Thornton Mom

John Derek dressing up for Wacky Wednesday at school. Celebrating Maddie's Birthday with Mom and Dad. We went to Red Robin and they sang her Happy Birthday! Michael begins swim lessons. Celebrating Maddie's Birthday at lunch with her friends. I told the kids that while Derek and I were at the temple I wanted them to create a scene from a story out of Legos.  This is John Derek's creation of a scene from Diary of a Wimpy Kid. I love it when Michael falls asleep in the middle of the day.  He is so cute! John Derek's school put on a talent show.  He really wanted to participate.  He decided he wanted to sing the song "Gethsemane."  So he practiced and sang the song during tryouts.  He was put in the show and sang for the whole school.  I was proud of him.  He is our little missionary and is not ashamed of his love for Christ.  To see the video go to: https://goo.gl/photos/Uq4fG6FtdBAEyAqW7 ...

A few weekends ago we went to our cousin's home.  They took us up on the Blue Ridge Parkway and then into "Mayburry."  We had dinner in the soda shop that supposedly Andy Griffith worked in as a teenager.  It was so much fun!! New Testament, 1 Peter 3:18 It is humbling to think that I am one of the "unjust." I consider myself a good person but then I remember that I cannot make it back to my Heavenly Father without Jesus Christ. And then I feel gratitude for Him. And stand in awe that He was so perfect and that He went through so much for me. (This is another post that I found I had never posted.  This would have been October 2014)

 The kids got to hang out with Aunt Angela, Uncle Will and Ammon over the weekend while Derek and I went on an overnight-er.  The kids had a blast.  The girls got to sleep in Amber's room and Saturday they went to a preparedness fair and got to see a real fire truck!  Michael could not stop talking about it.  They even got to go inside!  "The Sunday afternoon last conference when Elder Nelson talked about the Sabbath day. My body was planted in front of the TV broadcast, but my mind was bouncing somewhere between a game of Angry Birds and the Wikipedia entry for History of the chair . But I managed, in spite of myself, to glean a key point: what if, instead of treating the Sabbath as a list of do’s and don’ts, we treated it as a sign to Heavenly Father—a chance to express our love, gratitude, and discipleship? Maybe your sign is joining ward choir or taking a walk with your family on Sunday to enjoy the beauties of creation. Maybe it’s ...

Maddie, Samantha, Michael, John Derek As a child I remember going to my Grandparent's home in Tennessee.  One evening Grandpa encouraged me to look outside.  There I saw tiny lights flashing all over the field.  It is my fist memory of "fireflies."  I spent the week running after them and caching them in a jar hoping to make my own"firefly" lantern.   Not to long ago I introduced my children to catching fireflies.  They loved it.  When we arrived at the Lake House Friday it was evening and the kids saw the fireflies.  They ran inside asked for a container and began catching fireflies.  Samantha took Michael by the hand and I went with Maddie and we caught several.  Put them into the container and hoped for a lantern. We finally decided to let them go.  It was a sweet moment for me to see them all huddled around the container, enjoying a piece of nature that Heavenly Father made for them and me.  I am so ble...

John Derek came running in the house, "Mom, you have to come look at this . . .  and you probably want a container!"  I was unimpressed.  Trying to get dinner on and waighted down with the stress of the day.  When I didn't jump up and run he said, "It's a Turtle!"  Then I jumped and ran!! I love turtles.  I think it has to do with the turtles my Grandfather would bring back from his visits to Tennessee.  I think it was so sweet that my John Derek knew my feelings and wanted to share with me something he knew would make me happy.  We all had fun holding and playing with the turtle.  Even Michael was mesmorized.  It was a nice break to a busy day.  I emailed Derek the above picture.  He said that the best part was knowing how I was feeling right then and knowing how excited I was.  I love that he knows me so well too. Book of Mormon, Alma 24:18 "18...

We went to the beach for Spring Break.  One of my favorite things to do there is go crabbing.  I did a bunch of research and found a great spot that even has a playground next to it and we go crabbing.  When I was a child we would catch crayfish off the dock of Starvation Reservoir.  We kids LOVED it.  We would put a chicken leg attached to a string on the floor of the lake.  Then we would attach the string to the dock.  The water was shallow enough that we could see the leg through the water.  Then we would wait . . . in a few minutes crayfish would emerge from hiding and start eating the leg.  If we were quiet and careful we could slowly pull the leg up until we could reach a net underneath and scope the crabs up. We apply this same technique to catch blue crabs.  The biggest difference is that we are on a pier about 10-15 feet above the water.  We put the chicken leg in and here come the crabs....

We did end up with another snow week.  In the last 2 weeks my kids have gone to one and a half days of school. This week the snow was beautiful!! We had a blast playing outside with family and friends.  We made forts, went sleading, had hot chocolate, it was a blast. I am so grateful for my Patriarchal Blessing.  It gives me such peace and comfort.  I know that my Heavenly Father loves me.  He gives me reassurance and knowledge to face the challenges I have.  I am eternally grateful for His continuing love and support.

Pilot Maddie and Co-Pilot Michael We went to the park the other day.  It was nice outside and we all needed some fresh air.  It was fun to see my darlings playing with each other, helping each other (Samantha helped Maddie climb to the top of the "spider web,") and chasing "helicopters" as they flew down from the sky.  It was nice to have fun with my children. Chasing Helicopters JD at the top of the web. Samantha helped Maddie to the top.  What a nice sister. The Infinite Atonement (Illustrated Edition) , by Tad R. Callister Pg. 327--"There may be yet another reason for advocacy, particularly Christ's: it brings about a spiritual bonding between Christ and his children that cannot be achieved in any other way.  It is the thread that knits our hearts and souls together.  Who among us could watch him plead our case with fervent passion, listen to him rehears the grueling events of Gethsemane, hear his expressions of unbridle...

Elizabeth just finished her first season playing Volleyball for Durant Middle School, Go Dolphins!! Samantha wrote this poem about if she were in charge of the world.  I love reading my kids work and getting a clearer gimps of who they are.  Like, canceling mushrooms, permanent markers, candy bar would be a vegetable and if a person did not brush their hair they could still be allowed to be in charge of the world. “Lord, Is It I?” By President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, October 2014 General Conference "well-being. If our weaknesses and shortcomings remain obscured in the shadows, then the redeeming power of the Savior cannot heal them and make them strengths. Ironically, our blindness toward our human weaknesses will also make us blind to the divine potential that our Father yearns to nurture within ...

I love to see my hubby interacting with our kids.  On this day Elizabeth and I went to the library and chose books for everyone while Derek took the rest of the kids to the adjacent park.  As soon as Elizabeth and I arrived with the books the playing stopped and the reading began.  It was a beautiful fall day.  I love October. Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith, (2013), 262–72 "Seventy years later, he returned to England as President of the Church to preside over an area conference. By that time, the seeds he and others had planted had sprouted and flourished. He rejoiced to see so many British Saints come to the meetings.  He said, 'Several stakes of Zion, a temple dedicated to the Lord, a considerable number of ward and stake buildings, and some highly successful missionary work—all testify to the fact that the Church is coming of age in Great Britain.” ...

Samantha turned 10 last week.  She was so excited!!   Samantha wears her emotions on her sleeve so you always know what she is feeling.  It was a delight to see her skipping down the isles at the store as we looked for the perfect bike.  When our children have a birthday they get to go out to dinner with mom and dad, then go to the store to pick out their present.  When we went out to dinner she chose a Mexican restaurant because she knew they would sing to her.  She was so eager for that moment.  Then out came fried ice cream and a group of servers all singing "Happy Birthday" in Spanish.  She loved it. She is such a sweet girl and so good.  We had her in counseling about a year ago to help with some anxiety and negative thoughts.  At one point she had told the counselor that she heard voices telling her bad things to do and say.  The counselor encouraged her to tell the voices to go away.  We have not had the nega...

 It is a family tradition to go to the State Fair.  We had a blast!!  All the kids sitting in a giant lawn chair.  We decided we should take this chair and pull it out to Utah and then there would be enough room for everyone on the drive. Mom and Maddie being "licked" by giant neon ant eaters John Derek got a candy apple.  He loved the red "blood" all over his face. Our familie's favorite ride is the swings.  Maddie got to go on with all of us for the first time.  She was so happy, so excited and loved it so much.  Saturday I had some visitors come to my door asking if I had ever wondered "Why so many bad things are happening on this earth?"  My children were intrigued with these "missionaries" and we agreed to watch their short message.  In the message there was a statement made that "the Bible says Satan controlles the earth."  Afterward she asked me what I thought and I told her that I didn't agree with t...

Michael loves to say prayers.  When it is time to go to bed he folds his arms and says "ahr."  We say a prayer and he laughs and smiles.  When it is time to eat he always reminds us to bless the food and sometimes has so much fun praying that he wants us to do it again and again.  Our food is very blessed. He also loves daddy's truck.  Whenever he sees a bladk truck on the road he points to it and says "dayie tuk, bye, bye, dayie" then waves his hands good bye.  When daddy comes home he is the first to greet him and always wants a ride in the truck. Patience  Elder Neal A. Maxwell  "Moreover, patience will not be an obsolete attribute in the next world!" We will have to have patience in the next life which doesn't surprise me knowing...

John Derek was "branded" into the Wolf Pack Elizabeth received 3 honors for first quarter. Chorus, Straight A's, and having Pride in her work. Root Beer!! When I was a little girl my family would make homemade root beer.  I loved watching the dry ice smoke and bubble.  It is fun to see my kids doing the same thing that I used to do.  (We did have to remind Michael to not each the container) Patience   Elder Neal A. Maxwell   "We define the veil as the border between mortality and eternity; it is also a film of forgetting which covers the memories of earlier experiences. This forgetfulness will be lifted one day, and on that day we will see forever—rather than “through a glass darkly” ( 1 Cor. 13:12 )." This is an answer to a question I have had. I have wondered if we will have our memories from before this...

Michael was sooooo cute today.  We had to mow the lawn it had been almost 3 weeks and the grass was taking over the back yard.   At first Michael was afraid of the lawn mower and would go to the neighbor's house and hide until he heard me turn it off.  Then he would toddle beside me as I emptied the bag.  But as soon as I returned to the lawnmower he was gone again. Then he found a toy lawn mower at the neighbors and "borrowed" it.  He then was right behind me.  Mowing up any spots that I missed.   Michael helped mom mow the lawn!  He is so cute!!! I don't know who is more tired Michael or Mommy? Going . . . When I had about 20 min. left of lawn mowing he asked to go inside (I knew he was tired because he never asks to go inside.)  I put him in the swing and would push him when I mowed near him.   Going . . . .  Finally he fell asleep in the swing.  He was so cute.  I truly enjoyed Michael today....