A WHOLE LOT OF WEEDAS

Here is a picture of many of my Dad's brothers and sisters with their children, my cousins.

The picture was probably taken in 1955.

Mom and Dad are in positions 7 and 8 from the left in the back row.

My sister Elly and I are in positions 6 and 7 in the third row.

My sister Mieke is the one with the pigtails in the second row.

My brother Jake is on the floor, fourth from the left.

My brother Tony was not born yet.

NINE MONTHS IN - NINE MONTHS OUT

WAYLON LEROY BOKMA

... after nine months in the womb.

WAYLON LEROY BOKMA

... after nine months in the world.

"GRANDMA, START WEEPING."

A few weeks ago, Lizzie told me that she and Gracie were thinking about coloring their hair. I told them that their hair was beautiful just the way it is, and that if they did color it, I would weep! They had never heard the word "weep", so I had to explain its meaning and relate how sad it would make me feel to see them change their gorgeous locks. The next time I saw Lizzie and Gracie the deed had been done. Lizzie's locks were streaked with red! Gracie's locks were streaked with purple! They gleefully announced,...yes gleefully announced, "Grandma, you have to start weeping," as they paraded into the room.

MOHRS ON THE WATER

THE BARNS ARE EMPTY

The hay barns are empty. That is sight that is becoming all too common on dairies these days. Milk prices have been hanging below the cost of production far too long. Dairymen are struggling to stay afloat, as they slowly watch all the equity that had been built up slip away. Future predictions say that dairymen should plan on more of the same. It looks to be another rough year ahead.

One strategy to meet the dairy crisis has been the formation of CWT, Cooperatives Working Together, which is funded by dairymen to address market fluctuations that adversely affect milk prices. CWT has sponsored several buyouts throughout these difficult months, allowing dairymen to submit bids of payment to have the organization "buyout" a producer's operation. Once a bid is accepted, the producer receives payment from CWT, and the producer promises to slaughter all milking cows and further promises not to put any milk on the market for one year. This program seemed like one that might work well for us, so Harry and I set up meetings with accountants and bankers to learn how the program would affect our business. We certainly did not want any surprises. It seemed like a plan that would work well to them too. So we sent in our bid. And we felt good about the decision.

But after a few days went by, bidder's remorse set in. The thought of all the cows going to slaughter, our workers all out of a job, the life we've known for so long coming to an end,....sigh,... I was having trouble sleeping just thinking about the possibility of our bid being accepted!

In an 11th hour decision, we pulled our bid. Do we feel good about it? Well, that depends on the day.

VISITORS FROM AFAR

July 8

Harry and I met my cousin Wimmie (aka Bill) and his wife Patty for dinner at Jaker's in Twin Falls. It had been more than 25 years since we had seen each other, so we had a lot of catching up to do!

July 7

Patty Ten Cate surprised us by stopping by!

FOURTH OF JULY HOLIDAYS

Enroute to a BBQ, we see this huge flag in the middle of a farm field, supported by a crane.

That's a very Idaho-ish image, if you ask me.

Robbie and Dan

Lizzie enjoys her "freedom".

All the kids are drawn to the water that is flowing in an irrigation ditch.

Gracie likes the home-made ice-cream!

Sofia hides under a desk because she thinks the fireworks are a little scary.

Dusk comes late in an Idaho summer. The fireworks shows put on by the local towns do not begin to light up the skies until 10:30pm. Jake and Nicolas are ready to see the spectacle.

Kaya and Sofia cuddle in a blanket to cut the cold, and they cover their ears against the loud "boom" of the fireworks!

Fireworks over the city of Twin Falls can be seen in the distance.

MILD HOGS 2010

The 4th annual road trip for the "mild hogs"

Harry and Kim head from Idaho to South Dakota.

june 27 - july 3

SUNDAY - JUNE 27

on the road again....

first night spent in West Yellowstone

MONDAY - JUNE 28

Buffalo grazing near West Yellowtone

Hot pools in the park.

Old Faithful

Yellowstone Lake

2nd night spent in Buffalo, Wyoming.

TUESDAY - JUNE 29

Gillette, Wyoming Harley store. It's huge!

Harry's bike gets a new tire there.

Devil's Tower in Wyoming

130 year-old store in Wyoming.

Arrival at downtown Deadwood, South Dakota and time to stop for the night.

WEDNESDAY - JUNE 30

Entrance to Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore

Mount Moriah Cemetery, where Wild Bill Hickock and Calamity Jane are buried.

THURSDAY - JULY 1

Homeward Bound

The trip's worst hotel LuPine Inn in Red Lodge Montana

FRIDAY - JULY 2

Bear Tooth Pass

Sights along the way.

Above the snow line

The Beartooth Mountain.

Mammoth Geyser

SATURDAY - JULY 3

HOME AGAIN!

THANK YOU, GOD, FOR SAFE TRAVELS!!!

OH CHILD OF OURS

Oh child of ours

Begun so soon

to end.

So tiny, so small, yet

large as the ache in our souls.

Oh son of ours

Begun so soon

to end.

Never to become a boy

Never a man to be

An infant forever

just out of reach.

Oh baby of ours

Begun so soon

to end.

See our tears, our quiet pain and

know the love we ache to give you.

Oh child of ours

Ended so soon

to begin.

Our unfinished dream.

Others may not know or remember

but we shared the hope and joy

of your conception.

And you gave to us,

in your short time,

Goodness and Love.

Oh child of ours...

My sister Mieke wrote that poem for us when we lost our baby son, Peter William, on July 1, 1972.

Peter William would have been 38 years old today. But, for me, like the poem says, he is an "infant forever, just out of reach."

Peter William Bokma

"Safe in the arms of Jesus."