Men in Suits

Anyone that knows me well, knows I look for any reason to wear a suit. Of course, partly because I like the way they look. Partly, because it is a reminder of more formal days gone by. BUT, mainly because if I mark the amazing (good and bad) days in my life, 8 of the top ten and 4 of the bottom 5, I was in a suit!! The 2 exceptions being that I didn't wear a suit to the hospital when my children were born (that would have been a little creepy! And I didn't have a suit on the day I had a heart attack.)
Anyway last night was one of those night that has firmly been nestled into that top 10!! More on that later.
Sometimes God carves out an little extra for you. Gives you something to chew on, that isn't something you planned or thought out. This entire weekend was like that for me! It was like God said this weekend, "I'm going to show that boy just what he means to me!!" and the moment (or weekend) wasn't lost on me!!
Friday after work, my son and I got to spend several hours alone! We don't get that often! He had just come from his first middle school dance! He slow danced with a girl!! So I got some great one on one time to talk to him about how we treat girls, how we respect girls etc! This was just one of many conversations to be had, but it was great seeing his excitement about that day in his life!
Saturday after a much needed hair cut I got to go to a political rally for Trey Kelley who is running for State Rep in District 16. I was one of the speakers. It wasn't exactly the best speech I have ever given, but I did OK. I had a couple of more points I wanted to get in about Trey and I just blanked. He is a great young man and will do a great job for District 16. I hope I get a chance again to express that for him! Then I went to watch the Woodland Lady Cats play in a tourney in Woodstock. I watched their last 2 of 5 games. They won the 3 games I wasn't there and lost the 2 that I was there for! Does that mean I am a jinx? (Don't answer that!!) Bailey didn't get to play except for courtesy running! I am extremely proud of how much she continues to improve, and that makes me disappointed for her when she doesn't get to play! She always handles it with class though, which is impressive to a father! She is the loudest cheerleader when she is on the bench and even though I hurt for her, it is very impressive to watch and easy to have pride in her!!
Sunday was something else!! I don't mind telling you that Sunday Sept 9th will go down as a very special day in my life! (Top 10)!! Donna and I were just overwhelmed!
Sunday started out with our choir back on the risers warming up at 8:30!! Full choir!  Big numbers and great sound!! Then Bible study was incredible! From a new believer sharing with the group to Andrea's teaching style that I had never had the chance to sit under, it was an incredible morning! Worship was amazing! 2 baptisms, our choir rocking it out, David Franklin preaching and challenging our church!! An amazing time of God! Even a short Sunday afternoon nap!
Sunday night at 5 I put a SUIT and headed back to church for my deacon ordination. Donna and I got to sit on stage while the ordained men of the church prayed over and spoke encouragement over us one at a time. A stunningly power time, that God ordained! It truly felt like God was sitting between us the whole time. I can't explain it except to say breath taking!! My granddaddy got to come and closed the service out in prayer! As Donna and I laid in bed recounting the different things that were prayed over us and on our behalf, we were humbled and just sooo thankful!! I was also extremely thankful that 3 girls agreed to sing and be a part of that special night!
I can't tell you how amazing it is that God picked for me in Donna, a wife that is so supportive, loving and amazing! I am truly a lucky man!!
C

Summer winding down

It has been a LONG time since I have updated! Summer has been crazy busy!!
The kids are now both back at school! Bailey in 10th grade and Grif in middle school! Donna didn't like the fact that Grif is in middle school! He is very excited and likes all the new experiences so far!
Bailey got to pitch in her first Varsity game on Saturday and threw a 1 hit shutout! We were very excited for her and proud of how hard she is working to get better!
Being a part of the interim worship team at church takes up more time than I had originally hoped it would, but it is going well so far. The team has gotten a lot of positive feedback on the worship sets that we have done over the summer!
City Council is going GREAT! I enjoy serving the city! It is far more rewarding than I could have ever expected!
Donna is back at school and is looking forward to a great year!

1955 Bel Air convertible that I got to drive the bride and groom away in!

Our niece got married this summer and I haven't had a chance yet to post the pictures, so that is why there are so many pictures this time!!
C

Prayers and Life

There is a lot going on!! (Isn't there always?) Anyway.....
We are praying for 2 families in our life! The Startup family has a child in Egleston. Copeland quit breathing and his Mimi performed CPR and brought him back! God has had his hand in that whole situation!! We are praying for complete healing for Copeland with no lasting effects!! If you would like to read Will's blog, click this link:
http://willlaurenstartup.blogspot.com/ (you may want tissues before you start!!)
We are also praying for the complete healing of Bob Collier! Melanie was Shep's consultant on his campaign and I got to know Melanie and Bob through that process! Bob's cancer has come back, and only God can fix it! I am praying God will do just that and give Bob a beautiful testimony to share with the world!

Bailey's softball team won their tourney this past weekend!!! Woohoo! We played extremely well and I hope this is just a little of what is to come!

Grif is full on into VBS this week and playing outside as much as possible!! I remember those days as a kid very fondly! I hope he does as well later in life!

Work and City Council are going well. Church is going extremely well considering we are sending two pastors off into the mission field! My prayer is that our church family will work hard to keep things going in the right direction while we are searching!!

This weekend is the Euharlee Que Festival!! Many craft and food vendors and great activities for the kids! Come on out and enjoy Euharlee this weekend!!

Spring Happenings

SCHOOL is out!! woohoo. Yeah, if you could hear the tone in my voice when I say woohoo, you would catch the sarcasm!! It is very difficult to get out of bed in the morning to head to workout and then the office, when everyone else in the house is getting some serious sleep! Jealous.
Spring is always very busy for us. Grif's baseball season has ended though and it is a little easier! They didn't win a game, but he got better. Grif seems to WANT to be great, without putting the work in to be great. I'm trying to instill in him that without the effort, results won't be good, but he doesn't get it yet!
Bailey is doing well at softball and now school summer practices have started as well, so there are days when she has school practice in the morning and travel ball practice in the evening! She DOES understand that results match effort and she works hard! Makes a couple of parents proud!

We had a great memorial day weekend!! Grif and I rented a kayak from Euharlee Creek Outfitters and went for a ride down the Euharlee Creek, into the Etowah River all the way to Hardin Bridge Road. We had a BLAST!!! Sunday, I helped lead out in worship at church and it was INCREDIBLE worship!! Sunday afternoon we all just rested! Donna and I went with some friends to eat and had a great time!
Monday we relaxed all day and had a neighborhood cookout in the evening! Which involved a corn hole tournament! Bailey and Donna finished in 3rd place!!! Grif and I went undefeated and won!!
We had a great weekend full of great memories! I hope the rest of the summer is as wonderful!
C

Wonderful spring!!

Baseball for Grif is in high gear, as is softball for Bailey!
It unfortunately is the time of year that Donna gets stressed over her kids taking the CRCT!
Work for me is very slow, which is a little scary.
We are getting to spend a lot of time doing things that we like to do together (which generally involves a ballpark somewhere!)
I have taken a one-third role at church of interim music until we find a new music minister. A little scary, but a lot fun.
The City Council is going great and I am enjoying my time there more than I could have ever dreamed, so I am very thankful for this opportunity!

This past weekend Donna, Bailey and Lorraine headed to Alabama for a wedding shower, so Grif and I got a great guys weekend in! He had a ballgame Friday night! Saturday's game got rained out, so when the day cleared off pretty nice, we headed to the river to wet a line! No fish, but we had a blast together! Probably need more of those outings with him!!

That about covers it!
C

Struggling a little!

We all go through stuff in life! No doubt being able to lean on God, friends and family helps during those times. I have the best wife in the world to partner with in these times and that makes a lot of stuff bearable!
Bailey had her first ever "serious" trouble! She is learning a valuable lesson. It has broken our hearts to have to discipline her, but discipline is as much of love as hugs and kisses! Having Donna to hold to, cry with, and snuggle up to has made this week better!
Many other things to mention.... A lot of time and energy going into City Council right now! Our worship pastor is leaving to become a lead pastor at a new church! That is amazing for him and our church to be planting a new church, but from a choir leadership perspective I can't help but be a little concerned over our ministry! I'm trying to give those concerns to God, but right now I'm hanging on to the fear with both arms!!
C

February busy

Continuing our life theme right now.... the Guyton's are busy!
Bailey's travel ball is gearing up (first tourney on March 10th). Griffin is about to start baseball. Both are working hard in school. Bailey is heading to Savannah this weekend for All-State.
I just got back from Athens and the Georgia Municipal Association's newly elected officials training. I had a good time meeting people, but it was an overwhelming amount of information!
We are trying to find a weekend to slip over to Birmingham to see the newest addition to the family, but are struggling with finding the time.
My workouts are going well, and therefore my health is doing very well right now.
Life continues to be good and God continues to bless us beyond what we deserve!
C