Checking In

Greetings all from Minnesota! I am trying to navigate blogging for the first time so here it goes!

It's great to hear from all of you in this cyberspace format and to renew relationships! Spread the word.

Thanks Dave and Sally for taking the initiative to establish this, it's a good start. Sorry we missed you in Iowa but I am glad you were able to come.

The idea of a reunion is excellent. We are willing to do our part. I see some ideas have been submitted, we can go where ever. It more important that we do it. Some where centrally located for all due to the variety of abilities to attend.

That's enough for now.

Blessings to all!

Brian VE

Family tree link

After some head scratching, a little coffee and help from Google I found the Deboer family tree website. I haven't looked at it for a while. It looks nicely kept by Uncle Bud [or his designee!] Thanks for that, eh? Then, a little more keypunching and a beer later, I think I've got it onto this site. [look to the left of this post, on the sidebar]. Should help with who's who questions. I know what you mean, George. We have discussions like, "who were their kids?" and I respond with a blank stare and "I forget..."
Thanks all for your responses and participation. Let us know if there are other folks to add or ideas you have.
Dave H

P.S. If you all have family or personal websites you'd like to share, let me know the addresses and I should be able to add them to the list on the left.

Commissioner Dave

Since we are all probably a little out of touch and this is a way to reconnect, wouldn't it be great if we could somehow post our family trees on the site? Or one big family tree? Then when we are not sure of who someone is, we can check it out on the tree! By the way George Z, I am Larry DeWit, son of Louise (DeBoer) Don DeWit. Not really sure who should be in charge of getting this accomplished, but let's start with commissioner Dave H. (you can always deligate)
I am looking forward to getting to know everyone again. Love the pics!! Keep them coming!
Larry DW

Hi all:
This is a test to see if I can do this. I have read a few blogs but never posted. This sounds like fun if we all can manage the technology. Thanks Dave. I have been so out of touch I may need help on who is who, not just who is doing what. For example, who is Mar, and the person who misses her dad and now her mom is dying...who's that?
I am looking forward to checking in to this blog now and then and reconnecting. Thanks again Dave and Sally.
George Z

Reconnecting

Thanks for your efforts on reconnecting the DeBoer family, Dave and Sally. My first time blogging. I hope I remember my password! Our trip to Iowa this past summer was great. We camped in the new campground in Rock Valley, which was quite pleasant, especially the fireflies at night. (No fireflies in Washington). So where is Jim VL's ranch? Might be a good place to meet. Fairly central for us. We may be the only ones this far west. Jay will want to know about the cycling. Have bike will travel. Jay is already planning to do RAGBRAI next summer, which means I support in our 5th wheel. Maybe we can add on a reunion to our trip as well. Any DeBoer cousins want to join us on a bike ride? (No motors, Dave and Dianne)
Love to all who enter here!

I, like Randy, don't have a clue what I'm doing. I'm a blog reader not writer. This is a very cool way to keep in touch Dave. I am all for a reunion but when you are almost the youngest in the clan I don't think you have much clout but you do get to be in the front row of the picture!

Remember when?

I have no earthly idea what I am doing here. Never attempted anything like this, but I can type, and I can mouse, so I should be able to make this happen. Anyway, I have (hopefully) posted this photo from yesteryear (1968). Seems like just a few years ago.....

Enjoy - more later.

The Homeland

Roots are interesting things. It's understood that most growing things need roots to survive but most of the time they are out of sight and we pay little attention to them. They do on occasion make their presence known. I have roots reamed out of our house's aging sewer pipes every once in a while. Hard to imagine they find anything attractive in there, but what do I know? In a less stinky sense, I find myself drawn back to N.W. Iowa. It's often years in between visits but the urging is there and I can't exactly put my finger on why. Granted, there is Pizza Ranch and Casey's Bakery, numerous eateries, corn, ethanol and wonderful, fun folks to visit...and Doon! But it goes deeper; maybe it's a sense of purpose or place. I'm sure I look like a doofus doing this but I love to stand in and look over a field, hearing the wind and the bugs [must be a city guy]. I remember again where my family came from and even though now greatly dispersed and regardless of whatever else life throws at us, the strength of family history and stories and people give great comfort. That's something we should remember and celebrate!
So I guess you could say this is an attempt at re-connecting. To what degree that happens is to be seen. We know how life is these days, what with megabytes and talking cars and smellular phones and all. But, every journey begins with the first step. So here we go.
The title of this blog comes from something we learned during our recent visit to Rock Valley. Iowa people are hip to it, I think. I'll explain the significance in a later post, but it's all good!!
Blessings, peeps. Be well.
Dave H.