Sixth Sense

Have you ever had a feeling like something you are about to do is just not right? I woke up this morning and my sixth sense was in full bloom.

The past few years, my mom, sister and I meet in Canton, TX to go to the Trade Days and shop 'til we drop! Since my mom's Stem Cell Transplant three years ago, this has become how the three of us "celebrate" her second birth! We have a great time together shopping, eating, laughing. In fact, I can't believe it has been a year since I posted about our last trip and how we closed the place down on Saturday in the pouring rain while carrying more than our arms were capable of and all needing to use the bathroom. We just had to stop and laugh!

Mom flew in yesterday (hence, the day-off of posting on the blog!). She and I and my BFF are heading to Canton tomorrow and my sister and her two girls are meeting us there on Friday.

For some reason, I am the "travel agent" of the family. We all meet for Thanksgiving also and I am usually the one who makes all the arrangements. Canton is no different and I have to say that "so far, so good" on the places we have stayed and eaten at.

A few months ago, I made reservations for all of us for Canton. We normally stay in Tyler, which is a 45 minute drive to Canton. Thinking that we should save about 15 minutes, I made reservations in a small town that no one had heard of. I didn't think about the hotel again...UNTIL this morning! That's when my sixth sense kicked in.

When I made the reservations, I had gone to the hotel website and read the reviews. Yes, it was a small town and yes, it wasn't the Ritz; but, it was closer and would be fine.

I went to the website today and read more reviews and realized that this "hotel" was definitely not the Ritz...it was closer to the Roach Motel. Let me just say that after reading the reviews, there was no way I was going to take a shower, lie in their beds OR walk on their carpets!

Canton Trade Days are a HUGE deal and I was pleased to get our rooms a few months ago. How in the world was I going to find rooms the night before we were going?!? My successful travel agent days were in jeopardy!! I decided right off the bat that we needed to drive the extra 15 minutes and stay in the metropolis of Tyler! I began calling hotels. No vacancy. No vacancy. And, then, JACKPOT!! Yes, we have two rooms available! And, let me get you a special rate! YES!!

My sixth sense has been very relieved all day. Hopefully, it is still working and we aren't now headed to the Bates Motel!!

A Hint Of Fall

When I opened the door for Connor to catch the bus this morning, I thought I might freeze! Now, granted, it was probably in the low 60's...but, to me that IS freezing!!

Nothing gets me in the mood for Fall like a crispness in the air. Fall is my most favorite season...

My birthday is in the Fall;

the Fall starts all of the big, fun holidays of the year;

while growing up, Fall meant going to the State Fair and eating junk food, riding rides, and rodeos;

hot air balloons fill the Albuquerque sky in the Fall;

the leaves change to all shades of brilliant colors;

my makeup doesn't melt off my face in the Fall;

I get to change my wardrobe from shorts to jeans!

Living in Houston makes it a toss-up on how long my Fall may be. In fact, today may be it! It is not unusual for us to have a few beautiful days and then for the temperature to spike into the 90's again! There is nothing that makes me more frustrated than pouring sweat while hanging up Fall wreaths and setting out pumpkins! I have even decorated our Christmas tree in shorts before!

The only downside I see of Fall is all the leaves and needles that collect in our pool. The pool causes more work in the Fall than any other time of year. However, this afternoon while I was emptying skimmer baskets and hauling leaves out with the net, I began wondering why God made different seasons. Did He really think through the fact that people may not WANT to be hot or cold their entire lives? That we would like some variety in our year? I know He probably didn't do it so my makeup wouldn't melt anymore!

He made the seasons in the beginning.

Genesis 1:14

And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years,"

He had a plan. Maybe He did think, "One day Davedda is going to question My reasoning for seasons in a blog."

Of course, there are SO many things that I wonder about. But He is God and He doesn't have to tell us His reasoning! We just get to reap the benefits of His power and abilities. And, I get to pull out my comfy sweaters!

Whatever reason He had for seasons, I am thankful He did. Because I know that come December 21, I'll be ready for Summer again!

When Did I Become One Of THOSE Moms?

Fall baseball is in full swing. Colby started playing last weekend. Connor had his first tournament this weekend.

We have been playing baseball in the Marshall family since Connor was 3. I have always been his strongest supporter and even if he didn't play to his fullest potential, I would tell him he did a great job -- or at least looked good doing it!

After Connor's first game this morning, we went and ate some lunch. We were discussing some plays he had made -- one of which he bobbled the ball and didn't catch it but did recover in time to get a guy out at second base. Chris asked what happened and Connor explained and said that at least he got the guy out at second and Chris agreed with him. Without missing a beat or even thinking about what I was about to say, I said, "Yeah. But if you had caught that ball you would have had a double play!"

I guess I've become a REAL baseball mom!

Today is my birthday...well actually it is past midnight, so I guess yesterday was my birthday.

I spent all day with my three most favorite people in the world.

We had lots of fun!!

The Greatest Gift

Last night I was on the phone with Chris when Colby comes in my room crying. He had been in bed for about 30 minutes and does have this habit of coming downstairs after about an hour of being in bed crying over some nightmare. I told Chris to hold on and asked Colby what was wrong.

"I want to be baptized," he sobbed.

I told Chris I'd call him back!

Colby has such a sweet, gentle spirit. He is a sensitive boy who wears his heart on his sleeve. We sat on the edge of my bed and I asked him why he wanted to be baptized. We talked for a little bit and I prayed for him and then asked him if he wanted to pray and ask God to come into his heart. He nodded yes and started praying. That has to be the most heart-filling sweetness a Christian parent experiences.

After he was done, we sat there for a few more minutes and he looked up at me and said, "Can I pray one more time just to make sure?"

I am so thankful for what God has done in our family in the recent months. I am so thankful that God has given me the family that He has. I am so thankful for a husband who is a believer. I am thankful for both of my sons being my brothers-in-Christ. I am thankful that all four of us will be together forever and ever!

A Theme

I am sensing a theme to my spiritual life lately.

PRAYER.

This school year, I have joined two prayer groups -- one for each of my sons' schools; I have purchased a book on prayer that came highly recommended by my sister; and this week, my daily devotions have all been about prayer.

I have been surprised by the new things I have learned on prayer. Not that I am all that when it comes to spiritual matters -- but I was raised in a Christian home, went to a Christian school my whole life and have been involved in church forever! I thought praying was the easy part!

Mom's In Touch has opened my eyes on praying scripture. Many scriptures were written as praise and worship to God so this is a great tool to use when just coming before Him and thanking Him for His awesomeness! It is also a very moving way to pray over your child.

Even the format Mom's In Touch uses was new to me. Yes, I have been taught that we need to confess sins before God can hear us; but, they have taught me the importance of praising God and thanking Him for who He is and what He has done. This has helped put the focus on Him rather than my "want or need" at the moment. Oh, I still have those"popcorn" prayers throughout the day when I think of something that I am worried about or forgot to pray about. But, I can say my morning quiet time has been enriched with my new "prayer knowledge"!

One of the things I do everyday is the daily devotion out of the Journey magazine. Like I stated, this last week has been on prayer. Several things have really opened my eyes...

Sometimes, what is stressing me out seems so silly in comparison to what someone else is facing. For example, when I get frustrated because my boys won't clean up the gameroom or hang up their clean clothes I don't think God cares to listen to that so I don't go to Him. I think that someone else may be praying that their child were healthy enough to make the mess in the first place so what right do I have to come to God with my immaturity!! But, one devotion taught me that I must remember something very significant about the character of God: If it concerns us, then it's important to Him. He offers us rest -- even from the daily grind of life. He can provide that rest when I come to Him and lay my heart before Him.

The most amazing thing about prayer that I have learned this week is that God wants us to pray specifically, intensely and persistently. Wow. Really?

I have always had the idea that God already knows my heart and its burdens and I shouldn't "bother" Him with things. Maybe this comes from being a mom. If my boys tell me or ask me something one time, I don't want to hear it EVERYDAY from them! God is busy, right? He is all-knowing, right? I shouldn't have to repeat things that are on my heart everyday. He probably gets tired of hearing my same requests!

Not so.

Even Jesus offered "prayers and appeals, with loud cries and tears." There is something about our deep desperation and stubborn persistence that moves God to take action.

In another devotion, it states that lots happens when I pray persistently. My faith gets clearer. God may help me readjust my requests until it fits His will. I will start seeing through His eyes and ask for what's on His heart. I grow closer to Him.

God has designed us for long, in-depth conversations with Him. He created us because He wanted fellowship! The most awesome thing is that God is the BEST best friend you can ever have. He pays attention to everything about you. He listens completely and remembers! He does care about whether your kids clothes are hung up!!

We all need to pray like we are talking to someone who really cares, who is moved by what's in our heart, and (the greatest thing) who will and can do something about it!

Thirty Down

ATTENTION!!

Day 30!!! I am half-way to meeting my 60-day challenge!!!

I'm just saying! :)