Thornton Mom

Yesterday in the October 2017 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Nelson asked 3 questions: 1. What would your life be like without the Book of  Mormon? 2. What would you not know? 3. What would you not have? I would like to answer those questions for myself. 1. What would my life be like without the Book of Mormon? Without the Book of Mormon my life would be much more confused, much more empty, I would have much more doubt and question more.  I would only be able to rely on the Bible and would have a lot more doubt because of stories and situations that I do not understand.  That seem unclear and questionable.  I would not feel the amazing love I feel from my Savior.  I know I would know He loves me but I wouldn't realize how completely. 2. What would I not know without it? My favorite part of the Book of Mormon is when Jesus Christ comes to the Americas .  I love His compassion for the people. ...

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...

The last couple of days have been difficult.  It is my time to be hormonal but so frustrating.  On top of my mental and emotional problems Samantha is having a hard time too.  She repeatedly has breakdowns and always looks forlorn.  We had an especially bad one a couple of weeks ago.  After talking to the Therapist she recommended that we get a Psychiatrist to evaluate her and maybe give her medication.  I don't love the idea of putting her on medication but I don't know what else to do. As her mother I feel very inadequate.  I think that she needs a mother who loves to snuggle and loves to pay attention to every ache and pain that she reports, but that is not the mother she has.  This morning as I was pondering over this I was reminded that she was sent to me.  That there must be something I can give her that a cuddly mother could not give her.  I don't know what that is but I hope I can find it. Yesterday I was able to go to the te...

 Happy Birthday Uncle Will, Cousin James, and Grandmommy!!  It was delightful to celebrate their birthdays as a family.  We have a crazy bunch of people and yet it is so enjoyable. Angela always gives Mom T. a photo calendar for her birthday.  It is the highlight of the night.  It was fun to see everyone crowding around trying to look at it. A couple of weeks ago we went as a family to go caroling.  That is a tradition that started many years ago in the Thornton Family and we have continued to do it.  Not everyone could be there, we had sick kids that needed to stay home but my sweet husband knew I needed to get out so he stayed home and let me go.  We hit a few houses but several were not home.  Our last house was the home of Grandaddy's sister who is going through Chemo.  That was truly a delight.  To see their happiness and joy at receiving carolers.  It truly made my heart sing and filled me with the Spirit. ...

Several weeks ago Derek was driving to work and saw a new sign for Hope Reins . It in a new ranch admidst lost of ranches along his way to work.  But this one stood out and he looked it up when he got to work and found it is a ranch that uses horses to help children who are struggling usually with a major trama like death or abuse, etc.  He mentioned it to me and I put it in the back of my mind. A few days later I was driving to his work and saw the sign, it jumped out at me.  So I did my own research and felt that I needed to get Samantha into this program.  I wasn't sure if they would accept her as she suffers from anxiety without any major trama.  But I applied and got a call a few days later.  As the woman talked about the program I felt that this is exactly what Samantha needs.  The woman told me to bring Samantha the next day and take a tour and if she liked the horses they would allow her in the program. Samantha loved the horses and was ...

Last night, really this morning as I was not wanting to get up, I had a dream.  I dreamed I was coming out of an old building.  It was a church or school or something.  There were several steps and landings to go down.  I was peddling on a bike.  My whole family was on the back of the bike and I was trying to keep us balanced and upright.  I was anxious and a little fearful.  I started down the stairs.  They were crumbling beneath me, then I would come to a landing for a second or two only to go down 3 or 4 more steps.  This went on for a few moments until suddenly I lost control of the bike and we were about to fall.  Then I woke up. This morning as I have sat pondering trying to calm my soul from the late night, the crazy activity night at church, the late start this morning, the late kids to school, the anger and frustration of all that is not done around the house and all that is required of me tonight I was reminded...

Elizabeth had her last home game for Middle School.  The Athletic Department gave all the 8th graders red roses to say goodbye to them.  Elizabeth is a great girl.  She has worked hard at volleyball and I am proud of her persistence even when things don't go the way she wants.  She was expecting to play a lot this year but new coaches were put in and they have different ideas and Elizabeth has spent most of the season on the bench.   She still presses forward and fulfills her commitments. Derek and I took Samantha to the Lego Store for her birthday.  She loved it.  We then went to the Cheesecake Factory and had Cheesecake.  It was delightful.  We are so happy for our sweet Samantha and so glad that she is part of our family. Recently I talked about wanting to find out what brings me joy.  I had read a book about motherhood and how to be happy in motherhood.  The author talks about how she loves being a pediatrician....

When we were planning our vacation to Disney we planned it around the idea of keeping the Sabbath Day holy.  The plan was to leave early Monday morning after General Confrence and then come home the following Monday so that we would not travel on Sunday.  The weekend before we were to leave brought a huge storm with lots of rain.  Most of the storm hovered over South Carolina for several days.  We felt an urge to get packed in case we needed to leave Friday night.  By Saturday we were almost ready to go and felt good going into conference.  We went back and forth hourly about when we should leave.  We didn't want to travel on Sunday but were worried about the roads in South Carolina. Conference was just like it is every year with children.  They are excited about the candy (this entices them to listen to the speakers) and then there was a bonus candy if they listened to a member of the 12 and wrote what they had learned on a sticky note....

Friday Derek and I put Elizabeth on a plane by herself and sent her to Salt Lake City for a family reunion at Aspen Grove.  I was nervous, she was nervous but I also had a great inner peace.  I knew that the Lord was with her and me.  That He approved of what we were doing and that He would watch after her.  I was so grateful.  She had a layover in Baltimore and I planned on talking to here there and making sure she found her gate but then realized that I would be in the temple when the plan landed.  My mom was wonderful and took over this role.  When I called after the temple I found that Elizabeth had found her gate without a problem and that she had gotten on the plane and it was in the air flying to Salt Lake. She arrived in Salt Lake and was greeted by Grandma and Grandpa.  She was so excited and so proud of herself.  I was so proud of her too.  It took a lot of confidence but she did it!!  She will be gone for a week and...

So one benefit to me having a broken foot is that my mom came to take care of me.  What a blessing, what a delight, what a wonderful Mom.  Annelise also has a hurt foot so mom flew to Virginia, picked up Annelise and drove to my home straight.  She is a trooper. She made meals, took us to appointments, too the kids bowling and to the library, cleaned, did the never ending job of laundry, you name it and she did it.  She is so sweet. I feel so blessed to have my wonderful mom.  I am so grateful to her for her sacrifice.  She carries the world.  I loved just being able to talk to my mom.  We discussed kids, the second coming, gospel principles, life, recipies, it was wonderful.  Thanks Mom Book of Mormon, Helaman 8:4 "4  And those judges were angry with him because he spake plainly unto them concerning their secret works of darkness; neverthel...

My birthday was last week.  It was a memorable birthday, I have never had a broken bone on my birthday before.  We woke up and cleaned the Lake House and then drove home.  Dad T. drove my car and Mom T. drove his.  We stopped at Wendy's for lunch and then were back on the road again.  About 20 min. away from Wendy's I realized I had left my purse at Wendy's.  With the crutches in my hands I had forgotten to grab my purse.  We raced back, said lots of prayers, and were blessed that someone turned my purse in and nothing was harmed.  What a great blessing!!  What a great birthday present. John Derek made me this cute flag out of legos as well as a sign that read "Happy Birthday" out of legos.  Derek brought me home an orchid, my mother and grandmother got me a beautiful church outfit, Mom and Dad T gave me a beautiful scarf, and I bought myself feather dusters.  I told my children they were magic and they didn't believe me.  ...

  Maddie started complaining of her tummy hurting about an hour before church.  I assumed it was because I turned off the TV and she had to give a talk in primary.  She seemed okay during sacrament meeting and even got to sit on daddy's lap.  She did a great job on her talk about the Holy Ghost.  A few minutes later her teacher told me that she was complaining about her tummy.  I went in to check on her and just as I put her on my lap she threw up.  Immediatly I was surrounded and taken care of by my ward memebers.  We took Maddie to the bathroom cleaned her and me up as best we could.  When I returned to the primary room to get my things the mess was completely cleaned up.  As I went to grab my other children someone volunteered to take them home for me.  It was so kind of everyone.  I felt so loved and blessed to be in such a great ward.  (Maddie has not had a problem since.) Book of M...

Happy Father's Day!!   Happy Father's Day to the best man in the world.  How grateful I am to have such a wonderful husband.  His love and dedication to our family and to the gospel is amazing and appreciated.  Our family is so blessed to have him in our lives. Also Happy Father's Day to my father's.  My Father who has taught me so much and loved me for so long.  He is an amazing example of one who is dedicated to the Lord.  He has been a true blessing to me and my life and raising me to love the Lord.  To my Father in Law who is so kind and caring.  His love and appreciation is continually felt.  Happy Father's Day to my Heavenly Father.  I am so grateful to Him for ALL He has given me.  The blessings and joy I have in this life are because of Him.  His willingness to sacrifice His son that I may return to Him someday, is so sweet and kind.  I am so blessed to know His gospel and to know that I am His...

 It was so good for me to see my kids having so much fun at the beach.  Sometimes it is nice to break away from the normal and everyday and just be a family.  I find we are kinder, more loving, more patient and more understanding.  I wish I could transfer that to home.  We have pockets of it here and there and those moments I treasure. New Testament, Hebrews 11:35 "and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:" April 2015 sacrifice,believe,jesus christ,faith I think that this shows a lot of faith. It must be difficult to face death knowing that if you just went against what you believed for a brief moment you would be spared. I am grateful for the examples of...

Last night I was able to go to the Temple with my husband.  All week I had been trying to get an appointment but several things kept preventing me from making it.  Saturday morning I tried again unsuccessfuly, and wondered if Satan was trying to prevent us from going.  What a blessing it was when my husband told me that he had made an appointment and we got the last two seats!  I am so grateful for his dedication to this gospel.   The Temple was wonderful.  I had had some very special experiences earlier in the day and was looking forward to sharing them with Derek in the Celestial room.  As we were in the temple I felt the Lord's peace so strongly.  My depression is very heavy right now and I don't view myself in the best light.  But as negative thoughts would enter my head they were immediately rebuffed by my Heavenly Father, comforting me and telling me it was "okay," or "that is not the case," or "don't worr...

Samantha has been struggling lately with finding her testimony.  She believes in God like she believed in Santa.  Finding out about Santa set her for a whirl and now she is doubting if God really does exist. On that same note I am amazed at her stamina and her desire to find the truth.  She really is putting a lot of thought and energy into finding out.  I am confident that she will discover Him and her testimony soon.  What a great age to decide if she believes in God.  She will decide when her parents are the most influential and before her friends gain their own opinions to sway her.  I am greatly thankful for this. A few weeks ago Samantha had lost a small stuffed animal.  She looked for it but could not find it.  She prayed and still no animal.  She was having a rough day one day and felt that God must not be real and if He is He does not love her because He had not helped her find this animal.  I prayed for strength and...

Last night I prayed for strength and patience to help me with one of my childreen.  I had thoughs of why the Lord had sent this child to me and wondered if another parent wouldn't have been more suitable, had more time and was more empathetic.  Then the Lord let me know that I was chosen to be the mother of this child.  He knew I could do it.  This gave me the peace and calm I needed.  It was nice to feel His confidence in me.  I am truly blessed. My niece opened her mission call last night.  She is going to Peru.  We are so excited for her.

Yesterday I couldn't go to my regular Yoga class so instead I found an online video with yoga for children and did it with Michael and Samantha.  Samantha did great and worked hard.  Michael would do it for a few minutes and then get board.  Sometimes he would climb on me and say "hosy" (horse) and other times I would put him into a pose.  When Maddie had to exercises for her 30 min. Samantha suggested the video and I watched as the two girls did yoga together.  The last 3 minutes when they were relaxing I had Samantha, Maddie, and John Derek all sitting cris cross apple sauce with their hands at their heart.  I took a mental picture as I watched my children doing something I like to do and enjoying it. This morning Michael kept coming to me "go gut."  I would as if he was saying go gurt (a yogurt that I give him) and he would reply no and repeat, "go gut" again.  Finally he went and got my yoga mat, brought it to me and said, "go gut....

My nephew left on his mission almost a week ago.  We missed his farewell talk and saying goodbye because of sicknesses.  I am so proud of him and the decision he has made.  My little John Derek really looks up to his cousin and I am so grateful that he  has such a wonderful role model to follow after.  John Derek really wasn't excited about him leaving so we asked if John Derek could sleep over one more time.  John Derek loved it.  He got to hang out with two of his favorite cousins and really felt like he was as big as they were.  What a blessing to be surrounded by such wonderful examples of truth and righteousness. Recently my sister sent me a link to a talk she read.  As I read the talk this morning I was reminded about what I have been learning about the atonement.  How it is more than just a way to be forgiven of our sins but even more so a way to live in this world.  Here are some of my favorite quotes from this talk: ...