Thornton Mom

Yesterday I began the day asking for help to make my Sunday a Delight.  I was inspired to read notes that I had written about Sundays and the Sacrament.  (Got to love the Gospel Library!)  This helped put me in the right frame of mind and gave me encouragement for the day.  I looked up things to work on in Personal Progress and Cub Scouting for us to do after church. The morning went very smoothly.  Elizabeth woke up at about 7:30 and worked on her Secretary papers for Mia Maids.  (She doesn't usually get up before 9:30 and never on her own!)  When she finished she volunteered to make pancakes for breakfast complete with blueberries and chocolate chips inside. Sacrament meeting went okay.  I really tried to focus on being quiet and listening to the prelude music.  I was amazed at how distracting people talking was.  I need to be better about sitting quietly.  Michael went to our friend to sit so that made things easier. ...

Sometimes on Sunday we invite families over for dessert.  This particular Sunday Michael and Samantha decided to welcome the families to our homes with chalk art. Michael was very proud of his rainbow and thought it looked just like big sisters. Samantha made a beautiful rainbow that Michael wanted to emulate. The Atonement by Elder Russell M. Nelson "But  mortal  life,  glorious  as  it  is,  was  never  the  ultimate  objective  of  God’s  plan.  Life  and  death  here  on  planet  Earth  were  merely  means  to  an  end—not  the  end  for  which  we  were  sent." Sometimes it is hard to remember--that there is more--that this truly in not the end all. "That  brings  us  to  the  Atonement.  Paul  said,  “As  in  Adam  all  die, ...

 We got out the game Jenga the other day and John Derek had much more fun building with the blocks than playing with the tower.  He was very proud of his ramp.  I was proud of him too.  He is growing up from a boy into a young man.  His features are changing and he is maturing.  He is still sweet and cute and still my boy.  That I am happy about.  I am excited to see the man that he will become.  Grandma Dew gave Michael a Truck book for his birthday.  He was so excited and makes me read it to him every day.  Then he has to tell me that he wants to buy each one.  Michael also loves the pajamas Great Grandma Christensen gave him last year.  Every night before bed he tells me he wants to wear the doggy pajamas.  He is extra excited when Maddie and John Derek wear theirs. Your Next Step ...

Annelise and My's 2nd day of Girls Weekend. Michael, already so proud of his facial hair. John Derek's gift from Aunt Annelise We have been hearing a lot about the Sabbath Day.  As I have thought more and more about the Sabbath day I have felt a need to change.  My Sabbath Day consists of bidding my husband an early good-bye, getting kids ready for church, tying to feel the Spirit as children are noisy and fighting etc., a game of chase as we try to get all the kids in the car.  Home where everyone is famished and wants to eat right now! This is where I typically throw my hands in the air and give up.  The rest of the day is spent with kids on computers or television, me trying to calm down and cook so my husband can eat a nice meal with us and watching the clock tick so I can stop feeling guilty and we can be done with Sunday. I realize that this is not the way to keep the Sabbath Day holy and to make it a delight.  Today I ran across this Art...

Happy Birthday Annelise!!  She came down for a visit on her birthday!!  So we got an ice cream cake from our wonderful nephew and celebrated with her. She insisted on giving everyone a gift for her birthday.  John Derek got a mustach straw.  The highlight of his day!! Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 20:8 "8  And he said unto them: He that eateth this bread eateth of my body to his soul; and he that drinketh of this wine drinketh of my blood to his soul; and his soul shall never hunger nor thirst, but shall be filled." In Relief Society they also talked about the blood and body of Christ. That when we come into Sacrament meeting when we look at the sacrament table covered with a table cloth that we can think about that being Christ actually laying on the table. That this is His body and His blood. As that image entered into my head I ...

Dressing up for Sunday!  Got to love my cute kiddos!! On another trying day a friend of mine reminded me of the Mormon Messages " Daily Bread ."  These three videos reminded me to take each day as all I have to do.  To not worry about tomorrow, to trust the Lord and ask for His help to get through today.  This is something I have to be reminded of almost daily as some of the trials get hard and the moments seem overwhelming.  But I am so grateful to a Father in Heaven who loves me so much that He has provided a Savior for me.  Someone who has suffered all I have suffered and knows my pain.  I know that I do not even come close to understanding the Atonement but I will continue to ask for His help, to use His Atonement, and to press forward one day at a time.

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 we...

Sunday as we walked into Church during the announcements Michael was being slow.  So I scooped him up and walked down the isle.  He began to scream and was reaching towards the back of the chapel.  After sitting down I looked back and there was my friend who usually sits with Michael so I can more easily help the older children.  I asked him if he wanted to go back.  He immediately settled down and toddled back into her arms.  I am so grateful for kind and loving people that help me out in so many ways.  I truly am blessed. Last night we went to see Meet the Mormons .  It was a great movie.  I highly recommend it.  It tells the stories of 6 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .  One of the stories was about a bishop and his wife.  I loved seeing the wife wrestle her 3 energetic boys during Church.  As she was picking up Cheerio's off the floor I smiled, knowing that I am not the only one. Micha...

This morning was hard getting the kids ready for Church.  I was tired from staying up chaperoning a youth dance.  After trying to take a nap and being interupted every 3 min. I prayed for help and felt that I should get up and have scripture study with my kids.  Two of my nephews and my niece and a friend of theirs at a youth dance. My nephews are such studs. Today was Elizabeth's first day in Young Women's.  She had gotten a new dress and really wanted to wear it.  But it needed a few alterations that I thought I could do in about 5 min.  It took 35 min .  Elizabeth wanted to wear makeup for the first time 10 min . Samantha had a talk that I had forgotten about so she and I worked on it another 10 min .  I had a lesson to give and needed to print it out 7 more min.  Then as we were walking out the door 15 min . late for Church Elizabeth stepped on her dress and ripped it.  At this point I took many deep breaths said a prayer ...