Thornton Mom

Elizabeth had her last home game for Middle School.  The Athletic Department gave all the 8th graders red roses to say goodbye to them.  Elizabeth is a great girl.  She has worked hard at volleyball and I am proud of her persistence even when things don't go the way she wants.  She was expecting to play a lot this year but new coaches were put in and they have different ideas and Elizabeth has spent most of the season on the bench.   She still presses forward and fulfills her commitments. Derek and I took Samantha to the Lego Store for her birthday.  She loved it.  We then went to the Cheesecake Factory and had Cheesecake.  It was delightful.  We are so happy for our sweet Samantha and so glad that she is part of our family. Recently I talked about wanting to find out what brings me joy.  I had read a book about motherhood and how to be happy in motherhood.  The author talks about how she loves being a pediatrician....

I wrote part of this story the other day but I want to expand and finish it: In January I really wanted to make homemade bread.  I have a Bosch Food Processor that I got when I was married.  I have tried to make bread in it but it was just too much for the machine.  I looked around to find the mixer I wanted but the price was too great and I couldn't justify it.  8 months later I am using my 20 year old hand mixer and it breaks.  That afternoon my neighbor gives me an old mixer.  It is great, a KitchenAid Pro that has a huge bowl.  I am so excited to make bread and so grateful that my Heavenly Father was so aware of me that He gave me a mixer the day my hand held one had broken.  What more direct blessing could I receive? The day I try to make bread my new machine starts to smoke.  I realize it is not going to make 4 loafs of bread.  So I start the journey again of looking into the mixer that I really want.  I find some use...

Happy Birthday John Derek!!!  John Derek is officially 8.  He is so excited.  All week he was telling me  '. . . 'cause I turn 8 on Saturday," "When I turn 8 on Saturday . . . " ". . .  more days until I turn 8."  His official birthday party is later this week so he got a candle in his "daddy's favorite breakfast" (eggs, bacon, and grits) and then daddy took him to the sporting goods store where he got his first real bow.  He and dad had a blast shooting together. John Derek is such a great kid.  He loves to play with Michael.  He is a good friend.  He loves to hang out with his neighbors and play soccer, baseball, kickball, or anything else involving a ball.  We love John Derek. Of you look in the right bottom corner you will see where he hit the target for the first time. The Infinite Atonement (Illustrated Edition) by Tad R. Callistar Pg. 284--"As for these other gifts [the gifts of the spirit]--how often do w...