Thornton Mom

As I was sleeping last night I said a prayer in my dreams asking Father for help with our family.  I felt a yearning in my heart for a family that got along and was nice to each other.  When I awoke I felt that same yearning.  I feel like we spend all our time waiting for the next event that we are excpected to do and in the mean time we just watch television or stay in our rooms.  so when I woke I prayed about this again.  I truly want our family to enjoy being together. I opened my computer to begin my scripture study when I was drawn to an article entitled: Aiming at the Center, by Pres. Uchdorf .  In this article he talks about the center of our lives should be loving the Savior and our Father in Heaven. "If our primary focus, thoughts, and efforts are centered on increasing our love for Almighty God and extending our hearts to others, we can know that we have found the right target and are aiming at the bull’s-eye—becoming true disciples of Jesus ...

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. ...

I have been feeling the need to help our children know that their Father in Heaven loves them.  That if they can have this knowledge in their lives they will be able to believe the gospel, the prophet, understand the priesthood, the temple, the trials, etc. As I have pondered this feeling I have had some of the following thoughts: Pray that Elizabeth will have an experience this summer that will help her KNOW her Father in Heaven loves her.  That this knowledge will be the spark that ignites her testimony and keeps burning strong throughout her life.  Something for her to build upon. In my patriarchal blessing I am counseled, "forgive before the offence is complete."  I need to pray for the strength to forgive my children when my children do something that bother's or annoys me. Pray to see the times in my children's lives that the Lord is showing His love for them and point it out to them. Today I had a good experience setting up an outing with one of El...

I realized that I have referenced a special experience I had in the temple but that I never wrote about.  I would like to relate that story. I was in a pretty deep depression.  It was not fun and I was tired of being there.  This particular time I was being extra hard on myself.  I was driving to pick Elizabeth up from a camp with the young women and listening to the Mormon Channel while I drove.  I got so caught up in what I was listening to that I missed the street and had to do a U-turn.  As soon as I did something was said that brought the depression on in full force.  I was moved to tears and then instantly had the impression that there was an angel standing behind me with her hands on my shoulders comforting me through this moment.  I felt that it was my great grandmother Lexia Warnock.  I felt peace and comfort. A few weeks before this I had received a blessing from Derek that I would have angels to help me and that I would be able...

After my "time out" the previous evening we watched a movie entitled Mom's Night Out , produced by the same people as Courageous , and War Room .  The movie was delightful.  It made me laugh so hard, touched my heart to it's core, helped me ponder and realize some of what my perfectionism is, helped me feel loved.  I felt like the writers of this movie reached into my brain and my life and portrayed it on the screen.  It was truly delightful. The following scene was the most poignant in the movie.  I sat there with tears streaming down my face as I realized that the reason I had had such a bad night was being discussed and a new way of thinking given.  I highly recommend this movie to all mother's out there!! As I listened to his words I was reminded of the words I was told in the temple, that I am enough! I was reminded that my Father in Heaven is not expecting me to be like the other mothers I think my kids need but to be me, that He gave them t...

Several weeks ago Derek was driving to work and saw a new sign for Hope Reins . It in a new ranch admidst lost of ranches along his way to work.  But this one stood out and he looked it up when he got to work and found it is a ranch that uses horses to help children who are struggling usually with a major trama like death or abuse, etc.  He mentioned it to me and I put it in the back of my mind. A few days later I was driving to his work and saw the sign, it jumped out at me.  So I did my own research and felt that I needed to get Samantha into this program.  I wasn't sure if they would accept her as she suffers from anxiety without any major trama.  But I applied and got a call a few days later.  As the woman talked about the program I felt that this is exactly what Samantha needs.  The woman told me to bring Samantha the next day and take a tour and if she liked the horses they would allow her in the program. Samantha loved the horses and was ...

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....

This was by far my favorite day on our trip.  It was a tender mercy from our Father in Heaven and we really enjoyed it.  We started off on the Jungle Cruise and laughed at all the corny jokes. When we had been in Adventure Land the first time the kids saw Aladdin's Magic Carpets and really wanted to ride them.  My favorite part of the ride was wen we flew by a camel and got wet.  "Watch out, they spit!"  He spit at us.  It was awesome!!  We were told that the best place to get a treat was the Dole Pineapple Stand.  Wow!! Amazing!!  It was pineapple ice cream put in pineapple juice for a pineapple float.  Or you could just have the ice cream.  Derek and I were in seventh heaven.  The kids got slushies and we all loved it!! Aren't they just so cute?  We went on the new ride the Seven Dwarfs.  On our previous visit we had been blessed when an employee just handed us some fast passes which w...

I was able to go to Samantha's school the other day and see some of the work she has done.  It was so cute to see that she wrote a letter to BYU Admissions telling them why she wants to go there.  Samantha is a good girl.  She tries so hard to please others.  She is having a very difficult time right now.  I finally uncovered that her teacher is yelling at the class and she is taking it personally.  She is also does not have the best self estem right now.  We have talked with her and feel that it is time to find a new therapist.  This was a hard thing for me to deal with.  Thinking that I should be doing more, that if I was a better mom she wouldn't need therapy.  But my sweet Heavenly Father let me know that I am a good mom and that this is beyond me and I need help.  Just as I would seek help for JD's reading I can't do this by myself.  I have faith that she will become the Young Woman the Lord wants her to be. Hig...

The other night I was laying in bed having difficulty going to sleep.  I was thinking about my kids, about exercise, about spending more time with them.  I have been listening to a book and the author said that "if your family is fighting it is because you are not spending enough time together."  So I have been wondering how we can spend more time together. I thought about how every day when I go to pick up Elizabeth I leave the 4 younger ones at home to watch TV while I am gone.  By the time I get home there is contention and frustration.  I haven't felt like this is a good practice for our family but was not sure how to change it. I was reminded that in the spring we are able to go to swim practice for 3 hours and still get homework and things done.  Then I was reminded that almost next door to Elizabeth's school is a wonderful park with a play ground, trails, paths, etc., that we have never explored.  So I decided that I would take the ...

Daddy saw this Luna Moth as they were leaving for school.  Everyone jumped out of the car to get a better look.     Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 5:1 "1  And now behold, there was not a living soul among all the people of the Nephites who did doubt in the least the words of all the holy prophets who had spoken; for they knew that it must needs be that they must be fulfilled." Wow! That is amazing that they ALL knew.  I think about our country and wish the same statement could be said.  I do think that when the Twin Towers fell in 2011 our country turned to God.  It was not the whole country but a lot of it.  And it wasn't very much longer until we forgot again.  Just as the Nephites are about to forget again.  I am just so disappointed in our country right now.  With the gay marriage ruling I feel that our country has turned.  That we a...

Elizabeth Maddie John Derek Grandmommy and Grandaddy Cousin Caroline Samantha Tubing James We had a blast up at the lake with our cousins.  It is such a joy to be around family.  We love it!!   We tubed, swam, skied, ate, laughed, it was a good weekend.  Even little Michael got in a tube with Elizabeth.  He loved it.  He even turned around and rode backwards for a while.  That boy has lost his fear of the water.  It is so fun to see him so confident and unafraid.   Book of Mormon, Alma 52:21 "21  And it came to pass that Moroni, having no hopes of meeting them upon fair grounds, therefore, he resolved upon a plan that he might decoy the Lamanites out of their strongholds." This plan is used over and over again in this war. I am amazed at how many times the Lamanites take the ...

Today I was enjoying talking to my mom on the phone as I drove to the temple.  She asked me, "How are you doing?"  Without thinking I replied, "Great!"  That answer caught me off guard.  Over the past several months if someone asked me how I was doing I would reply a half hearted, "fine."  But today I replied "Great," which had been my common answer for years of my life.  I had noticed that it was gone for a while, I just couldn't lie to people, I was not great. As I pondered this statement today I thought of several things that have made me "Great!" My Heavenly Father loves me.  He is happy with who I am.  Yes He is guiding me in my change to be a better person but He loves me.  The other day I was reminded of some special experiances I had had that let me know He is aware of me and loves me.  I was reminded that "I am enough."  When I am about to give myself a hard time for not doing or being _____ I remind my...

Those who knew me as a teenager are stunned when I tell them that I have 5 children.  As a teenager and young adult I lothed the idea of being a stay at home mom.  IF I had any children it would be one or possibly two and I would not stay at home with them.  The truth is that in my heart I knew that I would have more children and the thought of being a stay at home mom and "not doing anything with my life" scared me.  I saw no worth in motherhood. This morning I was reading someone's blog and they talked about how much they enjoy motherhood. I love being a parent. It's the toughest job I've ever had. But it's also the sweetest and most fulfilling. I understand why "multiply and replenish the earth" was God's first commandment to our First Parents. (Where would we be without that admonishment?) It is the step, if we choose to take it, that can bring us the most joy, and bring us the most personal growth. Parenthood is trul...

Happy Mother's Day!!  I had a wonderful surprise arrive at my house Saturday evening and it came with homemade cheesecake.  My sister Annelise came to visit for Mother's Day.  It was delightful.  As I was getting ready for church I had a pair of pearl earring my mother had given me for Christmas that I wanted to wear.  But the back of the earring was glued to the pearl and I couldn't get it off.  I have tried several times to wear them but it hasn't worked.  As I held the earring in my hand again I decided to read my scriptures.  At the end of scripture study I had an idea and followed through on it and off came the back of my earring.  I was delighted and truly felt that this was a special Mother's Day gift from my Heavenly Father. Samantha made me breakfast in bed.  She and John Derek gave me cards they had made at school.   Elizabeth spoke in Sacrament Meeting.  Her talk was very sweet.  I kept a copy and will ...