I have been working on a post for quite a while now. It is 2008- Year in Review. I felt the need to finish it up today even though there were other things I needed to do. So I took the time to finish it, edit it, and post it. I wrote it mostly for myself and my family but if you are interested in what went on in the lives of the Griffiths last year take a look. I posted it where it belongs, at the beginning of this year, so if you want to read it you have to go to the February 09 posts to find it. Warning- it is quite lengthy, so if you do want to read it either take it a little at a time or get comfy and have a bowl of popcorn and a drink handy (and if you are at all emotional a box of tissues would probably be good). Last year was quite a year for us and I really needed to have it documented. Now it is done maybe I can stop obsessing over it and get to some other things...like pulling this wedding together!
Thanks to everyone that gave us help and support through it all in any way! We love you all!
Oh and if you want to comment on it do it here so I don't have to go back so far to see them.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Happy Birthday Dave
Last week was Dave's Birthday. We won't say which one but you can figure it out from the candles if you really care too. 
It wasn't too exciting except that I took him to lunch, had a yummy dinner of wakiki meatballs and fruit salad. And finished off the evening with a green cheesecake with strawberries (that's what you get when your birthday is on St. Pat's day. It was a little trippy to bite into green cheesecake and taste nothing but good old fashioned (Utah) cheesecake. I really expected it to have a sour taste with the strawberries. 
The best part was his last gift of the night . . . a big group hug with Caleb and Noni!
It wasn't too exciting except that I took him to lunch, had a yummy dinner of wakiki meatballs and fruit salad. And finished off the evening with a green cheesecake with strawberries (that's what you get when your birthday is on St. Pat's day. It was a little trippy to bite into green cheesecake and taste nothing but good old fashioned (Utah) cheesecake. I really expected it to have a sour taste with the strawberries. The best part was his last gift of the night . . . a big group hug with Caleb and Noni!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Stockton's First Oreo
So, why do people take their kids to grandma's house? So grandma can spoil them and let them do all the things their parents won't. This time however, it was Aunt April who caused all the trouble but I was right there supporting her. This was during Mindy's visit in February. Mindy had just told us that Stockton wasn't into biter biscuits like Logan was, he just didn't seem interested in putting food in his mouth on his own. April had a great idea, she gave him a golden Oreo and brought him in to show me.
We tried to take it away and he just grabbed at it and pulled it back to his mouth, like his hands were glued to the cookie and they were rubberbands bouncing back to his mouth.
I guess the secret to get kids to eat is to give them something that actually tastes GOOD! I must say Stockton is a pretty smart kid, he knows what the good stuff is!
We tried to take it away and he just grabbed at it and pulled it back to his mouth, like his hands were glued to the cookie and they were rubberbands bouncing back to his mouth.
I guess the secret to get kids to eat is to give them something that actually tastes GOOD! I must say Stockton is a pretty smart kid, he knows what the good stuff is!Monday, March 9, 2009
End of an Era
This weekend was kind of bitter sweet. It was the BYU-I 4th Stake Conference (Dave's Stake). Elder Gary Walker of the Seventies was the visiting authority. He has an amazing ability to speak for great lengths of time, not get to deep, and make you feel like you can go home and do better. He came not too long ago to the Iona Stake and we have enjoyed listening to him both times. He also asks the Stake Presidency to not "prepare a talk" but speak by the spirit. They all gave excellent talks also. Of course one was a religion teacher at BYU-I and you would never have been able to guess that he had no "prepared" talk. I guess if you talk about scriptures all day you can pretty much wing a gospel based talk with no problem! That was the "sweet" part.
The "bitter" part was that Dave was released. We knew it was a 3 year calling but it is hard to believe that he has been serving up there that long. I haven't been able to be up there a lot but when I have been it is such a neat experience. It is a married student Stake. It is so fun to watch these young couples, see how happy they are and watch them with their little ones. At one point yesterday I glanced across to an open door and saw 6 men standing there trying to settle babies or toddlers. I just think dads today take a more active roll with the babies than my day- that is so cool. It seems you can look at the couples and tell which ones are truly happy and which ones may be struggling, which ones really love each other and which ones are still developing that love. They are so eager to learn and do the things the Lord wants them too.
One young man spoke and told of how when they first came to BYU-I someone gave them a car with over 300,000 miles on it (they came from somewhere in Africa). They drove that car to Maryland and back and somewhere on the West coast and back on faith because they knew they had paid their tithing! Wow, I just don't know if I have that much faith. Another thing that stuck in my mind was that Elder Walker reminded us that the brethren are not "fearing" this time in our Nation. If we set our hearts on the things that matter and have faith we are never alone. This isn't anything new but was another good reminder to me as I watch the news and the stock market!
Anyway, Dave's days of serving in Rexburg are over. *shed big tears here* He is a bit apprehensive as to what is in store for him next. He served for just 10 months as Bishop of our "new" ward after the last division and has been gone from the ward for 3 years. So basically he doesn't know a lot of the people very well. I am excited to have him go to church with me and sit with me, it has been almost 15 years since he has sat with me (2 short exceptions during that time). So... we will just have to see what is next!
The "bitter" part was that Dave was released. We knew it was a 3 year calling but it is hard to believe that he has been serving up there that long. I haven't been able to be up there a lot but when I have been it is such a neat experience. It is a married student Stake. It is so fun to watch these young couples, see how happy they are and watch them with their little ones. At one point yesterday I glanced across to an open door and saw 6 men standing there trying to settle babies or toddlers. I just think dads today take a more active roll with the babies than my day- that is so cool. It seems you can look at the couples and tell which ones are truly happy and which ones may be struggling, which ones really love each other and which ones are still developing that love. They are so eager to learn and do the things the Lord wants them too.
One young man spoke and told of how when they first came to BYU-I someone gave them a car with over 300,000 miles on it (they came from somewhere in Africa). They drove that car to Maryland and back and somewhere on the West coast and back on faith because they knew they had paid their tithing! Wow, I just don't know if I have that much faith. Another thing that stuck in my mind was that Elder Walker reminded us that the brethren are not "fearing" this time in our Nation. If we set our hearts on the things that matter and have faith we are never alone. This isn't anything new but was another good reminder to me as I watch the news and the stock market!
Anyway, Dave's days of serving in Rexburg are over. *shed big tears here* He is a bit apprehensive as to what is in store for him next. He served for just 10 months as Bishop of our "new" ward after the last division and has been gone from the ward for 3 years. So basically he doesn't know a lot of the people very well. I am excited to have him go to church with me and sit with me, it has been almost 15 years since he has sat with me (2 short exceptions during that time). So... we will just have to see what is next!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
March Forth
One spring morning while I was in college at BYU I woke up to the DJ on the radio saying Happy March 4th- hup, two, three, four! It took me a bit to figure out what this guy was touting off about. I finally realized the pun on 4th/fourth/forth and had a good laugh. Well, I remembered this crazy guy on the radio for many March 4th's to come. When my girls started school I was always sure to say to them as they left for school on this day...March forth- hup, two, three, four! I think they thought I was crazy, but it made them smile. After several years of this I realized there are other significances to this one, unimportant, forgotten day of the year.
First- By the time March rolls around most of us have forgotten or quit working on our New Year's resolutions, if you started in the first place. I decided that I would renew my commitment to my resolutions on March 4th. It has been easy to remember and makes those efforts last another month or two into the year. Or, if I have been wanting to start something new, I will say, "I will start that on March 4th." Doesn't always happen but I at least give it a good try.
Second- I suffer with a slight case of SAD (seasonal affective disorder or as some people call it the winter blues). I tell my husband that I should not schedule anything in January, I should get a stack of books and sit and read all day, every day, for the whole month. I don't suffer enough that I don't get out of bed. I am still up, showered, and do the basics everyday, but any little stress in my life affects me doubled! By February I am doing a bit better. It seems like a funner month than blah, after Christmas, January. There is our anniversary and a couple of holidays that cheer things up. By March the sun is shining brighter and longer each day. The promise of spring is in the air, even though in Southeast Idaho you can't expect it to come very soon. I can even count on a day or two of above freezing temperatures. And, the greatest thing is that the birds start singing in the mornings and the daffodils are trying to poke their little buds through the frozen ground!
So . . . YEAH! for March Fourth!!!!! Go forth today and do something great or new!
First- By the time March rolls around most of us have forgotten or quit working on our New Year's resolutions, if you started in the first place. I decided that I would renew my commitment to my resolutions on March 4th. It has been easy to remember and makes those efforts last another month or two into the year. Or, if I have been wanting to start something new, I will say, "I will start that on March 4th." Doesn't always happen but I at least give it a good try.
Second- I suffer with a slight case of SAD (seasonal affective disorder or as some people call it the winter blues). I tell my husband that I should not schedule anything in January, I should get a stack of books and sit and read all day, every day, for the whole month. I don't suffer enough that I don't get out of bed. I am still up, showered, and do the basics everyday, but any little stress in my life affects me doubled! By February I am doing a bit better. It seems like a funner month than blah, after Christmas, January. There is our anniversary and a couple of holidays that cheer things up. By March the sun is shining brighter and longer each day. The promise of spring is in the air, even though in Southeast Idaho you can't expect it to come very soon. I can even count on a day or two of above freezing temperatures. And, the greatest thing is that the birds start singing in the mornings and the daffodils are trying to poke their little buds through the frozen ground!
So . . . YEAH! for March Fourth!!!!! Go forth today and do something great or new!
If it doesn't rain too much maybe I will get the last of our outdoor Christmas decor out of the finally unfrozen ground!
Sorry, I tried to make the pictures smaller but this is what I got!
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