It's A Wonderful Life...

In an effort to continue with thankful hearts, we pulled out an oldie, but goodie. We made kettle corn and made the girls watch the old black & white, It's a Wonderful Life. And it was wonderful to see them following the movie and learn from it. Of course, I cried at the end (as I've done for 17 years). Then, we begin to think of friends, family and the places the Lord has directed our steps and our hearts are full. I watched it for the first time during our first Christmas as husband and wife in 1990. I was moved by it. The life that touches other lives. The real value of "people" over "posessions." Oh, that our girls would learn what true "treasures" are...
On the very next family night (Fridays in our house), it was time to plug in "A Christmas Homecoming", the first Waltons movie. It was during the depression and we watched the children delight in one special gift...not even expecting that. It was moving...humbling.
And you guessed it, Our first Christmas in the Little House is next. We are hoping our little "daughters of Eve" are beginning to see a theme. :) Simple is nice. We are aiming for simple this year.
"A man is no failure who has friends."
-Clarence, the angel

Thank you for your friendship. It's a wonderful life...
STD,
LT

Thanks-living...

Andy preached a sermon on Sunday from Luke 17 and the ten lepers. It's interesting because statistically speaking, only 10% (1 in 10) returned to say "thank you" to Jesus for making him clean. Now depending on your soteriology you could say the Lord physically healed them but only spiritually and physically healed one- the Samaritan who returned to praise God. This not only shows God's grace on the unjust, but also the depravity of our human heart. Even after being cleansed from the worst disease known (in those times) they were not willing to return to say thank you. We know ingratitude dishonors God.

Fast forward to 2007- how many thank you's do you hear in a given day? Maybe not particularly directed at you, but even overhear as you go about your day-to-day life. I asked the girls yesterday if they could say "thank you" with a frown on their face. We all tried. It is darn-near impossible to say those words without a smile creeping across your face. Isn't that incredibly ironic- God commands His children to live in a state of thanks- thus causing a smile and joy to overcome us and causing the world to look at us and wonder- why are they smiling?

Well, we're smiling today. Saying "thank you" as often as we can. Wanting for one to ask us for The reason for our hope... We're also smiling when we think of you and how the Lord has blessed us with your friendship. Blessings to you and yours, from our little pilgrim family.

LT

The White House

On Saturday, we had the rare privilege to tour the White House. We took the metro into the city and found our way to the southeast entrance. We had to be checked in, go through several security checks and then we walked in... I'm not sure what I was expecting... but it was so interesting. Of course we had our "own" personal tour guide (Daddy) with more little tidbits of trivia than I could ever remember- it was entertaining. Here are our thoughts:

Sarah says, " I liked the Red Room. It was so elegant. It's where the First Lady entertains."
(We asked if she "really" does use the room and they said after the tours end at 1:00, the ropes are taken down and the rubber mats rolled up and they use the rooms in the afternoons and evenings/weekends.)

Abigail says, "I liked the Blue Room because it looked like no one ever sat in it. It looked like old stuff."

Rachel says, "I liked the George Washington paintings. And there was a statue of Abraham Lincoln's head. And I saw a picture of Rondo Reagan."

I can't decide. There was a piano unlike any I've ever seen before. It was gigantic and had eagles carved on the legs. The curtains were also striking... they were so majestic. The material, the tassels, the length. We're walking through and all I could think was that this is the closest thing to "royalty" we would ever see in America. This is the most famous house in America. WOW!
We did ask if "they" were home and both the President and the First Lady were gone, but it was a moment to stop and thank God for His providence and His provision for America. God has truly blessed America.

Well, the downside is that no cameras are allowed. So, you'll have to take our word for it until you call or write a Congress member and request a tour for you and yours.

Blessings,
LT

Thankful Thoughts...

*Sarah is thrilled to have her cast off. God healed her arm beautifully and she's especially happy to fix her own hair again. Do you remember how awful it is to be a 12 year old girl and have your mother fixing your hair?

*We've completed our first quarter of home schooling. The girls are doing so well. They are studying hard and learning spiritual lessons along the way. We're thankful to God for the grace and strength to teach and learn at home.

*We are making new friends at Andrews AFB. What a blessing to make new friends. Of course, the military "blesses" us with this opportunity often! But it is such a joy to meet folks from all over who come together for a season and purpose. God is faithful...

*We're thankful for "old" friends too. We pray for you as the Lord brings you to mind and
we love hearing from you.

Just a few thankful thoughts. Until next time...

LT

Some pics...

He did it!! 4 hours, 7 minutes...





Even Elvis had some pumpkin seeds...

We Have a Praise!

Sarah's arm is healing nicely and we are rejoicing that the break turns out to be just above the growth plate. After more x-rays this week (and a smaller cast) we are thankful for God's answer to our prayers. For Sarah, the difference was wearing a cast for 12 weeks or 6. She's happy that it will be for six weeks.
Thank you for your prayers!
LT

Marathon Man

My post is two-fold.

1. I'm so proud of my husband. He has been training to run a marathon and is set to do that next Sunday, Oct. 28th. The Marine Corps Marathon begins and ends at Arlington National Cemetery. I'm so impressed (and convicted) by his discipline, steadfastness and determination. I can honestly say that he is in better physical shape today than when we met 20 years ago. To God be the glory!

2. I'm asking for prayer for my (42 year old!) husband as he sets out to accomplish his goal. Please pray for his safety and health next Sunday. Go- Andy go!

LT

Show and Tell

Well, we have lots to show and tell...

You know that all three girls are playing soccer- well, make that two...
Sarah broke her wrist on Saturday morning during the game. She is being a real trooper and is recuperating nicely. We were "thankful" it was her left arm, since she's right-handed. She has a large cast for two weeks and then hopefully a smaller one for 4 weeks. It's right at her growth plate, so they are being extra cautious. I know she'd appreciate your prayers in the coming weeks.



On a happier note, we recently took a "field trip" to the National ZOO. We had so much fun!
One kooky thing that happened was a family of golden lion tamarins (aka: little orange monkeys with wild hair) got "loose". Although they roam freely in some trees in the zoo, they left their assigned area and were right above our heads. The zookeepers came out and said "No sudden movements. Move slowly to the other side and don't open any food until they cross over." We were amazed at these little monkeys. I can't think of a better place to teach the sovereign creation of God.















Happy Fall Ya'll!
LT

School & Soccer

Greetings from the soccer mom. All THREE girls are playing on base. They are excited and learning so much! I'm learning the art of "portable hobbies" whether it's reading my Paula Deen magazine or making my many lists or just getting to know some other moms. I keep telling myself this only lasts two months!

We are staying busy during the day as we homeschool. Rachel is in first grade. Abigail is in third grade and Sarah is in seventh grade. Whew! God is showing His faithfulness and continues to give grace abundantly.

Andy is at Andrews AFB more than he's at home. He's preaching for two services and has a lot on his plate. One of the incredible privileges he is blessed to do is to escort the wounded from the planes each week from Iraq. He goes to the flightline when the plane lands and goes aboard to minister to real heroes. They come in each week and a chaplain is there to talk or pray or just welcome them home. I'm glad he's blessed to be there.
We appreciate your many prayers as we minister in this place.

We hope all is well in your corner. We are thankful for friends like you.
Blessings,
LT

A few more pics...

Three sisters and our house...

LT

It's a Boy!

I thought that title may get you... We'd like you to meet Elvis- our newest addition. He ain't nothin' but a hound dog. Ha! After several years of coming up with with reasons we didn't need a dog, we finally gave in. The upside is there is finally a "man-child" in the house. Our new little beagle hound pup is keeping three little girls occupied and they are holding out for a little Priscilla to join the king, but after 2 weeks of scooping poop, their enthusiasm is waning. Needless to say, I've seen three little girls become "unselfed" lately and that's got to be good thing!

We've also celebrated the 12th birthday of our sweet Sarah. She is surely a gift from the Lord and she brings so much joy and love to our family. She's beginning to try out her babysitting wings and is looking forward to lots of "moo-lah" in her future. She is a wonderful big sister! She is growing up so fast. She is sunshine...

Andy begins services in August at the chapel 1 at Andrews. He is adjusting and excited to be back at a wing chapel again. We look forward to the ministry God has planned for our family. We are getting our guest room ready... the Thornley B and B is taking reservations for the fall...

Blessings,
LT

Daddy's Hands...

I can hear Holly Dunn now...

"Daddy's hands, soft and kind when I was crying...

Daddy's hands, hard as steel when I'd done wrong,

Daddy's hands were always gentle, but I've grown to understand,

There was always love in Daddy's hands..."

My Daddy has taught me so much...still teaches me things even today. He has managed to face many struggles and successes in his life and has let us learn from watching him. He has taught me too many things to list, but here's a few:

1. He gave me the gospel...early. I remember hearing him preach about hell and about heaven and wanting desperately to be with Christ in heaven. He was with me at my bedside that night so long ago when Christ captured my heart.

2. He taught me about football. Not just any football- but Gamecock football. I'm a Gamecock fan through and through and I'm able to go toe- to-toe with Andy watching football. When most girls didn't know the difference between a touchdown and a homerun, I knew the stats on Gamecock running backs and quarterbacks. We still wear our garnet and black!

3. He gave me a love for good music. He's an incredible musician and introduced me to all the best music- the Beatles, Elvis, the Everly Brothers, etc. Then the gospel music we love and sany so much is still in my blood. You can take the girl out of the south, but...

4. He taught me to respect and obey. Thank you for making me obey. Thank you for being hard on me. It's made me who I am today.

5. He taught me to be passionate about what I believe in. My Dad has a "fire in his belly" whether it's theology, music, Gamecocks or Harleys. He's passionate and I'm glad he is.

Happy Father's Day to my Daddy. Thank you for being the earthly father who pointed me to my heavenly Father in so many ways. I love you. We all love you!

LT

R & R...South Carolina style...

We'll be singing along with James Taylor as we head south for some R & R!

We're looking forward to seeing family and friends and fun in the sun!! When we return, we'll be packing up to move to MD. June will be a blur before we know it.

We can almost taste Piggy Park BBQ right now!

Blessings,

LT

Bless this house...

We are rejoicing that the Lord has provided a home for us in Waldorf, MD! It's a great story...


After looking for the past few weeks and coming up short, we decided to look over in Waldorf. We liked what we saw. It's a neat town and it's closer to Andrews AFB. We began looking but there wasn't much for rent, only for sale. So, I felt prompted to call about a house that was for sale to ask if they would consider renting. The family immediately returned my call and said that the Lord was the only One who knew they would be willing to rent. They asked us to come take a look and we did. I asked "What's the rent?" Then he said "How much can you pay?" I told him what our housing allowance from the Air Force is. WOW- needless to say it's worth more than we're paying. He told me they are Christians and they viewed their home as a gift from the Lord and they would love to see it used in ministry! WOW- we can do that!

Okay- here's the cherry on top- as only the Lord can do-

There's a beautiful, restored antique piano in the home. I comment on how beautiful it is and they ask me if it would be alright if they leave it in the house- WOW! I tried not to squeal! So we are breathing a sigh of relief on this beautiful day in the Commonwealth- not only are Andy's days on I-95 numbered, we are rejoicing in the grand provision of God. He has supplied our needs and gone beyond what we even prayed for! To God be the glory- great things He has done.

LT

Lessons learned from Mom...

I sure do wish I could see my Mom more often. She's a very special lady. I know we all learn so many things from our mothers, but I'm so thankful that God chose her to be my mom. He used her to teach me so much to prepare me for what He's called me to do. I wanted to list just a few of the things my mom taught me...

*how to love Christ and His church

*how to love and submit to my husband

*how to play the piano and sing harmony

*how to cook

*how to feed a crowd

*how to play softball

*how to drive a stick shift (she was more patient than Dad)

*how to make a house a home

*how to be a good friend

*how to pack a picnic- especially for tailgating

*how to find a bargain

*how to lovingly care for a dying parent

*how to be a fun grandma

Mom, I wanted you to know that I'm so grateful for your life, your example, and that you're my mom. I love you and wish you a Happy Mother's Day!!

To all my "sisters in motherhood" out there... "For He who has called you is also faithful to do it!" He will give us the grace to be godly mothers...

Blessings,

LT

City Livin'...

The longer we're here, the more we're enjoying the sights. There's something for everyone, that's for sure. We enjoyed the BEST meal of our lives Saturday night as we sat on the top floor of a hotel dining at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. It was the best red meat, EVER! We watched planes take off from Reagan Airport and watched the city begin to light up and bustle. You could see the dome lit at the Capitol and the Washington Monument in the distance. It was a memorable anniversary. City livin'...




But I really wanted to tell you about last weekend. We drove down to Fredricksburg, VA (about 20 minutes from our house) and we toured the battlefield in Chancellorsville. TJ "Stonewall" Jackson is a favorite hero of ours. This is where he was mortally wounded and later died on May 10, 1863. The stories written about him, his faith, his theology, his family are just inspiring!

We're enticing you to come for a visit. There's so much fun to be had!
Blessings,
LT
PS- We are still trying to find a place to live. We covet your prayers for our family. We know Jehovah-Jireh knows the time and place and will provide!

"Love is friendship on fire!"

"He made the sun,

He made the moon...

to harmonize in perfect tune.

One can't move without the other. They just have to be together.

And that is why I know it's true, You're for me and I'm for you.

And this world just can't be right without you in my life...

When God made you, He must have been thinking about me."

These words from Natalie Grant's "When God Made You" could not say it better.

Saturday at high noon (that's right, cinco de Mayo) will be our 17th wedding anniversary. It's funny because neither of us can imagine it being 17 years. We still feel like we're on our honeymoon. I still get excited every afternoon when he drives up. He can make me laugh like nobody's business. He lets me cry on his shoulder and he makes our home so much fun. Best of all, he pursues Christ. So, as I follow him in this life, I know where we're going!

I've heard the quote that "Love is friendship on fire!" Well, that's true at the Thornley house.

Happy 17 years, my beloved, my best friend!

LT

The Final Word...

Well, after several months of assignment changes and quite the roller coaster ride (I hate roller coasters, BTW), Andy has orders to continue here in the NCR (National Capitol Region) at Andrews AFB just to the east of DC in Maryland. Well, Andrews AFB, home of Air Force One, is located in a crime-riddled section of town and base housing is not an option for a while, so...


We are praying for direction and a place to live. Our current home is just too far away from the base and our landlord has the house on the market. We would covet your prayers for base housing to open at Ft. Belvoir (a base that would cut the commute from 40 miles to 16 miles for Andy) or that the Lord would show us where we should live for the next 3-4 years. Now, for all you folks who haven't made it up to DC are jumping for joy, because now you have more time to come up and see the sights (and us!) We appreciate your prayers! LT

A loose tooth, snow and a big birthday!

Rachel could not be happier. Not only did "God make it snow on my birthday!" but "God gave me a wiggly tooth, too!" What a wonderful birthday. After a trip to Build-a-Bear and Chuck E.Cheese, who would think it could get much better for a six year old? Well, it was a special day and we are so thankful for her life, her spunk, her tender heart to the things of God. Can she really be six years old??

Rachel's first birthday- top left.

Rachel- around two trying to doctor Abigail.

Another snowfall in VA- We better enjoy it. It might be a while before we see anymore snow!!

Changing...

You know the old saying, "Nobody likes change except a wet baby..." has a lot of truth to it. Change is tough. Change wears on the mind and body. Change is hard...but also a necessity. The seasons change. Our hairstyles change ( I know, losing the 80's look was especially hard for me!). Our relationships change. Our tastes in food and many other things change. I even look at our girls. They change almost weekly...not just their favorite friend or hobby, but their little minds and bodies change constantly. And not just because they are female, but because they are growing, learning, and maturing. In this new year, I have one thing on my mind- channeling their changes through the Word of God. I want to take my mothering, mentoring, discipling to the next level with our three little daughters of Eve. I pray for grace to nurture, love, discipline, persuade, and train them to be "polished cornerstones in the king's palace..." None of this will happen without the empowering of the Holy Spirit in me.

Another word about change- every year when I pack up our Christmas decorations, I find myself wondering where I'll unpack them next Christmas. See, that's the thing about change. Once you get used to it, it's not so bad.

Happy New Year! May the changes the sovereign Lord brings across your way this year serve to make you more like Him and more dependent on Him.

Let's glorify God and enjoy Him even more in 2007!

LT