2013

As it is every year, many take time to evaluate the previous year and to forecast, or resolve, for a better year to come. I'll take a few minutes now to do some of that.
2013 has been a roller coaster year for the Guyton's (as most years are) full of ups and downs. I am so thankful for the blessings God has bestowed upon us! Some of the highlights in no particular order:

Celebrating 20 years of marriage with my wife and best friend! God has given me a gorgeous wife who loves me, lifts me, fights my insecurities with me, cheers me, and makes my life journey a more pleasant trip! I pray she can say the same for my walk with her!
Kayaking on the Etowah with my son!
Traveling all over North Georgia to watch Bailey play softball (and having the privilege to help coach her team)!
Bailey and I traveling to Panama City for her World Series tourney and getting to hang out with our good friends the Bailey's on that trip!
A family trip to Savannah with my parents, my sister and brother in law, and my family. (Great trip with lots of memories)
Donna and I traveling to Mississippi for my cousin Emily's wedding and getting to stop at the original Dreamland BBQ! (Awesome time with my baby!)
My first year as a deacon at CFBC!
My second year on the City Council in Euharlee and the people of Euharlee entrusting me with that position!
Bailey and I leading worship together at CFBC!
Grif and I both catching balls at Turner Field watching the Braves beating the Pirates!
Hanging out with the Hodorff's any chance we got!
Business being up in 2013 at the office!

These are just a few of the highlights that I am so thankful that we got to experience as a family! God has blessed us beyond measure!
As 2014 stands on deck, waiting to take a swing in the batter's box, there are already things we know for sure. There will be challenges. There will be triumphs. There will be defeats. There will be work. There will be rest. There will be a big God with every step. We know rehab on Bailey's knee will take up a good bit of our time. And I am very thankful that God, Donna, I, Bailey and Griffin will be together to take on the challenges together and celebrate the triumphs together!

May God richly bless you and your family during 2014.
Craig

Bailey....

 

My beautiful and talented daughter is having surgery to repair a torn ACL on Thursday Dec 12 at 10am. As parents, we want the best for our children. We want to shield them from pain. We want the dreams they dream to be big, huge even, and we want them to come true! Sometimes, maybe often times, what we WANT doesn't matter.

 

November 23rd, Bailey was playing in a softball tournament in Woodstock. She singled and the next girl hit it to right field. Bailey was heading to 2nd and started to slide when the throw pulled the short stop into the baseline and they collided. Baileys left foot stuck into the ground and her body flipped over her knee. Bailey heard the "pop", and felt the "pop" in her knee. I was on the field in less than 5 seconds from her first blood curdling scream! A sound and sight that a dad can't erase from his memory as much as he might want!

A trip to the E.R. in an ambulance showed no breaks. But, the follow up with our orthopedic surgeon showed the dreaded ACL tear. Obviously, not the news Bailey wanted (or any of us). Surgery and at least 9 months of rehab.

She had great plans this coming year! A pitchers showcase in January where she would be seen by colleges. Other showcase tourneys with her team, the GA Hornets. She also had a couple of college camps she would be going to in December. All these plans were in hopes of being seen by college coaches and being offered a scholarship to play softball and get her college degree (her dream).

All her plans are on hold.....

 

According to Jeremiah 29:11 I know the plans I have for you says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
As I have shared with Bailey many times over the last 3 weeks, OUR plans don't come CLOSE to the goodness of God or HIS plans for us! We are trusting in Jer. 29:11 that God's plans for Bailey are far better for her hope and future than what our plans were. We are praying that Bailey's surgery will go smooth, that her rehab will go well and quick, and that our faith will be increased as God reveals His plan for her life. We would ask that you join our family in these prayers!

 

 

One of the million photos I took when Bailey was going to her first Homecoming Dance!

 

Bailey, Kereston, and Sydney

Bailey and I singing together at church! Good day!!

My all-time favorite picture of my children!!

Doin' work!