Thornton Mom

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 time is my "new progra

   Last night we went to Hope Reins for Samantha's session.  She really loves Abby and I am grateful that she gets to hang out with her.  Maddie and Michael made a friend in one of the counselors and took drew her pictures and told her that she was the nicest person they had ever met.  They are so sweet.  It was a beautiful night.  I couldn't resist taking a few pictures of the beautiful sunset.  God is so kind and loving to us. Ephesians 3:19  "19  And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." We need to love Christ with a love that is not based on knowledge, but based on faith. If we can have this faith in Christ's love then we will be filled with God's love.

This is an old post that never got posted: Monday was the first day of school.  All the kids started new schools so it was new for everyone.  Over all the day went good.  People seemed pretty happy. Samantha had the hardest time but going the middle school is hard.  I keep telling her she can do hard things.  This summer she climbed a rock wall and did a ropes course at Aspen Grove.  I remember being a teenager and doing the course.  I thought is was very difficult and have had no desire to do it again.  It was very difficult for her but she did not give up.  She kept at it even when she would fall.  I was proud of her.  She can do hard things. Michael was so tired after his 1st day of school that when we went shopping he just laid his head on the cart and would ask every few minutes if we could go home. Lately Heavenly Father has been helping me feel like I am a good mom.  As I have tried to get the family ready for this new school year I had a lot

Last night me and all three of my daughters went to the General Women's Conference for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Derek and I had been gone all afternoon on a walking dinner tour of down town Raleigh with our really good friends. As soon as we got home us girls needed to get dressed and leave for the conference.  Maddie was excited to go (even though she is not 8 yet, but decided that since I was the Bishop's wife I could do whatever I wanted.)  Samantha was excited to see a friend who was supposed to come but ended up getting sick and staying home.  Samantha was very good about not getting upset and still coming with us and keeping a good attitude.  Elizabeth was less than happy.  I talked to her, Derek talked to her, we threatened and finally came up with consequences if she did not attend.  We explained to her that this is what our family does.  We obey and we go.  With a lot of anger and frustration she got ready and in the car.  She spent the

One of my favorite scriptures is 1 Nephi 3:7.  When I was little my parents had us kids memorize it.  Since then it has guided me throughout my life. When I was 13 I was asked to accompany my ward during hymn practice right after sacrament meeting. (They did this for a while in the old days.) As you know I am not a piano player. I took lessons but never devoted much time or energy to it. At 13 I did not feel accomplished enough to play for the ward. I had been taught to always accept any calling I was given, I accepted and went home and cried. My mom later came and talked to me.  As I complained and cried she finally quoted 1 Nephi 3:7 "And I said unto my father, I will go and do the things which the Lord has commanded for I know that the Lord giveth no commandment unto the children of men save He shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which He hath commanded them." When she said those words I knew that I had to do my best.  It was hard, I did

Samantha's little cousins would seek her out wherever she would go.  They loved to hang around her and she was always making them feel special.  She is really good about including everyone.   We drove by the Provo City Center Temple. So beautiful.  I hope we get a chance to go inside next year. Michael had a hard time going to class.  But then they pulled out a rope and had everyone grab hold and become a train.  He jumped aboard and never looked back. Dedication Day Thomas S. Monson, October 2000 General Conference "Nothing that is required will be performed until we go to work and do something ourselves. We have no other people to lean upon, and therefore it remains for us to go to work and perform well our part.”" It is up to me to teach my children. If I want change I have to foster change. If I put it off it won't happen. I am deciding now how to form this new school year. I am listening to a book on enabling your children though teaching t