Thornton Mom

We celebrated John Derek's Birthday this past week.  He has been so excited for it.  He reminded us for at least two weeks how long we had until his birthday.  We took him to Mellow Mushroom for dinner and then on to a toy store where he bought a Spinner.  It has been fun to see him play on it. John Derek is a good kid.  He truly tries to do what is right.  After we got his toy we picked Elizabeth up from the airport.  John Derek and I dropped Daddy off at the counter and we parked the car.  He was a perfect gentleman.  Helped me pull into the parking spot, opened the door, and even pushed me in a wheelchair (It was fun he went as fast as he could go down this long stretch.  I laughed and giggled it was fun to move so fast.  When he came to the end he said, out of breath, "Mom, your heavy!")  I am grateful to have him for my son. Chapter 1...

Today I was reminded of an experience I had last year that I need to write down.  I have a sweet and loving daughter who has fallen on some hard times emotionally.  Things were getting so difficult that Derek and I decided to seek help from a counselor.  We knew that if we did not get help now that when she hit her teen years we would have no way of helping her.  We wanted her to learn how to deal with these difficulties now so that when she was older she would know how to handle them.  She started to see a counselor and eventually was tested by a psychologist.  After the testing was done but before we knew the results I had an experience that made me realize how much the Lord is aware of us and loves us. We had to get our flu shots.  I had made an appointment with the doctor for all of my children.  As I waited in carpool line I felt very strongly that I should not tell the children where we were going and what we were going to do until ...

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...

Our 4th of July consisted of sparklers and fireworks.  We were up at my in-law's Lake House and we had so much fun.  We played on the lake during the day and in the evening we let the kids do sparklers.  After putting them to bed Derek, Samantha, and I went out on the boat to see fireworks. I remember as a child going with my parents and grandparents to see fireworks in Salt Lake City.  My dad would always make a great effort to get us all there because he knew Mom loved fireworks.  (My husband has followed this tradition) We would usually end up at a park and lay on the grass and watch the fireworks as we listened to the radio play patriotic music.   At a young age I was taught the importance of our country and the blessing it was.  Patriotism was celebrated, honored, and expected.  What a great love I have for my country, my freedoms, my ancestors sacrifice, my religion, and my family.  I feel so blessed to be born into this gr...

Memorial Day at Lake Gaston was so much fun.  We also enjoyed Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream.  Yummmmmmm . . . . . . . I am really enjoying the book The Infinite Atonement (Illustrated Edition) by Tad R. Callistar.  I am especially enjoying the chapter entitled: The Blessing of Exaltation: Overcoming Weakness, Inadequacies, and Shortcomings.  It is to good to see that my weaknesses can become my strengths through the power of the atonement. One of the examples used was Enoch who was slow to speech and was able to turn this weaknesses into a strength through the power of the Lord.  This brought me comfort as I struggle to help Maddison in her speech.  To know that she is in the hands of the Lord and that he made man's mouth and can thus help her with her weakness of speech.

Elizabeth wanted to do her hair Sunday morning.  She found a website that teaches you how to do the different hairdo's of the princesses.  This one is Elsa's Coronation.  Elizabeth truly felt like a princess all day long. We Believe in Being Chaste David A. Bednar, April 2013 General Conference "Every appetite, desire, propensity, and impulse of the natural man may be overcome by and through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We are here on the earth to develop godlike qualities and to bridle all of the passions of the flesh." My weakness for food can be overcome by the Atonement. My weakness as a mother can be overcome by the Atonement. I am so grateful to my Savior who gave me this gift that I may one day be ...