phillipmccart.com

2007

I was just asked what my number one moment of 2007 was.  It didn't take me long to decide. 

After deciding to follow God to Charlotte, my great friends at North Point Community Church Middle School Ministry took me to lunch to say goodbye.  Near the end of the meal Anita asked if she could stand and say something.  My beautiful wife went on to thank these incredible people for how they have pushed, challenged, encouraged and loved me to become a better person, friend, husband and father.

There isn't a moment in the last year that comes even close to that one.  No one on Earth has more influence on me than my wife.  She is the tool God has used to sharpen me.  She is the way God shows His love for me.  This year has been amazing because of the way we have grown together.  Here are my top ten 2007 Anita moments.

1. Praying and agreeing to move to Charlotte.
1. Vacationing in Florida (just the two of us)
1. Going through Intimate Encounters Bible Study.
1. Leading a small group together.
1. Mission trip to Africa.
1. Anniversary celebration in downtown Atlanta.
1. Symphony night in downtown Charlotte.
1. Thank you moment at goodbye lunch.
1. Getting flowers in San Diego in my hotel room.  (yep, SHE sent them to ME)
1. Waking up next to the love of my life each morning.

I know I listed them all as number one.  There's no way to accurately rank them.  Thank you for being my wife and friend this year Anita.  I could not have done this without you.  I love you.

Good Morning

I think I'll start having a weekly post on Sundays inspired by one of my favorite shows I don't get to watch because I don't have more than basic cable, "Run's House."  If you don't get the reference, you don't need to.  (It's nothing bad Mom.)

I just saw this on Scott Hodge's blog.  YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!  I would like the second shirt though.  Aside from my fairly conservative stance on the whole tongues discussion, this is a horrible idea.  I encourage you to peruse the site to get the full extent of the ridiculousness.  I'd keep this to myself and get some for our staff as a joke if they weren't like fifty dollars a piece. 

God is Love.

Pastor P

Poker Anyone

So one of the gifts I received this year was a sweet little poker set from my sister-in-law Christina and her husband Michael.  Micheal is a new Pastor out in Columbus, Montana.  Our family thinks it's funny that the Pastor gave the other Pastor a poker set.  Oh the history and ridiculousness of the Baptist heritage. 

Anyway, I need some Charlotte folk to play with.  Any of you Elevation staff boys brave enough.  Uh...five dollar max buy in though.  Brotha's gotta pay some bills.

Insert "Price is Right" Loser Sound Here

Well, we're back in Charlotte.  We arrived safely around 3pm.  I made the decision not to pull the trailer.  With the weather being so bad and the trailer leaning back with no enclosure, not to mention that one of the tail lights weren't working I thought there would be plenty of Police out and I didn't want to risk it. 

Along with failing to accomplish the very thing we went to Georgia for as soon as we got back I went straight to bed.  I was sick all night.  We've had this 24 hour stomach bug making it's way through our little family.  Anita is an incredible wife.  I should say mother because when I get sick I turn into the biggest baby in the world.  I'm feeling much better this morning and hope to be able to kill Christmas today.  Don't be alarmed that's just how I describe taking down the Christmas decorations.

By the way, we had hit number 10,000 on the old blog stat counter.  Thanks to everyone who stops by and to our Columbia, South Carolina friend who spent less than one second on the site to get number 10,000 yesterday morning.

I hope to have some more interesting content soon.  Last week nearly sent me over the edge.

Prayer Needed

We're leaving soon to load the trailer and head to Charlotte.  Of course it's raining and yes, the trailer we're pulling is leaning to the back.  If you're on I-85 North today, don't drive behind me.  Pray for safety please!

Blog Stats

We're closing in on a mini-milestone here at phillipmccart.com.  Who's going to be hit number 10,000?

BTW

By the way, I did a little post-Christmas trimming.  I wear my facial hair like women wear accessories like earrings and makeup. 

Ah...Christmas. What?!?!

After a huge amount of debate and struggle we decided to spend Christmas in Atlanta.  The main factor was  having to get the remaining items out of our garage in our Georgia house.  I'll admit that I haven't really enjoyed this Christmas season.  I don't have any huge crisis of a reason.  It has just been a different and difficult Christmas. 

After moving and having quite possibly the busiest two and a half weeks of my life funds were short for Christmas.  God of course (as He always does) provided and Santa was good to the girls.  But our time here in Atlanta has been filled with frustration and inconvenience mixed with a few moments of happy Christmas.  Savannah Grace almost got a lump of coal in her stocking.  She did have many of her new toys taken and put away just a few hours after receiving them.

All things aside the two biggest things that have caused me to be such a "Scrooge" have nothing to do with anyone in our family or the typical financial irritations. One: I'm not at my house on Christmas.  For the last three years I have held tight to a decision I made a long time ago.  After we had children I wanted them to wake up in their house on Christmas morning.  I made an exception this year because of the move.  I will not make that mistake again.  Much love and appreciation to all of our family for all the assistance and welcome but 2008 and until will be spent in Charlotte. 

The biggest factor is the fact that UHAUL is full of morons.  At some point in history UHAUL decided that Ford Explorers were unsafe vehicles and made rule that they would not rent tow behind trailers to Ford Explorer drivers.  This is a bit of an issue because that is exactly what we drove over to Atlanta in.  Luckily my Father-In-Law is letting us take his trailer until we can get it back to him or he can come get it. 

I think part of my mood is a God thing.  When we decided to move to Charlotte I asked God to give me a love for the city of Charlotte.  This was a big request because I love the ATL.  This may sound super spiritual or just crazy but I I believe God has begun turning my heart to Charlotte.  I can't wait to get back.  I miss my coworkers and volunteers.  I do love my family and am looking forward to visiting with my parents as soon as we can but I love what I do. 

We'll be headed back tomorrow so if you want to hang out or something just swing by the old townhouse.  Bring a movie or a board game and we'll make an evening out of it.

Merry Christmas

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas day. 

Merry Christmas Eve

For your viewing and listening pleasure, I give you these guys.  Merry Christmas.  I'm still not creative.  These guys are.