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...

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...

Usually when I don't post for a while it is because things just aren't going well.  But this time things really have been going great! A couple of weeks ago I waited for my emotions to take a dive, but they haven't.  Sometimes I wonder if I am speaking too soon, but it is true.  I really have been good.  I don't know if it is the acupuncture that I am doing or if it's the Vitex herb I am taking.  Maybe a combination of the two.  But nevertheless I am doing good!! It has been so nice to not get easily overwhelmed by all that need to be done.  To be able to focus, to not make little things into a big deal, to not get agitated by the disorganization around the house, to not have the little things my kids do irritate me.  In fact I have felt an outpouring of love for them.  I am more patient, more willing to snuggle, more willing to listen and to be around them.  Overall things seem sweeter. I have been seeing a therapist along with Sa...

 Christmas Morning we all gather at the top of the stairs.  Dad then checks to make sure that Santa has come while the children find excuses to take another step down the stairs.  We always go oldest to youngest.  I wondered why until I realized that Michael would be trampled by the older ones if he was first.  We then play with our Santa gifts and bake the quiche and sweet rolls prepared the night before.  After a little while we open our other gifts.  Grandma Dew got us these snuggly warm blankets. Derek was sweet and took me shopping for a coat, we found one at Good Will for $10.00 and then went to the store and found another one.  Early in December a huge packaged arrived.  It was bout 4'x3'.  When I opened the box I found another box about 3'x2' inside was a cute Minnie Mouse Umbrella.  What a sweet husband I have. Eyes to See and Ears to Hear Kim B. Clark, October 2015 General Conference " ...

JD near the pond with his "walking stick" that he carried all over the property.  Saturday we went to Hope Reins and volunteered.  We began by picking up sticks around the property.  It is so beautiful there.  Michael loved finding a big pile of previously gathered sticks and taking them to the fire pit.  He was a hard worker and didn't want to stop.  Then we began our pooper scooper job.   Doing this job really laid to rest any desires of my children to own their own horse.     All the kids worked really hard.  It was good to go out and get some service done. Maddie would bring me an empty rake.  I would hand her the one that I had loaded and she would haul it to the wheelbarrow and then return for the next one.  Michael would come to me and ask for "meatballs" to put in his shovel.   Learning from General Confer...

The Little Mermaid A Sniper Female Captain America Care Bear Minnie Mouse Witch Reluctant Frog (he wouldn't put his hat on.) Pirate ARGH!! Meeting the Challenges of Today’s World Robert D. Hales, October 2015 General Conference "You may want to conduct what I’ll call a “personal council.” After praying, spend some time alone. Think about what is ahead. Ask yourself: “What areas of my life do I want to strengthen so that I can strengthen others? Where do I want to be a year from now? two years from now? What choices do I need to make to get there?” Just remember, you are a pilot, and you are in charge." Where do I want to be in 2 years? In November ...

We spent Sunday visiting my Dad's cousins who live in Florida.  It was so fun that I forgot to take any pictures.  We went to their church with them and then to their house for lunch.  It was delightful to visit wit them and their two kids.  Ben and Lindsey spent the whole time entertaining our kids.  They all love it.  It was delightful a great Sunday activity. Monday we began our drive back home.  Because of the flooding in South Carolina we again had to go through Atlanta and so broke it up into a 2 day trip.  The last day Michael slept a lot and by the time we reached home he had a fever.  That night he was sick and threw up.  We were just so glad that it happened at home and not on the trip.  We felt very blessed. The Lord is good to us.  We love Him and honor Him.  What a blessing to have Him in our lives. Yielding Our Hearts to G...

Our last day in Disney World was spent at Animal Kingdom.  We got there late so that we could sleep in.  Our adventure began at Mount Everest a fabulous roller coaster that even goes backwards!  Maddie sat next to me, we always keep our hands in the air when we ride roller coasters and Maddie is no different.  As we began our hands were up but as we went backwards and upside down my hands came down.  After a few moments I felt Maddie's arms against my shoulder, they were sill up!  I was being bested by my 6 year old!!  My arms shot back into the air and my respect for Maddie and her love of roller coasters increased dramatically.  She really loves fast roller coasters and can keep up with the best of us. While we switched around with Mount Everest we let Michael play in the Bone Yard.  As I was coming back from the ride Derek informed me that Michael almost cut his eye open.  I started to panic.  I wheeled as fast as I could to...

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...

Our next adventure was Epcot.  We were tired.  After the craziness the night before we didn't have much energy.  We had planned to sleep in and not visit the countries.  Oh we were so grateful for this plan. We began at Test Track where Michael really enjoyed designing his own car.  The kids loved going fast and then playing in real cars when we got done.  Derek and I were even able to sit in a Suburban with our children to see how we fit.  (That is one of the cars we are thinking about for next time we buy.) On to Mexico, the only country we visited.  Derek went on his mission to Mexico so he really wanted to visit it.  We went on a ride and then looked in the shops.  When we got done we were tired and hot and grumpy.  I then took all the little ones to a fountain park and they all got soaking wet.  They LOVED it!   Dad then got Mickey Mouse ice cream bars.  What is not to love? We then end...