her hair done like Princess Leigh Elizabeth and I share a love for R2D2   We went with our extended family to see Star Wars at the IMAX in 3D!!  It was lots of fun.  The IMAX really made an effort to have you enjoy yourself.  We took pictures with their props, played games, and did origami while we waited to be seated.  We had lots of fun and enjoyed the movie. Ether 9:19  "19  And they also had horses, and asses, and there were elephants and cureloms and cumoms; all of which were useful unto man, and more especially the elephants and cureloms and cumoms."   December 2015 So I looked up Elephants in America. There were the mammoths but there was a smaller elephant more like what we are used to called the gomphothere. Just interesting.

 Happy Birthday Uncle Will, Cousin James, and Grandmommy!!  It was delightful to celebrate their birthdays as a family.  We have a crazy bunch of people and yet it is so enjoyable. Angela always gives Mom T. a photo calendar for her birthday.  It is the highlight of the night.  It was fun to see everyone crowding around trying to look at it. A couple of weeks ago we went as a family to go caroling.  That is a tradition that started many years ago in the Thornton Family and we have continued to do it.  Not everyone could be there, we had sick kids that needed to stay home but my sweet husband knew I needed to get out so he stayed home and let me go.  We hit a few houses but several were not home.  Our last house was the home of Grandaddy's sister who is going through Chemo.  That was truly a delight.  To see their happiness and joy at receiving carolers.  It truly made my heart sing and filled me with the Spirit.  I was grateful to have been a part of that experience.

Visiting Samantha's Class for Lunch Visiting John Derek's Class for a Holiday Celebration Visiting Maddie's Class for her presentation on Christmas Cute kids who actually volunteered to help with the Christmas Cards.  They were amazing! As I began my prayer this morning I felt the need to pray for my depression.  I am learning to be specific in my prayers and so I felt guided to pray to know how to be prepared for when I fall into my depressive moods, to put things in place so that I won't struggle so much. The idea that came to me was menu planning.  That is a tedious task that I don't enjoy doing every two weeks but that I know really helps me.  I think I should menu plan for 6 months and make a weekly grocery list for that menu.  Then I can alter it if needed that week, but it will be in place and I don't have to stress about it. I also think I should only work on it for 15-30 min. a day so that I don't become frustrated with it.

Yesterday was hard.  I have been riding an emotional roller coaster the past little while and yesterday it was very apparent. There is a movie that my children have wanted to watch for a long time.  It is one of those that I don't feel comfortable seeing or having my children see but most people find it wonderful and enjoyable.  It has one part that I don't like and because of it I have not allowed my children to watch this show, much to their dismay. Yesterday the show ended up at my home, I knew that in the near future we were going to have to watch the show because of other circumstances and I felt that it was inevitable.  Never the less I struggled to know if it was the right thing to do.  Then I remembered that I have ClearPlay and that it will delete anything inappropriate so I allowed my children to watch the show.  I disappeared upstairs so that I wouldn't have to deal with it. But of course I came down right at that scene and ClearPlay wasn't taking i

Today is Christmas Eve.  Michael woke up so happy to know that he could take off one more ring and that there was only one left. Aunt KoKo invited all the girls to spend the night at her house last night.  They made cookies and watched Anne of Green Gables. Ammon also invited the boys over to his house for the night.  John Derek was so excited that Monday he packed his bag and put it in the car so that he would be ready. Aunt Annelise arrived just in time for dinner and volunteered to put Michael to bed so that Derek and I could run some last minute errands. It has been nice to have the kids taken care of. This morning my thoughts are turned to that First Christmas Eve.  To Mary, new at motherhood and marriage and being called to carry the Son of God.  What an amazing responsibility she had.  She must have been an amazing woman. To Joseph who stood in the background. Here was a man who did not seek praise, did not seek attention, who humbly cared for Mary and Christ

 Last week we had some sick kiddos.  Samantha was very sick.  She missed school on Friday, Monday, and Tuesday.  She and Michael had fevers and even threw up some.  It was not a fun weekend.  But we got over it and no one else got sick.  Knock on wood.  I think this means we are clear for Christmas Right?? Samantha Made a Snowman Chocolate Covered Pretzel.  She is very creative. I came home from running earrands and found Michael sitting at the table asleep.  He is having a hard time finding time for a nap, not wanting to take one, and dealing with the consequences of no nap.  But oh so cute!! Ether 2:15  "I will forgive thee and thy brethren of their sins; but thou shalt not sin any more, for ye shall remember that my Spirit will not always strive with man; wherefore, if ye will sin until ye are fully ripe ye shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord." Jared sinned. He knew what he was doing was not the Lord's will. I have to think

Making Cookies with our Friends  We had some friends over the other day after church.  Their mom was at work and we ended up spending the day with them.  We made cookies, had dinner, played together.  Later that night I was feeling like we haven't been doing any service, but then He reminded me of what we had done that day.  It was nice to see that as a family we incorporate service into our everyday lives. Great Granma and Granpa Christensen sent us a  wonderful fruit basket.   Michael   was so excited. He opened every piece of fruit like it was a treasure. Then he would cheer in delight because  it was an apple or an orange. I have never seen someone so excited about fruit. Michael had also gotten a birthday present from Great Granma and Granpa.   We had gotten it mixed up with some Christmas gifts and when we put them under the tree we found it and let him open it. But then he thought he should be able to open all the gifts under the tree. He kept saying "

  Every year our Stake does Creshe.  They gather nativities from around the world and display them over a weekend.  They also invite groups to come and sing.  My children's favorite part is dressing up in Nativity costumes.  This year we all go into it.  It was adorable.  No one complained. They were all happy and excited. Elizabeth brought her good friend with us.  Aren't they beautiful! The Lord Is My Light Quentin L. Cook, April 2015 General Conference "President Kimball challenged every family “to be on their knees … praying for their sons and daughters twice daily.:"" My patriarchal blessing promises me that if I will have family scripture study, prayer, and FHE all my children will be saved in th

Decorating the tree John Derek's Creation Grandmommy and Michael John Derek had a Christmas concert at school.  He had practiced hard for it.  Even staying aftershool once a week to rehurse.  He was so excited for this performance and talked about it all the time.  He wanted everything to be just perfect.  He got the "part" of Donner (he got to put on raindeer antlers and stand in front of the group with the other raindeer.)  I had to leave to take kids somewhere and Derek was going to pick him up and go to the concert.  On his own JD took a shower, got dressed and did his hair.  It was fun to see him excited and he did a good job.  What a good boy. Grandmommy and John Derek at his Christmas Concert The Sacrament—a Renewal for the Soul Cheryl A. Esplin,

I feel like I am trying to swim on just the surface of the water.  Below me is the cool water that I am afraid to put my feet into.  I want to say up here on the surface where the water is just a little bit warmer and familiar .  Ahead of me are obstacle and demands . . . I must keep myself afloat, I must help those around me float.  I am fearful that if I put my feet down and start to "feel" that I will loose control and sink.  But this does not allow me to support my children.  I can only help them so much when I am trying to keep myself on top of the water.  Physically I am there but emotionally I am not strong.  How I wish I had the faith that if I put my feet down I would touch the bottom and could then be the support and strength those around me need.  But I am fearful, fearful that the bottom will be too far away, that the cold will envelope me, that I will let go of any form of stability.  So I float, emotionally unavailable to my children and confused and anxious ab

It really was delightful to be with my family for Thanksgiving.  Aunt Mary and Uncle Kyle were so sweet and kind, so accepting of our little kids.  They seemed to bask in the joy of family and that was contagious.  We felt a huge outpouring of love from them and felt so welcome. As we visited with cousins and my sister that we had not see for a while my heart grew and desired even more to be around these wonderful family members more.  My testimony of families increased.  I realized that it is so important for us to get together as families and strengthen this bond. It amazed me that here we were a pocket of family scattered over the East Coast but united in love and friendship.  We all wanted to be together for Thanskgiving to bask in the love of family.  This year I truly was thankful for family. One of my cousins had just moved to the east and had a 9 hour drive to come to Thanksgiving with all of us.  But he and his sweet wife wanted to be with family for Thanksgi

Michael and his cousin celebrate birthdays that are one day apart. Maddie enjoys cupcakes Who wouldn't like more whipping cream? Derek enjoyed the Turkey Bowl with Uncle Kyle and Elizabeth enjoyed her cousin. We all sat around the living room and had an impromptu talent show.  That was a lot of fun!!  John Derek started us off on the piano.  He also scored 2 touchdowns in the Turkey Bowl. Maddie enjoys her cousin who follows her around and wants to be just like her. Maddie woke up with a swollen eye.  But a quick trip to an urgent care cleared things up in a day or two. Godly Characteristics of the Master Ezra Taft Benson, October 1986 General Conference "A priesthood holder who would curse his wife, abuse her with words or actions, or

Not too long ago we celebrated our November birthdays.  Aunt KoKo, Derek, Aunt Christina, and Michael all  have their birthdays within a week of each other.  We celebrated the North Carolina birthday's at Grandmommy's house for Family Home Evening.  It was delightful.  Aunt KoKo made yummy cupcakes for Michael and delicious coconut cream pie for Daddy.  (She is our amazing pastry chef . . . yummm!) Michael loves asking me to take his picture.  Look at that face!! Derek and KoKo Godly Characteristics of the Master Ezra Taft Benson, October 1986 General Conference "Virtue is akin to holiness, an attribute of godliness. A priesthood holder should actively seek for that which is virtuous and lovely and not that which is debasing or sordid. Virtue wil

Everyone loves to decorate the tree.  We picked it out for Family Home Evening on Monday and then decorated it on Wednesday.  John Derek happened to be playing in the garage when we started.  I went out and asked him if he wanted to help.  He leaped into the air and said, "Oh Yeah!"  It is fun to see everyone so excited and happy. The next day me and the girls and Michael took the gifts my mother had left here and put them under the tree.  One of Michael's birthday presents had gotten it mixed up with some Christmas gifts and when we put them under the tree we found it and let him open it. But then he thought he should be able to open all the gifts under the tree. He says it's Christmas now.  We keep telling him it is not Christmas but he sees the tree and the stockings and the gifts and can't understand why we are waiting to open the presents.  He asks me daily if he can open them.   It may be a long month. . . . My grandmother sent us a fruit