Winter Happenings....

Risk is one of our favorite family games...Our little guy usually only hangs in for a few turns.












Our daughter is so silly...she dressed her cat, Blackie, up and had a tea party - not sure that
Blackie enjoyed it but she did.

Big brother built this snow cave for his siblings and they all, especially this guy, had fun in it. It is so like the Lord to bless me with a child who love the snow almost as much as me...and he loves building snowpeople...just like his mama!

I really love this picture of the mountains we live in - it was more beautiful as the time went on...and this picture does not do it justice. This picure gave me hope. I've been struggling with trying to be "happily" content while the Lord works out His plan for our family...some days I feel that we have been forgotten about - but as we all know this is not true in the least as God's word clearly says that He loves us and cares for us....and He has plans for us. Things have taken place that have stolen our joy and happiness BUT I think the Lord let us go through this to show us that those things are carnal and not as important as leaning on the promises of our great and mighty King of all Kings....Thank you to everyone for your prayers and friendship during our "adventure"....We are really asking the Lord to reveal the plans He has for us...asking Him to help us make some life changes...smile!

Food...I really enjoy decorating and making food look beautiful. So I decorated our lasagna with olives...so much fun to serve.

Snow is Here...and We Are LOVIN' It

December Days....

Christmas was an amazing time for our family as this was the first Christmas in three years that have been able to do "Griffin" traditions. Getting out our decorations and stockings was really emotional for me...but also filled me with much joy and excitement. We even picked out our tree, in the dark...with flashlights - that was a hoot! We were content with the simple Christmas we were having but......the Lord had other plans for our family....several friends and a group of ladies whom we have never met blessed us with gifts and goodies. Our Christmas day was filled with awe and joy. It still amazes me how the Lord used so many to bless our family...there were gifts given to us that no one knew we needed or wanted - well the Lord knew and He used His people to provide for our family.

Another major event that happened is that our oldest son turned 15 years old...15 wow!!!!! Wasn't it just yesterday he was begging for "Veggie-Tales" one more time????? He is growing into a wonderful man...full of fun and joy! We really are blessed to know him and have him in our lives.

Conviction in my heart happened this December....(sheepish grin)...during this season I realized how selfish I've been in the kitchen. I've not done my children any favors by keeping them out of planning, cooking and baking....ugh!!!! Since my "conviction" I've been cookin' up a batch of something with each of my children...and you know what - it is really rewarding and enjoyable to have them in my very "little" kitchen helping....and to see the joy in their eyes as they accomplish a meal or dessert for the family. If you have small children, please learn from my mistake and get cookin' with your little people before they get big and complain...like our older son who thinks Top Ramen and Mac-n-Cheese are fine dinning...he did make a delish potato and bacon soup and he did admit it was "fun" cooking with mom....

Hoping you will have a delightful new year and may you learn to walk in the spirit of the Lord...where there is life and joy and where you will be pleasing to the Lord! (Romans 8)

Ahhhh...My Favorite Time of the Year...Winter!

I love, love, love the snow...love it! I love sledding and building snowpeople has to be my most favorite thing to do in the snow.....really! So the children and I walked up our very, very, very long driveway and got busy building snowpeople. Aren't they great! I think that my oldest and my daughter take the cake in creativity. Sad to say but all things must come to an end...and after our two hour snow building we headed back down the driveway...stopped for a few sled runs...and in for hot chocolate! I'm so glad I took pictures as the very next day we awoke to high winds and rain...our snowpeople didn't make it and have all melted....boo-hoo!

You Are So Silly

Some fun and very silly pictures...my oldest son wins the prize on silliness! He had me in stitches as he "sauntered" into the kitchen with his younger brother's sunglasses on and his hair completely poofed out...he was trying to hint to me that he needed a haircut...he is so funny! I just love him and his great sense of humor!

I had to add the first day of school picture - as, to my horror, it has been since summer since I blogged...eeek! School is wonderful and we are all happily learning our ABC's!

It Has Been A Bit...Sorry

Five...He's Five...Five...Amazing!
What a fun day we had. Our little guy thought that turning five was fabulous. Jireh and I tried to make "Ocean" cupcakes complete with "Sharks" (made from Twinkies), the picture we used looked much better...but they did turn out okay and tasted oh, so yummie. For his birthday dinner he wanted to roast hot dogs and marshmallows...so we did just that - it was very memorable.

We also got another trio of piglets. Our second oldest is not too happy as he discovered yesterday that the pigs had gotten a chicken...and ate it all gone except a few feathers and (gross I know) the head...sorry but no other way of saying it.

Our oldest son has been busy building a really cool "survival" fort for his younger brothers - who now think he is the best big brother in the whole world - with very cool building skills. (As I type this it is snowing and the fort is holding up quite well)

I trust that all of you will have a wonderful Thanksgiving and find yourselves in the Lord's company. We are SOOOOOO looking forward to our Thanksgiving. As many of you know we have not really been in a place to make the Thanksgiving dinner...nor have wonderful windows to look out of...but this year the Lord sees fit to have us in a place with great windows and a quaint little kitchen - just perfect to prepare our Thanksgiving - and I have a list of yummie foods planned as well as our favorite appetizers - we are all so thankful! I think I'm mostly thankful for - WINDOWS!