Suzanne Griffin

I miss my computer most of the day. Our office is on the south end of the house by 3 windows and most of the day during the winter months the glare from the sun, even through the curtains, is too much to see much of anything on the monitor. I was so humbled and felt very blessed when I checked email to find so many little "love notes" from friends for my Birthday yesterday. It was much appreciated and I'm so blessed to have a life full of caring people. I received many phone calls and I am truely humbled. I pray that I am a good friend in return. Yesterday was full, we haven't started school back up yet, as the week after Christmas still feels like we need time to play and enjoy each other and life (and the new toys). Plus yesterday was my birthday, today is New Year's Eve, there are appetizers to be made so we can stay up late for the ball to drop, and tomorrow is our 10 year anniversary. Yesterday morning I was looking through the tv channels and found the Wiggl...

One more reason I love this time of year is it is goal setting time. And you know how we list people love that. Areas to be thinking ahead and planning for this next year? Time with God-What do you want to study and grow in this year? Marriage-Add a date night? Spice up the romance? Kids-Add one on one time? Personal goals. Home school -Educational goals? Skills? Housekeeping-This is one I'm working on-Starting the 1st Sunday of the year, I'll be posting a Devotional from A Clean Heart for A Clean Home. Hope some of you will take the Clean Home Challenge with me. Health-I think the same devotional will also apply with A Clean Heart for a Healthy Body. Business(s)-Where do we want to grow and expand? Each of the older kids are working on what they want to start with as their own business. Finances-Where are our shortcomings? How can we make money work for us? Community-How can we find a way to reach out to our community and what does that look like for this season of life? ...

Consider giving gifts to your spouse on the Twelve Days of Christmas. Here's a more economical version than the original. Our version includes hugs, kisses, love songs, and other inexpensive tokens of your love for one another. On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a sweet kiss on my forehead. On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me, two blooming flowers, and a sweet kiss on my forehead. On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me, three nice hugs, two blooming flowers, and a sweet kiss on my forehead. On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, four telephone calls, three nice hugs, two blooming flowers, and a sweet kiss on my forehead. On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, five chocolate gold coins , four telephone calls, three nice hugs, two blooming flowers, and a sweet kiss on my forehead. On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, six candy kisses, five chocolate gold coins, four telephone call...

When I saw today's topic to write about on another site: What's the strangest thing you've ever found in the street? I couldn't help but laugh and realized I hadn't shared this yet. Last week, I went to retrieve some items out of the outside freezer. There was a package of hamburger in there with a label from a different butcher than all the other meat. I assumed hubby had received it as a tip, which is not that uncommon. I grabbed it up and brought it in to thaw out. As I was cooking supper later that day, Allen comes home and sees I'm frying up hamburger for burritos and asks, "Did you find that extra package of hamburger in the freezer outside?" I told him that was what we were having, and that I hoped it was ok for me to use. He then tells me all excitedly, "I found it in the street outside my shop yesterday." WHAT?! "It should be fine, it was still completely frozen and I had just been outside so it must have fallen off s...

Sometimes I think that God is surely angry with me, with my faults, with my failures, with my bad decisions. I have to grab those lies quickly and replace them with the truth. The truth is Grace is God's attitude towards us. He does for me what I do not deserve. He does in me what I cannot do in myself. He takes sides with me when He should be standing against me. Do I stand with my husband at the times when in wordly eyes I have every right to stand against him? Christ's entire life was one of humble submission to the Lord. He could have had a magnificent temple, made of gold and filled with servants. However born in a stable, living as a traveling missionary, He voiced no complaints of His wants or have nots . Yet, how far too often have my own words and actions been lacking in submission to Him and to my husband? How many times have I lost my joy by comparison of what else is out there that I would like to have? Reading through the Law books in the Bible is not l...

You know that song by Garth Brooks, Unanswered Prayers? It's a country song, but one I have always enjoyed. I am so thankful that God answers our prayers and equally thankful for those He says no to. Even if at the time, it is not what we want the answer to be. We can rest assurred that He has our best in sight. Sometimes our views change quickly and sometimes it is over time that we grow in Him and gain wisdom and look back and wonder why that was ever a prayer to begin with. The chorus is: Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers Remember when you're talkin ' to the man upstairs That just because he doesn't answer doesn't mean he don't care Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers

you clean out the frig and find a jar of rollie pollies . What about you?

I am newly motivated to make some cards. Maybe it is because I got to spend the day with a bunch of other creative ladies this weekend. Maybe it's because it is one of those wonderful overcast days and staying inside and warm and crafting seems right. I stumbled across a site with some amazing cards and she had a challenge sketch so this was my inspiration. Visit her site here . I realize this is the sketch to last Monday, however, I did this Sunday afternoon and am just posting it on Monday. I also realize this is not the best picture. Trust me, it's the best of the bunch. The stamp in the middle is of some acorns and leaves. The ribbon is cream raffia . Here are some pictures of the weekend workshop. The creative ladies? Trish , Sylvia , Chris, Lynn , Sherri , LeAnne & Jaime. I guess there were around 50 ladies there all together. However my estimating skills stink so there might have been anywhere between 10 and 5000. It was just nice to do some crafts that did not req...

How can a grown man pride himself on having such amazing packing skills that he is able to pack an entire home into a single moving truck, yet cannot load a dishwasher.

Questions for the day... Brian (age 5): Can I use my pocket knife to cut up the carrots for you? Me: No. Brian: Can I start the van for you? Me: No. Brian: Can I mow the yard for you? Me: No. Brian: Can I use the vacuum to pretend like it's a power machine and vacuum the front room for you? Me: I guess. (This had to be said with a sigh and without a hint of complete satisfaction that my evil plan to raise little cleaning minions was coming into fruition.)

I received this in a email. I didn't write it, although with hunting season fast approaching, I'm sure I'll have plenty of stories to share soon. Roping A Deer...Names have been removed to protect the stupid! Actual Letter from someone who writes, and farms. I had this idea that I was going to rope a deer, put it in a stall, feed it up on corn for a couple of weeks, then kill it and eat it. The first step in this adventure was getting a deer. I figured that, since they congregate at my cattle feeder and do not seem to have much fear of me when we are there (a bold one will sometimes come right up and sniff at the bags of feed while I am in the back of the truck not 4 feet a way), it should not be difficult to rope one, get up to it and toss a bag over its head (to calm it down) then hog tie it and transport it home. I filled the cattle feeder then hid down at the end with my rope. The cattle, having seen the roping thing before, stayed well back. They were not having a...

But oh how easy it is to say. I woke this morning still sick to the pit of my stomach over a situation that has arisen that is breaking my heart, putting my character on trial and hurting others. I do not understand why this has come upon my life, but it is here. So what now? I feel so void. If I have ever given the impression that just because I post what I'm learning when I'm reading through the Bible that it means I have perfected that area of my life, then forgive me. Most of the time I can post because I feel I have so far to go. I often go back and reread my own notes and think, "Did I write that? I don't remember writing that" or read something that I really needed to hear. I have long prayed that my words would glorify Him and that He would use me. That only He would be glorified. I pray for wisdom, but any wisdom I appear to have is only Him. I read and study and share because I need Him and His grace so deeply in my life. I share all my shor...

1 Listen to my prayer, O God. Do not ignore my cry for help! 2 Please listen and answer me, for I am overwhelmed by my troubles. 3 My enemies shout at me, making loud and wicked threats. They bring trouble on me and angrily hunt me down. 4 My heart pounds in my chest. The terror of death assaults me. 5 Fear and trembling overwhelm me, and I can’t stop shaking. 6 Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest! 7 I would fly far away to the quiet of the wilderness. 8 How quickly I would escape— far from this wild storm of hatred. 9 Confuse them, Lord, and frustrate their plans, for I see violence and conflict in the city. 10 Its walls are patrolled day and night against invaders, but the real danger is wickedness within the city. 11 Everything is falling apart; threats and cheating are rampant in the streets. 12 It is not an enemy who taunts me— I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me—I could have hidden from them. 13 Instead, ...

Our moms group has started up again and our 1st speaker of the year challenged us ladies to have a daily devotional time with God. And the book we are reading, Small Changes For A Better Life , talks on the importance of doing just this. Quiet time with my Lord is something I feel very passionately about today. I thought I would share what I do and how I got to this point. I didn't just get convicted one day. I like everyone else, had heard how important it was to have a daily quiet time...many times over. Christmas morning 1983, my dad gave me the Thompson Chain reference Bible (I was 12 years old.) I started going through the concordance, looking up the verses in order of the topics A-Z. I wasn't so much interested in learning in depth as just the goal of studying through the Bible, highlighting as I went according to the suggested color codes. This is still my main bible & it is quite colorful. Over the years I was hit and miss on my consistency depending on whe...

Part of our homeschool studies include the study of a Character Value (just one a month) and this month it is Creativity. I asked the kids to tell someone who is creative and how they are creative. Brian pipes up, "I think daddy is creative because he always finds new ways to be mean."

Psalms 56 Everyone is largely affected by their fears. Our fears can even be our puppeteer when we give in to them. Even among the professing Christians there is much fear. Many prayer requests that are voiced are fear based. Rather than for the peace, strength, direction, building of character, the beatitudes , the fruits of the spirit, or becoming more like Christ, our prayers are for specific answers to take away the problem. Why do we fear certain situations, circumstances and things so much? If we truly believe that He orchestrated all things to come together for our best, we can stand in peace, eyes closed, looking up and take a deep breathe I am still striving towards this myself. Allen has been dealing with a Staph infection. It has been difficult to not let fear of the medical bills grip, or the fear of what if he gets worse? It is easy to pray for an answer to what is causing the fear, but I forget at times to pray also for letting the fear itself go. To pray for peace and ...

Last week sitting at the coffee shop swapping these beautiful cards, me feeling so delighted with how mine turned out, the conversation took a turn for the more intelligent. Several of these ladies are involved in the Library's Book club. What? I didn't know our little library had a book club. And the books these ladies were discussing really had a depth to them. Not that my current reads of Raising Godly Tomatoes, Bringing up Boys and Chris Madden's Personalizing your home, do not offer something uniquely fascinating, but, seriously how much more learning to be better at what I'm already doing can I stomach without expanding my world somewhere. So I proudly walked to the front desk at the library the next morning and asked to be part of the current book club. I felt....old. I think this is 1st time that I ever thought a book club for just pure enjoyment might be interesting. I've done plenty of book studies, but for the purpose to be a better wife, a better mom, a ...

We had a delicious honeydew for snack time yesterday. Gabby: Mom I love these! Me: It IS good isn't it. Gabby: I like the orange ones too. Next time will you get one of those? Me: Sure. Gabby to Brian: The green ones are called honeydew and the orange ones are called Mountian dew. Me to myself: or cantaloupe

I have a love hate relationship with my to do list. I am schedule oriented almost to the point of, well, yes, probably to the point of OCD . I realized that I most likely had a problem when a friend called and wanted to have coffee one Sunday afternoon and asked me to bring my list as she thought that might help her. This is my friend who has been asked to speak many times on her struggles with OCD and the fact that she is on medication and under therapy for it along side her depression. Could they be cause and effect? I've often wondered that myself if I shouldn't be under therapy for many things rather than runny free in society. (no comments) Allen has long poked fun of me about it, and has hidden my timer many times just to watch me panic. This is a cause of great stress at times when the kids or babies do not follow my schedule. I get frustrated with the house, but I can't stop to sweep the kitchen because we were suppose to be working in Zone 3, not zone 1! ...

Besides the torrential downpour of rain, all went well with the yard sale, so that project is finished. Stamp club was a lot of fun this past time, I'll post pictures this week. So this last week was not short on the gross factor. I was changing Wyatt's diaper, which this child would rather be dirty than lay long enough to politely get his bottom freshened. He was stinkin up the place and when I went to change him, here's his own personal audience of Brian, "I just want to see how much he pooped." Sure why not, chalk that up to a science experiment and hopefully future reference for when you will graciously change your own kids diaper to help your precious wife. Or maybe on your way to being a proctologist . I pull the diaper off and start feverishly wiping this greased pig that is squealing in protest. Brian is dying laughing and I smart off, "If you think it's so funny, you finish wiping him." "OK!" Of course. So now Brian is wiping and...

After the post yesterday, wanted to follow up on the stoning of the rebellious child and let you know, no children were harmed in the making of that post. And the Jewish tradition claims that the law was never enforced. But God did still state it as a law all the same. God took sin very seriously. And we should do the same. As those of you who know me, I'm struggling with my weight. But in all honesty it's not my weight that really is a problem, it's my self-control. My weight is just my sin being brought to light. It is the internal character flaws that can no long be hidden because they manifest themselves physically in weight gain. I'm no longer 20, no longer physically active unless it counts that I eat lunch over the sink and chase 4 kids all day. I do not take the time to track my calories, do not spend the money to buy the healthiest foods. I read that someone that is a glutton in one area is usually out of control in other areas as well. Well, yes. I am a little...

What? Have I never read this before? This is just crazy talk. I just finished reading Deut 21 and have some brand new arrsonal to quote for the rebellious child. vs 18-23 (shorten for attention spans of course) "If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother...they shall take him to the elders a the city gate...and all the men shall stone him to death." Silly me! And here I was feeling like the "meanist mom in the whole world" yesterday for making Brian stand with his arms in the air for time out to get his attention. After he informed me of my new title, he went on to say, "no other mom ever would be this mean and make her kids do this. If you had other kids they would call you chubby for being so mean." I had to leave the room to laugh at this one. Of course making his time even longer. So now that I know it used to be Mosaic law to be stoned for rebellion, well that just takes it to a whole notha level.

Here is Brian and his BFF , just a couple of weeks ago, not Halloween. Grandma has blessed him with 6 Spiderman and 1 Hulk outfits she picked up at a sale. It has been a great thing and almost a uniform of sorts for him. I can't help but wonder what passerbyers and the neighbor's think of the people who live "there" with the kid always in the S piderman outfit. (Don't be frightened by the dishes in the background, they are part of the kitchen's decorations) And here they go, trekking to the front yard to save the world. Brian came into the house rubbing his hands together, "My hands are just sticky enough that I can climb clear to the top of the van! Just like Spiderman !" Luckily, he later washed the van...using my mop.

In the book of Acts 3, there is the story of the crippled man that Peter and John tell to get up and walk. I just sat stunned after I read this story this time. Really? It was that easy? The man had a condition. The others had compassion. They voiced confession of Christ and his power to heal. The man had completeness. Peter and John didn't lay hands, spend hours in prayer, lighting candles, nothing. It was almost like saying hello. Do we not have the same power of the Holy Spirit in us today as they did then? So does that mean we do not have the same amount of miracles today as they did then because of a lack of faith or unbelief?

In this Chapter of John, the people brought a woman that had committed adultery to be stoned (and just where was the man involved I would like to know!?). I love how Jesus so gently saved her life "Let he that is without sin cast the 1st stone." (John 8:7) Then gently told her to turn from her ways and go. No long sermon to her telling her all the reasons adultery was wrong, didn't yell, "Why did you do this? You knew it was wrong?! How long has this been going on? How could you do this to your Father? You should be grateful that I didn't stone you myself. If I ever catch you again there will be trouble." He didn't so much as sound condescending to her, no judgement, just "go and do the right thing," filled with love towards her. I would love to know what it was that Jesus was writing in the sand. We live in the land of political correctness and home of the proud. Surrounded by people with "rights", with access to therapy and boo...

Yesterday morning was the annual eye dr appointment for the 4 kids. Not to be done again. Not only was the 2 1/2 hour ordeal longer than their patience, I also found myself more annoyed with the dr's assistant as she was condescending from the beginning. Which is why when she was later talking with another secretary about she didn't understand why her friend had avoided her all weekend, I wanted to pipe up, "because your people skills stink!" Ugh. I have just had a run in lately with too many people that I have no idea how they have made it this far in life without ever having someone throw the book, "How to win friends and influence people!" at their head. (This was not a suggestion from the book). Ok, better now. So anyhow, Wyatt's is very farsighted, which explains the drunken stagger he has at times going down steps and the reason for him not quite rounding the corners without running right into things. The poor baby isn't clumsy, he just can...

I had gone upstairs to do our monthly thorough cleaning of the playroom and kids rooms. They have been responsible for doing this themselves and I have to admit I had slacked greatly in doing complete room checks. Thinking they were old enough, they knew what was expected. Just quickly looking around for major problems when we were headed to bed, and would "get it clean tomorrow". So as mess attracts mess, it soon grew out of control and I just couldn't take it any longer. So 3 hours later we had completed the playroom and 1/2 of Makensie's room. The play room wasn't that bad, just some play kitchen food and a couple of books left on the floor...except for 3 large trash bags I found stashed in the closet. What do we have here? Oh wonderful. It's everything that had been on the floor when Gabby had to clean her room last week. This child of mine is a bigger pack rat than me. She has the same, "but I might be able to use that somewhere someday...

That's me. Last night as after supper, as I was sweeping up what I'm sure was more food on the floor than what found it's way into the baby's belly, I caught a glimpse of the stack of paperwork waiting for me, the school papers not filed and the attendance sheets and logs from the day still waiting for me to fill out, laundry waiting to be folded, beds needing sheets put back on,...I was grateful to hear a program on Focus on the Family. I have to admit I was somewhat bored as it was on the something about the 1st year after having a baby is the hardest and the young mom was sharing her thoughts and talking about her book. Not only disappointed thinking I may never finish my book, and when I do, will I personally be stuck with the 1999 of 2000 copies that don't sell? I disagreed somewhat with the mom...how hard is a baby that sleeps most of the time, is happily entertained in the playpen with a box and some Tupperware and gives you justification for not leaving the ...

During handwriting Makensie was writing the word sheep. She says, "I'm can't believe I have to write this." "Why?" I asked "This is a bad word. Like when daddy gets really mad sometimes and he says, Holy Sheep"

One of my sisters is just the most thoughtful of women. She is always dropping a card in the mail, getting little gifts for the kids, sending flowers to someone, checking on others. When I visit her you can just tell people love her. She has long been giving and considerate. I admire this about her greatly. I wish I was more thoughtful about what would really touch or be a blessing to others. Is that the gift of giving? helps? service? Proverbs 17:17-A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity. I have always felt that I can go to any of my family during times of adversity and especially my sister. I thank the Lord for her being part of my life. I want to strive to be a bigger blessing to others, I hope that my "sewing kit" of gifts will help to mend someone else's life at the right time. I would say I have quite the blessing to have both of my sisters as close friends.

Brian in the bath: mom do you want to see how big I can splash? Me: Not really Brian: Ok. But if you want to see me splash water on the ceiling again, let me know and I'll show you how I did it. ------------------------------------- Me sniffing Brian's hair after bathtime: Brian what is that green stuff in your hair? Brian: Mouthwash Me: Why? Brian: To make it smell minty.

So Wyatt had took a little fall last night and bit through his front lip. I didn't panic but almost passed out from all the blood on my baby and all over my shoulders. But before I got off the phone with the nurse he was dancing around the front room with Allen as if nothing had happened. One of the books I'm slowly rereading is The Purpose Driven Life. I found 2 passages this morning in a chapter that hit home. One for a friend, one for me. Thought I'd share and maybe they are for someone else too. Because God made you for a reason, he also decided when you would be born and how long you would live. He planned the days of your life in advance, choosing the exact time of your birth and death. The Bible says "You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your Book!" God also panned where you'd be born and where you'd live for his purpose. God left no detail to chance. He plann...

So here's a little quip out of my other current bathroom book. Sometimes I can make an entire page before someone starts yelling..."mom! Where are you at?!" "What does it mean to be Christlike? Christlikeness expresses itself in a tenderness and mercy that forgive sin and in a strength and boldness that pursues the offender regardless of the cost or the risk. It means being willing to submit ourselves to suffering, even death, for our spouses. It means remaining committed in spite of conflict within the marriage." ---Intimate Allies, Dan Allender and Tremper Longman This was a friends question/response to the quote: I've always had trouble understanding what God wants us to do in the case of "love the sinner, hate the sin". (Maybe a little of the subject, but slightly on, ok ? :P) That part is obvious, but then what do we do? Do we overlook the sin until God opens a window for us to express our views? Do we love the sinner from afar?...so as not...

We started school back up officially last Monday after taking time off. It is just so hot outside, our upstairs airconditioner is broke and my van has been a little chosey as to if and when it is going to start. So if I'm going to be entertaining them and they have to be inside then they might as well be learning. We are using a plethora of different things. As a friend said, "There are too many good options out there to be pinned down to just one." So what is on our book shelves? The main one is Charlotte Mason. I have long been a lone ranger to not go the traditional route of starting our kids our with formal school at age 4-5 so that we have the smartest kids. It is a little scary at times, but have felt the need to train them and allow their little minds and bodies time to mature to start "actual schooling". The Moore's Institue recommends that that age is anywhere from 8-10 or possibly even age 12 for some. In the past we have done a lot of h...