EFY 2010

Gerrit had the opportunity to speak in church today about his experience at EFY - Nauvoo. He had a fabulous time and grew tremendously spiritually. What a blessing to have programs such as this that help strengthen our children's testimonies and love of the Lord and the Savior.

Happy Birthday, Gerrit!

Seventeen years ago, today, Gerrit John van Uitert was born into our family. I can honestly say that he has been a pure joy ever since. He was a cute little baby with already very wide feet, copper red hair, and a wrinkly nose when he yawned. He had an infectious smile and laugh, with dimples in both cheeks and a small cleft in his chin. My brother, Karsten, used to say he looked like Kirk Douglas with that chin. Gerrit was almost always smiling and pleasant to be around, if not a bit exhausting, as well. Go, go, go!... was the motto for this little tyke; dancing on the table, shaking the torch lamps, pulling the videos and books off the shelf...go, go, go! My sister, Barbara, even asked me once if I thought he might have ADD, because this kid was so active and engaged in one thing after another. My other sister, Karen, might remember babysitting Gerrit and feeling the heart attack at realizing that Gerrit was running through the parking lot to the car. He didn't walk much...he ran! It was a fun activity, indeed, to sit this little guy on your lap and play patty cake and peek-a-boo, because of the reaction he always gave...hysterical laughter and the hugest grins. Carolyn, my oldest sister, used to sit him on her lap for that very thing and they would laugh, and laugh, and laugh. What a joy Gerrit has been!

Gerrit doesn't sit on my lap anymore to play patty cake or peek-a-boo; he doesn't pull the movies and books off the shelf; he certainly doesn't dance on the table! Gerrit DOES still play games, though, but now more with his friends, and he still smiles and laughs through them all. He's still ticklish and still has those dimples and that little cleft in his chin. His copper red hair is only obvious in direct sunlight, but his feet are still just as wide. Although he doesn't dance on the table anymore, he still loves to dance at ballroom dance classes and school/church dances. He's a natural at playing the melody of music he hears on the piano and still lights up the room with that smile. Gerrit is a straight A student with a 4.0 and excels at anything he does. He is a responsible, down to earth, friendly, forgiving, and worthy Priesthood holder who makes friends easily, leads inherently, and has an honest desire to do what is right. I love to hear him bless the Sacrament in church, and note that he performs his duties deliberately and with reverence. He is President of his Priest Quorum and an active Home Teacher. How could I ever want for more in a son? I thank my Heavenly Father for my first son, for the joy he has brought to our lives, and for the example he is to his brother and sisters, as well as the youth in our community who look to him and trust in his judgment. A special thanks goes out to all of our family and friends who have taken part in Gerrit's life, in any and all ways, and have impacted his life for the better. Here's hoping for another successful year in the life of Gerrit John, one full of memories for his old mom to cling to when we see him off on his own in two short years! Cheers!

More Photos of da Phamily

Audra ready for school...

The Funny Farmer, Herself!

Gerrit and his group date to Homecoming

My Awesome In-laws, Ray & Karen

Sweet Marin :0)

Camp Bartlett July 27 - August 1, 2009

Picking the boys up on the last day... boy were they tired!

Gerrit and his Kodiak claw necklace

Me and the Sweaty Boy... it was pretty darn hot!

Can you tell what pals these two are? This picture is deceiving because Dayton is only a few inches shorter than Kevin now... he's standing down hill in this photo!

Dayton and his buddy for life, Dane Trauntvein, spent the week at NYLT (National Youth Leadership Training). What a great experience!

The Countdown...

to wake-up in five hours is getting closer and closer! It might help if I actually went to sleep (easier to wake up that way). We are heading down to Farmington for a niece's baby blessing and living out in the boonies means we've got to get off early! So, I'll keep this brief. (yes... I can do that)


We picked up the boys from NYLT (National Youth Leadership Training) and the Kodiak camp at Camp Bartlett. They were up there for the whole week and had a fantastic time. I even missed them (yes... I can do that, too). I'll be posting pictures just as soon as I bring the camera in from the car and IF... IF Kevin's computer cooperates. You see, my computer has taken the much needed vacation I was longing for and refuses to turn on. Eee gads. The HP should have been named the TP, since flushing it down the toilet may be all it's good for anymore!

Summer is almost come and gone for us. I can't believe it. School starts in a wee few weeks and I am definitely not ready for that. We're still making some decisions on schools... nothing like waiting till the last minute. Didn't Carly Simon write a song about us? Pro-crast-in-a-a-tion is making me wait... right... (I really do know the real song, but I have to humor myself somehow) I'm going to miss my kids being home. I suppose I can just be grateful I've had them home as much as I have with the whole homeschooling gig over the years. We have the two youngest girls signed up at a charter school about twenty-five minutes away from us and we are still contemplating that decision. What fun is decision making if you can't rehash the same options over and over again and remake it once or twice? Double the fun, I always say.

Barbara's oldest gets married on the 15th of August and I am heading down with my other sister, Laura, her gorgeous daughter, Cadence, and my one in a million folks, Loren & Julianna. Should be nice and hot in Phoenix just about then, so obviously, I'm looking forward to it. Nothing like having a sweat ring in your wedding photos, huh? Nice visual. Really, though, I am looking forward to seeing my sister and her family, and her family's family, and so on and so on. Megan will be a beautiful bride and I love her dearly... thus I will also love the 120 degree weather dearly and the fourteen hour drive dearly... but who's counting?! Certainly not me.


Just as an update: Snake eggs are kaput. Sorry to all of you who were looking forward to my little hatchlings as much as I was, but the eggs went all moldy and sunken in and got the stink of death about them. Anything with the death stink has got to go... wait... except for my teenage kids who quite often have the stink of death about them, but are much too dear to throw out like a tupperware dish full of snake eggs. Who ever said I didn't care... see? I care...


In conclusion, you should all take note that a Sara Lee pumpkin pie does not taste any better at one in the morning than it did during the coherent hours. Let the record reflect that bad is bad, no matter what the hour. And with that, I bid you farewell...adieu...auf wiedersehen and goodnight!

Need = Motivation

Marin spent some time with Julie Miller, tonight, practicing barrels, poles, keyhole, loping methods, and all sorts of other fun horsemanship skills. Audra did NOT... much to her dismay... weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth type of dismay! When we came back to pick Marin up from Julie's, Audra was able to ride Buck for a few minutes, but he was so ready to be done working that he kept running her to the arena gate... full gallop... no stirrups... six year old girl! I would have thought she'd be bawling her eyes out on run #1 (she waited until run #3), but all she said was, "Buck just wants to run!" This girl's a tough cookie! (next time I'll get pictures of her... she's a doll!) Marin is, no doubt, counting down the hours until the next opportunity to ride. I like to call that "motivation"... for completing school work... chores... just about anything I need her to do. Life is much simpler when the kids are in LOVE with a hobby. I just need to figure out how to help shift Gerrit's hobby from "girlfriend" to "horses"... hmmm.....

True Love I Knew At Once

In the wee morning hours, before taking Gerrit to his 6:00 a.m. Driver's Ed class, I was reflecting on the natural order of events involving children separating from their dependence on their parents. In doing so, I felt happiness, because I know it's the way things are supposed to be, and what is parenting and family life for, if not to raise healthy, independent, future adults? On the flip side, I felt a little melancholy at the loss of the parent/child relationship as I've known it thus far, and wrote a little something to encapsulate my emotions.

True Love I Knew At Once
by Donna van Uitert
May 13, 2009 @ 5:41 a.m.

Sixteen years in life's embrace
True love I knew at once
When God extended me His grace
And you, my son, were born.

The face of Heaven's purest light
To you our Lord bestowed
And almost perfect in my sight
My eyes beheld my child.

A tear, a smile, a broken heart
The good amongst the bad
With me you share the smallest part
Our separate lives defined.

Did ever once to me you share
The secrets held within?
It now would seem you do not dare
Perhaps, you never did.

I miss you, oh, my little one
Come back to me in time
You are my moon and midday sun
On others now you shine.

The time is spent for me I fear
No longer I your choice
But you I always will hold dear
Forever, you'll be mine.

Now, I know this may sound a little depressing, but truly, it is an honest depiction of the struggle I feel between happiness and sadness in watching my children grow up and move on. It's a beautiful process, I would say, but nonetheless a real challenge for me. Any of you reading, who have already sent your children off to live their lives on their own, and build their own families, may understand the jumble of mixed emotions I am feeling. My oldest is only sixteen, but in this last year, the gap of separating from the whole and becoming more of an individual has vastly widened. It is very EXCITING to watch it happen, but I think I would be remiss in saying that it has all been smooth sailing for this here Momma Hen, who isn't quite ready to watch the chicks venture out of the coop on their own! Ah well... ready or not... it's happening! Wish me luck... :^)