Thornton Mom

Today is Christmas Eve.  Michael woke up so happy to know that he could take off one more ring and that there was only one left. Aunt KoKo invited all the girls to spend the night at her house last night.  They made cookies and watched Anne of Green Gables. Ammon also invited the boys over to his house for the night.  John Derek was so excited that Monday he packed his bag and put it in the car so that he would be ready. Aunt Annelise arrived just in time for dinner and volunteered to put Michael to bed so that Derek and I could run some last minute errands. It has been nice to have the kids taken care of. This morning my thoughts are turned to that First Christmas Eve.  To Mary, new at motherhood and marriage and being called to carry the Son of God.  What an amazing responsibility she had.  She must have been an amazing woman. To Joseph who stood in the background. Here was a man who did not seek praise, did not seek attention, who hum...

Not too long ago we celebrated our November birthdays.  Aunt KoKo, Derek, Aunt Christina, and Michael all  have their birthdays within a week of each other.  We celebrated the North Carolina birthday's at Grandmommy's house for Family Home Evening.  It was delightful.  Aunt KoKo made yummy cupcakes for Michael and delicious coconut cream pie for Daddy.  (She is our amazing pastry chef . . . yummm!) Michael loves asking me to take his picture.  Look at that face!! Derek and KoKo Godly Characteristics of the Master Ezra Taft Benson, October 1986 General Conference "Virtue is akin to holiness, an attribute of godliness. A priesthood holder should actively seek for that which is virtuous and lovely and not that which is debasing ...

  We went to the Lake for Labor Day.  It was fun to be with family and to play in the water.  Mormon 1:15  "15  And I, being fifteen years of age and being somewhat of a sober mind, therefore I was visited of the Lord, and tasted and knew of the goodness of Jesus." Mormon had to know that God was real at a very early stage. Just like Joseph Smith, Mormon was going to be put through a lot of persecution and he needed a strong knowledge to keep him on the right path and help him stand up to the wickedness that surrounded him.

We celebrated John Derek and Aunt Angela's birthdays this past week.  It was a delight.  Aunt KoKo pulled out her amazing skills and made John Derek a football cake.  It was amazing and delicious.  She also made Angela her famous Chocolate Moose Cake.  She truly is an amazing cook!! We love being around family.  We wish we could have them all around us all the time but it is a delight that we have some.  It is nice to have that love continually around us.  We are very blessed. Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 9:14 "14  Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me." Christ makes it so easy. We just have to turn from our natural man and turn to Him. Sometimes this can be hard but as we continue to try and do it over and over again we will...

Maddie wanted to do everything Aunt KoKo did Maddie is too cool John Derek loved playing with his cousins Ammon drove the jet ski all over the lake Amber will leave us at the end of the summer to attend school Michael and Samantha have fun with the water and bubbles With Derek and Elizabeth involved in different Girls Camp activities we decided to spent time with Derek's family at his parent's lake house.  It was fun to visit with family, play games, play in the water, and just relax.  I love my in-laws, they are wonderful people I am so blessed to be part of their family. I remember the first time I was in their home (on a blind date with my future husband) and I felt a great amount of love in their home and thought that whoever was part of that home must be very blessed.  Little did I know that I would be part of that love and it is such a blessing. In this Communication Age, How Effective Are Your Prayers? Contributed By By Sist...

Memorial Day at Lake Gaston was so much fun.  We also enjoyed Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream.  Yummmmmmm . . . . . . . I am really enjoying the book The Infinite Atonement (Illustrated Edition) by Tad R. Callistar.  I am especially enjoying the chapter entitled: The Blessing of Exaltation: Overcoming Weakness, Inadequacies, and Shortcomings.  It is to good to see that my weaknesses can become my strengths through the power of the atonement. One of the examples used was Enoch who was slow to speech and was able to turn this weaknesses into a strength through the power of the Lord.  This brought me comfort as I struggle to help Maddison in her speech.  To know that she is in the hands of the Lord and that he made man's mouth and can thus help her with her weakness of speech.

I got a little behind because of Thanksgiving.  I wanted to include a few photos of some things that happened. Maddie had a Thankful Feast at school.  She chose to be a pilgim and loved it.  It was so cute to see her sing her songs about eating Mr. Turkey.  Then the children said a blessing on the food.  We had fun. The following are pictures of the kids with their dad and their Aunt KoKo.  We had a party for KoKo, Derek and Michael's Birthdays. Today I read part of a talk given by Elder Russel M. Nelson of the Quarom of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ( click here to read/listen/watch) With your body being such a vital part of God’s eternal plan, it is little wonder that the Apostle Paul described it as a “temple of God.” 14 Each time you look in the mirror, see your body as your temple. That truth—refreshed gratefully each day—can positively influence your decisions about how you wi...