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!

A Summer Collection

So here is a summer collection of fun pictures for you! We have been busy getting ready for the fair, playing at the lake and just enjoying the summer. My daughter got her first sqirrel - she shot it and skinned it on her own - nice job "Annie Oakley"!

I want to also take this moment to wish a very special friend "Happy Birthday" - she is dear to my heart and is a rare jem - someone I treasure!

Thanks for stopping by the blog - enjoy the rest of your summer!

In Honor of Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to some very wonderful Fathers...late I know but you all understand! We are so blessed to know some very wonderful Fathers here and across the country...(you know who you are)...to all the Fathers we know we appreciate your steadfastness in raising children for the Lord's - thank you so much.

So the Lord has blessed us with some new friends. We are so grateful for these new friends. A few months ago my daughter and I began to pray for a friend for her. The Lord not only gave us a wonderful friend for our daughter, a friend who wants the Lord in her life, who reads her Bible and is a lady....we adore this little friend....anyway not only did he bless our daughter with a new friend he brought a family that we just enjoy so much. The little boy and my third oldest get along wonderfully - same temperament. All of that was to explain who was in the photos.

We asked them if they would like to spend Father's Day with us...and they said sure. Both the mom and daughter are very creative and the brought a white frosted cake for the children to decorate for the father's. Our little home was filled with joy and happiness....and lots of sugar. We had a delightful time. We are so thankful for the Lord to be true to his word - that He will do above and beyond what we can imagine"....this whole friendship has been a true blessing and a fulfilment of the word...it made my faith stronger and I'm so thankful for that.