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

Merry Christmas

Well...
The children are asleep!! Mrs Claus is wrapping away. I sit here overwhelmed with joy. Overwhelmed with blessings. Just overwhelmed. 2009 has an amazing year. A wakeup call, if you will. I guess it wouldn't be good to go through life asleep anyway, huh?
We started this morning with a traditional breakfast at my parents for my grandparents. Dad and Mom did great, as always. We came home and I started the cooking!! Painted cookies. German Chocolate Cake. Pineapple cheese casserole. All for lunch tomorrow. But after we see what Santa brought, we go eat breakfast with my Maternal Grandparents.
I am excited for the kids. I am excited for Donna and I too. I just love CHRISTmas.
For unto us a child is born. For unto us a son is given. His name is Jesus.

Merry CHRISTmas to all!! And to all a goodnight.
C

Families

I had an opportunity to talk to a lady yesterday who came in the store to get her CHRISTmas card labels printed. As we spoke, I learned that this will be her first CHRISTmas without her husband of 57 years (they were high school sweethearts). I literally had tears flowing listening to her talk of their life together and how sweet a man he was. She lavished praise to his name as if he was the greatest husband and father that had ever walked the face of the Earth. I so enjoyed speaking with her! She will never know how that conversation she had with me meant to me.
I learned this morning that John Lane and Danny Guyton (no relation)both passed away. I learned Tuesday night that Grover Knight had passed away.
All of these individual events just have me thinking this morning about families. I have written on this blog about the family that I grew up in and how it has affected the husband, father, and man that I have become! I am blessed!
But, there have also been a lot of other families that have affected me over the years as well.
The Lanes, Guytons, Knights, Boss, Lowerys, Hobsons, Grahams, Hatchers, Doyles, Vickerys, Billues, just to name a few. These families affected me mostly because of their faith. They didn't mind sharing their faith, and in some cases training me in mine. And in most of these families (mentioned and unmentioned) they had/have a husband and father that was a spiritual leader in their churches (and homes). All of these families were in my early and impressionable childhood years.
They loved/love God, their families, and friends.
They helped make me into the husband and father that I am today. I am so blessed that these familes (and many more) were in my "village".
I strive to be a better husband and father today because of them and the men in my own family!
C

Busy Time of Year

I love this time of year!! Always something to do.
Donna and I had a wonderful anniversery weekend!! We skipped the Christmas parade and slipped away early!! We stayed at the new Hilton in Cville Thursday night. We shopped all day Friday! We stayed at the Hilton in Kennesaw on Friday night and finished our shopping on Saturday morning!! It was amazing to get away with such a stunningly gorgeous woman!! I had a blast!
Griffin's first basketball game didn't go great Saturday, but he had fun!! Sunday worship was amazing as was prayer time Sunday night!! I love starting off my week with our Sunday night prayer "meeting".
I am so blessed. I have an incredible family and am so looking forward to spending a lot of time together over Christmas with all our family and friends!! It's the most wonderful time of the year!!
C

16 Years Ago

Sixteen years ago tomorrow the most stunningly beautiful, sweetest woman said "I do" to me!! Woohoo!! No, I can't tell you why she did it, but she must take vows pretty seriously, because Donna Guyton is still with me!! I can't tell you just how lucky I am!!
16 years later, she still makes my heart beat fast. She still is the most gorgeous woman in the world. She is still so sweet. She still melts me. She makes me want to be a better man!! I love her more today than I did 16 years ago!!
So, I am going to take her away for a few days!! (It would probably be a better gift to let her get away from me for a few days..... but TOO BAD!!) I can't wait!!
I love you baby!!
C