Thornton Mom

Family Home Evening was on keeping the Sabbath Day Holy.  We started talking about what toppings we like on steaks.  I then pulled out a bowl of ice cream and tried to convince them to put the stake sauce on the ice cream.  Then explained that there are some things we like on a Sundae and some things we don't.  Just like there are some things we do on Sunday and some things we don't.  We then labled each of the Sundae toppings with things we can do on Sunday.  Daddy ended by giving everyone a whip cream nose.  Book of Mormon, Alma 13:4-9 "And thus they have been called to this holy calling on account of their faith, while others would reject the Spirit of God on account of the hardness of their hearts and blindness of their minds, while, if it had not been for this they might have had as great privilege as their brethren. 5  Or in fine, in the first place they were on the same standing

You can't see his rash well in this picture but he has little red dots all over his body.  Poor thing. Michael started fussing over the weekend, Elizabeth stayed home from school Monday and Tuesday with a headache, John Derek, Maddie, and Samantha started complaining of head aches and tummy aches Monday night along with mommy.  Tuesday Michael broke out into a terrible rash all over his body (it is still there.)  Tuesday night the rash showed up on Elizabeth but she went to school anyway Wednesday.  It is now Friday, Samantha, and John Derek are competing for who is sicker.  This is just a yucky bug.  I hope it leaves our home soon. One thing that I have learned from this experience is the faith my children have in a father's blessing.  Derek and I have not been able to sleep through the night since Sunday.  As each child shows signs of sickness and as they are in so much pain the all have requested a blessing.  Last night John Derek and Samantha did not want to go

Our sweet Elizabeth is amazing.  Her dad and I went to her 6th grade awards ceremony.  She was given an award for High Honors, having a 3.7 or higher GPA.  She was also given the Most Outstanding Math award, an award only given to one student in the 6th grade.  I am so proud of her.  It was a delight for her father and I to watch this beautiful young woman succeed and see the joy shining from her face.  I am so impressed with her.  She works hard to excel when even her friends don't.  She stands up as an example of goodness and righteousness despite the difficulties of middle school life.  What a blessing she is to our family. Power in the Priesthood Neil L. Andersen, October 2013 General Conference "While there are many things we do know about the priesthood, seeing th

Maddie still wants to be the baby. "We are a happy family"  Coming back from a visit to Lake Gaston.  "We love that place." It is fun to be together as a family.  I am grateful for a wonderful and loving husband, a daughter who is so mature and such a good girl, another daughter who's smile infects the whole family and who loves to help and take an interest in whatever someone is doing, a son who loves to make us all laugh and keeps us all moving, a daughter who has such a tender heart and loves to be with her brother, a little boy who loves to laugh and brings the family so much joy.  I am blessed!!   D&C 29:27-29 "27  And the righteous shall be gathered on my right hand unto eternal life; and the wicked on my left hand will I be ashamed to own before the Father; 28  Wherefore I will say unto them— Depart from me, ye cursed, into ever

Oh the joys of the dollar store.  Samantha bought play dough and enjoyed instructing and nurturing her younger brother and sister.  John Derek bought camouflage sun glasses and stick on mustaches.  Can you imagine anything else more fun? The Keys and Authority of the Priesthood Dallin H. Oaks, April 2014 General Conference "“Our Church doctrine places women equal to and yet different from men. God does not regard either gender as better or more important than the other. … “When men and women go to the temple, they are both endowed with the same power, which is priesthood power. … Access to the power and the blessings of the priesthood is available to all of God’s children.”" This truth was blinded to me for years. I

Elizabeth is having a difficult time becoming a young woman and all the "joys" that go with it.  She was complaining that boys have it so easy which led her into "Why do the boys get the priesthood and we don't?"  That is a question that I have battled for years.  Over time, when I was ready, the Lord would tell me a little.  And sure enough little by little my heart changed until I was able to easily explain to my daughter why boys get the priesthood and women get to be nurturers.  It is amazing to me how Satan has put such a rift in our society.  He has made such a competition between men and women.  He has made the women feel that they need to be like the men but never has he made the man feel that he needs to be like a woman.  If we women would value our role in this world, see the importance of being a nurturer as our ancestors did we would not feel oppressed or degrated.  Yes, it is true that in history women have been oppressed in several ways and

I read a talk given by Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ( click here to read/listen/watch this talk) The power of God’s holy priesthood is found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I testify that as you worthily participate in the ordinances of the priesthood, the Lord will give you greater strength, peace, and eternal perspective. Whatever your situation, your home will be “blessed by the strength of priesthood power” and those close to you will more fully desire these blessings for themselves .--My home is blessed by the priesthood.  I am so grateful that it is a part of my life. As men and women, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters of God, we move forward together. This is our opportunity, our responsibility, and our blessing. This is our destiny—to prepare the kingdom of God for the return of the Savior. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen .--Being a woman in this day and

In the morning Derek is so sweet and takes the kids to school for me.  We first started doing this last year as I was pregnant and so grateful for the extra sleep.  Maddie always had a hard time saying goodbye so she and I would sit on the steps of the garage and make faces and blow kisses to Daddy, Elizabeth, Samantha, and John Derek.  Michael has now entered the family so when we sat on the steps he hoped on my lap and started waving both his hands as hard as he could.  This got everyone waving as hard as they could and I couldn't help but share it with all of you. It is hard to see in the truck but I just loved everyone waving as hard as they could.  What a joyful family. I am grateful for the priesthood.  (The priesthood is the power of God given to man, as in anchent days was given to the apostles.  Today the priesthood has been restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith.  Every worth male member of our church has the opportunity to receive this power of God.  It can