Christmas weekend

We had a great Christmas weekend with the family! Complete with the first "measurable" snow in on Christmas in North Georgia since 1882!! How about that?

It was a gorgeous time! We had a blast.

Friday morning we woke and headed to my parents to have breakfast with the my parents and grandparents. Waffles and bacon. The grandparents left, and we opened presents with my parents! We skyped with Janet, Henry and Hank since they weren't able to leave Cleveland for Christmas. We had a good time opening presents, and my parents gave Donna and I a laptop! A great gift for us. Donna has been wanting one for a while now and it was very thoughtful of my parents to do that for us! Friday evening was a great time of worship with our church family, celebrating the ONLY reason for CHRISTmas. Complete with songs, a great message, and candlelit singing of Silent Night. It was a beautiful evening.

We grabbed a bite to eat and headed home, so I could make a German Chocolate Cake for Chrismas day lunch. It turned out beautiful!! We then tucked down for the night.

We woke on Christmas morning to see that Santa had come to the house!! He over did it, but it was a wonderful time together! The kids both got i-pod touches. (I think when I was ten, I got a new football and a 12" color T.V.)

Anyway, we went to my maternal grandparents for breakfast next to a warm fireplace. The snow began around 9:30 or 10. We got done there and headed for home around 11. Got the dishes and cake for lunch and headed over to my parents for lunch with my paternal side of the family. Lunch was great!! We opened presents together and had a good time catching up, but we cut it a little short since the snow decided not to stop! By the time we left there; there was maybe 2" of snow on the ground and the roads were "slushy" but plenty managable. We got the message that church was cancelled for Sunday and decided to tuck down at home for the rest of the weekend and not get out of pajamas until Monday morning. (Except for a quick trip into town on Sunday afternoon!) We got all our Christmas decorations down on Sunday and are ready for a trip to Jackson later in the week to celebrate Christmas with Donna's family!

After we purchase a replacement for Charlene tonight!! WooHoo... new car!

C

This is Christmas!!

I guess we all have a little inner child in us, but I get so excited around Christmas! Mostly because I know better than ever that we celebrate our Savior's birth!! I love the songs we sing together! I love the worship we do together! I love our families getting together! I love the prayers we offer of thanksgiving for a gift so underserved! I love it all!!
BUT.... also, the excitement of our children. The wonder of waking up Christmas morning to see what Santa brought. Opening the gifts to each other to see things we normally wouldn't buy for ourselves. I just love this time of year! The cold on your face. Curling up by a fire (even if it is gas logs!) Hot chocolate. The smell of the Christmas tree. MMMMMMMMM Just great times for all the senses!
Schedule:
Friday Morning: Breakfast with my parents and grandparents, followed by opening gifts with my parents and sister's family (this year that will be via skype, since they couldn't come down from Cleveland).
Christmas eve service at church ended by silent night by candle light!!
Saturday morning: Wake up to see what Santa brought followed by breakfast at Granddaddy Austins with all my aunts uncles and cousins.
Lunch with my dads side of the family and opening presents!
Sunday worship at church followed by NOTHING!!! I like the way Sunday sounds already!! Don't you?
Have a wonderful CHRISTmas everyone!
C

Anniversary

What an amazing weekend!!
Donna and I slipped away Friday night for our 17th anniversary!! I can't believe we have been married that long! It seems like yesterday that she hit on me in Calculus II class! Time has flown by! Donna is hotter today than she was when I met her and she still makes my heart jump when I look at her! I'm in love with her! She is my best friend and an incredible woman, mother, and wife!!
We had a great time talking and laughing together! We went to dinner and did some Christmas shopping and, well that's all I can discuss in a public blog! Ha.
We got back to C'ville for Grif's first basketball game of the season! He did great and scored 2 baskets. He is out of shape though and needs to do some running!! Saturday afternoon the SEC championship started and we watched the first quarter at home before heading to El Nopal in Adairsville to meet our Sunday School class for our class Christmas party. We had a good time with each other and watched Auburn win the SEC championship! Then we headed over to Hometown Karyoke to sing a little. We didn't get to stay long enough, but we had a blast with our bible study class. Only 3 of us got to sing, before everyone had to head back to church to pick up kids!! I hope we get to do that again.
Sunday was a great time of worship at church! I love Christmas carols and Christmas songs! It is going to be a great celebrating the season of Christmas with our church family! Sunday afternoon, Grif and went to pick out the perfect Christmas tree. We got home and started decorating it, followed by a little hot chocolate for everyone when we were through!
There are wwwwaaaaaaaayyyyy too many items on the calendar during this time of year, but in all of our celebrations, parties, get-togethers, and such, as long as we remember The Reason for the season, I will be happy to be busy!!
Also, the end of last month was my 2 year blogging anniversary. Hard to believe, but definately cheaper than therapy! Ha.
C

Amazing worship on a Wednesday!!

I had an amazing day yesterday!
Work was extremely busy, so the day flew by!! Woohoo.
Donna and I were invited to a prayer group early at church, to pray for a miracle for a couple of friends of ours! It was an amazing time of worship! We were able to stand beside those we love and pray for something that has no earthly shot at happening! I can't wait to see what God does!
Craig

Telling the truth!!

This will be a very short post!!
I would rather be working a poll today than at work!!
C

Molding

Long time no post!

It has been a wonderful fall so far!!

Bailey's softball is now over and Grif's basketball season is about to crank up! This past weekend was BUSY, but the weekend before that was just restful and wonderful!

Two weekends ago, Jon H. got a blow up movie screen for his back yard and it was a PERFECT fall Saturday in the south!! We sat out back and watched football, ate, and enjoyed each other from Noon until 10 pm!! All day outside!! Wonderful! Grif drove a four wheeler by himself for the first time and had a blast! We had so much fun we decided to watch the Sunday night game by a bonfire with the movie screen showing the Colts and the Redskins!! absolutely perfect!

Then this past weekend was the exact opposite!!
Friday night Bailey's softball banquest.
Saturday was my 20th class reunion.

And Sunday was church with Team Impact!! This is a great group of guys and Shawn really made Grif feel like a MVP!! We went out to eat with the Hodorff's and Shawn and Chip from Team Impact on Thursday night and Shawn fielded 100 questions from Grif!! He was great and Grif thinks the world of Shawn!! So Shawn invited Grif to the church early on Sunday night to eat with the guys before the service and to "help" set up the stage!! Grif just knew he was big time!!

Grif helping set up under the watchful eye of Shawn!!

Grif eating with Shawn and Cesar before setting up the stage!

Dancing with the HOTTEST woman ever!!

Great times!! I love fall!! Just great events seem to happen this time of year!!

Anyway, now to the molding!! If you have a chance to say a prayer for me today, I would appreciate it!! My wonderful son has become "curious" about the opposite sex and has chosen to view some inappropriate things on the internet!! The internet is a wonderful tool, but there is also some evil stuff out there! Anyway, I get to do the not so fun part of parenting when I get home from work! I want to do this correctly, so that he doesn't have "issues" with sex (which is a BEAUTIFUL thing!!!!!!!) later in life, but I also want to do sternly enough that I teach him A LOT about respect for women and the appropriateness of curiousity!! Praying that God gives me the perfect balance for this discussion!! Need WISDOM! I love being a parent, but this part stinks!! I wonder if that's the way God feels about disciplining us!! It's got to be done, but I'd rather being playing ball with him in the front yard!! LOL

C

...with heart abandoned...

The vocal team class last night went well past the hour we expected!! But that was OK!! It turned into something different than we planned. It ended up being 2 and half hours of prayer. Praying for each other, our church, our community, laying hands on each other and lifting each other up. It was DEFINATELY something we have been missing and needing as a group. It was tough to be in that room for me though. Although I needed it, I've been running from or fighting God on prayer for a while. I don't know what I feel about praying and that is a painful spot to be in.
I want so badly to believe and pray for big things. But when I have, nothing seems to change. And if God isn't moved by my faith to pray for "big" things, then why would He be moved by my prayer for "small" things, or anything. It has been a tough 6 or 8 months in that regard. Our life is pretty smooth right now, except for this battle inside me. We (my family) are running pretty smoothly, but prayer is something God has called me to do more of. I've been doing less. It hurts to step out on something and VIEW no results. BUT, I'm tired of wrestling.
So... I stand, with arms high and heart abandoned, in awe, of the one who gave it all.
And I pray.
C

Random great day for the Guyton's

How about just a random Tuesday becoming a phenomenal day! I love it! First off, my gorgeous bride came down to have lunch with me!! We went to Willie Ray's on the Marietta Square. I would have loved to have eaten outside, but it was HOT!! (Like 95 in the middle of September!! ugh!) Anyway, we had a great lunch together and it gave me a great mid-day break from the normal work grind! Made my day!!
Then I get the exciting news that Griffin made the jump rope team at Mission Road Elementary!! A VERY high honor and I didn't know if it would happen for him, BUT it did! He really wanted it bad, because Bailey had been on the jump rope team when she was there (and whether he would ever admit it or not, he looks up to her something fierce!!).
Last, and YES very least, my daughter is dating! Not big to me since she ain't goin NOWHERE with any BOY yet!! But, it is a desparately big deal to an eighth grader and she is on cloud nine. The boy "asked her out", "to go with", "boyfriend and girlfriend" - whatever you call it, directly and not in a letter or anything, so I give him props for putting himself "out there" like that, but the only good thing I will say about the young fella is he's got GREAT taste in girls! Like I said, it wasn't a big deal to me, but it means a lot to Bailey, so I put it in the "great day" category!

C

Reflecting

While I am at it, let's hit some of the highlights!!: (Look at this!! Two posts in one day!!)
Spring break was spent at Mt Vogel State Park with the Hodorffs and Lovetts!! Amazing Time!
Softball season was great, (and short since my team wasn't doing well which turned into a blessing)
Watching Grif play baseball!
Watching Bailey play tournament softball!
Ran a campaign for State Representative. Met a lot of great people through that, and am going to be more active in the Bartow GOP and Euharlee City Government because of that experience!
Spent time with Donna knocking on doors for the campaign! I probably enjoyed spending that time with her more than she did!! LOL
Went to the beach with my family!
Numerous "get togethers" with friends!!
Went to the beach with the Heltons and Gordys!!
And now watching Bailey play softball for Woodland Middle!!
It was a GREAT summer!!
Good Times
Craig

Ready for Fall?

After spending some time reflecting on just how great this summer was, I am ready for fall! The thing I love most about my home state is MOST of the time we get all 4 seasons! Some places skip fall or spring, and go straight to cold or hot, but for most years we in Georgia get some of the best days of the year in fall and spring! The weather is generally cool in the mornings while still warm (or hot) in the afternoons! AND THE EVENINGS ARE GENERALLY PERFECT!! Perfect to sit outside and just take in the surrounding and the sights of children playing in the yards to squeeze the last breaths of summer out!
Football seasons start, baseball gets to penant races and then playoffs!! Just good stuff! I love fall!
Donna seems to have turned a great corner and is starting to feel better from her surgery, which is an answered prayer! The surgery was a great success, which is an answered prayer! We are praying that the surgery will result in feeling a lot better in everyday life, without pain and discomfort!! (Just another reason I want to thank God for making me a MAN!! Woohoo!!)
Quick rundown:
Church - going great!
Bible Study - going great, but very challenging topic!!
Work-going great right now!! Very busy, but still praying for more! (God is probably fielding a lot of those prayers right now!)
Donna-Doing better, and I am downright giddy over her!! (I don't know if that is normal after 16 years of marriage, but I LIKE IT!!)
Bailey - doing great at softball!! Made an incredible catch in center field during yesterday's win!! Straight A's!! and is just a generally great kid!! Except maybe to her brother that drives her crazy!!
Grif- doing great!! Straight A's! FUNNY and just a great kid!! Except maybe to his sister that drives him crazy!!
(did you see a theme in those last two updates?? LOL)

C

Great Trip!

Donna and I got to slide away for a very long weekend in Fort Walton with some great friends! TOOOO much fun! We left late Friday afternoon and drove straight through and got there just after midnight! Full beach days for Saturday, Sunday and Monday with just a few late afternoon thunder showers! The water, weather, food, and company were all amazing! Very "interlectural" conversations! Three great restaraunts! The weekend could not have been any better!
Back to the daily grind today! Business has been good around the office, which is an answered prayer! Still nervous about the very near future, but still praying for great things and for God to show up big!
Rested and relaxed and ready to go!
C

Back to normal!!

Well, the last of the campaign signs came down last night. Everything is wrapped up in a neat little bow and done. Well, of course except the emotion of it all, which will take longer I am sure! I hope God will use this experience to open some more doors!!

Donna and I are sliding away with some friends for an extended weekend of fun, sun, and sand!! I can't wait and we need it!! We haven't taken a trip just us in a while!! No kids, just adult time! Excited does not cover it!! LOL.

All of our Wednesday night church events start back tonight, including choir! I can't wait!

Donna is having a little surgery and we just got the date! Sept 2nd. Keep her in your prayers! She is relieved to have an answer to pain she has been having for YEARS! I don't like the idea of the surgery, (just scared, I guess) but it will be wonderful to have a pain-free wife!!

Bailey is getting ready to start the softball season, and we can't wait!!

Anyway, no more running around in the evenings dealing with signs or knocking on doors of strangers!! Everything seems back to normal!!

C

Humbling

I don't recall asking God to make me more humble, but.....
Picking up signs we have put out during the campaign is not very much fun! Downright humbling. Painful. Thought provoking. I will be doing this a few more days I imagine, but last night it was good for me to help clear my head. I was beating myself up a little; thinking "if this" or "if I had done that" etc. A LOT OF LEARNING STILL TO COME, I am quite sure!!
Anyway, I rode around getting signs in Euharlee and Taylorsville, and tonight I'll be heading someplace else to do that!!
Work is actually great right now, and I am happy to be busy!
Looking forward to a couple of days off later in the month!!
C

Really

Absolutely no post in forever that had any teeth to it. So I really do not know where to begin to update!

Last night went MUCH quicker than the primary. I guess smaller number of candidates, combined with smaller turn-out gives way to much quicker results! We lost. 131 votes separted us. Shep did great through-out the whole campaign! To be a first time candidate, he did amazing! I doubt anyone wants to see his name on a ballot against them!!

It was also my first time doing this. I know that I will be my own worst critic, but there are many things I did wrong, that I am (and will be for weeks to come) sorting through and marking down as lessons learned.

My emotions are as raw as they could be. Tough day to have to be "faking it" at work! I feel that I've let Shep down. There are going to be plenty of lessons to "glean" from this, and the ones I learn will make me better at that job. It was fun, tough, exciting, and exhausting.

I have been through all the emotions as you can imagine today. I have been angry mostly, but in the long run, the things that have made me angry, will probably be the things that taught me the most! For that I am thankful.

For the experience, I am thankful.

For the wonderful volunteers, I am thankful.

I am sure over the next few weeks I will add stories "from the trail", but for now, this is all I can give you!!

C

I wish!!!

I wish I had the time to sit and update my blog for you as to what is going on, how cool it is, how great the vacation was, etc, but.... I don't!! I am loving life right now and the fast pace that is campaign season!!
Soon, I promise!!
C

What a week!!

What an incredible week!! It is/has/and will continue to be BUSY!!! A lot going on!
Bailey and Grif got back from a week of youth camp!! They had a blast!! Donna and I had a great time as well, but were missing our babies badly!! I'm glad to have them home!!
The campaign is going amazingly well, and I am so proud to be working for Shep's campaign!! He is a man of integrity that will represent us well under the Gold Dome. I am proud to be working for him, but more proud to cast my vote for him!!
Shep could not have done a better job in the debate!! He rocked it!!
Our big fund raiser is tonight, then door to door tomorrow and then 4th of July events on Saturday!!
I am looking forward to vacation on the 11th of July!!!!!!!
C

Lots of Stuff

I'm sorry it has been so long since I've updated, but... been a little busy!
Work is going well, campaign is going great, workouts still great, on medication, off cigarettes!! etc.
We shipped the kids off to church camp for the week and are having a blast so far. (They are having a blast too!!) We had a dinner cruise with the Hodorff's on Monday night!! Chinese, the lake, a beautiful sunset!! A perfect night with my baby!
Last night we went door to door campaigning with some great friends. It was a blast!! A little on the warm and humid side, but still a wonderful reception for the best candidate!! Good stuff!!
C

Science Olympiad, Family, and Campaigning!!

We had a great weekend at the Guyton House!! Bailey and Mimi left early on Friday to go to Auburn for Katie's graduation. War Eagle (wow - throwup doesn't taste all that bad. (Go Dawgs!)) Anyway Grif, Donna and I went to Jefferson's Friday night to eat!! I hadn't been yet and it was very good!! I will be going again! We went to my grand parents for a visit after that! It has just been wayyyyy too long since I have been to see them!! I get to busy and consumed with my own life to visit a lot and that isn't good, so a correction does have to be made!
Saturday we spent all day at Kennesaw State University for Griffin's Science Olympiad State Championship!! It was a great day! Watching all those "scientists" competing was cool! The only actual event the parents got to watch was the rocket launch! The kids had to build a rocket out of a 2 liter coke bottle including a parachute, and they would shoot it into the air and the parachute would deploy, then the time stopped when it hit the ground! It was extremely cool! I wish that had been one of Grif's events!
Saturday night we cooked out with the Lovett's!! Jerk chicken, hashbrown casserole, salad, and then I made homemade vanilla ice cream!! First time for me to do that for my kids! My parents and grand parents have done it, but I have not!! It was a blast!
Sunday we had welcome desk upstairs, so we missed the graduation service at church! Bailey had an incredible pitching lesson!! She is getting very good and I can't wait to see her start a game instead of just relieve! When we got home, Bailey, Grif and I went to put up signs in some yards. I can't wait until we get literature in, so we can start going door to door and really campaigning!! That's where the fun is!
Shep asked me last Thursday to be his campaign manager!! It is an absolute dream job for me. C.M. is something I've always thought I would be good at! I sure pray I don't let him down!
C

baseball, softball, and more softball

Our regular Sunday night discussion:
Me: Hey baby, what do we have this week?
Donna: Grif has a game on Monday at 7:30, you have softball with the church at 6:30.
Tuesday Bailey has a game at 6:00
wednesday we have church.
Thursday Grif and Bailey both have a game at 7:30.
Friday Bailey has travel ball practice.
Saturday
Me: Nevermind!!
Thank God for calendars or day planners or i-phones or however she keeps up with it!! Air traffic controller!! LOL. We are all having a blast though and I don't think I would trade this time in for anything!! (I do get excited though when there is a rain out and we get to ALL stay in for an evening!)
Both kids are doing great! Grif got a hit last night and made two good plays at shortstop earning him the game ball!! (That is a big deal!! Just saying, in case you've never been a 9 year old boy!) We, of course, took an autographed ball that dad has out of its case and put this game ball in the case. (It was just Mark DeRosa's autograph, not like it was Ozzie Smith or anything!!) Bailey is playing great softball and she is an athlete!! She can play anywhere and her coaches like that!! She is doing well at her pitching lessons as well!! I can't wait to see her start her first game!
My tournament team is doing extremely well, but my church team not so much! But, we are having a blast!!
I love spring!!
C

Thank you!

Thank you to those who have been praying for us that I know about and to the ones I don't! I am in the midst of a great week! And have been in a constant state of thanking God!
As I sit here drinking my coffee, looking out the window at a beautiful day, and updating my blog, I can't help but reflect on the way April started. It was a rough month! Seemed like everything fell down or broke down at once.
So here is an update:
The store is still struggling, but we had a good April! (answered prayer)
Charlene is now back on the road!! Woohoo! No damage to the valves and only $250 (answered prayer)
I am getting the crown this month, but I had the money set aside from income tax refund and since I didn't have to buy a new car, that money is available! (Now I just have to fret over the dental work itself, not the money!!)
Termites are gone and paid for with the rest of the income tax refund! (I gave the gvnmt a LARGE interest free loan)
We do have problems with our field lines and are going to be having some outdoor plumbing work done, but that money has been provided by God as well!! (answered prayer)
Both children are doing very well in baseball/softball!! School is almost over for them and Donna. I am excited about Mother's Day this Sunday!! It's going to be a blast and the worship set at church is going to be incredible!!
I am blessed and highly favored.
C

Crunch at home!

Wed. April 7th: Owner of my store, tells me if things continue down currant path, we won't be open much longer!
Thurs. April 8th: Charlene dies (car - timing belt).
Tues. April 13th: Dentist lets me know I need a crown!! ugh!
Wed April 14th: Some termites show up at the house!
God is still in control. Bad week financially. But, we praise him in the good times and we praise in the times of trial too! (I'll just keep reminding myself that!!)
C

Spring Break

Me and my gorgeous wife in front of the waterfall at Vogel with the sun gleaming through behind us, hitting the water!! (She is HOT!!)

Due to money crunch and the economy hitting my business, I couldn't take off the whole week with Donna, Bailey and Grif, but I did take Friday and we slipped out of town with the Hodorffs and the Lovetts for a much needed few days away at Mt Vogel State Park! Less than 2 hours away from here, but I've never been. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!! Amazing scenery, easy, but pretty drive. It was great. Friday when we got there it was still very windy, so that made it a little cold, but nothing a great fire wouldn't wipe away in a hurry!! There is just something hypnotic about watching, smelling, hearing, and feeling a fire isn't there?

We were able to picnic, hike, fish (in streams and on a lake), play putt-putt (Grif's personal fav!!), EAT, play four square, card games, and just spend time with each other.

It was a great time to get away from "real life" and just take in the beauty of God's creation!! Donna has almost talked me into selling the house and buying a motor home to live in for our retirement (a few years from now!!) It was an amazing weekend in a beautiful valley in the foothills of the Appalachian Mtns!!

The kids "exploring one of the many streams at Vogel!!

All the kids in front of the big waterfall!! Beautiful spot!!


Bailey and Griffin, civil for long enough to take this photo!! (Miracle!!)

Great Easter Weekend!!

We had a great weekend! The kids had practice on Saturday and I had another tourney (I am looking so forward to my team taking a weekend off!!) We came in 3rd with another good showing!
The weather for the whole weekend could not have been ordered up any better!!
Sunday was perfect. Church was incredible!! We went to mom and dad's for lunch with my sister and bro-in-law for Easter. (They are down from Cleveland for the week).
A Sunday afternoon nap followed by some time in the yard with my son, capped off a wonderful weekend!!
C

What's impossible with God?

The cable was out yesterday when I got home. A coincidental inconvenience most people would say. Maybe... But, we were about to eat dinner and put the movie "facing the Giants" in the dvd. I picked it up a couple of weeks ago when I was getting a book, because I had been thinking about the movie for a while and wanting to see it again.
Anyway, if you've seen the movie, not great acting but an incredible message. At a few points in the movie, I found I was wiping a tear off my cheek. But at the end.... They had just won the State Championship and Coach Grant Taylor walks in the locker room where the boys are celebrating. He gets the quieted down, and he looks at the kid that just made the longest field goal of his life. "David, don't you ever let anyone tell you that you are no good, or second rate.... I just watched God do a miracle through you"!! So then coach Taylor asks David, "What is impossible with God?". David replies, "nothing coach".
That question and answer were mondane enough. I would answer the same sitting here today. If you ask me, "Craig, what's impossible with God?" Nothing would be my reply. Standard "Sunday School" answer. No problem. And I was fine at that point in the movie. But Coach Grant's next question to David was the one that got me.

"Are you sure?" coach Taylor asked. His tone told me he want young David to grasp the full weight of his first question!! "Yes sir coach". The coach went on through the locker room asking both questions to everyone. You see in their school God had been doing miracles. Changing hearts, changing minds, changing attitudes. They KNEW nothing was impossible.

I can't explain why I don't. I've got no explanation. You see, when the coach looked at David and said are you SURE, I didn't feel sure. I don't act SURE. I don't pray SURE. I don't confess SURE. I don't profess SURE. And I definately don't witness SURE.

If I really believe nothing is impossible with GOD, why don't I LIVE it? Why am I afraid to tell someone I know and love that God has put them on my heart to pray for them? Or why am I afraid to tell someone God can't use you if you aren't willing? Why am I afraid to put my hands on someone and claim there broken body for God? Why can I get more worked up over explaining why unversal healthcare is going to be the demise of this country when my own unbelief could be the demise of my own family or a friend that I am suppose to be witnessing to?

God, help my unbelief. I serve The only God there ever was, is, or will be, but I act as if that service doesn't have sacrifice. I want to be willing to look like a fool. I want to be willing to take the first step. Show me what you are trying to say.

C

Weekend Bliss

What an incredible weekend!! I will be smiling until next weekend because of all the excitement! (I hope)
My tournament team won the tourney on Saturday!! I had a good defensive day and decent offensive (not what I am used to, but it is early in the season). Bailey and Grif both had good practices and ended the day watching daddy at 10:30 pm winning the tourney in a blustery wind!!
Sunday started with an awesome church service! An awesome bible study discussion, and a field trip to the 2nd worship service to watch one of our classmates get baptized and her family join the church!! (how cool!)
Side Note** I got to meet Nell Womack, Joseph's wife, and Tess's sister-in-law. I originally got to her blog one day when I was extremely bored at work and she and some of her friends via their blogs have some incredible recipes!! I mention that so that if you need some quick fix meals with big flavors, it could serve you well to do some snooping around Nell's and blog friend list to do some seriously good eating!!
Back to the regular scheduled program....
Bailey's pitching lesson went great!! She was serious, and working hard!! We had moved her lesson up one hour for the night of worship at the church.
I got back to the church at 3 for vocal team mic check and to make sure we knew all the X's and O's of the game plan. Choir rolled in at 4:30 and we ate a little bit before sound check! Then we ate a little bit after sound check!! The vocal team circled up for a prayer after our sound check that was an incredible time! Moments like that really solidify us as a team, in my opinion. It was sweeeeeet!
Anyway the night of worship/live recording went amazing!! A couple of problems made us have to redo a couple of songs but I think the choir could've gone on worshipping all night!!
I was exhausted but energized. Drained, but ready to offer more!!
It was a truly awesome weekend!! Very special service that I will never forget!! I can't wait to hear the cd!!
C

Contently searching

I know, oxymoron. How can you be content and searching at the same time? I don't know, but that's the way I feel this morning, so that is the title!
We are coming up on a Live CD recording at the church this Sunday. Of course we are also working on Easter music. Ball practices. Tournaments. Getting ready for the CRCT. Busy at work (Thank God). Going and coming and going and coming...... You get it. A LOT of stuff going on! It is great! It is one of the joys of having children; there is always something to do!! Donna and I are looking forward to Sunday and the live recording. I pray it will be a great time of worship!! I hope it will be a great "lead-up" to Easter; but an amazing experience in and of itself. I have not ever done anything like this with a church. I did it every year for music camp, but in a church setting, not so much! I think it will be cool and I hope the finished product is a blessing to many people!
Forgotten God is a book that we are going over in bible study class. I am in the process of reading it as "homework". I will be writing more on it later, but suffice it to say, it is and is going to be challenging!
That's all for now! Sorry for the quick update, but I am lucky enough to be busy at work!
C

Great weekends are good for the soul!!

I had another incredible weekend. Friday night we went out with some friends to Red Skye in Marietta. It is a piano bar. I had never been to a dueling piano show, even as much as I love music! The two guys were incredible! It was 3 straight hours of great entertainment! They knew and played one of my requests, one of my all time favorite songs, Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, by Billy Joel. They played the whole version!! (Like 7 minutes long!!)
Saturday was a nice relaxing day! We didn't do anything worthwhile. Just hung out at the house, took a nap, watched a TON of college basketball!! Then I had already decided to cook dinner and what I wanted to cook!! So I went at it:
Fried Chicken!!!
Mashed taters (Donna made these! Best I ever ate!)
Pineapple cheese casserole
And, with apologies to Moore's Gourmet Market:
Sweet Potato Biscuits!! MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
Great Day!!
Sunday morning got to my house an hour earlier than normal (I know it did for everyone, but this blog is about me!! LOL)
I was on vocal team, so I dragged myself in early and went to singing. I got there in a bad mood!! You could say that I woke up on the wrong side of the bed, but if I told you the truth, I was in a bad mood for very selfish reasons. I wasn't in the mood to lead out in worship. But, thanks be to God, I couldn't stay that way. Somewhere during the first song of the first service, while we were singing Hallelujah, God is Here, He got my attention and changed my thought process. Period. My attitude changed, I'm sure my demeanor changed, the sound I was hearing changed and by the time we got to the second song, I was singing TO God, not about Him.
Pastor preached a tough sermon. Not all that tough to hear, but a tough sermon inasmuchas (LOL) there is a lot of controversy on the scriptures he preached on. And I can ALWAYS respect anyone who says, "I don't understand all of these verses", before he starts. Fact is, there is NO way to understand ALL the Bible. But I can promise this: there is no way to understand ANY of it if you aren't in it. Period.
Bible study was challenging. I think I'm going to ask Shep if he will speak on tort reform for a few weeks in Bible Study!! Then I could tune out without God continually poking me in the chest! LOL
We are beginning a study on the book Forgotten God. It is going to be interesting to say the least!!
Have a great week!
C

I had the best weekend!!

How often can you really say that? We had an incredible weekend!!
Friday night we went to the Hodorff's for pizza and a game night!! It was an absolute blast!
Saturday morning, Donna and I helped with the Awana Grand Prix at Church! Lisa Lovett did an amazing job, putting that event together! We were done by 12:30 and then decided to go have lunch before going home!
We went to Moore's Gourmet Market, which I have never been to, and sat on the patio to in the mid -50 degree day in the sun and ate lunch! It was chilly enough to have to keep your jacket on, but it was wonderful to eat outside and enjoy some warmth after this winter we have had! Not to mention, having my wife's undivided attention and she having mine is ALWAYS a pleasure!! Very romantic lunch!
We went by the grocery store, so I could get a couple of items I needed for a romantic dinner!! Donna and I got in a good nap. Then, I watched Grif shoot his B.B. gun in the backyard while I was grilling dinner. Bailey was unfortunately reading a book for a book report!
Carribean Jerk Chicken
French Onion Rice
Wilted Spinach w/ crumbled bacon
Homemade Apple Pie a la mode for dessert!!
After the kids went to bed we watched a couple of funny movies. Hangover (Funny parts but overall slow I thought - and raunchy!!) and Couples retreat (Funny parts but overall slow I thought too!) Been a while since I have seen a GREAT movie!
Anyway, Sunday brought a wonderful day of worship! I was on vocals and had to be at church at 7:45 (still yawning,LOL) Then we had 7 songs in the lineup!! 7! is a lot!! times 2 services, but it was an incredible worship set!! I led out on our newest congregational worship song called "I Will Rise". An absolutely incredible song! I felt good about the 1st service, but I went flat a couple of notes in the 2nd service!! Not to bad, just not the way you want to lead out on a new song especially!
Anyway, Bailey's pitching lessons went great, but you could tell she missed a weeks lesson. She was rusty, and had work extra hard! The weather was still great when we got home, so Grif and I went outside to throw the baseball (yes the season in right around the corner already!!) Then he wanted to shoot his bb gun, which he did for a few minutes until he came inside and broke one of the major rules (DO NOT COCK THE GUN IN THE HOUSE PERIOD!!) Gun put up, number 1 son not happy with himself!! LOL.
Prayer time at church was incredible! It just always is!
Got home to the smell of mimi frying catfish, hushpuppies, and home fries, mmmmm come on!! Surely my cardiologist wouldn't approve, but I got after it this morning in the gym to makeup for it!!
Anyway, A phenomenal weekend with the family and the sun!! God made a beautiful weather weekend and we took FULL advantage!
C

Another thing WE don't do enough of.....

We Christians don't do enough of sharing when God comes up big for us!!
Monday night, one of the things I was praying for was more business. I know a lot of people who are praying the same thing right now. My company averages about $25,000 per month in sales. I tell you that to say this, between yesterday and today, I have gotten orders totaling over $3600.00!! That is 15% of what we normally do in a month, in a day and a half!! We NEEDED that for February that has been TERRIBLE!!
Thank you God!! I want to praise you in public just as much if not more than in private!! You alone are God and You are AWESOME!

C

Submitting, praying, reading, learning

I have a confession.
Before last night, I had NEVER spent over 5 minutes in a place by myself on my knees before my God. How bout that? I am of the opinion that those type of confessions are why our "witness" to the world falls on deaf ears. I read something a guy, who is either an atheist or an agnostic, wrote that said MOST "Christians" are painfully ignorant when it comes to the Bible. He went on to quote a survey that just over 90% haven't read the Bible cover to cover. (I am one of the 90%, but am in the process of doing so,fyi). BUT, If we don't pray, and don't read the Bible HOW ARE WE REALLY DIFFERENT? In their eyes? I know the Christian correct answer is we are different because Jesus lives in us. But in their eyes? They know a lot of "good" folks, how are we different? Anyway....
I have been attending a prayer service on Sunday nights for 5 or 6 months. Over the course of that, my prayers have changed. (so have I). But I am praying like I have never before. I LOVE IT. Prayer is tough. Prayer is challenging. Prayer is freeing. Prayer is a lot of things. But ABOVE ALL: Prayer is scriptural and Prayer is RELATIONSHIP!! I want it. I NEED it.
So ALL day yesterday I am yearning. Never had that happen before. But I have been praying for that desire!! Yearning to read the Bible, and pray. I had a great day!! Because I knew I was going to make time.
So, last night I had to take some time to pay bills. (FUN!! woohoo) And after, I locked my bedroom door, I got my Bible on my bed, I got all my bills and financial stuff out on the bed, and I got a business plan out (more on that another time). I got on my knees to pray. 30 minutes later I was done. It was an incredible time. I prayed for a lot of different things. I prayed over our finances (literally), over the business plan, But most of all I just prayed with a spirit of Thanksgiving for saving me, and for the changes He has been and continues to bring in my heart!! Then for the next 30 minutes I was singing songs in praise. A bedroom worship service!! Tears flowed, joy, excitement, healing. It was awesome!! (Andrea's blog is a great place to get the music for that if you want to have an alone worship service, FYI).
In the title you'll notice I wrote submitting, but now that I'm writing, I feel that God doesn't want me to share that right now, so...
I guess I'm done.
C

A quick update

Things have been going good. I have had a few things in my mind for the past couple of weeks, and as of today, feel a weight lifted off my shoulder because I have made two decisions!! WooHoo.
After much thought and prayer, I am putting in my letter of intent to run for Euharlee City Council. A friend called a couple of weeks ago to ask me to consider doing this. If you know me well, you know that I LOVE politics. While this might have seemed like a "no-brainer"; it was very much a "brainer" (if that makes any sense). The reason I finally decided to do this is that in these tough economic times, I believe that the kind of elected officials we need, are those who love God, love their families, love their communities and are fiscally conservative. I believe those qualities are found inside me and therefore I believe I can do a good job for the City of Euharlee.
Councilman David Stout quit mid-term and I am applying to be appointed to fill his remaining two years in office. I don't know any of the other Councilmen which may be a disadvantage, but I don't come in with any preconcieved notions or agendas either! I covet your prayers and I should know within a couple of weeks.
The other decision is that I am not quitting my job. At least. not yet!! LOL - I am going to start my own desert bakery out of my house, on the side for now. That one was a little more of a "no-brainer", but it was still tough, because I have a vision. Anyway, more on that another time!!
Workouts are still going great. My new cardiologist is happy with all the "progress". On a side note: 18 years and 2 days ago, when I met Donna (she hit on me (that is another story)) I weighed 195 pounds. Today, I weigh the same!! Kind of cool side effect of this keeping my heart healthy thing!!
C

Thank you to Drew Startup!!

Sunday before church the choir was all behind the stage where we meet. Frank asked Drew to pray for us. One of the things he prayed was that each one of us would get an opportunity to talk to someone about Jesus this week. I think most of the choir members were in agreement with his prayer. I was. Even though the prospect of a witnessing conversation strikes fear in me (and most I would say).
Fast forward 24 hours to Monday around lunch, I had a customer that I have known for years come in to get copies and mail a package. She is a book editor. She was making a comment about the book she was editing for a lady that is here local. My customer said, "she is one of those crazy evangelicals....oh, I hope you are not". She looked at me to see if she had offended me, and it struck me that she has known me for 7 or 8 years and has no idea if I am a Christian or not! (Painful!) Anyway, I told her yes maam I am. When she started apologizing profusely, I told her that she had not and could not offend me because I was comfortable with everything I believe! She proceeded to explain that the lady writing the book speaks in tongues and heals and .... She asked if I believed in "all that"?!! Too funny!
Thank you to Drew for the prayer! And thank you GOD for the opportunity, BUT...couldn't it have been a easier question??
The gifts of the Spirit are things that we have discussed recently in Bible Study with our study of Acts. I won't bore you with the whole conversation, but I will share with you two highlights. I was as honest as I could possibly be with my opinions and why this topic in particular is so "touchy" within the Baptist faith and I was very honest in with the information I gave her. I also tried VERY hard to distiguish between the things I KNOW as FACT and the things I hold as opinions! Second, she is Jewish. I knew that and every time I mentioned the name Jesus, she physically became uncomfortable. It was obvious. Anyway, she said that she believed Jesus was a great prophet. I told her my opinion on that subject as well.
Either Jesus IS the Messiah, born to be the perfect Sacrifice and save the world, OR he is a bold face LIAR. There can't be any in between, because He said that He IS THE WAY to God, so either He is, or he lies. She was taken aback with this statement and will be thinking about it for a while I think.
She left saying that she needs to ask for some of these "gifts of the Spirit". I explained that she would probably want to ask Jesus into her heart BEFORE she asked for the gifts of the Spirit. She grinned at me and left.
Who knows?... Very interesting conversation, so once again thanks to Drew for praying that! and to God for answering!
C

Wonderful Reminder!

It's funny to me how sometimes I find myself wallowing in something. Whether it be health, or money, or the struggles of smoking, blah, blah, blah... It's always SELF-pity. or SELF-doubt. But ALWAYS involves te word SELF. (add the ish on the end and you get it)
Anyway, lately (for a few months anyway) I have been focused on "I'm not worthy" of the ultimate sacrifice that was paid for me. In my prayer life, such as it is, every time I have prayed I've been thanking God for THE gift that I am unworthy of!
On the way to work this morning, I was listening to IBN and Dr Michael Youssef was preaching on this very topic. The main point to his message, which I am sure I was directed to listen to this morning, was to quit focusing on you unworthiness of THE gift but the GRACE which God showed in giving THE gift of Jesus! The message was on point to what I had been needing to hear! Because, as it turns out, according to Dr. Youssef, NO ONE is worthy, but God's Grace is sufficient!
Amen
C

Wonderful Weekend!

We had a great weekend!!
We went to the Woodland High Basketball games on Friday night.Both games were amazing! The girls and boys both lost, but both games came down to the wire and each only lost by 2 or 3 points! Incredible games. I wish more teenagers would go out to all the sporting events and support their teams. More events attended leaves less time for getting in trouble!
Saturday was full! Grif had a cup stacking event on Saturday (ALL DAY)!!! He did well and won a bronze medal in his relay event. Then he had a basketball game. They lost, but he played well (maybe he was watching the high schoolers play a little more than I thought he was!) Saturday night was the Men's ministry sportsmans banquet. This was a great event. Lots of visitors, wonderful food, lots of door prizes (that I didn't win!!) My neighbor went with me and seemed to have a good time as well.
Sunday was a wonderful day of worship with Dr Paige Patterson speaking. He spoke a message that just fit with where our church is right now! Bible study was challenging as always! Shep spoke on prayer. Last week he had spoken on the need for all Christians to be studying the bible. Both of these VITAL activitities can't just be performed on Sunday mornings, but we need to be actively seeking God through the week, in reading and studying the bible and praying on our own. Wonderful stuff!!
We had a good turnout for the choir preview Sunday night. Dinner was good!! And the cake I had made, while ugly, was good!! I learned how to make fudge icing like my Mema used to make!! This batch taught me how, and I can't wait to make the next cake!! Already looking forward to it!
C

A year ago

A year ago today was just like any other Sunday. We went to church. Worshipped, Bible Study, Lunch, home for a nap. I went to Basketball Practice for our church team. Played/practiced for two hours!! Two hours, full court, sweating, running, you get the picture!
Anyway, when I got home, things changed. A few hours later I was in surgery clearing a 100% blockage, to relieve the major heart attack I was experiencing. It was taken care of so quickly that today I have VERY little permanent damage!!
God carried me through it. There is no doubt in my mind. New lease on life. I work out daily now. I eat better. I play better. You name it, I try to do it better. The same me, just different!
Many people over this last year in my family, my church family, work, friends etc. have helped and encouraged me in this life change. From constantly asking about smoking, or telling me I look good with the weight loss, to praying for me (and my family!), just numerous ways. I can't express how good it feels to have such great friends!
Donna has put up with a lot. In sickness and in health, for better or for worse. She ovbiously meant those vows and has been steadfast beside me! She is an amazing woman and I am lucky to be able to call her my wife and my best friend!
I still have a long way to go to reach certain goals that I have set for myself, but I feel like I am making great progress.
C

Christmas and The New Year

The Guyton Family had a great Christmas!! It was spread out as always with finishing opening the last gifts of the season with Donna's family on Saturday the 2nd of January. I absolutely love having a large family. Not for the presents, but for the amount of "get-togethers". Eating, laughing, talking, watching football and all the rest that comes with families at the holidays!! It is just wonderful. I received A LOT of cooking stuff that I had asked for and have already put some of it to use!! I can't wait to try it all out!
I'm glad to be working out again and just generally back into the regular routine of life. I'm ready for the choir to crank up tomorrow night at church again. The break is always nice, but I always find myself ready to get going again!!
Everyone stayed awake down in Jackson on New Year's Eve until midnight. (Well, Grif didn't make it, but....) I got to ring in another year kissing my baby and telling her happy new year. It don't get no better than that!!
C