Thornton Mom

Maddie's family who came to the baptism.  Maddison was baptized on Saturday!! We are so proud of her and the choice that she made to become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Her daddy baptized her.  The water was very cold but she was very brave.  After being put under the water she jumped back up and left the font.  She was so cold.  There were two other kids who also go baptized.  One of the speakers afterwards said that he truly saw the children of the latter days "springing" out of the water. Michael wanted to be part of the pictures.  He was a little/lot jealous of the attention Maddie was receiving. 4 kids of ours ahve been baptized.  We only have one to go in about 3 years.  Wow, am I really that old? Samantha is so happy for Maddie and wanted to make sure Maddie felt loved! Maddie and Daddy Our Family (notice that Samantha does not have her shoes on.  If ...

 The kids have really been enjoying their snow days.  In the last 2 weeks our kids have only had one and a half days of school.  One of their favorite past times is playing Legos.  They keep coming up with new and better creations.  It is fun to see them. Chapter 5: Principles of True Repentance Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson, (2014), 76–88 "“The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human beh...

Saturday my son John Derek Thornton Jr. was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  As we rode in the car together to the church we asked John Derek how he was feeling.  "Nervous, I am not sure if this is the right thing.  But I want to do this . . . kind of."  We talked about how this is a decision that is important and it is his decision.  He then talked about being nervous and excited.  I told him if his cousin Tyler were he Tyler could baptize him.  John Derek replied, "I think this is something Dad's should do . . . I want Dad to do it." When the meeting started I got up to lead the music.  I was overcome by the number of people there to support John Derek.  He had his mom, dad, and all his siblings, my sister Annelise, my Parents Jolene and Bill Dew from Utah, Derek's parents, Gerald and Katrina Thornton, Derek's sister KoKo, brother Will and his family, Sister-in-law Shannon and her kids, the Primary President...

John Derek made cookies for family home evening.  He really wanted them to be snowmen.  Maybe he is hoping for things to cool down a little.  He is a good kid.  He turns 8 this week and will be baptized in September.  Derek has been reading a book with him about Baptism.  When asked at school what his favorite book was he replied: The Baptism Book.  What a great kid. I read this article about the Saints in Italy and their heritage.  I am just amazed at how the Lord has His hand in everything.  In the article Elder Snow talks of the Waldensians who did not conform to the beliefs of the Roman Church and hid themselves away in the Alpine mountains.  How some of these families joined the Church and migrated to Utah.  When I hear that people don't believe God exists and am amazed because I constatly see Him in my life and in the world all around me. Pioneers in Every Land Latter-day Saints in Italy—a Legacy of Faith By Lia McClan...

 My beautiful daughter Elizabeth went to the temple for the first time.  It was such a delight to have her there.  In our Church the temple is the House of the Lord and the closest you can get to heaven while on this earth. (Click here to learn more about our temples.) In it we make special covenants with our Heavenly Father for ourselves and for decesed ancestors.  At the age of 12 our young men and young women who are worthy can enter the temple and perform baptisms for the dead. (Click here to learn more about baptisms for the dead.) Elizabeth had worked with my mom and found 3 names to take to the temple.  It was such a tender mercy when I saw the names that they had found: Sarah, Elizabeth, and William.  Her first and middle name and her baby brother's name.  What a blessing. She had a beautiful time, even her Aunt who was working that night was able to peak in at just the right moment and watch her.  What a great blessing we...

Friday evening we found ourselves next to a field.  As we gazed out on the field we saw flashes of light illuminating the night.  I showed the children how to catch lightning bugs, fire flies, whatever you want to call them.  They had so much fun catching them and letting them go.  Samantha named one she caught Kevin.  It brought me back to my childhood and catching fire flies at my grandparents home in Tennessee.  There were so many bugs I thought I could gather them all and make a lantern.  Such a joy to see my children enjoying such a fun activity. Book of Mormon, Mosiah 5:7-9 "7  And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughter...

I found the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on Netfix and bribed Maddie and John Derek with it.  They quickly got ready for bed and sat down to watch the movie.  John Derek was excited by all the car races and Maddie loves the singing.  It is a long movie so we have watched it 2 different nights and still haven't finished it.  It is fun to sing the songs with them.  We gone around the house singing "Oh you pretty chitty bang bang, chitty chitty bang bang we love you."  Then John Derek jumps up and "explodes" with his arms and legs and yells "bang bang." Aren't they so cute together?  When I left the room they were in different chairs.  When I returned they looked like this. I have decided to study Covenants .  On lds.org they have a Gospel Topics study section.  I love being able to choose a topic I am interested in and learn more about it.   Mosiah 5:7-9 7 And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shal...