Happy New Year!

What an awesome first 4 days of the new year! The newness of things seems to be a breath of fresh air to me! This morning, I felt convicted while working out. I know that sounds funny, but God can use whatever he wants!
Anyway, it is (and I guess always has been) to "gymrats" an ongoing joke or pool as to how long the "resolution newbies" will last. Now keep in mind, the "cardio loft" at the L.A. Fitness I go to has over 60 machines. During the month of August there may be 5 to 7 of them getting used at my time of the morning. But during the "newness" of January, yesterday and today there was probably 30 to 35 being used at my time. Anyway. I'm cranking out on the eliptical, going hard and listening to my new ipod (thanks Santa (my Santa is HOT!!)) and people watching and thinking that person won't be here after a week, that person won't last a month...blah blah blah you get the point. When I look up at the television in time for them to show some of the quarterbacks that have had good bowl games, and the qb from TCU was the one on the screen and I remembered that in his interview he quoted 1 Peter 5:6 - Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
I thought to myself, that I shouldn't be judging these "newbies". ( Judging is a sin I seem to have a great deal of problem with!!) I should actually be cheering for them. I should be hoping they succeed in their goals. We all should. On a daily basis, we should encourage each other. We should humble ourselves, under God's hand. I think that would involve encouraging, and lifting up each other. I felt stupid judging them, knowing that in one week would be the 2 year anniversery of what made me a "newbie" in the gym at that time!!
C

Christmas season is over!

We had a great Christmas and great New Year! We left for Jackson on Tuesday night and had a smooth trip! Woke up Wednesday on my 39th birthday!! (Next year is the big 4-0) Had a great time eating, watching football, opening up presents and just hanging with Donna's family! Nothing beats vacation or holidays for rest and relaxation!
Only bad part was one of Bailey's classmates was accidentally shot and killed while we were down there. A young man by the name of Rob Taylor. He sat in front of Bailey in her Science class. She was very upset as you can imagine. We've been praying for his family and the boy's whose house he was at. Very sad situation!
We had another smooth trip home yesterday and back to the grind today!!
The gym is always funny during January! Packed house today and will probably be worse tomorrow when all the kids go back to school!!
Pray for the kids at Woodland Middle tomorrow. I imagine it will be a tough day for all the kids there!
Happy New Year!
C

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