Griffin Family

Talk given by Shelly Griffin in Sacrament Meeting 12/9/2012 The topic of my talk today is entitled, Look to Christ and Live . A wise man, when asked to list three cardinal points that exemplified the lives of the great teachers of all times and that would be a guide to new teachers said “First, teach by example. Second teach by example. Third, teach by example.” Our savior Jesus Christ, is the greatest example the world has ever known. His teachings endure through the ages because the precepts he taught were emphasized by the example of his own life. The worlds of the savior apply today also. “Let your light so shine before man that they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven.” Matt 5:16 President Brigham Young counseled parents to teach their children by example. “if Parents will continually set before their children examples worthy of imitation and the approval of our father in heaven, they will turn the current, and...

10/28/12 Holy Smokes! It's the last email on you mission from your momma! I can hardly believe that we get you back THIS WEEK!!!!  It just doesn't even seem real! I hope you are enjoying the last little bit of your mission.  Pretty soon it will all be a memory.  (I hope you are writing in your journal...cause you really won't be able to remember a lot of things before long!)  Life is funny that way. Katie and Holly did the story-telling festival this week.  They were in two different rooms (thank goodness...don't have to worry about one beating the other).  Katie took 3rd place in her room and Holly took 1st place in her room.  Holly goes on to district.  Probably sometime after you get home so you might get to see her story.  She tells the story of the three pigs (um, so did like 5 other kids in her room?!) but it has some interesting twists AND she totally shakes her booty and has some great actions as she tells the story. ...

10/20/12 Well this week has been super good and lots of great things are happening for you! I guess by now you've got word that you were accepted to BYU.  Did the pres tell you?  I wrote to your mission mama and she said she was seeing you the next day.  So how did that go? We have been working to get you a room put together and it finally came together this weekend.  We were going to get a bed and desk from Grandma but we just didn't feel right about it.  Then we talked to Diane and she said 2 of her kids and families were coming down for your homecoming and would be staying at G'mas.  Then we really didn't feel good about it.  We shopped around and beds (no end tables, just a bed) was running $370 to $550 for the cheap stuff.  We have been really sticker shocked as we look for furniture.  Anyway, we were like...wow, that is too much.  So we came home and got on craigslist and there was a bed for $90.  So we called the...

10/14/12 Sunday has quickly come upon me yet again!  And life is a blur.  I'm trying to remember what went on this week to make it go so quickly! Let's see....Sunday Grama and pa were gone on their 10 day trip so we stayed home and made chocolate moulton cake (kind of pudding in the middle that comes out when you eat it.  Totally delicious) and we played games.  Monday was Columbus day so everyone went to work and school and I had the day off.  Dad worked some and then we had some time together.  We went to Chili's ... kind of an extension of our anniversary last week (24 years).  So that was nice.  In years past we have gone overnight somewhere but this year we got a house so we figured that was nicer than a night out, right?!  And next year we are going to Hawaii at some point during the year for our 25th Anniversary!!!  Don't know when or which island but we are going to really try to get there! We had our biggest night ev...

10/6/12 Holy Smokes.  President Monson just lowered the age of missionaries to go out to 18 effective immediately.  And YW can now go at 19.  That means Dallas could leave as early as the end of May (after he graduates) and Bryce would be just 1 year behind him.  That's pretty big news!  Dallas says he's scared.  Bryce seems kind of excited.  The girls couldn't be happier (they get their own room when they get rid of their next brother).  I'm gonna start saving my money cause that's gonna mean no time for the boys to save money for their missions.  And if they go out as planned we'd have 1 year of $800 per month.  Ouchy.  Oh well, not too worried...if you are willing to serve the Lord finds a way to make it possible, right?! Conference has been really good.  Lots of talk about missionary work and "I'm a Mormon, live it, love it!" and other positive messages.  Look forward to tomorrow. The weather here has been...

Our new home 10/03/2012 LETTER TO DAD (RAYMOND LAURITO) Yes, un-packing is done.  Been busy helping the Griffin's with their burned property and canning apples and salsa and such. Our new address is 587 S Ali Lane, Washington UT 84780.  We don't have a home # any more. Andy's # 435-467-5842 Shelly's # 435-467-5843  Work 435-656-6350 Dallas's # 435-619-0390 House looks really good.  Have lots of stuff to do but nothing that's urgent.  For example...5 rooms didn't have ceiling fans.  We got one in, 4 to go.  None of the bathrooms have toilet paper/towel holders...a couple still need those installed.  AJ's room is empty...gotta buy him a bed and dresser and desk. He'll be home in 31 days, WOW, huh?!  He'll appreciate the $ when he gets home...he has no clothes here. None.  The boys took it all!  I have to go get him some things but I'll probably wait and let him do most of the shopping when he gets back! ...

PVHS Band (Dallas & Bryce both on board) 9/30/12 Can you believe it's the end of September already?  Today's Aunt Ruthie's birthday (I'll have to remember to call her when I'm done here!!!) This morning started with a meeting with the Stake Presidency.  Dad was asked to be the executive secretary in the bishopric today.  And then after he said yes before church he was sustained during sacrament mtg (along with 2nd counselor) and set apart right after church today.  FAST!  WOW, huh?!  They sure did things fast!  The 2nd counselor was also asked this a.m. before church too. Today was my 2nd time teaching Holly's class and there were only 2 kids.  Holly and a different girl than was here last time I taught.  I can't believe how wiggly the whole senior primary is.  It is kinda crazy.  We'll have to work on figuring out how to help them be more reverent! This past week has been about the same as most weeks. ...

9/23/12 Andy and Katie installing the wall hangings in the hallyway Well after 7 hours we have a ceiling fan installed in our office downstairs.  Holy Smokes was that a difficult project. I will give you a BRIEF explanation.  Our new house has 9 foot ceilings so to start off with the light was VERY high in the sky, ya know?!  And of course we didn't own a ladder.  So Dad got 3 kitchen chairs and could reach the light but not quite see what he was doing up there.  Plus it scared me to have him up there on teetering chairs.  So he gets up there and pulls out the old light to find out that it was installed with a plastic small piece that won't hold a ceiling fan.  It takes quite a bit of effort to remove the buggar.  We go over to Home Depot and buy an extender that should be a piece of cake to install.  Come home and it is WAY too big for the spot it goes in...like 2X too big.  So Dad has to improvise and take parts of it and make ...

Andy & Elder Squires 9/16/12 Maddy & Abby with Aaron & Mason Taylor is home and spoken in church!  Bam.  Just like that.  He's trying to figure out how to fit into the "real" world again!  He seems like he's still adjusting.  English works but he talks a little funny and can't remember some words.  His talk today was good but short.  I was disappointed.  He only talked maybe 10 minutes at most.  And it was all doctrine with only one story from his mission.  After the meeting was winding down the bishop got up and said, Taylor, Elder Squires, I mean, you didn't bear your testimony in Spanish for us.  Come back up and do that before we close.  So he had to get up and who knows what he said!!! (not me!)  So he kinda got to speak 2x!We had a nice luncheon afterward with ham sandwiches that were broiled in the oven.  Yummy.  Chips, fruit, veggies, cookies, soda.  The usual.  All the...