“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing.” Psalm 30:11
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Family Life
“May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.” Philippians 1:11
Two years before my brother passed, we moved into another home only a few blocks from our previous one. The house and I were nearly fifty and we both needed some remodeling. I joined Curves and together my husband, the contractor, and I worked on our home, painting, repairing, and adding new rooms. Our new bedroom was much smaller than our previous one. The outside patio was soon officiated as the new family bed. We transformed it to a place that could be used year-round, with lovely, colorful flowers, lanterns, and even an outdoor heater. It was here that the family continued to share laughter, prayers, and sometimes tears. We welcomed friends and family as we sat together on crisp spring mornings and warm summer nights. Throughout the years when one of the kids went away; this is the place they would miss most often. “Mom we miss having coffee on the patio with all of you,” was often remarked. Many life-changing decisions were made as a result of prayers at our “patio time.”
With my children nearly grown, I began concentrating on my gardening. As I worked on my hands and knees, creating a living canvas, I thought of Mom often. I could almost feel her looking over my shoulder, pleased with the flowers and shrubs I had picked out. I even joked to my family that Jesus and Mom handpicked our house for us. We’ve had three weddings, two receptions and numerous birthday parties in our spacious and secluded front yard over the years, including Kristy’s who was the first of our children to marry.
I had just turned 50 and celebrated with my family at a nearby restaurant. The following Friday we made plans once again to meet all the kids for dinner because my oldest had been unable to join us the week before. Kristy and Tyler left earlier to put in our name and wait while the rest of us rode in Jeremy’s car to meet them.
On the way my oldest son said, “Can we stop at the Country Club? You remember Jorge, my old friend who used to work with me? He is working there now and he just carved his very first ice sculpture. He wants us to stop by and look at it. It would mean a lot to him.”
“Sure,” I said, “but I don’t want Kristy and Tyler to be waiting on us.”
“We’re fine. We’ll just go in for a minute,” my husband said.
We knew Jorge pretty well since Cary was the one who first hired him and he and Jeremy had become best friends. We were proud of the way he had grown in his career.
Walking in, the kids and Cary strode in front of me. As we rounded the corner my husband opened the door when I realized the lights were off. Strolling into a darkened room, someone quickly switched on the lights, “Surprise! Surprise! Happy Birthday!”
When my eyes became accustomed to the light there standing before me were my closest friends, my cousins, and my brother and his kids who lived in Arizona. Even Steve, my youngest sibling, had come all the way from Colorado.
Tears flowed down my face, “Cary, what have you done?” I gratefully reached out to him.
There stood Kristy waving her arms erratically, standing next to Tyler. “Haw, and you thought you were going to meet us for dinner,” they both roared with laughter.
Tyler proudly put his arms around me. “This time Dad included me. We all kept it a secret from you. Were you surprised?”
I tousled my youngest son’s hair. “Yes, you guys are awesome.”
Then Cary and the kids led me to the center of the room and at once a sea of colorful balloons were moved aside and there stood my sister and her youngest son.
“Monica, Levi, oh my gosh you guys came out from Colorado, too. Wow! I can’t believe this.” I looked fondly at my amazing husband and wonderful children. “Thank you for making my birthday so special.”
Cary and the kids made a video telling me how much they loved me. “I love your faith, you taught me about God’s love. We are so proud of you. You have been a wonderful mom and an awesome wife.”
It gave me a chill. “How awesome to hear those words from you guys. I love you all so much. I am so grateful to be your mom and so proud to be your wife.”
Later that night, after returning home, I held my husband close. “You never cease to amaze me. Thank you so much for all you do. I truly am a blessed woman.”
“No, let me correct you I am the one who is blessed. You are my Proverbs 31 woman. I thank God every day for bringing you and the kids into my life.”
“A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. Her children arise and call her blessed, her husband also, and he praises her. Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Proverbs 31:10-12,28-29
The End
Epilogue
“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten. You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God who has worked wonders for you…..” Joel 2:25-2
It’s been several years since I started my memoir and a lot has changed. My amazing husband just surprised me with another party for my 60th birthday. Jeremy has recently married and continues to work for Bon Appetit’ he lives about ten minutes from us. We see he and his wife, Alicia often. Kristy has been married to Tim for over ten years and has established herself as a successful artist. Painting ocean scenes and beaches is her specialty. She is featured in a local gallery in Palm Springs and Kristy hosts fun nights painting and sipping wine. Jeff is a great photographer, he has recently returned home after living in a foreign country for nearly five years. He is a close to all his siblings and his niece and two nephews. He has a great sense of humor and is enjoyed by all. Ashley has been married for over seven years to Adam and has given us three amazing grandchildren. Ellie who is six, Ezra 3 and baby Emory Brave just turned 1 and I am devoted to them. Thankfully, they live only 2 miles away. Tyler, our youngest just turned 24 he enjoys traveling and has made friends all over the world. He loves to visit foreign countries and has taken a 10,000-mile motorcycle ride from one end of the United States to the other with friends. All of our children live nearby and we gather together as often as we can, we continue to savor our “patio time.” I see my siblings several times a year, we delightfully share in each other’s lives through, Facebook, photos, letters, phone calls and visits.
“Darlin’ there is something about those eyes and I am more in love with you today then the day we married,” is a phrase I hear often from my beloved, adoring husband of twenty-seven years. We continue to marvel at all the amazing things God does in each of our lives. He has definitely restored all the lost years, all the painful experiences I’ve endured, all the tears, the fears the highs and lows of life and through them all, God has brought me Victory, Restoration and Hope. My Father in heaven has changed me through my relationship with Jesus Christ. I would not be where I am today without Him. Thankfully through the years He’s revealed his unconditional love towards me, something I hope to share with others through my story.
Acknowledgments
My deepest thanks to my amazing husband without his support and inspiration and confidence in me, I would never have been able to write this book. I also want to thank my children and friends for believing in me and encouraging me to write my story and for helping me to press on to get my book published.
Thank you to my family members and many friends who read the book before it was in print and gave me feedback and the courage to get it published. Thank you for all those who wrote Praises for: and was a constant support and encouragement to me. Thank you to the people who helped me edit the book and to Book Baby for publishing my book.
I appreciate everybody who through reading, encouraging, and prayin
g for me helped make this dream of mine a reality.
Pictures
Debra Ann Griswold
September 11, 1955
Four-years-old living at the Spider house
Me and my sister, Monica holding hands, still best friends today
My oldest brother Mike, 5
Monica 3 and Me 4
My youngest brother, Steve 18 months
Rob 2 1/2
Dave 3 ½ he and I were the only ones with blond hair
Making my first communion
At Saint Joseph’s church in Fontana, CA
Mom and Dad shortly before or after they had just married
My love for horses started early
Mike training his red-tail hawk
Me at 16 shortly after Cary and I first met
Jeremy born in 1973 in Colorado Springs, CO
Kristy born in 1977 in Colorado Springs, CO
Jeff born in 1979 in Colorado Springs, CO
My three kids in 1984 right before I married Lee
My siblings as adults and our Mom
Ashley born in 1987 in Colorado Springs, CO
Me and my growing family 1988
Cary at 23 years-old
Cary and me on our wedding day June 27, 1991
Our family in 1991 after arriving in California
Tyler born in 1994 in California
Dad in 1997
Me and my love 1992
Prince and me 2003
Mom and me 1999
Our family – my 50th Birthday 2005
Our Family 2015 at my 60th birthday party
All the kids 2017
Soul Mates 2018
Something About Those Eyes Page 33