Suzanne Griffin

Lately I have been a little discouraged in my surroundings and "earthlyness" that I have faced. Many of you know that I am a pretty tough critic of myself and so I really take to heart when things seem to not be going as I think they should and worry that they are not most glorifying. So it is time for a transformation. Gabby commented to me how she used to be just a caccoon and now that she is 7, she has turned into a beautiful butterfly. If only transformation was that easy. When I was young, I found major transformation in going away to church camp for a week. Now that I'm older I don't know that a week will cut it. But each summer I been blessed by getting to get away from life as I know it here and get a 2-6 week transformation time at my folks. Time to think about what influences in my life that do not benfit me, choices that will not glorify Him, areas that I need to continue to work on. We go so the kids can take swimming lessons and do some summer act...

For Gabby's birthday party we did a camp theme. Plan: Invite 6 girls, with Makensie and Gabby = 8 6:00pm arrival and settle in the tents 6:30pm roast hot dogs and have chips and watermelon, grape pop, water or bug juice 7:00pm decorate Tshirts 7:30pm Games 8:00pm Songs around the campfire 8:30pm dirt cups and open gifts 9:00pm pick up time for girls not staying all night (I'm guess most little girls will want to go home) 9:30pm flashlight tag 10:00pm pj's & potty 10:30pm story time and drift off to sleep Actual events: I got excited and ended up inviting 14 girls 13 came 12 planned to stay all night 7:30pm all going as planned, played "poor kitty", drip drip splash 8:00pm all girls are wet and want to put on PJ's 8:30pm pudding and gifts 9:00pm pickup for the 1 child 9:30pm flashlight tag (have to say that the reaction to finding the pig in the dark, that some didn't know we had was quite funny) 9:45pm Girl #2 wants to go home 10:30pm girls are hungry ...

Monday night was a late night, only 2 kidder, trip to WM. And while I was gone Allen decided he would finally fix the ice maker on the frig. Great! Really GREAT! About 3 months ago morning greeted us to water all over the kitchen floor. Allen tried to shut off the valve to the water line that T's to the refrigerator, however it was stuck and he didn't want to break it so he turned off the cold water to the sink. What was suppose to be just for a couple of days, til someone came and looked at it, only if and after he was 100% sure he didn't know how to fix it, which would definitely be that weekend.... So one weekend...12 weekends....it went by so fast it was all a blur. We all became accustomed to having only hot water in the kitchen, which by the way is not a great savings on gas. Every-night I would make tea, juice, fill the water pitcher, make ice so that by morning time it would be cooled off from having to fill them with hot water. It would have been a lot easier to do...

I need your help in raising awareness and funds. I'm on a mission to prove that Santa Claus does not exist. I know that some kids out there think he does, and that is just silly. Why do they hold onto these pipe dreams? Don't they realize how insane they are? Them believing there is a Santa Claus, holding onto this hope, having fun thinking about him, wishing for special gifts and waiting to hear him return and come down the chimney is absurd. They are wasting their time and it affects me greatly. Their false sense of hope, love and joy? It is not healthy. Has anyone ever seen Santa Claus? I know they say a man really did live one time long ago that was a blessing to many, but that was just nice stories and he was nothing special. There is no such thing as a Santa Claus. This is exactly why I must spend my time and energy from here on out trying to convey to the free world that there is no such thing. What kind of affect will this crazy belief of some have on my ...

This was a little quote from our Summer in Psalms bible study. I was so excited to do devotions this week. I wrote in my private journal that you'll all see when I die, that I was elated to get to spend some quality time with my closest dear friend. I had missed that time of really talking, listening, uninterrupted time. My friend of Christ. The help-meet Bible/book study is complete. Can I get an amen? While I am thankful that I was able to be part of it and know there was a need and some 94 ladies joined, I felt a very heavy weight and attack from the enemy on Allen and I during this time. Of course anytime you are in a role of leadership or teaching I think this is when you are top on the list for attack. After-all, we're more of a threat when we are doing something. During this time of the book study, I spent most of my personal devotional time praying and researching the scriptures and studying the book to make sure to present the opinions the best I could based o...

I didn't know what to title this: Sometimes you have to laugh so you don't cry - or - A child left to himself disgraces his mother - - or - No body wants buddy! - or - "Guess what Brian's doing now?" So today has just been one of those days with Brian. He is just...a boy?... He instantly started in by stirring up strife with the sisters...he loves to hear them scream. He was then assigned to stay by my side, with in sight. Then during chore time his buddy for the day was Gabby. Being buddy to Brian is a rather exhausting job. Gabby was mad several times for him not doing as she told him and then she comes, "Guess what Brian's doing?" He was pinching her bottom when she would bend over to make the bed. As exhausting as it is for everyone else, Brian was the one to fall asleep during school time. When we were all tired of keeping a hawks eye on the little man and he wanted one more chance, I was weak and let him go upstairs by himself...with ...

I saw this card earlier today and just loved it. This is my new journal (have I mentioned my obsession for paper and journals?) So great pattern + cute journal =

Makensie: Can I join the stamp club when I have boobs? Gabby to Brian: You can't shoot me when you just married me! (Allen asked what the appropriate waiting time would be) Brian to a mentor of mine: Oh I see why we can't go in your house, it's because it's so messy.