golfing
My brother-in-law, Mike Stevens is heading for some very big life changes. He and my sister, Alena Stevens are getting ready to welcome a new granddaughter on June 24th, and they are so excited to meet her. They don’t know their new little sweetheart’s name yet, but since she will arrive by C-section, they know when she will arrive. The whole family is very excited. With their son, Garrett and his family living in Sheridan, it has been harder for them to see their oldest granddaughter, Elliott, but all that is about to change.
On July 1st, Mike is going to retire from the oil fields, after 39 years. It has been a long and successful career, in which Mike has been promoted to high levels, and has had great success. Still, the time comes for all of us to retire and enjoy our golden years, even though the definition 
of those years has really changed for most people. It used to be that when people retired, they sat around watching television and sleeping in their chair, but these days people are really quite active. While our hobbies and activities of choice are different, they usually keep us very busy.
Mike and Alena are no exception to that rule. They have plans to do a lot of golfing, camping, and possibly some traveling with Mike’s new-found free time. In the immediate future, they plan to be in Sheridan to help out with Elliott while her parents are in the hospital with Elliott’s new baby sister. They are also hoping to bring Elliott to Casper for several weekends this summer, and before long the new baby will also be coming for visits. Kids love to spend the night with the grandparents, and it’s even more fun when that means a trip to a different town. Elliott and her grandpa are best friends. Mike loves to chase her around the house, push her on the swings, and pull her around on a sheet. Elliott giggles and giggles. They really are pals. The best kind of pals…grandpa and granddaughter kind of pals.
While Mike is leaving the oil field, the oil field isn’t totally leaving Mike. The convenient thing about the oil field is that they are always in need of oil field consultants, and it can be a really lucrative side gig too. Mike’s 39 years of oil field experience make him a prime candidate for the oil field consultant position, and they work their own hours, taking the jobs they choose, and not the ones they are told to do. I know that Mike will be very successful in all of his post-retirement ventures. Today is Mike’s 63rd birthday. Happy birthday Mike!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
My brother-in-law, Mike Stevens and my sister, Alena Stevens, have done a lot of camping over the years. They have had had a number of camper trailers, but this year, they decided to get the one they really wanted, after all, Mike’s retirement is coming up soon…not that I know when, but he is closer to retirement than he ever was, and according to his son, Garrett Stevens, it can’t come soon enough. Mike and Alena have lots of summer plans in the works. They are planning camping trips on the mountain, very likely both the Big Horns and Casper Mountain, as well as at the Pathfinder Reservoir where the Stevens Clan take yearly vacations with the whole Stevens family. That said, they bought a 2021 Keystone Laredo 5th Wheel trailer. It is beautiful and it will definitely take their camping comfort to the next level.
Mike is a major green thumb. He loves growing things, and that means making sure they have a wonderful lawn. Their yard, both front and back and great entertaining spots, but that is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what Mike can grow. Their daughter, Michelle Stevens tells me that her dad has “quite the green 
thumb.” Their summer garden usually contains tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. By the end of the growing season Mike and Alena have much work to do, because the harvest is always good. They busily can the vegetables, as well as the spaghetti sauce, that is Mike’s specialty; and Alena’s is her salsa.
Interestingly, Mike’s son Garrett came across a couple of “blast from the past” pictures of his dad that I find very interesting Mike used to work at Shellabarger Chevrolet, where Mike worked as a mechanic. In fact, that is where Mike met my sister, Alena…and the rest, as they say, is history. They have been married for 37 years this July 21st. You just never know where you will meet your soulmate. The other picture Garrett found is one with Mike and his buddies, Lloyd LaFave, Ron Millay, and Eddie Bright. What shocked me so much with this picture was just how much Mike and Garrett look alike. I knew Garrett looked a lot like his dad, but somehow, until you see a picture that clearly could be one person, but is actually the other, you just don’t make the connection in your mind. They could be twins…which wouldn’t be so odd, since Mike is a twin with his brother, Pat. Nevertheless, Mike and Pat are fraternal twins, and Garrett is actually more a twin to his dad than Pat is.
Mike and Garrett are planning some fishing for the summer, as golfing, of course. They both love golf, and this year they plan to golf at least once at the Powder Horn Golf Club in Sheridan, where Garrett and his family live. Mike and Alena plan to spend quite a bit of time in Sheridan, since that is where their first grandchild, granddaughter, Elliott lives. She is the apple of their eyes, and the just can’t get enough of her. Elliott, for her part, is a total character, and keeps her parents, Garrett and Kayla Stevens and grandparents, Mike and Alena Stevens and Wes and Lynette Smiley in stitches. Life just doesn’t get any better!! Today is Mike’s birthday. Happy birthday Mike!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
My nephew, Dave Chase, joined our family when he married my niece, Toni. Dave has a dry sense of humor, and is quite practical, which is completely opposite of Toni, who is more emotional, than practical…according to her mom, Cheryl. Dave and Toni love to banter back and forth, and it keeps the whole family laughing. They tease each other, and it can be quite entertaining. Still, it is teasing, and these two really bring out the best in each other.
When Toni and Dave met, Dave did not try to become a father to her son James, who has a dad. Wisely, Dave set out to become James’ friend. He won James over, and they are good friends. That has endeared Dave to the whole family! Dave also loves having 2 child pups. He loves taking them to the dog park in good weather especially, but they go no matter what the weather looks like…rain, shine, wind, or snow. If they can get to the dog park, Dave and the pups are going for a walk. Twice on the weekend days. Toni joins them on weekends. The whole family loves their dogs. The dogs must have the best of everything, including toys, beds, comfort, and…a maze in snowy weather to exercise and entertain themselves in! He loves to take the dogs kayaking too. No effort is to great to be undertaken for the sake of the dogs!
Dave has always been full of energy. My niece tells me that he hits the ground running the second his feet move from the bed to the floor. Dave hasn’t always loved the length and cold of the Wyoming winter, but he got a snow blower, and he loves to keep his driveway clear. Needless to say, when Dave awoke to some six to ten inches of snow on his birthday morning, he was excited and headed out to “play” with his machine…never mind 
that it’s still coming down heavily. While his snow blower has helped with his winter blues, he has managed to find another release in the form of an annual golfing trip to Phoenix with the boys. It is a trip that he plans every year and brags that “the head count keeps on growing.” While Dave is there he always heads to Chase field to catch a game with his little brother Dan and nephew Ty, always in the hope of seeing the Dodgers, but this last April 2019 he had to settle for the Cubs.
Dave and Toni took a trip…just the two of them, to Marco Island where they hit a different brewery every day, ate seafood every night, and had a great time all week including their last day there when they took a trip to Venice Beach. They learned how to shell for shark teeth at Venice Beach. They also “learned” how to lock their water, sunblock, beach towels and cell phones in the car while at Venice Beach, as well as how to lose their car keys in the ocean while at Venice Beach, and…they learned how to thank God for putting a little boy in the water that found their keys…30 yards from where they were looking for them.
They took a family trip to Escondido California, James got to go on this trip too. They all agreed that it was one of the best trips they have ever had. It exceeded all of their expectations. They went to the Miramar Air show, which made them feel very proud to be Americans, and to Cabrillo National Monument to name a few. Other than that trip, they took numerous overnight trips, saw a few concerts, watched the dodgers play, and of course, Dave made it to every home game for the Wyoming Cowboys.
Dave is good to his mother-in-law, Cheryl too. In winter, if the snow gets bad, Dave checks with her to see if anyone has shoveled her walk and if they haven’t, he will drive all the way across town to shovel for her! In the 
spring and fall he, along with the rest of her family, cleans her yard so it’s ready for the coming season. These are kindnesses she appreciates so much more than words can say! Of course, mostly Cheryl loves that he takes care of Toni. He has always seen to it she has a good car to drive, a lovely home to live in, and that all her needs and wants are met. He’s practical and good in his heart! He considers what is needed in the family, and helps bring those things to pass. To Cheryl, these are excellent qualities! I agree. Today is Dave’s birthday. Happy birthday Dave!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
