Thornton Mom

John Derek dressing up for Wacky Wednesday at school. Celebrating Maddie's Birthday with Mom and Dad. We went to Red Robin and they sang her Happy Birthday! Michael begins swim lessons. Celebrating Maddie's Birthday at lunch with her friends. I told the kids that while Derek and I were at the temple I wanted them to create a scene from a story out of Legos.  This is John Derek's creation of a scene from Diary of a Wimpy Kid. I love it when Michael falls asleep in the middle of the day.  He is so cute! John Derek's school put on a talent show.  He really wanted to participate.  He decided he wanted to sing the song "Gethsemane."  So he practiced and sang the song during tryouts.  He was put in the show and sang for the whole school.  I was proud of him.  He is our little missionary and is not ashamed of his love for Christ.  To see the video go to: https://goo.gl/photos/Uq4fG6FtdBAEyAqW7 ...

Early in April Elizabeth celebrated her 14th birthday.  We celebrated at the Lake House with the rest of the Thornton family. She is really into "fandoms,"  Particularly Captain America, Avengers, Super Natural, Sherlock, and Dr. Who.  The last three are so popular that they are grouped together and called "Superwholock" by fans. The last few weeks she has been so incredibly wonderful.  She doesn't get as frustrated, she is more patient, more kind, helps her siblings, helps me, cleans without being asked, it is fun to see her turning into such a wonderful young woman.  I feel very blessed to be her mother. “Apply the Atoning Blood of Christ”  Neal A. Maxwell “If I am sufficiently humble, which personal weakness could now become a strength?”" As I read this phrase I was taken aback. I know I have heard this before, that our weaknesses can become a strength, but really? Could the things I am struggling with r...

Here are a few highlights from February: We had an extremely large storm go over Raleigh.  There were threats of tornadoes.  The kids really started to get worried.  If anything ever happened we are going to go down under the house.  So they decided to put anything that was valuable to them in bins so that if we went under the house they would have their most treasured possessions.  Valentine's Day John Derek made this cute sign for me.  What a sweetie. Elizabeth played church basketball and did very well.  She was the star player on the team.  Her confidence in herself on the court has been so fun to see.  She had quite a presence on the court.  A brother from another ward who has watched her play his daughter on the school teams said that she has really improved from last year.  He was really impressed.  She received so many compliments at her last church game.  It really was delightful to hear my da...

Usually when I don't post for a while it is because things just aren't going well.  But this time things really have been going great! A couple of weeks ago I waited for my emotions to take a dive, but they haven't.  Sometimes I wonder if I am speaking too soon, but it is true.  I really have been good.  I don't know if it is the acupuncture that I am doing or if it's the Vitex herb I am taking.  Maybe a combination of the two.  But nevertheless I am doing good!! It has been so nice to not get easily overwhelmed by all that need to be done.  To be able to focus, to not make little things into a big deal, to not get agitated by the disorganization around the house, to not have the little things my kids do irritate me.  In fact I have felt an outpouring of love for them.  I am more patient, more willing to snuggle, more willing to listen and to be around them.  Overall things seem sweeter. I have been seeing a therapist along with Sa...