A couple of months ago a client reached out to me about doing a porch session for her in-laws. She told me they had a beautiful yard in Inkom, Idaho and it may be something they would enjoy! Little did I know this session would not only change my life, but it would turn out to be much more than a porch session. Get comfy. This blog is long but will give you all the feels. You don’t want to miss it!

While driving up to their home I kept saying, ” This area is BEAUTIFUL! I wonder if any houses go up for sale around here”. When I arrived I noticed a for sale sign along with a sold sign in their front yard. That struck me as odd. I didn’t know they were moving, but what a great time to get photos with their home! I loved my time as an Inkom Idaho Photographer.

When Leo opened the door I instantly knew he was kind, and when I first saw Bonnie I instantly knew she was fun! At that moment I knew this session was going to be AMAZING and a lot longer than 10 minutes haha. Leo started telling me how they were moving in a couple of days. He explained to me that his sweetheart (Bonnie) had to be on oxygen here and that keeping up the land began to feel like it was too much. They were moving to Arizona where Bonnie could be without oxygen and he wouldn’t have to spend all his days working to keep up the property. While he talked I could see the emotion in his eyes. This place isn’t just a house and land- it’s much more.

You see, Leo grew up on the land. It had been in his family for 3 generations. When he was 7 years old his father died and the family was dependent on the land to sustain them. Leo had to work, and he had to work hard. There was very little income, and the land and water had to be utilized in every way possible. As he talked I imagined the heavy responsibility he had placed upon him. It was evident that this land brought him pride, security, and memories. That land gave them life. It filled their tummies, it gave them a tomorrow, and it provided them to sustain themselves as a family. He pointed out that the barn we were shooting against was where he raised and tended to calves and milked the cows.

When Leo and Bonnie took over the property Leo built and designed everything including the house, bridges, and all landscaping. He was also the electrician who completely wired the new home. Obviously, he has a lot of talent.

“A good marriage requires time. It requires effort.

You have to work at it. You have to cultivate it.

You have to forgive and forget.

You have to be absolutely loyal one to another.”

Gordon B. Hinckley 

When asking Bonnie about their family and how many children they have she replied that they,” had 7 but only raised 6″. I REALLY appreciated how she worded that. As someone who has experienced loss, and around numerous others who have lost and laid a baby to rest that question is always hard to answer. You don’t want to make it awkward for others, but your baby matters and should get recognition. She told me about their baby boy,  Lenn Allen, who was born stillborn. She told me how when battling her own depression and grief she felt like Leo wasn’t sad or mourning. However, looking back she realized he did mourn – but in a different way. He worked. He worked hard at work, and at home. Grief and coping looks different for everyone, so we need to be kind. Now because of my prior experiences, I was really watching their interactions while they talked about their baby. Most often when I hear people talk about a loss it’s almost always the mother talking, and the father seems to always look uncomfortable. Not Bonnie and Leo.

When Bonnie was talking Leo was looking at her, had her arm around her, and added his own thoughts and feelings. He expressed his heartache. It filled me with so much emotion. Their love wasn’t only seasoned love. The love they shared was worked for and fought for. It had experienced grief that never leaves but evolves. They evolved together and created a bond you feel when around them.

Not only was this land the symbol of Leo’s childhood, but it also holds the memories of Leo and Bonnie’s beginning! The following is a mix of info Leo emailed me and my notes.

They met in February of 1968, each riding with a friend in separate cars, up and down the “cruise” that it was called in that day on Yellowstone Ave from where 4th and 5th Avenues split and then Alameda to Jefferson and back in Pocatello!

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Asking for Bonnie’s Hand

I asked Bonnie for her hand on the old hillside road at the upper end of the property. It was across from where the original 2-room house stood. It was just a few yards from the lilac bush and original well casing, next to the new driveway and under that first Boxelder tree. With some help from my grandmother to get set up, we also spent our honeymoon night in that old, abandoned pioneer-era home I grew up in most of my young life. In some ways, it’s too bad that it was torn down.

Leo and Bonnie were married on August 9th, 1968. That’s right, they have been married for 52 years!

Leo and Bonnie have a zeal for traveling and adventure! The went to Brazil, parts of both North and South Africa, Europe to include Spain, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Holland, and England. They also went on cruises and traveled to parts of Mexico, Hawaii, and several Caribbean islands. They also served a mission for their church in the Cebu Temple where they had the opportunity to visit much of Cebu and the central Philippines during temple shutdowns and then Korea as they traveled home.

Bonnie has overcome MANY health obstacles. While talking it was evident that death has knocked on her doorstep many of times. Spending the little time I did with them its evident that Bonnie is not going down without a fight- and a joke or two! She kept us laughing the whole time. I’m positive they are the funnest grandparents. Look at their yard! It screams,” we are fun people”!

What is the one thing you would like the new owners of the homestead to know about the land? Or what do you wish for them to experience with your little piece of heaven?

Perhaps just the extreme sacrifice and hard work under very primitive circumstances done by my parents before my father’s passing and then my mother continuing on and striving to raise me and my siblings to be self sufficient due to virtually no income, to remain faithful to our spiritual beliefs and to honor family traditions from past generations such as lilacs for their beauty and raspberries for a living that were so important to both my parents and grandparents. My mother also made great sacrifices, selling parcels of her beloved property to earn enough money to pay lawyers to fight for her water rights that are now taken so much for granted.

What would you like to share with others about marriage? Tips?

First and foremost, you must find ways to have fun together. You must be able to work out differences and overlook some things. You must work as a team to manage finances, to pay the Lord his share, to stay as debt-free as possible, and to save for the future. You also must work as a team to teach and discipline your children.

What is Leo’s favorite thing about Bonnie?

It is her amazing ability to relate to and communicate with other people, including complete strangers at any time and in any place. It is also her amazing ability to perfectly replicate foods she may eat at a restaurant, etc. with no recipe and only the memory of it’s taste, as well as just being a super good cook. And also it is her fun-loving personality and sense of adventure. She is dearly loved by all whom she meets and is willing to try almost anything.

What is Bonnies’ favorite thing about Leo?

She says it is my silliness. I do tease her constantly in fun.

What are you excited about in your new adventures in Arizona?

For Bonnie it is to be able to breathe without being burdened with an oxygen concentrator, allowing her to hike, bike and be out and about freely. For me it is her freedom to do so as well as loving the great outdoors and desert beauty and scenery through hiking and jeeping. We both love to fish which we haven’t done much of the last few years. We also have a number of friends and relatives who either live in the valley or spend winters here. For us it will also be a blessing to have LDS temples close to home.

I don’t want this blog to seem like Leo had to give up everything he loved in life for his sweetheart, because I don’t think that is true. Plus, Bonnie had to leave a lot of her heart with that land too. I’m sure there were many factors in their move.

What I do know from being with them is that Leo would leave this land he loves because he loves her so much MORE. That Bonnie would leave this home and community because she wants to live life to the fullest with Leo. And, they would both make that sacrifice without hesitation! I know Bonnie loves Leo so much that she will make new memories for them whenever they live. I know they are best friends. I know their marriage had heartache and trials but they fought for each other. You can feel it.

This is what I want for all of our couples. Not just a seasoned love, but a love that is undeniable and pure. I hope my husband’s eyes light up after 50 years the way Leo’s do for Bonnie. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to photograph this remarkable couple in Inkom, Idaho.

When it comes down to the wire, what matters is love.

Thanks for letting me share your story, Leo and Bonnie. It really fed my soul and reminded me of what is important in life. Happy trails in Arizona!

-Lizzy