Same Old... Same Old

Howdy, howdy to all you 2010 enthusiasts! We have decided that this needs to be the year that we see some significant changes as a family. However, this is my entry about three things that have NOT changed this last year, and so I'll just have to get to some of those needed changes later. Or, perhaps, the three things that didn't change in 2009 might just end up being the very things I want to see altered for this next year. I guess I'll find out as I get writing...

The first ingredient in our stagnant pond of 2009 is our church schedule. Nope... no changes with the ole nine o'clock church schedule. Here in Beaver Dam, one can count on nine o'clock church for the rest of their life, or at least, into the unforeseeable future. These sweet people have not realized that change is good and that they just might find a whole new activity level in the ward if they just rotated schedules every year. Even every other year would be a big bonus. All of my good friends know just how excited I get about nine o'clock church and have already heard me weep and wail about this particular stagnancy that I will just quit typing about it right now. Ssppbbtt... (that's my attempt at typing the sound I might make as I stick out my tongue and spit... or what the world calls 'blowing a raspberry') I'd say this particular pond ingredient was akin to the slimy black mud on the bottom of the pond - the compost material of fish feces and decomposing plant matter. Let me emphasize that the never-changing hour that church begins is the slimy gross part, but let us not forget that although compost materials might stink and basically sick us out, they are vital for the enrichment of the earth and other things that grow. What we get from our attendance at church, no matter what the hour, is definitely enriching and helping us grow and expand in our relationships with others and our spiritual progression. See how I whipped that one around into something positive? Gotta pat myself on the back every once in awhile.

Next on my list of 2009 unchangeables is the love of my own sweet Goliath, Kevin. This man is amazing in his patience, understanding, work ethic, humor, and all around ability to share of himself. He found himself teaching a lesson every month in Elder's Quorum, home teaching some awesome folks from church, playing basketball in the church league, coaching Dayton's Jr. Jazz team, working his buns off providing for our family, and supplying humorous entertainment for all of us! I am certainly glad that HE is, at least, one positive thing I can count on through the thick and thin and everywhere in between. We celebrated our twentieth anniversary last August and find ourselves not only 'still' in love, but even more so than we could have ever hoped. He worked from a home office all year and I am so grateful to have had him with us and spend more time with him than any other year of our married life. He's an angel and we are blessed by his influence on a daily basis. In keeping with the pond analogy, I'd say Kev was like the beautiful green moss that floats on the surface of the water, nourishing the fish and little critters that shelter themselves in and around it. It keeps the water still and gives the appearance of solidity to an otherwise movable surface; vibrant and lush; broad and sweeping, yet soft and tender. Aww... my little mossy Kevin! What a sweetie-pie!

Pond ingredient number three might just have to be my garage. It is still packed with a bunch of boxes of stuff that we obviously don't need, don't want, or just simply don't KNOW that we really WANT to NEED! Hmm... did that make sense? I think not. We have not mustered up the gumption to attack the garage and sort through the residue of our lives, our moves, and our disorganization, in general. This third unchangeable should probably not be dictated as 'the garage', per say, but rather just our disorganization...period. Didn't change this year in this department. We had little hopes and glimmers and thoughts of it changing, but, alas, it stayed the same. This is one of those things that is on our list of MAJOR changes for 2010. One step at a time, I guess. Big works are brought to pass by individually small efforts and experiences, right? Tonight, as we drove into Logan for some groceries, we spoke about this and decided that if we chart out the progress we want to see this year in our 'organization' efforts, and then accomplish these set goals, we should see the major changes in this arena that we so hope for. I would say that our disorganization and procrastination, this year, have been like the big stinky carp that feed on the mucus-y grunge on the bottom of our pond, that each year grow bigger and fatter and perhaps even stinkier! This year, we're gonna expunge those carp and trade them in for beautiful goldfish, rainbow trout, or... if we're lucky... maybe even some striped, swimming, water turtles! Wouldn't that be great?! Maybe if we planted some striper or perch in our little pond of 2010, my dad would even visit on a regular basis and bring my mom along for a little sun bathing on the banks! *wink wink*

Okay, y'all... I could go on and on, but looking back at my decision to focus on ONLY three things that didn't change this year, I realize just how smart that really was! Stagnant ponds are quite lovely at certain times of the year, but let us not forget that if they are left alone too long, they breed mosquitoes and leeches and all sorts of nasties that I would NEVER want to irritate my guests with! So, on that note, I will bid you adieu and will meet you on the next round of my investigations of 2009!

"You say goodbye and I say hello... hello, hello..." - The Beatles

It's almost time to say goodbye to 2009. I look back on this year and am honing my eyesight to recognize its defining moments through the chaos that seems so prevalent. Quite frankly, it seems like I've been on water skis this year being hauled all around by a psychotic driver who just likes to see the scared look in my eyes as I just barely make it over each break and who giggles a little under his breath as he crosses wave patterns with another boater just as intent on scaring the bejeebers out of HIS skier. I'm not sure my terminology is even correct with that analogy, as I prefer the snow to the water, but I've never had someone else pulling me down the mountain by a cord (thank heavens, because that would mean I was likely on a gurney!)... and because I am somewhat afraid of the water and have felt completely out of control, at times, this year, the whole water skiing thing just seems to work.

Some things have stayed exactly the same this year and other aspects of my life have changed dramatically. Nothing so special about that, huh? I'm fairly certain that every person on the planet could say the same thing, but since this blog belongs to me and NOT to every other person on the planet, I will divulge a few details about the drastically changeable and unchanging life of Donna, circa 2009... and if I'm lucky, it won't be a bunch of repeats of previous blog entries; otherwise, I might just have to reference you to read said blogs and save myself a little time! I will post this year's highlights in separate entries, in part, so as not to drive the love of reading out of my special guests by sheer longevity, as well as give my guests something exciting to look forward to in their email inboxes, where I am actually the guest, instead of vice-versa.

I think it only fitting to outline, right from the beginning, the sequence of my entries... and I am completely shooting by the hip, as I always do, and therefore have no idea of what I will say next! However, I am afraid that without an outline, my entries about this particular year may never end and we simply cannot have that. After all, it wasn't THAT good or that BAD of a year that I'd wish to eternally evaluate its particulars! Having said as much, I shall focus primarily on the number three... three things that have stayed the same, three changes, three milestones and perhaps, three hilarities, in no particular order or arrangement. Before you get scared and block The Funny Farm from your inboxes, I swear to you that I will not send you twelve separate entries. As much as some of you may enjoy my writing, enough is enough, right? Please do not despair at the enormity of my undertaking, for I promise to make it entertaining and a whole lot more forthright than this introductory entry. Words, words, words... I enjoy them WAY too much and can only aspire to share my love of them with you, my readers! Until next time...

It's late...

It's late, it's late, it's late! I should be sleeping, but as I am apparently not, I may as well jot down a quick note on the old blogarooney. Since I last wrote...

...I colored and cut my hair. I posted a picture to show the new do, which doesn't even look like that anymore. It is a few shades lighter already... always happens to me. I have to color it extra dark for it to lighten up to the shade I actually want. I do like it, though. I quite liked the dark, but it's tough for me to get it to stay in. Why fight nature, huh? I have a lot of gray coming in now, though, and the highlight I had before was better at hiding that transition. A highlight may be calling my name, again, in the not so distant future. I gave Marin the same haircut and highlighted hers a bit, cut Audra's into a bob, and gave Vanessa some extra highlights, as well. It's been a busy hair month!

...two of our goats passed away. Our mama goat, Isabella, and her baby, Clover, passed away on the same night, but at separate locations. I had Isabella over to a neighbors to breed with his billy and he found her dead the next morning. I personally think the other goats were too rough on her and she didn't have anywhere to get out of the cold, like she does here. Had I not been such a comatose wastoid that day, and had checked out my neighbor's setup, I would not have sent her to her death. As it was, I was not feeling good, stayed in bed all day and sent the kids over with her. I didn't hear about how rough the other goats were with her until AFTER she was dead. She was totally healthy, though. Big bummer. Her baby, Clover, didn't grow as big and strong as her twin, Dora, and I think the cold just finally got to her. We could see she was ailing, brought her in that night to sleep in the pet porter, and she was gone by morning. Dora is fine and living with our other nanny goat, Belle. Still a sad, sad day for the van Uiterts.

...Kevin turned forty-four on December 4th. I wish I could say I made it a day he would always remember, but I had one of those weird allergic reactions I get, from time to time, which shut me down for the evening, was stressed about one of my daughter's school teachers, and ended up sending Kev to the ward Relief Society Christmas party alone. Poor guy. He's such a sweet guy... patient and understanding... and now one year older!

...our table caught on fire and was working itself into a towering inferno of plastic dishes and gingerbread house boxes when we finally discovered it. One or two of our beautiful children lit some candles and placed them way too close to a plastic bowl, which somehow caught on fire and turned into one to two foot flames licking upwards to the light fixture. I grabbed glasses of water and doused it in a jiff, but not quick enough to save the table from being seriously scorched on top. Maybe this is a blessing in disquise...my mini horses need another shelter and I think the table would do just the trick. Throw a tarp over it, and wallah... horse shelter extraordinaire! Really, though, I'm glad Marin spotted it. She, Audra, and I were busy hanging the last few ornaments on the tree in the front room when she noticed. It's not every day you see a real live fire on your dining room table. Kevin says we could have had a new house, had we not been so quick to discover it, and in some ways I could dig on that. But, truly, who would want to lose everything at Christmastime in a house fire? I actually dread that thought and fear, from time to time, that something like that will happen while we are gone (pellet stove, etc.) and my poor animals wouldn't have a way out. The three dogs, two birds, rabbit and the snake would be crispy critters, and I just can't stomach the thought of that. Anyhow... all's well that ends well, right? Catastrophe averted, Christmas tree decorated, table cleaned off (took a fire to do it, but hey...count yer blessings is what I always say...), and one less tupperware bowl to wash!

...I have made good friends with a sweet gal from Uganda. She lives down the street from me and I have felt impressed to visit her from time to time, and upon doing so, have found that we are like soul sisters and a great joy to each other. I feel for her, being so far from her family and home, and have encouraged her to plan a trip to Africa this year. Kevin has always wanted to go on a safari and now we have a friend that can show us around Kenya and Uganda. Maybe next year...

...I have been visiting Sandy Voge, who I call 'my energy lady', and she has been working on me every week to help balance my emotional/physical energy meridians. Through her work, she has found that my thyroid is not functioning properly, and that I am starving for iodine in my diet. A good friend of mine recommended that I have my thyroid checked out, because she had experienced similar problems in her life with emotional balance, fatigue, etc., and had a life changing experience by just taking iodine. I took her advice and had Sandy check me for it, and wouldn't you know... I need iodine. I'm just starting on it today and am hopeful to regain some balance in my life. Apparently, the thyroid is really important for proper body/mind function and mine has been jacked up for a long time. This could be the answer I've been looking for! I'm excited to find out!

...Dayton and Vanessa have been playing basketball up in Hyrum on Saturdays and are both really enjoying it. Dayton gets taller by the day, I swear, and Vanessa is fast on his heels. She is taller than I, now, and wears a shoe two sizes bigger than mine. Dayton is probably 6'4" now... I need to measure him again. All I know is that he was as tall as Kevin's brother at Thanksgiving and I think Brian is around 6'4" or 6'5". They are both finding their confidence out on the basketball court, though, and we've sure enjoyed watching them play. It's fun to meet the parents of the other kids, as well. Vanessa's friend, Milanna, is such a sweetheart and besides playing on the same team, they go to school together, as well. Her parents are simply marvelous and we've really enjoyed getting to know them better. They were kind enough to take us to a Utah State basketball game a few weeks ago and it was so much fun, we're even thinking of becoming Aggie fans, ourselves. We've always liked USU, but aren't true fans of ANY college sports team. We're thinking we might just have to do something about that :0)

Well, it's after 2:00 a.m. and I have to be up in four and half hours to take the kids to school. Field trip day... they are really excited! We have lunches to make, cameras and ipods to take, and no doubt naps for me and Audra when we get home from dropping them off! Goodnight!

The Art of Deciphering Chinese

Audra brought me a paper today that she had copied Chinese characters onto and asked me if I could tell her what it said. I am a big tease, of course, and have been blessed with the ability to fly by the seat of my pants in situations like these, and thus said, "But, of course I can read it. It says, 'Last Christmas I gave you my heart and all you did was tear it apart.'" Her eyes opened wide and a big grin settled on her face. I was waiting for the moment when she would realize that the radio on my computer was playing "Last Christmas" and know that I was foolin' her. (the song actually says "...and the very next day, you gave it away" instead of "...and all you did was tear it apart" but I was improvising and didn't want her to catch on too quick!) I asked her, "Where did you find the Chinese writing to copy?" to which she replied, "On a box under my bed." "A Sunkist box for oranges?" I asked. "Yup." "Oh... that makes perfect sense then. You see, a lot of people give a case of oranges to their friends for Christmas. So, the company must be saying, 'Here's your oranges for Christmas.' And what do people do with oranges? They..." and Audra pipes up, "...TEAR THEM APART!" "That's right!" I said and told her to go tell her dad what it said and then to copy me some more. I overheard her telling Kevin what it said, and of course, he starts singing "Last Christmas" and I was sure he was going to blow it for me. But, no... she was just too thrilled that it said something about Christmas and came back through my room on her way to write some more. As she crossed the foot of my bed, she stopped suddenly. "What?!" she exclaimed! Hearing the girl on the radio still singing "Last Christmas" she looked in amazement at my computer. Oh no, I thought...she's figured it out. "Mom! That lady just said 'Last Christmas I gave you my heart.' I bet she's the one who wrote that Chinese on the box!" Her grin had grown by tenfold over her new discovery, and of course, my covert methods were kept intact. Her secret to copying down Chinese characters is quite tricky. You see, she lays on her bed and hangs her head upside down with the paper on the ground, thus creating upside down Chinese, but for my intents and purposes... it was all good. She rushed back into my room with her next set of characters. I racked my brain for a good follow up to "Last Christmas" and totally drew a blank. Once again, I tuned my ears onto the radio playing an instrumental version of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and started to read it for her..."God rest ye merry gentlemen...eat this orange and rest... merry gentlemen." Oh my gosh... the look on her face was of absolute amazement that I could read the Chinese. She didn't even care if it made any sense. It was simply fabulous! That girl... she's a crack up! Happy Thanksgiving Eve to you all!

Audra-isms

I forgot to mention something funny that Audra said yesterday. I challenged Audra and Marin to see who would brush their teeth first, and of course, Audra ran out of the room like a cockroach when the lights flip on. She was back within a minute or so, indicating that she really didn't brush... it's the old toothpaste on the finger technique, if you ask me. At any rate, after sending her back again to actually brush, she came back in and asked what her surprise was. I thought for a minute and said, "You can have another sweet and salty granola bar," which of course was a stupid surprise, since she had just brushed her teeth... duh. She looked at me and said, "I expect toys." Kev and I looked at each other and burst out laughing. She was dead serious and sounded like the Queen of England addressing her subjects. That girl is a hoot.

I have kept Audra home from school most of the week, due to a cough that I didn't want evolving into a flu, and with half the school out sick with the H1N1 or whatever the latest bug fad is right now, I wanted to play it safe. She was so much happier being home, it was incredible. Even with her playmate, Marin, gone all day, she kept herself busy and did her homework. Her attitude was much improved and the way she interacted with her siblings was noticeably better. Homeschool may be calling her name... at least for a little while. After all, how will I ever put together that fantastic book I'll be writing without little Audra-isms contributing to its success? Marin wrote her a letter the other day telling her how much she hoped Audra would feel better. Audra dictated to me this letter... word for word:

Dear Marin,

Thank you for the letter. I DO hope I get better and get to go to school. I'm going to have something for you when you get home. Go in the front room and your surprise will be in there!

Your Best Buddy...

Audra

I loved the grown up way she dictated this letter to me. She uses very complete sentences and has an impressive ardor with her delivery of the dictation. My favorite is, "Your Best Buddy..." Such a dolly cakes!

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)

A Plethora of Ponderments, Poetry and Plain Old Purity

This is just a small tribute post to my beautiful daughter, Marin, and a bit of a happy dance post for actually being able to dream a dream this evening... to envision possibilities in a future that has been looking somewhat prison-esque to me, of late. I hope you enjoy the photos of Marin, and of Vanessa and Dayton, as well, from the fall dance at school.

Kevin, Audra and I went to the bookstore today and I spotted a calendar for sale that takes vintage photos of women in the majestic throes of housewifery - circa 1950's - with smart, sarcastic phrases super-imposed. My favorite was of a smiling, cherubic, 50's icon of a housewife whose companion statement read, "If what you mean by happy is a prison sentence with no chance of escape... then, yes! I am happy!" It struck me as funny and Kev and I had a good chuckle. The contrast between the smiling faces and the acerbic verbiage was quite lovely. I also found a hilarious book called "What to Expect When You Are Expected" playing off of the series of a similar title, except written to the unborn fetus. Pretty dang funny. All in all... a great visit to the bookstore. Wouldn't you know it? The one book Audra picks from the shelf to lay down on the floor and flip through, is a book we already have at home, Jan Brett's Christmas Treasury. I said, "We have that book, Audra. I read it to you." She replied, "I'm just looking at it, Moomm..." like sheesh...

Anyway, here is my tiny little one stanza poem about Marin that just seemed to hit the spot at 2:00 a.m. yesterday morn:

daughter

ever watchful and reflective
eyes of innocence and blue
wise beyond this earthly kingdom
gentle as the morning dew

November 6, 2009
Donna Brooks van Uitert

I also had a fun visit to the D.I. this evening with Dayton. I wasn't quite sure why I was going, but it seemed like a good thing to do, so Dayton and I had a fun treasure hunting trip to the big "D" and found too many treasures to possibly take home. I did buy, however, a lazy-boy recliner in near-perfect condition and an upholstered chair that matches my front room couch reasonably well, in that eclectic way I prefer, of course. I did not resist the temptation to buy this monstrously awesome entertainment center armoire they had for sale for $75. It was just too gigantic and marvelous to resist. Of course, it may not fit in my home, and heaven knows I don't have a place for it, but it was so cool, I just had to indulge myself. We will either find a place for it here, or I will find a new home for it on ksl.com.

I really do love reselling used furniture and have been very blessed to have an eye for what sells online, but haven't been into the resell business for the last year or so. Rekindling this old flame is part of my "Dream a Little Dream" experience tonight. I simply adore the weirdly elaborate... sometimes grotesquely large in size... furniture that I find at the thrift shops. LOVE IT!!! I once had a dream (one that was on the brink of realization, I might add) of opening a used furniture store in Coalville and passing along quality, fashionable furnishings to the common folk in those parts who didn't want to drive into Salt Lake for a good deal. Heaven knows Park City doesn't have inexpensive used furniture for sale... I think it might be against the city code, to tell you the truth... hardy har har. Anywho... needless to say, I didn't open my shop. I did, however, buy furniture for it. That truly is how close I thought I was to realizing this dream. I sold most of it over a few month's time and helped pay the bills while we were struggling to make two house payments and keep the collection agencies at bay. It surely was a blessing to have that resource and certainly softened the blows of our financial crisis. We have no financial crisis, to speak of, these days. HALLELUJAH!!! Heavenly Father has blessed us beyond measure and we are so grateful to be out from under the black cloud of debt. However, I still love buying and reselling quirky furniture and am thinking of bringing back the old dream of setting up shop... with the twist of a warehouse to sell out of, instead of an open to the public kind of store.

We are considering this nifty little Victorian home for sale in Wellsville as a daytime depot for moi... running kids to school fifteen miles each way is getting old... twice and sometimes three times a day. If you know me at all, you know I like to drive, but only in those "I want to go for a drive" kind of moods... not "I have to take the kids to school" ball and chain schtick I've been engaging in for the last three months. My life has felt like anything but my own since I traded in the homeschooling "fly by the seat of our pants" lifestyle for the transient glory of taxi driver and STILL homeschool mom of four - just now encapsulated between the hours of four and ten p.m. I am what the Spanglish might call "el toasto burno" or "burnt toast" for all you heathens who don't speak Spanglish. And, yes... I am a complainer, as well, just for kicks. I don't really want to be a complainer... but then I must want to be one, since I'm performing the duties of Chief Complainer Whiny Pants with such zeal and zest that I put Lucille Ball and Roseanne Barr to shame, I'm afraid. Ah well... complaining's a nasty job, but somebody's gotta do it... *wink wink*

Speaking of complaining... I really need to mention what a fantastic example of non-complainability my dear Mother-in-law is (doesn't the word non-complainability just tickle your tongue as it rolls off? the fact that it isn't a word just makes it all the more fantastic!) My Mother-in-law just retired last week... wahoooo!!! Whilst reflecting upon her years of sacrifice and hard work in helping to support her family, it dawned on me that I don't think I've ever heard her complain about it. Kev and I have been married for twenty years... twenty years... and, honestly, I can't remember one complaint falling off her lips about her obligation to work. She is an absolutely awesome example of integrity, graceful endurance, and quite simply "putting the shoulder to the wheel." I'm sure she has had her complaints throughout the years concerning various things, but I find it extraordinary that I have never heard her complain about going to work. What a great woman, mother and wife. I can certainly take a few lessons from her about "doing my duty with a heart full of joy" and maybe learn a thing or two about the Art of Shut the #$%@ Up and Quit Yer Complainin'! Thank you, Karen, for the years of service on behalf of your family and for the example of not only your work ethic, but your enduring to the end character and positive attitude. Your charity and love for your family has not gone unnoticed and lucky for me, I get to reap the benefits of your righteous womanhood on a daily basis just by the blessing of having married your fabulous son. When he smiles, I see you and love him all the more for it.

Now, back to this Victorian cottage in Wellsville. We are thinking of either replacing our rental house in Layton with it, or quite simply adding it to our investment portfolio as a pet project for me to lovingly restore, use as a hair salon/massage parlor (don't get excited...it's not that kind of massage parlor...), furniture reselling headquarters, storage facility for our motor home and outside trailers, school house for Audra (we are considering bringing her back home for a year or two of positive character and identity reinforcement... that girl... I'll tell ya...grumparoo to Timbuktu!), and just an all around pit-stop for me and the kids so we can save some time and money from running back and forth to Beaver Dam several times a day. Out of breath just from reading that? I think that sentence deserves an award. But seriously, those are the thoughts and dreams from the previously vacant persona I have acquired over the last two years... the artist formerly known as "who? huh? oh... that absent spirited and fitfully mindless creature inhabiting Donna's body? right on..." I actually felt alive tonight thinking of the possibilities, and seeing as that I haven't been able to envision many future goals (or shall I say any future goals) for a long period of time now, it is quite refreshing to take joy in the thoughts of plans and projects and all that jazz... even if they don't work out. Decisions like these require much prayer and pondering and when they are right, they just seem to fall into place. Should that happen with this decision, I would assume that I will be thrilled. If it's not meant to be, then it's not meant to be and another dream may find its way to my doorstep, preferably sooner than later. *grins*

Goodnight, Ya'll... This is what happens when I don't write for awhile. My dad asked me for an email when I was chatting with him on the phone this evening and I reminded him that I respond quite regularly to his emails, to which he replied that he hasn't received an email from "the Farm" for a long time. Well, here ya go, Pops... this one's for you!