This week in review...

That title makes it sound like I have some real reflecting to do and stories to share, but......I don't. Nothing really went on this week, nothing interesting that is. Mom, Kristin, Amy, Mindy and Lindsey and I went out to dinner and a movie on Friday night. That was fun. We wanted to do at least something since our girls weekend got canked, so we went to a new place called Mongos where you make your own stir fry and watch them cook it up for you. It was really good. We also saw the movie Love Happens....that was pretty good...it made me cry a lot.
So I ended up putting myself back on Saturday's books to see if I could fill back in again. I did, but only from 9 to noon. It was okay though, cuz I ended up doing some family hair instead.
So, at about 11:00, I was at the front desk saying goodbye to a client when 2 people walked in. I caught a glimpse of the first and did a double take....Oh My Gosh!! It was Maggie and Ann from high school! Two of my very good friends from long ago. I. Could. Not. Believe. It! Well, we made quite the scene in the lobby of the salon. They had come for a spa day together. I can't tell you how nice it was to see them. We always had so much fun and laughed so much.....I felt like I was 18 all over again. What a treat that was. We are definately going to have to get together real soon....especially after I learned how close they are. Maggie took a picture of us....



Today we are going to watch the Vikings and have a fire in the fireplace. It's going to be very cold so it's a good day for it. I'm also making chili for dinner.
Why is it when the weather gets cold....we want chili. Maybe that's where it got it's name.

He takes after me

At least that's what I keep telling myself...HA! Tyler is this creative kid who will just do things for fun sometimes and they turn out great. Tanner came across a large bag of poker chips the other night and wanted to play with them. I knew they were upstairs in the kitchen doing SOMETHING with them, but had no idea what.....until Tyler called me up to look. This is what he had done....he used every last one.





And just so you all know.....It's happened, I have officially turned into my mother. Today I put a plastic spoon in the dishwasher.....on purpose.

Whadayathink?

I thought I'd give my blog page a crisp new fall look. I like it, but I've always been partial to fall colors and flowers. Unlike my mother in law.....she made me promise years ago that if she dies in the fall, we are not allowed to have autumn flowers. No oranges or reds or burnt yellows.....I'm supposed to somehow find tulips in the middle of October. HA! Lets just hope for now that Jesus calls her home sometime in mid-may....and not for many years, I might add.
Last night, Jay and I went with mom, dad, Mike, and Kristin to a concert for KTIS, the Christian radio station here. It featured Michael W. Smith along with Matthew West and Phil Stacey (the awesome bald Navy guy from American Idol a couple years back) It was a great concert and so uplifting to see that many Christians gathered in one space to just sing praise and worship to God. There was also a 1000 voice choir in the stands behind the stage that backed up the singers....WOW...that was just amazing! I could have listened to it all for hours.
Today, we went to church and then Timmy had a game (they won AGAIN and go into the playoffs this week as the number 1 team and undefeated). Tyler is fishing with a friend and we're finally home just chillin' to the sound of football games and the smell of crock pot stew in the background. These are the things I love about fall. I can't wait to start having fires in the fireplace.

A few things....

On Wednesday, we went to the Evelyn's Family Farm for a field trip. Tanner's preschool was going so I asked the director if it was okay for me to come with the daycare kids. I really didn't want to miss going with Tanner...I had gone with the older 4 boys when they were in preschool, so it meant a lot to me to go with Tanner. I had 6 daycare kids in tow so it wasn't quite the same as having a mom and son day, but it was still fun and I know he was happy I could come. Today, Tyler was telling me about how he had to do a fitness test in Gym class and he got 25 push-ups. I was pretty impressed so I asked him to show me a few. He did and then Tanner wanted to join in. Well, I was laughing so hard at Tanner's push-ups that I had to get my camera and record it. It was hilarious....you'll see.


On a totally different note.....Can I just say how much I love the song "Voice of Truth" by Casting Crowns. Every time I hear it I feel like I can do anything, like God is there speaking to me and all I have to do is quiet myself long enough to listen. What a comfort that is and how easily I forget.....

"Voice Of Truth"

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes to climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves
To step out of my comfort zone
To the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out his hand
But the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me Time and time again.
'Boy, you'll never win!' "You'll never win"

But the voice of truth tells me a different story And the voice of truth says "Do not be afraid!" And the voice of truth says "This is for My glory" Out of all the voices calling out to me I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

Oh what I would do to have The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant With just a Sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armor Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand
But the giant's calling out my name and he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me Time and time again
"boy, you'll never win! "You'll never win"

But the voice of truth tells me a different story And the voice of truth says "Do not be afraid!" And the voice of truth says "This is for My glory" Out of all the voices calling out to me I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

But the stone was just the right size To put the giant on the ground
And the waves they don't seem so high
From on top of them looking down I will soar with the wings of eagles
When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
Singing over me

But the voice of truth tells me a different story And the voice of truth says "Do not be afraid!" And the voice of truth says "This is for My glory" Out of all the voices calling out to me I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

Happy Anniversary

Okay, so it was yesterday....but today is 'my first full day as a wife' anniversary. Fourteen years ago yesterday, I married the man that I love. Since then, we've had 5 kids, bought 2 houses, lived in 2 states, been seperated (because of the Marines) 4 times for over 6 months each time, fought, made up, wanted to hug eachother, wanted to strangle eachother, loved through weight gains and wrinkles, snoring and mood swings, tag teamed vomiting kids and bad dreams, clapped as they played an instrument or a sport, each prayed as the other faced death....through war and sickness, wondered how we were going to pay the bills and rejoiced when we made enough to save a little........we've gone through it all...better and worse, sickness and health, richer and poorer. I know the future holds all new scenarios within each of these promises to eachother though I don't know the details. What I do know though is that we will face them together as we have this far and hopefully when we are at our lowest...always know that the person to our side is there through thick and thin, loving and trusting, honest and true. What more could a girl ask God for in her life...

The Determan's cabin

We had a super fun weekend up at the cabin. It was us, mom and dad, and Mindy and Kaylee......oh, and Sharon, Dan, Amy, Becky, Nick, and the 5 girls....but that's all. HA! Becky, along with our family, has a camper that they set up in the backyard so that takes care of a lot of space issue and chaos. It was chilly at night, but the days were beautiful. We swam, fished, boated, played cards, and laughted. Chef Sharrone showed up and made pancakes for the kids, that was a riot.

Here she is....

The kids first all made chef's hats....



Then she read "If you give a pig a pancake"....

Then it was time to make the pancakes...




Amy gave the kids rides on the 4-wheeler.....oh man, did they LOVE that!





I think Jay is getting used to the idea of owning one someday too.....

We left on Sunday evening by about 7:30pm and the temp had dropped from a nice 72' to 46' in no time at all. Jay and I packed up the camper in the cold and rain....I was glad we weren't going to be sleeping in that, but at the same time I hated to leave. Being up north like that and seeing how much fun the boys have swimming and boating and fishing makes me really long for the cabin we used to have. All those summers that we had up there and the fun times we had.....how great it would be to still have that today with our huge, growing family. I'm grateful for the times we have with our friends up north and our family weeks in June, and I'm excited about our years to come with our camper and the memories that will make for the boys.

Before I go, I have to share the project that Sharon had for the kids. She had bought T-shirts for all of them and paints. Then she had me go in the freezer and get out a bag of frozen fish....not Van de Kamps frozen fish....not even cleaned pan fish fillets.....just real, WHOLE, frozen fish....sunnies of all sizes and one perch. What the heck was she planning with these?? The kids took Q-tips and painted the fish.....PAINTED the fish....then they were used on the shirts as a stamp to make a design. It was hilarious and cute all at the same time. Who the heck would come up with something like this......well, Sharon, I guess. HA!








What a fun weekend. Here they all are....the 11 kids that outnumbered the 10 adults. Heck, I'm used to being outnumbered.

Couples meeting

Last night we went to church to attend a Couples in Christ meeting for all the groups. It was sort of a kick off for the year to start. One of the components of the night was that one couple from each group come up and explain what their gang was all about. The reps from our group were me and Jay. I had been coughing all during the presentation leading up to that and so when it was our turn to talk, I had to have Jay bail me out a few times when my voice couldn't talk. We only talked for about 8 minutes and it went fine. As we were walking up to talk about our group and what it was going to be for us as a couple and for our faith, I wondered quietly if I should mention the fact that we had an argument in the car on the way over.....Hmm.....or that it went all the way up until we literally walked into church....Hmmmm....Oh well. I love when you have to put on that smile and act like you are enamured with your spouse when really all you want to do is shake and strangle him. Buuuutttt......I suppose if we were all perfect couples, we wouldn't need a group like this. Maybe there will be a lesson one month about how to deal with my husband...though I'm sure he's hoping for the same thing with me. We got home, watched an Oprah show from yesterday and Tuesday's episode of NCIS, all the while ignoring the issue surrounding the argument. Sometimes, the rug that we sweep stuff under is a welcome sight. This morning, it doesn't seem like such a big deal anymore.....it never does.