Thornton Mom

Yesterday in the October 2017 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Nelson asked 3 questions: 1. What would your life be like without the Book of  Mormon? 2. What would you not know? 3. What would you not have? I would like to answer those questions for myself. 1. What would my life be like without the Book of Mormon? Without the Book of Mormon my life would be much more confused, much more empty, I would have much more doubt and question more.  I would only be able to rely on the Bible and would have a lot more doubt because of stories and situations that I do not understand.  That seem unclear and questionable.  I would not feel the amazing love I feel from my Savior.  I know I would know He loves me but I wouldn't realize how completely. 2. What would I not know without it? My favorite part of the Book of Mormon is when Jesus Christ comes to the Americas .  I love His compassion for the people. ...

Michael had me make a truck. (I have to say I was impressed with what we created.)  Aunt Annelise brought us stuff to make Gingerbread Houses with.  It was so much fun.  Elizabeth got to use the frosting tools she got for Christmas. Samantha was able to put more candy in hers than anyone else. John Derek stuck as much candy on the outside as he could. Maddie's came tumbling down but she still smiled. Today as I was making my bed I was pondering on a statement that frequently runs through my head when I am depressed and frustrated. "This is not what I wanted my life to be!"  I was reminded of a talk I gave years ago after studying a lot about Christ.  I learned that life was not easy for Christ.  That even He didn't have the life that He wanted.  That He may have know about what was going to happen but He was not prepared for His Father's comforting spirit to leave Him.  But God knew He could do it and He had faith in His Fa...

Christmas Eve Dinner Got to LOVE the cousins The most interesting thing just happened.  Lately I wake up at about 3:30 in the morning.  This is nothing new for me.  So instead of trying to fall back asleep (which I don't usually do until about 6:00) I decided to get up and read my scriptures.  As I usually do I checked my email and found that my neighbor had responded to something I had sent her.  So I wrote back and immediately she responded.  "What was she doing up at 3:30 in the morning?"  Well her son was having leg cramps and she was out of medicine.  I felt so blessed that I could run medicine over to her so that they could both get some sleep.  How nice to do service first think in the morning. Silly Wise man (He was quite insistent that he wanted to be a wise man. I didn't even know he knew what that was.) We had a great Christmas Eve.  It is so fun to have family around and to spend time with them.  Annelise ...

 Happy Birthday Uncle Will, Cousin James, and Grandmommy!!  It was delightful to celebrate their birthdays as a family.  We have a crazy bunch of people and yet it is so enjoyable. Angela always gives Mom T. a photo calendar for her birthday.  It is the highlight of the night.  It was fun to see everyone crowding around trying to look at it. A couple of weeks ago we went as a family to go caroling.  That is a tradition that started many years ago in the Thornton Family and we have continued to do it.  Not everyone could be there, we had sick kids that needed to stay home but my sweet husband knew I needed to get out so he stayed home and let me go.  We hit a few houses but several were not home.  Our last house was the home of Grandaddy's sister who is going through Chemo.  That was truly a delight.  To see their happiness and joy at receiving carolers.  It truly made my heart sing and filled me with the Spirit. ...

Everyone loves to decorate the tree.  We picked it out for Family Home Evening on Monday and then decorated it on Wednesday.  John Derek happened to be playing in the garage when we started.  I went out and asked him if he wanted to help.  He leaped into the air and said, "Oh Yeah!"  It is fun to see everyone so excited and happy. The next day me and the girls and Michael took the gifts my mother had left here and put them under the tree.  One of Michael's birthday presents had gotten it mixed up with some Christmas gifts and when we put them under the tree we found it and let him open it. But then he thought he should be able to open all the gifts under the tree. He says it's Christmas now.  We keep telling him it is not Christmas but he sees the tree and the stockings and the gifts and can't understand why we are waiting to open the presents.  He asks me daily if he can open them.   It may be a long month. . . . My grand...

 It is a family tradition to go to the State Fair.  We had a blast!!  All the kids sitting in a giant lawn chair.  We decided we should take this chair and pull it out to Utah and then there would be enough room for everyone on the drive. Mom and Maddie being "licked" by giant neon ant eaters John Derek got a candy apple.  He loved the red "blood" all over his face. Our familie's favorite ride is the swings.  Maddie got to go on with all of us for the first time.  She was so happy, so excited and loved it so much.  Saturday I had some visitors come to my door asking if I had ever wondered "Why so many bad things are happening on this earth?"  My children were intrigued with these "missionaries" and we agreed to watch their short message.  In the message there was a statement made that "the Bible says Satan controlles the earth."  Afterward she asked me what I thought and I told her that I didn't agree with t...