...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