Early Valentine's

You would have to know me to know that I loved my Valentine's gift. I got what you see in the picture below :) I just got my Utah drivers license on Monday so that Raym and I can go shooting on Thursday. It is real. I really love it. I grew up around guns. I have been shooting since I was 10 or 11. Yes my children know about it and have seen it, and even held it. My Dad did a great job when I was growing up instilling with in us a respect of guns. I am using the same "method" with my children. He had a policy of no secrets. If we wanted to shoot the gun all we had to do was ask. I remember my first time shooting. It was fun and scary all at the same time, and it cured all curiousity. I love my Valentine's gift. Thanks Raym!!!

Tagged

My friend, Beckie tagged me. For those of you who don't know what being "tagged" means, I'll explain. Being tagged is when a friend, who has a blog, answers the questions below on her blog. Then once they finish answering the questions, they tag 3 or 4 people, who also have blogs, to answer the same questions on their blog. So once I am finished answering the following questions, I will tag a few people, and then they will have to answer the questions on their blog... Does that make ANY sense?

All about my Hubby......

What is his name? Raymond Walter Griffin Jr, Rayme, Raym, Ray

How long have you been married? 8 years March 19

How long did you date? Five months

How old is he? 31

Who said "I love you first"? Um I can not remember :) Really...

Who is taller? definitely him

Who eats more sweets? Tie. We both like sweets too much!

Who can sing better? I can not sing at all!!!! He has more of a choir voice...I mean he can sing but it isn't a solo kinda voice :)

Who is smarter? I have great common sense and I am thinker, but he knows all those really random facts and probably book smart wise he is smarter than me

Who does the laundry? I wash and dry the laundry...I have been secretly hoping that some magical person would show up and actually fold all of it...

Who pays the bills? There has been a recent transition to him doing it...I think he is better at it...

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Raym

Who mows the lawn? the lawn guy...we rent :)

Who cooks dinner? I do. When Ray is in charge for dinner they have cereal(in his defense, they love that!)

Who drives? He does...but sometimes if I pick him up I am the driver if I am suddenly in the mood to control something :)

Who is more stubborn? Absolutely positively ME!!!

Who kissed who first? We kissed each other :)

Who asked who out first? He asked me.

Who proposed? mutual understanding? :) it was an interesting situation...that worked out beautifully if I do say so

Who has more siblings? Ray--he is the oldest of 7, I am the oldest of four and the oldest of both us which for some reason brings me great satisfaction :)

Okay, I tag Kami Su, Lisa, Amber, and Bonnie!! Okay guys, spill. Just copy and past and then change the answers to be about your hunny...have fun!

President Thomas S. Monson

Today as many of you know President Monson was named the 16th President of the church. I just feel so blessed to be a part of it all. Yesterday I stayed home from church b/c I am sick. I watched President Hinckley's funeral and was overcome by tears so often. Not so much b/c of his passing but b/c of the gospel. As they showed pictures of members all over the world I was humbled as I realized that we all are truly sons and daughters of the same Heavenly Father. The church is true, not just here in America but everywhere in the world. I have sisters and brothers in the gospel on every continent of the world. And that beloved Heavenly Father that I pray to every day hears not just my prayers but their prayers as well..AND he answers them. What a wonderful and glorious place heaven must be, when it includes so many different and amazing people. I love that we are all different. I love that those differences can actually bring us closer together. I love that although President Hinckley has left his mortal state, his spirit will continue on on the other side of the veil. The church as a whole did not miss a beat. I know this is the true church of Jesus Christ. I know that President Monson has been called of God to be our prophet. I know that this church is the Lord's church and it is lead by him. I sustain President Monson and I so look forward to this new chapter in all of our lives. What a wonderful thing to a part of! This the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Toothfairy

So why is it so exciting to lose a tooth? I don't know. I just know it is. Well I am not losing any teeth...I hope. Aspen lost another tooth tonight. It was not her first and definitely not her last, but still so exciting. But really it just cracks me up. All the yanking and tugging and pulling and then the bleeding (yuck!) but still we squeal in delight that we have freed this thing from its rightful spot b/c now that it has been evicted we can get MONEY!!! Actually our toothfairy brings "prizes". Usually a dollar, but in addition there are treats or something fun as a reward for a succesful yank. And my favorite part as the mother is getting to look at the vacant spot over and over and over again. Do you remember as kid walking around sticking your tongue in the back part of your partially loosened tooth and then after it was gone that hole was the new parking spot for your tongue? Isn't great to relive all the moments of being a kid with your kids? I hope I have this much fun with all of them as they lose their teeth. I am not good at math but with four kids that is alot of teeth fallen out. Good luck with that Miss or Mr Toothfairy!

Are transformers for boys?

Aspen has recently asked me if Transformers are for boys? I say no. I mean I love the movie. I am wishing upon a very far away star that I might ever own the new model of Camero when it comes out (painted of course just like Bumblebee). Optimus Prime is my hero. And I would not mind owning a Transformer toy or two or three :) So I say yes Aspen go ahead and wear a Transformers shirt and wear it with pride, cuz your mama loves 'em too and I am most definitely not a boy!

a white out...but no pictures :(

So I left my camera at my husband's grandparents home last night. Which I was fine with until I have needed it this morning. We are in the midst of a "white out"...meaning I see nothin' but snow. It is beautiful. Definitely one of my favorite things about winter is a good snow storm. I was going to take a pic or two but alas I have nothing for you. Just go on my word that is magnificant...really though as I type this I wonder really how does one take a picture of a white out anyway...it would be nothing but white :)

the prominent reason

I am not sure where to begin so I will just start at the beginning :) In August of 2005 I was diagnosed with ADHD. I had some complications with meds that I was taking and found out in May of 2006 that I was bi-polar and that I also suffered from OCD. Again I went through several months of complications with meds. During that time I received several amazing blessings from my husband. I was told that I had chosen this trial in the pre-earth life and the Lord laid out the reason why I had chosen it. Last Christmas I wanted to better understand how you have hope in our Savior when you feel hopeless about illness that you would have forever. I studied about the apostle Paul and his thorn in the flesh. I read what the general authorities both past and present had to say about it. I prayed about it and found my own peace knowing that the Lord would help me through it. That truly my only way to "succeed" was through Him. Life was so hard though. I was taking Zoloft to help me through the times when I dipped into a depression. I wasn't such a big fan of hypo-mania either though. My mind would rush so fast. I imagined that if someone could sit on my brain it would slow it down just enough for me to focus. The ADHD affected my ability to fall asleep at night. It was like someone was changing channels in my mind, actually that was all the time. This fall as you know we moved to Utah. I am not sure if you all know that I homeschool. All the things that I struggled with on a daily basis really came to a head. This past year as I would study my scriptures I would often be led to the verse in Ether where the Lord asks the brother of Jared what he would have him do to light the vessels. I felt as if the Lord were asking me that question about my own life. My response was always the same. I longed to be free from these mental disorders. All I have ever longed for was the opportunity to be a mother and a wife. To be able to serve my family and to raise them in a way that would be pleasing to the Lord. In the first week on November this past year I was in a depression, once again. I felt so discouraged. I prayed and talked with the Lord asking him how I was supposed to do those things that I have felt were right for my family if I am constantly falling apart. I knew that the Lord was the only one that could provide me the mental and spiritual peace I was seeking. On Nov 7 before my husband left for work I asked him to give me a blessing, in hopes that I would at least be able to make it through school with the kids. The Lord gave me so much more, I was told that there was another healing or another miracle for me if but just asked in faith. When I heard those words I wept. I knew what I wanted. All day that day I prayed. My children knelt with me. I read my scriptures. At one point while reading my scriptures I literally felt the presence of the Savior standing in my living room. I knelt in prayer and laid before the Lord exactly what I desired if it was his will. I was impressed to call Ray and have him come home and give me a blessing and that through that blessing I would be healed. Upon his arrival we knelt in prayer. I said the prayer and again presented the Lord with the deepest desires of my heart, expressing to him that I knew that he could take it all from me and why I desired it to be so. Ray laid his hands upon my head and pronounced a most beautiful blessing. My Savior, through my husband as his mouth piece pronounced a healing, completely. My heart burned as the spirit testified to me of the truthfulness of what was said. It has been two months since that day. I am not on any medications, I have not had any depression. No obessions. No nothing. I could actually lay out for you a list a little over a mile long of all the things I no longer suffer from. I wake up happy EVERY day. Several years ago a friend of my (mamaboo) mentioned while we were on the phone she needed to run so she could grab a quick nap. I asked her what a quick nap was, she responded oh 20-30 minutes. That always baffled me. I would take a nap all afternoon when I was depressed. Sounds silly but I wanted to be able to take a power nap like that. I rememer the first time I did after my healing. I was tired I laid down, I fell asleep and I woke up ON MY OWN about 20 something minutes later. I felt rested and ready to finish my day strong, and then I cried. I have suffered from depression for so long. I have wanted to be happy. Not just to be happy, but for my kids and for my husband. I don't have to turn off my phone anymore b/c "I just can't talk to anyone right now." I asked my sister-in-law just about a week ago what she noticed if anything that was different. She said I was predictable. I have always wanted to be boring and predictable. I literally have prayed for that for years, to have no more drama, and to be able to serve. I have been greatly blessed. I was so happy this year at Christmas b/c for the first time in forever I could be around tons of people have a crazy schedule and not have to lock myself in my room every couple of days to try to recover. I am still me. I talk a lot. I am very animated. I am still very passionate about life. My testimony has been strengthened. My faith has been increased. And I am so grateful to a Heavenly Father who loves me and to my Savior who has removed this thorn my flesh. I want to share with you my testimony that our Savior lives, that he heals today just as he did when he was here on this earth. He heals us physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I know that faith truly can move mountains. Through the Lord ALL the things are possible.

Gone again

So Ray is gone again. He is in Vegas at the CES (Consumer Electronic Show). He left Saturday morning and will be home Friday night. My sister stayed over last night and will come over in the evenings to stay until Friday so that I can go work out in the mornings. Nice of her huh? But I have to tell you nothing can really take the place of your husband. I love cooking for him. Every morning we have breakfast together and I am missing that. It is interesting to me how he motivates me. I think it is his comments, always positive, and appreciation of me. He notices things that I have done and compliments me. He never makes any negative comments about the house if it is messy, he just helps clean up, but when it is clean he always acts so excited for me because he knows how hard I work to make it happen. It makes me feel good. My favorite comment is "babe you are so amazing, I couldn't do this" ... no comment :) No really...he probably could...I just miss him. He is my best friend.

Finally Christmas

I think this Christmas was our best in our almost 8 years of marriage. There is one prominent reason of which I am not sure many of you are aware, in due time though. The other reasons include a beautiful snowy Christmas Eve with hot chocolate and just us hangin out, and we got to spend the night in our own beds and then drive to family. In the past we have always flown here for the holidays. I much prefer living near family. We spent Christmas day at my mom's with my brother (and his family) and my sister.

Baby Ray, my nephew Tyler, and Alexa

Baby Ray with Tickle me Elmo

The kids getting ready to come downstairs Christmas morning





Do you just love our almost naked tree? We don't have many non-glass ornaments... we are now accepting any donations :)

Christmas dinner...we constantly were finding her under the tree..she was fascinated by the lights

My dad gave baby Ray this tool belt kit for Christmas...the picture says it all...we did have to take the hammer away though...

who does this?

my husband...who is the oldest of 7 and obviously didn't get enough torturing done in the younger years........

I love snow and storms!!

This storm blew in Dec 18th (I think) I loved it! It reminds me of what the storms looked like when they rolled in...in East Texas...except those storms had rain and thunder and lightening...I love the divide of the dark clouds with the sunlight sky...

I just realized the above pictures are reversed but I think you get the point...this one below does not do the storm its justice...there was so much snow...the kids and I always run around yellling and jumpin and then running outside to celebrate each snow storm :)

Being the baby

the girls were "playing" with Alexa...I was in the kitchen and I hear this whine...I look around the corner and this is what I see

"Can I come out now?"