Thornton Mom

Elizabeth finished her Middle School Volleyball year last week.  This had been a hard year for her.  New coaches, proud players, not a lot of time on the court, and all that other stuff that comes with middle school girls and life. But she did well.  She percevierd.  Her very last game she was put in at the end a long with all the younger team members and she did great.  She was able to shine, she made the winning shot, she helped the girls and encouraged them.  It was a blessing for me and her to finish the year on a positive note.  I think that Father in Heaven really blessed us to have that opportunity. My sister (who is an amazing mother herself) sent me this article and I really did enjoy it.  Here is a section that really described how I feel about God in my life as a parent and what I am working on daily that I may come closer to Him and have Him involved continually in my life. To moms of one or two children, from a mother of f...

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 ...

John Derek was so excited to be a sniper for Halloween.  The one thing he kept telling me over and over again was that he wanted a gun that looked "real" not plastic.  This was hard to find.  Finally on Oct. 30th I ended up at Wal Mart with him to look at air guns.  He had decided that this was so important to him that he would pay for the gun.  He was all about the look of the gun and wanted one that was well over $100, because it looked like what a sniper would use. Then a tender mercy occurred.  A gentleman walked down the isle and got involved in our conversation.  He knew air guns.  He showed JD the one that was just like the one he owned as a boy and still owns.  One that he has used to hunt small animals and that was the 2nd cheapest one at the store.  All this mans advice and thoughts were processed by JD and he decided on the gun this man suggested. John Derek was so excited and carried it all over the Halloween party and tr...

I'm a Unicorn! Celebrating my birthday with my extended family. This is so fun! Peace! I don't want one . . . . I want one. Last Sunday we celebrated Samantha's Birthday with our extended family.  It is so good to be around family.  We love it and them. Shipshape and Bristol Fashion: Be Temple Worthy—in Good Times and Bad Times Quentin L. Cook, October 2015 General Conference "But a true understanding of the Father’s plan reveals that the rewards of righteousness are available right now." ...

 While Michale was taking a bath he insisted that I take his picutre several times.  He loved looking at them and laughing.  We began the potty training process.  We were supposed to begin yesterday morning but had to run to the store, then go visiting teaching, we didn't get home until 11:00.  He had the beginnings of a cold and didn't feel good so I decided to put him down for a nap before we started.  I woke him up and began the training.  He did not like the idea of taking his diaper off at all.  He was tired and still sleepy.  I prayed for inspirtaion and had the idea to use a doll.  I grabbed a doll and had it sit on the potty and do funny things around the potty.  Michael loved it.  He thought it was do funny. This coupled with a TV bribe and candy got him to put on underwear and sit on the potty.  He spend the rest of the day in underwear.  The kids were very encouraging and happy to give him his pump...

  This weekend we went with our good friends up to the Lake House.  It was such a joy to be there with them.  I loved watching the excitement of their children at all the options for entertainment.  I think my kids are becoming ungrateful for the Lake House.  They take it for granted.  But I think that is to be expected, they are only human.   Saturday Derek had to get gas to mow the lawn.  When he tried to start the car it would not turn on.  So he and our friend drove to Roanoke Rapids and got a new battery, came back and installed it.  The car started.  I felt so blessed that this happened on Saturday.  If Derek had not needed to get gas then he would have left Sunday morning for his meetings and our friends would have tried driving me home but the car would have been dead.  What a blessing that we were all able to make it home safely and in time for church.   New Testament, Act...

  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...