Happy Birthday Ayden Parker Ball

Dear Ayden,

I cannot believe you are 6 years old! You are such a joy to have in our lives. I couldn't ask for a better "the oldest" grandson!!! Each one of you have a special place in Grammy's heart and your place is being the first grandson I ever had!!!! You are so smart and so brave! It takes lots and lots of courage to be a little boy who loves Jesus so much to go some place to tell others about HIM!

You are big now and are reading (although, you NEVER did read to me and poppy so next visit you have to read to us!!!!)

Ayden, Grammy and Poppy love you so much and pray that as you grow up you love your family, love your friends and love Jesus more than anything else! I will be thinking about you ALL DAY LONG TODAY...and I will call you today also! You have a great day!

Love,
Grammy

2011 recap...

Well sweet family and friends,

The year 2011 is rapidly coming to an end! This has been quite a year for the Griffith family, as it has for many people in our lives this year! We have witnessed many trials in the lives of our family and friends. This has been a year of heart break, cancer, stroke, death and believe it or not a little joy mixed in there too!

Our sweet Ayden turned 5 this year and started kindergarten. He is a very smart little boy with a huge imagination! His most recent “thing” in his life to do is to shorten all his words…so in just 9 more (as I write this) sleeping nights he and his family will be at “Grams” for Christmas.

The twins, Rylee and Caleb turned 2 this year and they are developing HUGE personalities. They are very funny. I thought when they were born Rylee would be the dominate one, and while she tends to be more than not…I see a ray of hope in Caleb as he will take charge when he has had enough from the little princess…they are mini me’s of their parents…she is very laid back…he is very precise!

Landon is 3 this year and as 2011 comes to an end…I think…NOT sure…but I think he just may survive potty training…although his momma may need a tranquiller! He is also very funny…his speech has come so far this year…Cassie asked what he wanted Santa to bring him for Christmas this year…he said…I go to Grammy’s for Christmas…I love that little boy! He looks at you and grins and you know you are loved by a sweetie!!!! (Just don’t make him mad!)

And last but by no means least, Camden is 2 and you better watch out if he is awake. He is the one of all my grandbabies I was afraid I wouldn’t have a “connection” with because he was born in Florida and I haven’t had the opportunity spend with him and form memories with but this summer we got to spend almost a month together and you know what…he is grammy’s boy too!!!! We just recently got webcams and talked with him…Cassie says he has asked no less than 50 times to come to Grammy’s since we talked….love that boy!!!!

We are going to have another sweet baby in May in Florida and I am so excited…we find out the gender in just 3 more days…so excited…while I’d love to see Cassie have a sweet pink baby girl…she does boys so well!!! She is a good boy momma so whatever God gives us, we pray for a healthy, happy baby that grows up to love Jesus with all their heart!!!!

Cassie and Jesse are good. Their ministry is thriving in Florida. Many think it is Jesse’s ministry but I’ve learned over the years that when God calls a man, He calls that man’s family. They work together as a team…Jesse has his strong areas that God uses and stretches and Cassie has her gifts…as in their wedding vows…God said the 2 shall become one…in their ministry…God has put the 2 together to make one ministry for HIS glory.

Heather and Donnie have had a good year as well. We see them growing in the Lord also…Donnie has started attending a men’s bible study and I love to see him come in on Tuesday morning’s because he is always excited about what they’ve discussed the night before at the study. Heather started a bible study with some of the teachers she works with after school once a week and has loved it. They believe God is going to send them to Canada this coming summer on a mission trip with their church and are looking forward to serving together!

Michael has settled in to a job at the bank this year and still leading worship at the church. I know I may be partial, but I think God has giving him a great ability to lead worship and I’m thankful for that gift! He misses being outside now with an inside job. He has been a huge blessing this past year on the Griffith farm. He chose to not get a job for the first 3 months of the year and took care of the farm and at times did a few things on his uncle’s place so that others could be at the hospital with Grandma and Poppa. I guess that is picture of what I think Michael is…when the chips are down…he has a sacrificial heart!

As you all know our Katie got married this summer. I’ve bragged and bragged that I haven’t cried…well about a month ago the tears came and I’m not sure when they will stop. I miss having her here to talk to…one thing I can say about my girls (all of them)…we are not just parent/child we are friends…anyway…I miss her but she and Thomas are good and happy…they work with the teens at their church and she is continuing  to work on her education degree. Thomas is a huge blessing to our family as well!

Amy, our Germany girl has been in communication with us this year a little more than usual…I think she misses us and I KNOW we miss her more and more…we pray that someday God will allow us to see her again face to face…we so much want her to visit us again…but someday…Scott and I want to see HER home!

As most of you know…Scott’s dad was diagnosed with cancer the last week of 2010 and has faced many challenges this year…he is doing pretty well now but still has many days he doesn’t feel well at all. I have watched as this family has walked this road together. It was been difficult to say the least. However, God is our sustaining force thru it all. My mother in law is one of the strongest women I know but I don’t think she knows just how strong she is…I know God is the one who has carried her thru but still I hope someday she sees her strength.

We lost our sweet Maw Maw this year…I’ve started walking the past 3 months and as I walk past her house I can still see her sitting on that porch swing…. Saying…can you come sit with me and visit for a bit…Oh how wish I could now…but I know she is in the presence of our Lord…that picture brings me…joy…not comfort…just pure JOY…her first Christmas with her Savior…WOW!!!! Enough said there!

Scott and I are doing well this year I think. He works all he can and I am babysitting. God has taught us many things this year…it has been a hard year to know that there is nothing we can do to fix the pain our loved ones have had to endure…but attempt to be there for them and pray for them. This year we have both had to learn that our parenting days as we have known them are over and we don’t really like that! We are praying next year we will continue to serve the Lord together to the best of our ability…in January we will be married 30 years…and as I look back over those years…the good and the bad…I stand amazed…at just what God can do…I look at the man I’ve shared my life with…and I think this is true about both relationships, Scott loved the Lord when we got married and he loved me when we got married…I’ve witnessed a man fall deeply IN love with His Lord and Savior…and thru that he is in love with me too! I hope we all know what a miracle life is!

We love you all and Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Scott and Lori

Life

Can I just say that it has been a long month in the Griffith household! We had to say see ya later to our sweet Maw Maw. I won't say goodbye or that we lost her because I will see her again and I know exactly where she is! She is sitting at the feet of our Lord...praising Him! It makes me smile to think of that. But still, we will miss her. I thought just the other day of a question I would have liked to ask her...Her funeral was beautiful. One of the sweetest I've ever attended with lots and lots of sweet words about a very special lady who touched not only her family for many generations, but who also touched her community!

I have been dealing with the Lord on a matter that I just can't seem to make public but a struggle He has convicted my heart about for years now. I feel very defeated in this area of my life. I so want victory in it so that I can scream to the world...I FINALLY beat this one...only thru JESUS...Him and Him alone.

Scott and I have also, as I've said in earlier posts, heard lots of messages this summer and even up to today about doing life with people. Pouring into their lives. I've known for many years now that God had a call on our lives together. I dreamed and searched for the vision for years. Thinking it would be a fulltime position or something "bigger" than Jane MO...do you know what I've learned...it IS big when God calls you...no matter the place you are called to serve. For some God does allow them to be paid staff positions...but for MOST of us...we are the lay people...with a call also...to serve and volunteer and love and pour ourselves into the lives of others...it has taken God a long time to get this thru my hard head but I get it and I'm honored to serve Him anywhere but most especially in Jane MO at Emmanuel Baptist Church...for HIS glory.

The holidays are coming upon us fast and I'm so looking forward to the Ball family coming home...I miss them so much lately...maybe because another one is on the way and I'm not there to see the tummy progress! I must admit I'm missing my baby girl as well...the emptiness of her room has gotten to me the last few weeks. But I'm thankful for 3 fine son in laws who all love my daughters the way Christ loves the church.

...Before you go...

Before you go there are somethings I want you to know. You have inspired me! You have taught me so many things over the years. You have loved me and accepted me and forgiven me over the years and for that I will always be grateful. You have been a woman of joy and grace, a woman that has lived out faith before me.

You loved my kids and started for first 3 of them out on their first Bible Stories. I think their love for Jesus may very well have started setting at your feet in Sunday School.

Because of you I can make apple butter, jelly, canned tomatoes, canned green beans and can even short of make a baby quilt now.

I'll always remember you when Scott gets stressed and says, "Well Sugar", or when my grand kids ask for a cookie from the cookie jar and when I think of heaven.

I pray in these last days and hours you know just how loved you and the legacy of love and godliness you leave behind in each of us.

I just had to say it before you go. I love you Maw maw

Weddings, babies and the future...

I have put off a post about my baby's wedding...I can't really say why. It has been a very odd feeling...her getting married and leaving the nest...I'm still not sure I'll find the words to express the emotions that I've had...she was the last of my girls to be home with me...and I believe we are great friends...I miss giggling with her at night...talking about the Lord with her...and watching her excitment for life in general...while I miss those things that I hold very dear to my heart...it is as if...this has been her destiny all along and so her being with Thomas is a very natural thing...I've shed no tears...(not that I haven't thought about it)...I look forward to their future together...does it sound crazy to say this feels like wearing a comfortable pair of warm socks...it just is...and is suppose to be...

Cassie called last week and shared the news with us that we will be grandparents again in May...this will be #4 for them....and before anyone says WOW to me...remember I also have 4...it is a great number...that way there doesn't have to be a middle child (Yeah for Landy!!!) I look forward to this one as much as I did for Ayden...the first one...already wondering what it will be...who it will look like...and praying it will act like Cassie...cause the others  sure don't!!!! What this one will do for the Lord...you know all the important questions...

This morning...thank YOU LORD!

This morning was great...I got to sleep in a bit...go for a walk..and then it was time to finish the housework I SHOULD have finished yesterday...but I was home alone and decided to be lazy just a little bit longer....so I did...and I got to see the most wonderful sight I could have imagined...my sweet father-in-law on his tractor...this is a picture of him...

Why is that such a big deal...we are rapidly approaching Oct...which will be the make of one year...that expect for a few dr appointments Willie was not able to leave the farm...or ride the 4 wheeler or the tractor...his was in so much pain...with no answers for such a long long time...we prayed for answers that simply seemed to not come as we watched him...get weaker and weaker and more discouraged by the day...Christmas came with such a odd "feeling" with the Griffith family last year...a feeling we didn't or don't really discuss...but one that we were very much afraid of....then the week following Christmas came the diagnosis of cancer...such a scary word...and many months of watching poppa fight and yet seem so defeat...but the strength that Linda...prayed over him...and willed into him...was amazing to watch...she said during this time..."I'm the mouth of this family but his is the glue...I think she sells herself short just a tad!...I think maybe out of the that mouth comes a little glue too!!!!

As, over all, a family who knows the Lord, we would agree that we understand that when we pray...asking God to heal people...that HE always hears...and He always heals...just sometimes not the way we, in our flesh desire...but He hears just the same...for the healing HE has brought our poppa's way we are so thankful...as Christmas approaches as again this year for the Griffith family...I believe there will be another "feeling"...a feeling of gratitude...of thankfulness...and I pray a feeling of "awe" and praise for the Lord..and his mercies that are new every morning...and for THIS morning and the the sight I got to see...THANK YOU LORD!

A Trip to St. Louis

We took our students on a mission trip to St. Louis. The trip is an arm of Global Encounter Ministries and is an amazing opportunity for students and adults alike. The Griffith household would highly recommend this trip. The students have to opportunity to be on mission for the Lord as well as setting under some very intense and intentional teaching for a week.

We have witnessed out students change a great deal this week. I believe with all my heart most of them are ready to move to another level with the Lord. It is such an honor to watch God move in the lives of our young people. I'm so thankful that I get to share in their lives. They don't know it but they teach me way more than I could ever teach them!

We worked in North St. Louis at Joshua Generation. We had about 32 kids on Monday but on the 2nd day we doubled that number. We had a few challenges as did every ministry site that week but we had an amazing week...witnessing 8 students coming to know the Lord. We also made new friends, and was able to love on children that desperately needed someone to love them, hug them and tell them how valuable they are to this world! Jesus Christ died for them and desires to have a relationship with them. Our students, I know, can each one close their eyes and still see the face of those kids...and the face of the one that touched their individual heart!

Our students shared Sunday night at our home church...such a BLESSING! Teenagers are so real and not afraid, like we adults, to be vulnerable and honest...if you missed this night you missed witnessing the evidence of God and His power in the lives of the students He has blessed Emmanual with!

God has been teaching me personally many things in the last several months. Our Pastor has been preaching thru the book of Hebrews...and God has used that book in a great way in my life. Then we go to St. Louis and the teaching was also very...what word would I use...impacting! Life changing...I'm learning more and more every year I live that God's word is put out there...we can learn or we can not...but if I choose not to hear...I stop with the Lord...been there done that and don't want that again...

just a few lessons I've learned:
-people won't care about the Gospel if they think we don't care about them
-we are to be the fragrance of Jesus Christ
-are those dear to me...the Christian subculture or the lost?
-I must have compassion...not just on Sunday...Christ was moved with compassion
-hospitality...give up for others...we must do life with people...we must!
-we must meet them on their truff...not on ours!
-reputation...people "hear" our talk but they "see" our walk everyday...what reputation in the community do I have...what reputations does our church have? Are we meeting needs in our community?
-it's not about the numbers...if we can't care about the 1 we don't care about the many!
-am I really hungry for the Lord?
-how long has it been since I've said I'm running hard after God?
-Is going to be about Him or me...I'm the one who makes that choice
IF I'M NEVER HUNGRY FOR GOD THAT SHOULD TELL ME SOMETHING!
-stop pursing religion and start pursing Jesus Christ
-so many of us desire the "power" of the resurrection but we do not want to experience death to self in Christ!
-Jesus requires my life...NOT sunday services, a mission trip, hands raised in worship...my life!
-IF YOU LOVE ME YOU WILL OBEY ME....Christ has spoken to me...will I obey or will I not...

So much to digest in a short week...God has spoken and I'm ready...whatever that means..I'm not gonna lie...I'm excited and I'm scared...but I'm ready