Thornton Mom

For my parent's 40th Wedding Anniversary they invited us all to a beach house in San Diego.  They have been planning this trip for about a year.  I had also decided to have all my kids change their schools to traditional schedule which allowed us the opportunity to go to Utah in August for Aspen Grove.  In March my parents were asked to go to the Church Office Building and meet with the Middle East Africa North Area (MEAN Desk.)  There they were asked to serve another mission in the Middle East.  I love that my parents always put the Lord first and said that they were willing to go.  They explained the plans that had been made this summer and it was agreed that they could finish their plans and leave the beginning of September.  I was so grateful that the Lord had made so many plans for us to be able to spend so much time with them before they leave. On the plane to San Diego.  Samantha and Maddie were buddies throughout the trip. We were...

Yesterday we had youth activities at church.  The day began with Elizabeth refusing to go because she didn't like what the young women were doing.  I did entertain the idea of letting her stay home but it just didn't sit right with me. John Derek also had a pack meeting, which meant that the whole family was invited.  Samantha did not have activities and was more than willing to stay home and babysit.  That was so tempting.  To be able to go without having to wrestle with the little ones. But then I was reminded that going to activities is just what we do.  That we need to spend more time together as a family.  Even though it would not be perfect it was the right thing to do. I prayed and then took a firm stand.  I kept having doubts about Elizabeth getting in the car and Michael crying to stay home.  John Derek even started to complain that he did not want anyone to go because they embarrassed him.  Again I prayed for strength and...

We had a very good Family Home Evening tonight.  I was not expecting anything much at all.  We had swim team practice and daddy's out of town, everyone was cold and tired so I was thinking FHE treat and Mormon Messages.  However Maddison really wanted to have a testimony meeting.  JD wanted to watch Meet the Mormons so we compromised with Maddie's testimony and the movie while we at the treat.   Maddie began telling about how even though things don't always go the way you want Jesus still cares about you.  I then asked her to tell the story about when she had a bad dream.  So she told us that one night she kept waking up over and over because of a bad dream but that Jesus helped her get through the night.  She had told me this story a few days ago.  It was sweet to hear her testimony growing.   I have a gardenia bush outside my house and it is in full bloom.  It is so fun!!  I always think of my grandmother when I see t...

Elizabeth spent the weekend with her cousins.  Such beautiful and silly girls!!  Beautiful girls at church. Handsome  men in matching grey suits. “My Days” of Temples and Technology Elder Anderson "You are not the first to wonder about the time and place of your life. A prophet living in the Americas asked the same questions. His name was Nephi—not the Nephi in the beginning of the Book of Mormon but Nephi the son of Helaman the second and the great-grandson of the prophet Alma the Younger. In the world in which Nephi lived, money, power, and popularity were more important than what was right. Many of the people openly disregarded the commandments. They lied, took what was not theirs, and ignored the law of chastity. Those who kept the commandments were ridiculed and mistreated (see Helaman 7:4–5, 21; 8:2, 5, 7–8 ). “When Nephi saw [these things], his heart was swollen with sorrow … and he [exclaimed] in the agony of his soul: “Oh, that I co...

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 ...

Friday we got a copy of Samantha's blood work.  The doctor has not called me but from what Derek and I can tell she is positive for celiac disease.  Celiac is  An immune reaction to eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye.  This would mean that our family would have to become gluten free.   I know the depth of this has not completely sunk in.  But there is a large part of me that was hopeful she may have celiac.  Celiac answers so many problems.   As I study more and more I am amazed at how not only do I think she has celiac but I think I have it too.  IBS can often be a miss diagnosis for celiac.  When I was diagnosed 25 years ago I don't think people really even knew what celiac was.  I also learned that 90% of your serotonin (the hormone that regulates, mood, appetite, and sleep) is produced in your GI tract.  This could be the cause of depression and anxiety.   I have pondered a lot the past few ...

 What are these weird pictures of??  Derek had the brilliant idea of playing freeze tag in the dark.  We got glow necklaces and bracelets, went to the gym at the church and ran around playing freeze tag.  It was lots of fun!! Everyone laughed and participated.  It was good to have an activity that we could do together and have fun with.  Elizabeth could switch direction quickly.  Samantha's laugh was contagious.  John Derek was the hardest to catch, Maddie brought along her bunny and kept trying to "freeze" the bunny.  Michael kept tagging everyone even though he was not it. The Atonement: Our Greatest Hope James E. Faust “During  those  long, prayerful  moments  …  I  tapped  into  a  life giving  source  of  comfort  from  my  loving  Heavenly  Father.  I  sense  that  he  was  not  standing  by  ...