Thornton Mom

Elder Todd D. Christofferson wrote an article published in the June 2001 Ensign entitled Justification and Sanctification.  Near the end of the article he addresses the topic of perfection.  I have a desire for everyone and everything to be perfect.  I have this idea in my head that if I just did everything "right" then things would be perfect.  I wouldn't have kids who act like kids, I wouldn't have PMDD, my house would always be clean, etc.  I know this idea is wrong and I am working on changing it.  I really enjoyed Elder Christofferson's article.  He reminds me that we can only become perfect through Christ and even then not in this life.  Here are some quotes I really enjoyed: This personal persistence in the path of obedience is something different than achieving perfection in mortality . Perfection is not , as some suppose, a prerequisite for justification and sanctification. It is just the opposite : j ustification (being pardoned) and...

Waiting for the rest of the family to gather for early morning scripture study. "My default assumption is that good sense and patience will triumph in our many challenges in life.   If we live wisely, our lives will go smoothly.   LDS folks may especially be vulnerable to the rosy world view.   We expect to be blessed for doing what is right.   Then the sky falls...We ask, What did I do wrong?   Didn't I have enough faith?   Is God mad at me?   It turns out doing good does not guarantee a life of contentment and fulfilled dreams.   We may be blessed for our efforts with the gift of serenity or new challenges.   God will provide precisely the experiences that can lead us to greater faith and a closer relationship with Him.   We can move resolutely and peacefully to our next rendezvous with God or shake our washing machine hoses at heaven....Maybe life is designed to deliver a solid and growing measure of failures for each of us--e...

  Elizabeth is darling.  She is working so hard at her athletic interests.  She is really pushing her self in swimming and at this last meet she improved her time in all four strokes.  She is working really hard in volleyball and despite having a lot of inexperienced players on her league team she is cheering them on and trying to help them improve.  She is a wonderful girl and I am so proud of her.  I am grateful to be her mother.   Book of Mormon, Alma 48:15 "15  And this was their faith, that by so doing God would prosper them in the land, or in other words, if they were faithful in keeping the commandments of God that he would prosper them in the land; yea, warn them to flee, or to prepare for war, according to their danger;" June 2015 ...

Samantha was able to get a butterfly to land on her hand.  You can see it right on the tip of her fingers near her nose. The butterfly hung around.  It even came and visited daddy and Michael.  It was so fun as it allowed us to pick it up and allowed us to hold it.  This was on Friday.  It was a fabulous day.  Derek had returned from Ireland the night before and was able to just hang out at home on Friday.  We went to Elizabeth's drama class play that afternoon and then we all went to the pool that evening for swim team.  I don't think Derek got a break from the kids for the 4 hours we were there.  He is a wonderful husband and father. Book of Mormon, Alma 46:8 "8  Thus we see how quick the children of men do forget the Lord their God, yea, how quick to do iniquity, and to be led away by the evil one." I d...

I had a fun visit with some of our friends yesterday.  We talked a lot and I learned a lot.  At one point she said that she has to rely on the Savior and the Atonement to make up for the love that she cannot give her children.  She loves them but her weaknesses do not always show that and she prays that they will feel loved through the Atonement.  I loved that idea.  In my life right now I am functioning good but not perfect.  I need the Atonement to make up for what I cannot give my children right now.  She also talked about how important siblings are.  That in China one of the problems with only having one child is that there are no aunts, uncles, or cousins.  The family network is gone.  How as parents we may not be able to give our children all the love that we would like but they are still getting loved from their siblings.  That as children we fought with our siblings but now as adults we are closest to our siblings. ...

Today I was enjoying talking to my mom on the phone as I drove to the temple.  She asked me, "How are you doing?"  Without thinking I replied, "Great!"  That answer caught me off guard.  Over the past several months if someone asked me how I was doing I would reply a half hearted, "fine."  But today I replied "Great," which had been my common answer for years of my life.  I had noticed that it was gone for a while, I just couldn't lie to people, I was not great. As I pondered this statement today I thought of several things that have made me "Great!" My Heavenly Father loves me.  He is happy with who I am.  Yes He is guiding me in my change to be a better person but He loves me.  The other day I was reminded of some special experiances I had had that let me know He is aware of me and loves me.  I was reminded that "I am enough."  When I am about to give myself a hard time for not doing or being _____ I remind my...

My sweet John Derek is struggling right now.  He has a difficult time reading and we are working hard on helping him with that.  Recently he has gotten more and more frustrated and he does his homework less and less.  Yesterday the Lord helped me realize that he was embarrassed.  His homework is different from his peers and he is embarrassed when they pull him out of class to work with him.  I don't know how to help him, but I am grateful to a Father in Heaven who allows me insight and understanding that I would not normally have.  I know that JD will get through this trial and will conquer. Book of Mormon, Alma 21:15 "15  And they went forth again to declare the word, and thus they were delivered for the first time out of prison; and thus they had suffered." They did not give up. It is interesting that they were delivered for the FI...

Today testified of the power of scripture study.  In my lesson Sunday a sister mentioned that she gets up every morning at 5:30 and reads her scriptures, this is the only quiet time she has.  But this always makes her days go better.  Things run smoother and the unimportant things pass by the wayside.  I have tried to do this off and on for many years.  I had recently gotten back in the habit only to find myself nauseated and not able to get up last week.  So this week I resolved to begin again wondering if it would really make my day go better.  I did great until this morning when I realized that I had forgotten to turn on my alarm.  So I missed my opportunity.  I knew I would take the time later today and got my children up for scripture study.  Our friend comes over twice a week and watches the kids while I teach JD.  They love it!!  Yesterday Michael fell asleep on her lap.  So cute!! Well one thing after anot...

I started a new medication a couple of weeks ago.  Monday afternoon the nausea from the medication really hit me and I was out for the week.  I had read that the nausea can last for 3-8 weeks and I really did not want to be in bed for that long.  Derek gave me a blessing.  He said that I would get better quickly.  Every day got a little better.  Even now the nausea is still there but I can function.  I will take this over what I experienced last week any day. John Derek wrote this paragraph at school, I thought it was so cute and I really wanted to share it. "My $100(0)" "If I had $100 I would spend it on things.  First, I would need to get up very early and go to Utah.  Next, I will go snowboarding when I get there and I will go with my grandpa.  Last, I will go snowmobiling with my Uncle Heber, he goes fast and far.  I Love . . . . . . . . $100." Book of Mormon, Alma 19:16 ...

Michael and I were leaving the grocery store.  I asked him, "Should we go get in the car?"  He replied, "Aunt Annelise's car."  Confused I said that Aunt Annelise was not here.  Then we walked outside and he pointed to a red car in the parking lot (the same color as Annelise's) and said again, "Aunt Annelise's car."  As we walked by and I tried to explain that it was not her car he wouldn't agree.  As we were pulling out there was a grandmother putting groceries in the red car.  Michael looked at the car and said, "Aunt Annelise's car?"  I am so glad that he loves Aunt Annelise.  My beautiful niece attended the temple for the first time this past weekend.  It was wonderful to see her in the temple surrounded by family and friends.  I am so proud of her for making that decision.  She is a wonderful example to all her nieces and nephews.  In a few months she will be off on her mission to Peru.  We are so blessed...

Sometimes I forget how therapeutic it is for me to write this blog.  I get turned around in the winds of life and loose sight of what gives me the help I need.  I sometimes justify why I am too busy to read scriptures, and that listening is good enough.  But then as I sit and write I hear the Lord speak to me, through the words in my mind.  I am energized, brightened, and given peace. It is amazing to me that we human beings so quickly forget what makes us truly happy.  The words of the Lord, exercise and fresh air, healthy nourishing foods, being in the company of loved ones.  I find myself too often thinking that watching one of my favorite movies, or eating chocolate, or just having a few minutes alone will bring me peace.  But the truth is that being with my husband, reading to my children, reading the scriptures, writing in my journal, exercising regularly, and eating God made food is what nourishes my soul and body. In this video, the woman s...

Monday night we have Family Home Evening (FHE).  It is a time for our family to get together, to learn, to teach, and to have fun and there is always dessert (the bribe to sit nicely during the lesson.)  Sometimes we invite others to join us, this particular day the Sister Missionaries came and taught the lesson.  John Derek enjoyed having on the Armor of God.  He loved it when we had to think of a temptation and then throw fiery darts at him and he defended himself against them.  Maddie had furn with her two friends. Family Home Evening is strongly encouraged in our church.  I firmly believe that if we have FHE, scripture study and family prayer on a regular basis that my children will be protected from the fiery darts of the adversary and will be able to return to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus.

Samantha had to give a talk in church the other day.  It was on the gift of the Holy Ghost.  We both prayed to know what story she should tell.  She was reminded of a story that had happened not long ago.  She was supposed to go to bed but was staying up longer than she should and happened to see a scary scene on the television.  She could not sleep.  She was worried and scared.  Derek told her to pray and to read her scriptures.  She followed his advice and "the Holy Ghost brought me peace and I was able to forget the scarey scene and go to sleep.  Now when I am scared I know I should pray and read the scriptures and the Holy Ghost will help me forget."   The Infinite Atonement (Illustrated Edition) by Tad R. Callistar Pg. 281--Cannot God, the creator of all, fashion, shape, add to, modify and help overcome any weakness of any faithful, humble person?  Was that not the promise from the Holy One himself? When I think of t...

We played in the rain.  It was fun spending time with my cute kids. M. Russell Ballard, The Sacred Responsibilities of Parenthood Apathy can overcome even the active members, keeping them away from the temple and weakening their capacity to be effective leaders and teachers—thus leaving countless lives untouched and slowing the Lord’s work. And the Internet, when not properly used, is a vicious influence in the home. So we know, without question, Lucifer is the enemy of the family!  I know it is easy for me to think "I am doing a good job, I am keeping the Word of Wisdom, I go to Church."  But the gospel is so much more than that.  I need to go to the temple where I receive strength and insight, I need to read my scriptures that I might know the Lord's will for me. M. Russell Ballard, The Sacred Responsibilities of Parenthood  Many of you will remember that I have spoken at some length recently about the need to raise up the greatest generation...

Last night we watched the new Superman Movie--Man of Steel.  I really liked it.  I have always liked Superman.  When Derek and I were first married we had a man in our Church come up to us and tell us that his son saw Derek and turned to his dad and said, "Dad, It's Superman!"  It was then that I realized that I had married Superman and I still feel that way today.  He is such an amazing man and I feel so blessed to be his wife. Today I read a talk by David M. McConkie, First Counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  ( click here to watch/read/listen to this talk) His talk was directed towards teachers.  I do a lot of teaching with my children and found some ways that I can improve.  “The most important part of your service will be your own daily spiritual preparation, including prayer, scripture study, and obedience to the commandments. We encourage you to dedicate yourself to...

Michael has a six sense to know when I am up blogging.  I usually try to get up before my kids but the last few days he has woken up within 10 min. of me waking.  Even now it is 1:00 in the morning and I keep hearing him move around. Maddie's cousin Amber took these pictures last November. Maddie was evaluated for her speech today.  Early in her life I always felt that Maddie was ahead of the curve, especially in her speech.  Then when she was about 3 I noticed that everyone had caught up to her.  But then by about 3 1/2 I noticed her falling a little behind.  By 4 she was becoming hard even for me to understand.  When we put her in preschool she would come home in tears telling me that no one at school understood what she was saying.  I decided to do something about it. There is a program here in Wake County, North Carolina, called Project Enlightenment that works with children who have not entered Kindergarten.  I had reache...

Michael had been extremely grumpy.  I don't know if it is teeth, separation, just not feeling good, switching to milk instead of formula, or just one of those days.  He just kept screaming and I didn't know what to do.  Finally I put him by the window so he could watch his brother and his brother's friends play kick ball.  He was mesmerized.  He stayed quiet for almost 5 min. which was a huge reprieve.  Occasionally I would ask the kids to say hi to him and that would last us for another 5 min.  Just enough for me to get the piles of laundry put away. Maddison was in a cute mood.  She kept getting things out.  At one point she got out my yoga mat and said she was going to do yoga.  She then got another mat out and said, "Mom this one is for you."  She knows what I like.  So we did yoga together with Michael crawling underneath us.    With Daddy out of town we all snuggled in my bed fo...