Suzanne Griffin

Psalms 106:1 Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." I sit here typing in the warmth of my home, smelling the coffee brewing this early morning, waiting for the patter of little feet to come down the stairs. I am blessed to be sitting here a free woman rather than in prison, healthy rather than full of HIV, alive rather than dead and saved rather than lost. Psalms 106:2 asks us the question "Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord or fully declare His praise?" This questions struck deep in my heart and yet it is so simple. Only those who have had mighty trials can proclaim His Might acts. While it is difficult at times to share my testimony, I hold fast to this verse. Verse 8 tells us "He saved them for His Name's Sake, to make His Mighty power known." So if we do not sing of His praises how will anyone else know of His power? If we do not proclaim of His blessings how can His Name's Sake be glor...

This morning since it is my birthday I envisioned my hubby getting up early to make breakfast in bed, take care of the kids, make me a cake and getting started on his 5 page honey do list. However, come 10am he was still snoring away. I was weighing all my options and at first thought I would add a little something to his lunch and just give him a sever case of diarrhea. But realized that it really isn't his fault. He was diagnosed with RCD after our 1st year of marriage. Romantically Challenged Disorder. Together we have been taking it one day at a time and although we try not to get our hopes up for anything long term, we rejoice with each small sign of improvement. Today he had one of those days of miraculous healing. After he got up about 10:15 he asks if I wanted breakfast or to go out to lunch. Then he told me there was an envelope on top of the frig for me. I went ahead and took a shower, got the kids ready and then checked the envelope. I figured it was probably some cash ...

Today is my birthday. thank you. Let me know if you need my address to send cards, gifts, money. lol. So my precious little girl pampered me last night while we watched Little House on the Prairie. It was the one with the Runaway Caboose. Very dramatic. First they rubbed lotion (lots of it, to the point I was still sticky when I went to bed) on my legs and feet. I was informed that I needed to shave. Then Gabby painted my toes and fingers managing to get some on the nails. Then she decided I needed makeup to pretend I was getting ready for my wedding. I didn't look, but Gabby said the deep plum eyeshawdow and the blush she used as foundation, along with the sparkly powder she choked me with and covered my arms in, made me look like a Bratz girl. Now if I could just wear a middriff top and miniskirt without being startled when I walked by the mirror! She then had me lay crossways in the recliner so my head would hang over the arm in order for her to brush my hair. It wa...

As you may know, I have a course of the Bible that I follow and study. While it is not spontaneous, God has never failed to teach me something from his word. It may not always be at that very moment but to hold onto for later. However, this morning was an example of perfect timing on His part. I had a conflict arise a while back. This morning, what was next on my study? Psalms 31. I have always enjoyed the Psalms. Maybe because I seem to relate to David and all his woes at times. Not that I plan on dancing naked in the street this morning, as we love our elderly neighbors. David was the King. This man faced so many terrible situations, so many enemies. At the time he wrote this particular Psalm, he was facing the most disappointing enemy of all. His own son, Absolom. His OWN son. Absolom had flattered and lied to so many of Isreal's leaders that he ended up winning their favor and running his father out of the country. He disgraced his dad. My children are not old enough to plot ou...

Am I the only one that feels like there is constant drama in my family? I have 2 sisters and a brother. I'm the only one who has moved away from the little town we grew up in. It seems like at all times someone is in the hot seat. Either a sister in law for not saying the right thing, the brother for not coming around enough, a sister for being in a bad mood, my mom for being pushy. Once you enter the dreaded place of the hot seat you will stay there until everyone has talked it to death behind your back, you somehow find out that you are the one in the hot seat and apologize to everyone for unknowinly being human and making a mistake, or fresh meat bumps you out of the hot seat with a new comment or scerio. When I am away from my family I start missing them and want to move closer and when I do go visit I often get caught up in the latest drama. Which is one of the main reasons my husband does not want to move closer than we are. So who's in the hot seat now? Myself. It does b...

I just thought I'd share this lighthearted story from years past. My husband had taken a job in Springfield MO 5 years ago and we bought a little fixer upper in not the best of neighborhoods, but not the worst either. Directly across the street from us was another young family that we instantly connected with. We are still good friends today even after moving back here to AR. We would play cards at their house, we went to church together, grilled out together. It was just great. Our other neighbors however....not so much. The neighbors in the houses on both sides of us and on one side of our friends. were not in the routine of going to work yet had visitors, dozens of them, stopping for 5 minutes at a time all hours of the day. So while the neighbors themselves were nice enough, you just don't want your kids to be in that kind of atmosphere. So one by one I did my civic duty and left tips on the police hot-line. The 1st bust was quiet and we ended up with some young, alternativ...

Often times in the Old Testament God appeared to men on the Mountaintop. In Deut 10 Moses was reminding the Israelites of their sin of creating the Golden Calf while He was on the mountaintop spending time in God's presence. I tried to put myself in Moses' sandals. I personally have never climbed a huge mountain, but I have hiked up a beautiful well traveled path on a Mountain in Colorado when I was in 7th grade. I would have to say that in 7th grade I was in pretty good shape. I had some fancy sneakers on my feet, a well worn path in front of us, a packed lunch on my back and we were headed to the top. There at our destination we were told was to be a lake and one of the most beautiful earthly sights we could enjoy. Not long into the journey we had to start taking breathing breaks. My body experienced a tired I hadn't know before and my shins were on fire. We would break for a little while and then start again. I don't remember how long it took to reach the top, but it...

Some of the Old Testament is hard for me to have a desire to read or put forth a dedicated effort to study. I would prefer to stick with Psalms and Proverbs and throw in some New Testament encouragement. I have never been a big fan of History despite how many teachers told me, "you have to know where you've been to see where you're going." For me I have to be honest and say that I like something a little more upbeat, exciting, inspiring. This morning what I found in the Old Testament was humbling. Deuteronomy is a book mostly made up of recollection of prior events. A book of remembering and of history. "It is because of someone else's wickedness, not your righteousness" is repeated throughout the beginning of this chapter. The Israelites are about to go war in a battle that Moses is giving a motivating speech preparing them and telling them they have already won. I'm sure there was excitement and whooping and yelling. Men getting all siked u...

As I was finishing making up supper tonight, I could hear my son Brian saying, "It's snowing, it's snowing." I said, "I don't think it's snowing tonight." Well I should have went to see exactly what he was talking about, but I didn't. So about 10 mintues later here he comes carrying his bucket. He says it again, "it's snowing." I say again, "I don't think so." He said, "yes it is, watch." that is when he proved me wrong. He put his hand into the bucket and pulled out a handful fo something. As he open his fist and dropped his gift of snow, I was confused as to what exactly I was watching cascade down through the air onto the kitchen floor. He surely didn't get the bottom off the hole punch. No, that is little pieces of styrofoam. What? Where he did he? I turned the corner and looked out into the dining room. Following him through the dining room and into the living room was the most beautif...

"Are you excited?" is the comment that I get asked most often. Not in a derogatory way, but because they are excited about this 4 th baby growing inside me. And I am. It is not the same delusional excited I had with #1, #2 or even #3. Makensie , our oldest was was not even 3 years old and Gabby was only 20 months when our 3rd baby was born. So most of my time was still consumed with diapers, feedings, naps and snuggling time. The latter being the most rewarding. The girls were just getting old enough to really enjoy arts and crafts, we had our daily "school time". When Brian was born, it quickly became apparent to me that I was in over my head most of the time. My husband had taken a job with a traveling construction crew and we only saw him on the weekends. I now had 3 little ones and only 2 hands to hold onto them with. It was very overwhelming and tiring for me. Which is why there is a 4 year gap between baby #3 and baby #4. I am excited, however this time ins...

Am I just like Nicodemus? Nicodemus came to Jesus at night. I'm sure he probably had a long full hard day and then when the quiet of the evening set in, he was able to clear his mind, and all those questions, needs and desire to know more of this Christ, only then did he go to Christ. But did he run to Him and love on Jesus and ask him for mercy? No. Instead he tried to engage in an intellectual question and answer session. He had seen the miracles, he even knew in his heart who stood before him, yet he wouldn't humble himself to cry out to Him. How many times have I found myself doing this same thing? It is my character that I do not easily cry until I'm at my breaking point. I often will go to my Lord in prayer almost at that point and try to be strong rather than just crying out for mercy in my own life. Rather than holding onto Him as if I were drowning. Afterall, that is how I feel on the inside. Am I so foolish to think that I am really fooling Him? Does He not alread...

I’m a follower of Christ Jesus and I'm glad He has changed my life. We have 4 little ones ages 9, 8, 7 and 2. Some days I don’t think this is my calling. I love being a wife to my handsome hubby Allen, most days. We homeschool although some days I don’t think it is my calling either. We have been in business for almost 5 years. There is a fine line here between things I love and things I hate about being self employed. We haven’t had health insurance for 5 years. We have had a lot of financial drought over the last couple of years. I want to be wealthy enough to be a blessing to other families in need. Our kids are really funny. The TV character I most closely relate with is Jordan on Scrubs, which my husband and I enjoy after the kids are in bed if I can manage to stay awake. I was told after my last baby that I was born to birth, not neccesarily the most useful talent to have. I am more scared of getting an IV than giving birth and have never had an epidural, the whole needle in...

During the day it is often hard for me to hear God's voice, after all there are three little ones 6 and under competing for my attention, competing for a toy, competing for the first snack. There is the washer and dryer that run almost constantly, the dishwasher which requires at least one cycle a day, the ringing phone, the fax, the doorbell, the stomping of little feet...Even when the kids are quiet to watch a movie, the TV is on. The thoughts in my head are quick and short lived. "Did I cut up the fruit for snack time? Is the dryer done yet? Did everyone brush their teeth? Where are we at on chores? Who threw the 100 piece puzzle all over the school room?! Who put the dixie cups in the toilet?!" As wonderful as the old Calgon commercials are if I were to lock the door and slip into the tub the peace would only be for about 2 minutes before the knocking would begin and inquiries to how much longer I would be, if I could get someone a drink, if they could take a bath wit...

Yesterday my dear husband took the two youngest little Griffins to find our 2006 Christmas Tree. I didn't go as strolling through the woods 7 months pregnant just didn't seem wise or fun for that matter. My oldest was still a little traumatized from last year so she wanted to stay home with me. How can someone have bad memories of finding a Christmas tree? Let me just say there are many parts of the movie Christmas Vacation that I can truly relate to. Last year after church and getting our tummies full, we headed out to a friend's pasture to pick out the perfect tree. I was really excited as we have 10 foot ceilings in our front room with 3 large windows that face the street and I wanted a tall, fat tree. On there way there, we listened it Christmas music and the kids were all chatting, loudly, non stop with excitement. I was giddy with the thought of how much fun this was going to be. Since we were driving and had little ones of the age of 5, 4 and 2 I honestly thought we ...

At the top of the stairway, there is a storage closet to your right. Our home is 102 years old so there are a lot of fun little spaces and quirks about it. However, this one room just has always given me the willy's. I know, it's rather silly, but I still don't go in there after dark unless there is someone else with me, even the 3 year old counts. It's dark and the light switch is behind the door which means I have to shut myself in and frantically feel the wall for the switch before the safety of light is restored. If I go in the day time it isn't quite so bad because there is another door with a window in it that goes out to another room that is even creepier, however there are windows in that room so during the day there is at least some light in the closet. Twice now I have about given myself a heart attack. Once as I shut the door behind me I thought I saw something out of the corner of my eye, and I did. There at the end of what used to be an old hallway stoo...

As I was spending time in Proverbs 12 this morning, the 1st verse is "He who loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid." That's kinda harsh I thought. Who loves to be disciplined? Not me. But as I mauled it over, after each incident or period of time that God has brought me to my knees in the event of discipline, only then have I grown closer and more thankful for His power in my life. Most of the discipline I face is because I end up worshipping and relying on another god...myself. I start trying to handle problems myself rather than laying them at His feet. So while in the midst of the trials, it is hard to say that I love what we are facing, I can look forward to the outcome with confidence that God is molding me and pruning me to be more like Him and less like the sinner I am.

I just got off the phone with a dear friend. We hadn't touched base for a while and it was so nice to hear her voice. She said I had been on her mind and wondered if I was fulfilled just staying home to be a mom. The first couple of minutes my children were quiet and entertained, then the alarm must have sounded that announced I was on the phone. Brian came in mad at who knows what. He was throwing a fit then went out side mad. I followed him out to make sure he was ok and was sure it would be quieter on the phone if I were outside. He walked around the front of the house, I followed but didn't see him. I started to return to the back door and then heard it shut. I figured it was him going back inside since he only had on a tshirt and would be cold. I was right. As I looked through the french doors into the kitchen there stood my little 3 year old, arms crossed glaring me down. He had locked me out. Even the dead bolt was locked. I kept my cool, afterall I was still on the phon...

It has been almost a year since I have updated anything on this site and thought about it this morning. It has been a busy year. Started public school with our 2 oldest this fall then pulled them out to homeschool again. We are expecting baby number 4 in just a couple of months. Allen's business has picked up requiring more paperwork help. We are still struggling along trying to remodel the house. There just don't seem to be enough hours in the day. If only I could sleep less, however this little one growing in me is zapping me of my usual ability to survive on 5-6 hours of sleep. My precious husband was out of long sleeve work shirts this morning and I convinced him it was the newest trend to wear his short sleeve shirt and let his long johns show. He asked if it was also the newest trend to go without boxers? I will be working on the laundry pile today.

I heard whimpering coming from the living room around 3:30 this morning. I sat up and and could see it was Gabby. She was holding her blankie on her ear and crying. After giving her a dose of Tylonol and putting drops in her ear and laying her back down this time in our bed, she slept for about 2 mintues. Then was crying again. She wanted to move to the couch which was fine, I would just snooze in the recliner beside her. Then suddenly the crying stopped as she picked up Angus, our black cat. It was almost as if Angus know she needed her. Gabby carried to the couch and layed down to sleep off and on and while she did still wake and fus, she always was checking to make sure kitty was still snuggled up beside her.

Good Morning. I pray that you house if filled with quiet loving obedient little adults. Our home however if filled with three feisty little children. Every night before I drift off, I have started asking where I felt like I failed that day in my role as a wife, mother, business owner, housekeeper and friend according to God's standards. This helps me identify my shortcomings and make a quick plan of action of what I need to work on the next day. Lately it seems that my plan of action is still not producing the kids I dreamed about and saw in the magazines. Just days after Christmas the joy of new toys has worn off and the arguing has set in. A friend of mine this morning mentioned that in days of old kids had to work out in the fields which consumed more energy so they were too tired to argue. So what additional chores can I come up with in the middle of winter for a 5, 4 and 2 year old to truly wear them out and help them find true thankfulness for their free time? They already he...