Thornton Mom

On October 29th we took Samantha to the temple for the first time.  It was so good for all of us.  Elizabeth did a great job directing Samantha and making sure she knew where to go.  Samantha was nervous, we had talked about it a lot so she would know what to expect.  Once we got there and got dressed Derek was asked to be their first one in the font.  Samantha pushed Elizabeth forward not wanting to be the first to be baptized.  But then when Elizabeth got out and it was Samantha's turn she jumped out of her seat and rushed to the font.  She was so excited! The girls did about 6 family names each and Derek did 12.  Samantha had helped me with several of the names and was excited to choose which girls she would get to do.   It was such a blessing to have family names to do.    Sunday Samantha got up and bore her testimony about faith.  She told about the YW having a night to do Personal Progress and Samantha was...

I sat Michael down for lunch and asked him if he wanted sweet potatoes.  He said yes which surprised me because last time he didn't want them.  I put one on his plate and he at it in about 3 bites and asked for more.  I gave him another and he said, "No, two ones."  I gave him two, again "No, two ones."  So I handed him the bowl and he poured them all out on his plate and grinned.  I put two back and he ate all that was on his plate and one more.  For snack when he woke up from his nap he ate the other one.  Conclusion, Michael likes Sweet Potatoes. Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 20:3 "3  And it came to pass that he brake bread again and blessed it, and gave to the disciples to eat." This is the 2nd time He administers the sacrament. With the little time he was able to spend the administered it twice. This says something about it...

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. ...

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...

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...

These are a few examples of what my kids do with my phone when they get their hands on it.  Got to love them!! Today I feel the need to be grateful . . . I really do have the best husband in the world, others may say theirs is the best but I will rebuttle with:  He is perfect for me!! Elizabeth is beautiful and has a good spirit.  Yesterday she played outside for a long time then came in and started doing Family History without me saying anything. Samantha is supper helpful getting the children to play together and not whine. John Derek loves candy.  It is amazing what he will do for a jolly rancher. Maddie loves to love.  If I am frustrated she will immediatly come over to me and in her sweet girly voice tell me how much she loves me. Michael loves to laugh.  He is always doing something funny and he makes the whole family stop arguing and start to laugh. My mom is amazing and so willing to listen to what is going on.  She fee...

We had a wonderful time in Utah.  We loved being with family and friends.  I think Elizabeth says it best in her prayers, "Thank you for the best vacation ever!!" We have been well taken care of by the Lord.  The weather was perfect, we never got sick, everything just worked out.  We truly felt that we were in the palm of our Heavenly Father's hand.  Derek and I were not excited about driving out to Utah and we did not get to plan as well as we would have liked but we decided that the Lord is the one who wanted us to drive out so we gave it to Him and He truly blessed us better than we could have imagined.  Here are just a few highlights (more later): Making cookies with Grandma and Kately. Aunt Annelise took Elizabeth shopping for a new dress and got their nails done. Elizabeth and her cousins Christian and Dennis got to go do Baptisms for the Dead and the Draper Temple.  I was so impressed, it took 2 1/2 hours to do the names we broug...

Maddie received a Principal Pal award for being such a hard worker. Grandpa Dew played a My Little Pony game with the kids.  It was a joy to observe. Grandmommy, Eli, Elizabeth, and Grandma Grandma took us to sights here in North Carolina where my ancestors lived. Chapter 17: Sealing Power and Temple Blessings Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith, (2013), 215–27 "These labors of love shall not go for naught, for all those who have worked in this goodly cause shall find their treasure and riches in the celestial kingdom of God. Great shall be their reward, yea, even beyond the power of mortals to understand." As I look at the lives of my parents who have over and over again put the...

 My beautiful daughter Elizabeth went to the temple for the first time.  It was such a delight to have her there.  In our Church the temple is the House of the Lord and the closest you can get to heaven while on this earth. (Click here to learn more about our temples.) In it we make special covenants with our Heavenly Father for ourselves and for decesed ancestors.  At the age of 12 our young men and young women who are worthy can enter the temple and perform baptisms for the dead. (Click here to learn more about baptisms for the dead.) Elizabeth had worked with my mom and found 3 names to take to the temple.  It was such a tender mercy when I saw the names that they had found: Sarah, Elizabeth, and William.  Her first and middle name and her baby brother's name.  What a blessing. She had a beautiful time, even her Aunt who was working that night was able to peak in at just the right moment and watch her.  What a great blessing we...

Elizabeth has been after her dad to give her a temple recommend interview.  (In order to enter one of our temples a person must be a baptized member of our church and must keep the commandments.  When our youth are 12 years old they are allowed to enter the temple and do vicarious baptisms for the dead.)  Her dad gave her an interview and she received her recommend.  She was ecstatic and danced all over the house showing everyone.  She was so excited that she made this collage and posted it on Instagram.  I am so happy that this was a goal of hers.  What a blessing she is to our family. The Infinite Atonement (Illustrated Edition) Tad R. Callistar Pg. 231--"The Atonement is both redemptive and exalting in its nature.  C.S. Lewis understood this principle: 'For God is not merely mending, not simply resorting a status quo.  Redeemed humanity is to be something more glorious than unfallen humanity would have been , more glorio...