Thornton Mom

Today I was driving home from the grocery store when the song Watching You , by Rodney Atkins came on.  I've always enjoyed this song about a dad who realizes the impact his example, good and bad, has on his little boy. As I listened to the song I wondered how I was doing as a parent and began thinking about all the ways I fall behind when immediately the Lord reminded me of how I am teaching my kids to pray and then I had an overwhelming sense of love from Him.  A love that told me I am doing good, that He is proud of me, and that He loves me.  He dispelled my doubts and let me feel for a few moments His amazing love for me. As the song continued I began to cry as I heard the words: "I've been watching you, dad, ain't that cool?" and I though about how I watch my Father in Heaven.  I felt Him tell me that He does enjoy my prayers "like he was talking to a friend."  Then I thought about how I do look at my Father in Heaven and I do want to be like hi...

Sunday Maddie really wanted to play on my phone during sacrament meeting.  I don't usually allow my kids on the phone but she outsmarted me by asking to read the scriptures.  Then when I showed her how to write in the Gospel Library she was hooked.  Here is her emoji testimony: I love Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father so sod (should) you.do,t (don't)  📥 (put)  your faith in a📦 (box) take it 📤 (out)  .📨 (send) your📩 (message)  to heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and they will know.I took my faith📤 (out) and I 📨 (sent)  my 📩 (message)  to heavenly father and Jesus Christ and I know they loved it and the name of Jesus Christ amen. MADDIE Thornton 11/27/2016💴✉💲📧💹💳💳✉💶📧 The weekend before Thanksgiving Derek and I were able to take a trip by ourselves to Salt Lake.  My grandfather's favorite yearly event is a Boy Scout Auction.  I hadn't been for 13 years and had always thought that someday I would go. ...

Yesterday I began the day asking for help to make my Sunday a Delight.  I was inspired to read notes that I had written about Sundays and the Sacrament.  (Got to love the Gospel Library!)  This helped put me in the right frame of mind and gave me encouragement for the day.  I looked up things to work on in Personal Progress and Cub Scouting for us to do after church. The morning went very smoothly.  Elizabeth woke up at about 7:30 and worked on her Secretary papers for Mia Maids.  (She doesn't usually get up before 9:30 and never on her own!)  When she finished she volunteered to make pancakes for breakfast complete with blueberries and chocolate chips inside. Sacrament meeting went okay.  I really tried to focus on being quiet and listening to the prelude music.  I was amazed at how distracting people talking was.  I need to be better about sitting quietly.  Michael went to our friend to sit so that made things easier. ...

On October 29th we took Samantha to the temple for the first time.  It was so good for all of us.  Elizabeth did a great job directing Samantha and making sure she knew where to go.  Samantha was nervous, we had talked about it a lot so she would know what to expect.  Once we got there and got dressed Derek was asked to be their first one in the font.  Samantha pushed Elizabeth forward not wanting to be the first to be baptized.  But then when Elizabeth got out and it was Samantha's turn she jumped out of her seat and rushed to the font.  She was so excited! The girls did about 6 family names each and Derek did 12.  Samantha had helped me with several of the names and was excited to choose which girls she would get to do.   It was such a blessing to have family names to do.    Sunday Samantha got up and bore her testimony about faith.  She told about the YW having a night to do Personal Progress and Samantha was...

The Candy Haul Sunday I was getting ready for church and had the idea that I should bare my testimony.  I began to ponder what I would say.  I thought of the past week and all the little blessings I had received and decided to talk about my gratitude for my Father in Heaven.  As we were sitting in church the 1st Counselor bore his testimony and talked about Stake Conference a few weeks ago and how we were challenged to spend time everyday in the Book of Mormon.  Our family had taken this council to heart and had redoubled our efforts in scripture study.  I then felt inspired that this is why my family has been so blessed this week.  We have spent some time in the Book of Mormon every day and Heavenly Father is blessing us because of it.  I also realized that I had increased my personal study and gone to the temple 3 times in 2 weeks.  The Lord really does bless those who do His will. Making Wooden Helicopters at Home Depot Saturday Morning...

The Candy Haul Sunday I was getting ready for church and had the idea that I should bare my testimony.  I began to ponder what I would say.  I thought of the past week and all the little blessings I had received and decided to talk about my gratitude for my Father in Heaven.  As we were sitting in church the 1st Counselor bore his testimony and talked about Stake Conference a few weeks ago and how we were challenged to spend time everyday in the Book of Mormon.  Our family had taken this council to heart and had redoubled our efforts in scripture study.  I then felt inspired that this is why my family has been so blessed this week.  e have spent some time in the Book of Mormon every day and Heavenly Father is blessing us because of it.  I also realized that I had increased my personal study and gone to the temple 3 times in 2 weeks.  The Lord really does bless those who do His will. Making Wooden Helicopters at Home Depot Saturday Morning ...

The Candy Haul Sunday I was getting ready for church and had the idea that I should bare my testimony.  I began to ponder what I would say.  I thought of the past week and all the little blessings I had received and decided to talk about my gratitude for my Father in Heaven.  As we were sitting in church the 1st Counselor bore his testimony and talked about Stake Conference a few weeks ago and how we were challenged to spend time everyday in the Book of Mormon.  Our family had taken this council to heart and had redoubled our efforts in scripture study.  I then felt inspired that this is why my family has been so blessed this week.  e have spent some time in the Book of Mormon every day and Heavenly Father is blessing us because of it.  I also realized that I had increased my personal study and gone to the temple 3 times in 2 weeks.  The Lord really does bless those who do His will. Making Wooden Helicopters at Home Depot Saturday Morning ...

 One Day Michael and I were discussing how much longer he could watch TV.  I was saying things like 3 more minutes and he was trying to negotiate with me.  He would put up 4 fingers then 5 then realizing that was not long enough he lifted all ten fingers.  Then he came over put his 10 fingers next to his 10 toes and said, "This many."  What a smart little kid. Samantha LOVES Harry Potter.  We are getting ready to celebrate her birthday and she really wants a Harry Potter party and is working hard to see it be done.  In school she had to make a country and of course she chose Harry Potter.  Here is her map of Hogwarts, the Black Lake, Hogsmed etc.  I thought she did a really good job. Counsel to the Saints Ezra Taft Benson, April 1984 General Conference "There is no inequality between the sexes in God’s plan. It is a matter of division of responsibility." I have frequently struggled with the role of women in the Church....

Yesterday I decided that we had had too many electronics on Saturday which had caused  lot of bad attitudes Saturday night and the attitudes were beginning again Sunday morning, so we would take a break for the Sabbath.  The kids complained but soon resorted to my wishes. I went to wake Elizabeth for Church and went a head and told her my idea.  She didn't take it well.  We talked, we fumed, and she would not budge.  Knowing that I had a choice between giving her the phone or having her go to church I decided church was more important.  So I relented and gave her the phone but she still refused to get ready for church.  I threatened consequences but nothing.  During this time I had been praying for help and kept being assured that I was doing fine.  I asked again if the consequences I was about to give her were correct, but instead received direction to praise her. I took a list of things I had written that I like about Elizabeth and ...

Samantha, Derek, and JD Labor Day Lexia and Derek Labor Day Elizabeth and Michael Labor Day Samantha and Derek Labor Day Michael waiting for Elizabeth's Volleyball Game Doing Stickers from Grandma More Sticker fun from Grandma Mom, take a picture! Mom, come find me! Catching Marshmellows at Cub Scouts Elizabeth's WOW for school a Mosaic Getting ready to paint the play room and living room. Talk like a Pirate Day at Krispy Kreame.  We ran into our friends the Nichols as well as others.  It was a great FHE night! I love turtles I am amazed at how much the monthly cycle affects my thinking.  The other day I was a complete wreck.  I couldn't make any decisions and I was so frustrated.  Everything was eating at me and I was literally biting my tongue to keep from making rude comments to my family.  Derek was so sweet and understanding as was Elizabeth. Usually right after that ...