My first son-in-law, Kevin Petersen came into our lives when my daughter, Corrie Petersen was just a girl of 14 years. Corrie told me of the “boy” she liked and wanted to be her first date. Her 15th birthday was coming and she wanted me to meet him so she could accept his invitation. Upon meeting this “boy” and noting his beard, it occurred to me that this was no boy, but a young man. My shock in meeting him must have been visible, but I hope I composed myself in an acceptable manner. That is my hope…because hindsight is 20/20 as they say. Little did I know that this was to not only be Corrie’s choice for a first date, but he would be her choice for a lifelong mate. While this fact surprised me, I must say that I couldn’t have been more pleased. Now, after three years of dating, and 33 years of marriage, I can’t imagine either of them with anyone else. They are perfect for each other.

Kevin is a kindhearted man, who has been there for his parents when they needed him the most. He has often set aside some of the things he might have done in a day, to assist his parents in the things they needed. Not everyone is willing to do such things, but not everyone has the heart of a caregiver. I don’t say that to be unkind, but simply because not everyone is suited to the task, and it is a very big task. Those who endeavor to care for aging loved ones are to be commended, because they are a great blessing to those for whom they give needed care. This work isn’t always easy for Kevin, because his has health issues of his own, and they make the work he lovingly does very difficult sometimes. Still, he perseveres, and that makes me very proud of him.

Kevin and Corrie are grandparents to a granddaughter and six grandsons, and they are very proud of each and every one of them. They are also fur parents to two dogs and a cat. They do love to “spoil” their fur babies…spending hours with one or more of them in residence on their laps. Any reading or studying they do is often interrupted by one or more of the pets sitting on the book or computer, demanding a little bit more of their time. Kevin also works of his cars and has restored several. He does excellent work, even to painting his cars. The cars are restored to their former beauty, and he has even entered them in car shows. Kevin’s artistic abilities are very impressive, and I am very proud of all he does. Today is Kevin’s birthday. Happy birthday Kevin!! Have a great day!! We love you!!

Mogollon, also known as the Mogollon Historic District, is actually a former mining town in the Mogollon Mountains of Catron County, New Mexico. Located east of Glenwood and Alma, it was established in the 1880s at the base of Silver Creek Canyon to serve the gold and silver mines in the nearby mountains. The “Little Fannie” mine became the town’s biggest employer, and in the 1890s its population of miners ranged from 3,000 to 6,000. Thanks to its remote location, Mogollon earned a reputation as one of the wildest mining towns in the West.

In the 1870s, Sergeant James C Cooney of Fort Bayard discovered a rich vein of gold in the Gila Mountains near what would become Mogollon. In 1889, miner John Eberle built the first cabin there after mines were established along Silver Creek, which runs through the town. A jail and post office opened in 1890, followed by the first school in 1892. During this boom, Mogollon absorbed the population of nearby Cooney and spurred growth in towns like Glenwood, Gila, and Cliff, thanks to their locations along the trail to the town. Between 1872 and 1873, the stagecoach from Mogollon to Silver City was robbed 23 times by the same outlaw, who was eventually caught by Wells Fargo agents.

In 1909, Mogollon had a population of around 2,000. That year, the town boasted five saloons, two restaurants, four general stores, two hotels, and several brothels spread across two red-light districts. It was also home to a photographer, the Midway Theatre, an ice maker, and a bakery. The Silver City and Mogollon Stage Line ran daily, transporting passengers, freight, and gold and silver bullion over the 80-mile trip between the towns in nearly 15 hours. By 1915, Mogollon had a monthly payroll of $75,000 and a population of 1,500, complete with electricity, water, and telephone service. The local school educated around 300 students.

From its early days, Mogollon faced a string of devastating fires and floods. The first major fire in 1894 destroyed most of the wooden buildings, with more fires striking in 1904, 1910, 1915, and 1942. Each time, residents quickly rebuilt, increasingly using stone and adobe. Floods also tore through Silver Creek in 1894, 1896, 1899, and 1914, sweeping away mine tailings, debris, bridges, homes, and even lives.

More than 20 mines sprang up in the Mogollon area, and by 1914 the district had produced around $1.5 million in gold and silver…about 40% of New Mexico’s precious metals that year. Over their lifetime, the Mogollon Mountains yielded more than 18 million ounces of silver, making up a quarter of the state’s total production. Nearly $20 million worth of gold, silver, and copper was extracted, with silver making up about two-thirds of the total. Many saw Silver City mainly as a railhead for Mogollon’s eight-team freight wagons loaded with gold and silver ore.

As the ore grade declined, so did profits, and by 1930 the population had dropped to around 200. By 1940, mining activity had slowed significantly. The Fanny Mill was the only local facility processing ore in Mogollon, so when the Fanny mines closed in 1942, the others that had sent their ore there also shut down. There was a brief, modest resurgence during World War II, as idle mines across the country began producing minerals and precious metals to support the wartime manufacturing boom. Mining has been inactive ever since. In 1973, the Italian Western “My Name is Nobody,” starring Henry Fonda and Terence Hill, was filmed in Mogollon. As part of the movie set, a saloon and general store were built in the town.

Advancements in refining technology have sparked attempts to restart mining operations. In the 1980s, Challenge Mining Company tested ore concentrations, but the project never progressed. By 2023, Canadian mineral exploration firm Summa Silver had acquired 7,730 acres of claims in the Mogollon mining district. Tests revealed high-grade ore, and the company hopes to start mining based on future results. Today, the town is home to several private residences and a few small businesses, including the Silver Creek Inn, which occupies the historic Mogollon House, built by Frank Lauderbaugh in 1885. In 1987, the entire Mogollon community was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Fannie Hill Mill and Company Town Historic District, recognized for its industrial significance and architectural significance from 1875 to 1949.

Marshal Ferdinand Foch is often credited with the phrase “twenty-year armistice,” reflecting his view that the Treaty of Versailles was not a true peace agreement, but a temporary pause likely to last only twenty years before sparking another war. A French officer who became Supreme Allied Commander in March 1918, Foch led the Allies to their final hard-won victory over the Central Powers in World War I. After four years of devastating conflict, the need for peace was deeply felt across Europe’s exhausted major powers. While the defeated Germans resisted the treaty’s harsh terms, Foch believed they were far too lenient. When the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, he reportedly said, “This is not peace. It is an armistice for twenty years,” convinced it would fail to prevent future hostilities.

Ferdinand Foch was born on October 2, 1851, in Tarbes, a town in the Hautes-Pyrénées region of southwestern France, into a humble, devout, middle-class Catholic family. His surname reflected his father’s roots, a civil servant from Valentine, a village in Haute-Garonne. From an early age, he enjoyed studying and working, had a strong fascination with military history and strategy, and eagerly read military literature.

Foch’s warning turned out to be spot-on, predicting the start of World War II just over twenty years later, on September 1, 1939, when Germany invaded Poland. He believed the Treaty of Versailles failed to fully dismantle Germany’s military or address deep-rooted tensions in Europe. Many see the years between the wars as a “twenty-year armistice,” with unresolved issues from World War I quietly brewing until they erupted again. This perspective suggests the interwar period wasn’t true peace, just a short break before the next big conflict. Foch’s doubts about the treaty highlighted the need for stricter measures to ensure lasting peace—a warning that proved all too accurate when war broke out almost exactly two decades later. His foresight underscores how hard it is to create enduring peace without addressing the root causes of conflict.

Foch died on March 20, 1929 and was laid to rest in Les Invalides, alongside Napoleon and other distinguished French soldiers and officers. Initially, he was buried in the crypt of the Saint-Louis Church, known as the Caveau des Gouverneurs. In 1937, his remains were transferred to an impressive tomb designed by Paul Landowski, inspired by the 15th-century tomb of Philippe Pot, located in the northeastern chapel (Chapelle Saint-Ambroise) of the Dome Church.

On July 23, 2026, my youngest grandniece made her entrance into the world in Denver, Colorado. Her parents, Lacey and Chris Killinger wanted to honor Lacey’s mom, Alena Stevens, who had passed away on April 23, 2025, but Lacey knew that while her mom liked her name, it was a name that was almost always mispronounced, so instead of spelling it Alena, they named their sweet baby girl Alayna Grace Killinger. The name is absolutely perfect for this sweet little princess of a girl. Lacey’s aunts, her mom’s sisters, Cheryl Masterson, Caryn Schulenberg, Caryl Reed, and Allyn Hadlock could not be more pleased with the name. This sweet “namesake with a twist” is such a beautiful way to honor our precious sister.

Alayna is like her grandmother in a couple of ways that are quite obvious. Alayna inherited her hair color from her grandmother, although her daddy might have had something to do with that too. Chris’ hair is definitely darker than Alena’s was. Alayna’s hair is dark and she has quite a bit of it. It is quite beautiful, and if it grows in as thick as dark hair often does, it will be lovely. Another surprise was the fact that Alayna’s nails look perfectly manicured. Just like her grandmother and her mommy she simply couldn’t go out without manicured nails…even if it is just to a hospital nursery. Her hands and nails looked just beautiful when she was born. I know that my sister is so pleased with the beautiful little hands of her granddaughter.

Alayna is such a sweet baby girl. She hardly ever makes a fuss and absolutely loves to cuddle. There is nothing quite so sweet as a beautiful baby girl that just cuddles right up to you and goes to sleep. Her siblings, Brooklyn and Jaxon are so excited to meet her, and I know she will cuddle right up to them too. Her grandpa, Mike Stevens, Aunt Michelle and Uncle Matt, as well as Uncle Garrett and Aunt Kayla and their kids, are also excited to get to know her. Alayna knows that she is so very loved, and that goes a long way toward how comfortable a baby is. It isn’t really surprising that Alayna is such a peaceful baby, because her mom and dad are also very calm people. The reality is that very often, calm parents produce a calm baby.

Alayna has such a sweet smile, and she loves to cuddle with her parents. She is a good sleeper too, and of course, her favorite sleeping position is in her mother’s arms. Alayna enjoys bathtime, as does her mom. Alayna just relaxes and grins at the warmth and the grooming. She does have lots of hair, and her mom is a cosmetologist, so having her hair brushed and styled is going to be a big part of her future. That makes me jealous, because I love having my hair brushed, as do most of the people in our family. There is just something about having someone run a brush or their fingers through your hair. It is so relaxing…and Alayna loves it. Babies need that loving touch. Alayna is such a sweet baby girl, and I can’t wait to get to know her and watch her grow. Welcome to the world Alayna Grace!! We love you so much!!

My niece, Lindsay Moore has had a busy year. Lindsay has been a Christian all her life, and her walk with the Lord grows stronger every day. A while back she started a podcast called “A New Way To Live” and it has been very successful. She still does her podcast on a weekly basis and the Lord is seeing to it that it reaches more and more people all the time. Her teachings are very anointed, and she loves being a voice for what the Lord wants to say. A while back, Lindsay studied for and became a licensed minister in the Four Square Church. She and her family have attended Harvest Church since they moved to Laramie, and they feel very much at home there.

She is a Girl Scout Leader for her daughter, Mackenzie’s troop and they recently went to Colorado Springs for an overnight trip to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. They got to tour the zoo in the evening and spent the night on site. The girls had a great time, and all the other mothers went along so it was a fun experience. Lindsay and Mackenzie are very close…best friends all the way, so this trip was almost like a friends’ trip. The Girl Scouts get to do so many more fun things than when I was a girl. For us, a sleepover at the Girl Scout House was about as good as it got. To spend the night in a museum would have been epic for sure, I think that was probably cool, even for the parents.

Shannon (Lindsay’s husband), Lindsay and Mackenzie went to San Antonio, Texas for spring break and had a really great time. They also went down to Galveston/Corpus Christi area. The whole Hadlock family, which is Lindsay’s family, went to the Big Horns and then over to Cooke City for a week of camping and 4 wheeling. It was a really great time. Lindsay loves going out of cell phone range so she can enjoy camping with her family without phones or other devices that can steal time and attention from each other. This trip was the perfect place for that! She loves her family and she is very blessed! Today is Lindsay’s birthday. Happy birthday Lindsay!! Have a great day!! We love you!!

As my father-in-law, Walt Schulenberg’s birthday came around this year, I found myself thinking a lot about the man who was like a second dad to me for 40 years before his passing. Like with my parents, it’s still hard to believe he’s gone, even though it’s been over four years now. There are so many things I miss about him, especially his smile. Whenever we visited, he was always genuinely happy to see us, and his smile said it all. He had a great sense of humor, loved to laugh, and was a skilled teaser—something we bonded over since I come from a family of teasers too. In his later years, I had the privilege of caring for him, and it truly was a blessing to spend that time together. We often talked about family history, and he helped me fill in many gaps on that side of the family. We also just talked about life and the past. Those were such sweet times.

My father-in-law was always ready to pitch in and lend a hand. He worked tirelessly until the job was finished. I often called him a workaholic, and I wasn’t exaggerating or wrong. He passed that same work ethic on to his children, all of whom are dedicated workers. His philosophy was simple: work hard until the job is done and done right. If something was worth doing, it was worth doing well. He carried that mindset through every job he held over the years, and each workplace was sorry to see him go.

He worked hard, but his family was the most important part of his life. They were always his top priority. He adored every child, grandchild, and great-grandchild with all his heart. He made toys for them, played games, and let them “help” with his projects at home, teaching them along the way. Every one of the kids and grandkids had a turn working with Grandpa, and they loved it. He never made them feel like they were in the way. Of course, their favorite times were spent just playing with him…what child wouldn’t love that? He was a loving father and grandfather to all the children and grandchildren, as well as to his sons-in-law and daughters-in-law. He was a good man, and I feel privileged to have known him. Today would have been my father-in-law’s 97th birthday, and I wish he were here so we could celebrate. Happy birthday in Heaven, Dad. We love and miss you deeply.

My grandniece, Aurora Hadlock is an amazing girl. She is very excited for school to start and equally excited about her classes. Many of her classes this year are Advanced classes. She works very hard and already has a clear idea of where she is headed. Aurora wants to be a meteorologist, and she’s excited to be working on tangible goals to get her to her career. She plans to attend the University of Wyoming after high school to major in meteorology, as well as English as she plans to be a book editor should the need for a career change ever occur…or as something to do in the interim until she can start as a meteorologist. Aurora is also taking guitar and French again and is thrilled about it. The guitar and music in general runs in the Hadlock family, so she comes by that naturally.

Aurora also comes from a camping family, and she still very much loves it. Her parents, Ryan and Chelsea Hadlock have taken her camping several times this year and the Big Horn Mountains are still the favorite. They also took her to Yellowstone National Park for the first time this year too, and she really loved that. Her brother Ethan is working now, so he doesn’t always get to go with them. Aurora is trying to cherish every moment with her brother, because he plans to move out after he finishes high school, and she knows that she will miss him so very much. She is already lamenting the loss, every now and then, of their time together. The siblings have always been very close. Her parents always reassure her, that she can still hang out with him and have their longs talks, even if he moves out. It’s very sweet.

Aurora is growing up in so many ways. She got her first pro haircut this year, complete with curtain bangs! She also loves the glasses she got last year. She still loves the “vintage music experience” and now has quite a collection of cassettes and CDs. She’s been helping her mom to take care of baby Tayla when Chelsea watches her a couple times a week and really loves her newest baby cousin. While she is maturing very quickly, she still always picks quirky themes for her friend party, and this year is tornadoes. Somehow, given her career choice, that really isn’t surprising. She’s planning on putting up a small picture of Glen Powell as a nod to Twisters, which is one of her favorite movies. It’s pretty funny. She still loves going to the movies every chance she gets. She also went to a local-to-Cheyenne production of The Newsies last year with her aunt, Jessi Sawdon and cousin Addie Sawdon, as her present from them. This year Jessi is taking her to Denver to see a production of The Outsiders! It’s shaping up to be a great year. Today is Aurora’s 15th birthday. I’m sure her drivers permit is the next big step in her life. Happy birthday Aurora!! Have a great day!! We love you!!

Whenever a group wants to change something in their nation, controversy is inevitable. No matter the nature of the change, whether it’s good or bad for the country, there will always be opposition. The Women’s Suffrage movement was no exception. For more than seventy years, women fought for the right to vote. Since the founding of the United States, they had been excluded from voting, likely because women were seen as fragile and in need of protection. Many men didn’t believe women could grasp politics, war, or government issues, thinking they were too delicate. The reality was that women were actually thought of as less intelligent than men. This view was widely accepted by women themselves, probably drilled in over years of being treated as less than intelligent. That is, until around 1849 to 1873 years after America gained independence from Great Britain…when some began to realize they were just as smart as men and deserved the right to vote. They were right, of course, but their victory came only after a long, tough struggle. For years, women fighting for suffrage were seen as bold, unrefined, and even improper. Proper women were told to stay away from them. Men heckled them, and society often considered them somewhat trashy.

I can’t say for sure what finally tipped the scales in favor of women’s right to vote, but it might have been a case of the “squeaky wheel getting the oil.” Possibly, the women simply protested the unfairness of being labeled as less intelligent, forcing the men to hear their cries of “I have a mind!!” Like anything worth fighting for, you keep going until you win or until there’s no hope left. For women in the United States, that fight was ultimately won. Change can be hard to accept, especially when we believe it’s morally wrong, and no matter the time or place, someone will always oppose a new idea. Some battles are worth winning, others maybe not, but once an idea becomes law, it usually stays unless changed later. Thankfully, women’s right to vote was never repealed, and it remains a right forever. Of course, they would have a hard time reversing that particular law.

On August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote, was officially added to the United States Constitution by Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby. From that moment on, women had the indisputable right to vote. For those of us born after 1920, it’s hard to grasp just how monumental that change was. It transformed politics, government, and campaigning in lasting ways. No longer were women thought less intelligent. Women not only gained the right to vote but also the opportunity to run for office…a concept that’s sparked discussion ever since. Many thought the decisions made in office were too much for women.

My grandniece, Adelaide “Addi” Sawdon is growing up so fast I can’t believe it. Addi started 5th grade yesterday. Her last year of elementary school!! Addi is her mama, Jessi Sawdon’s mini-me in every way, although she gets a lot of her wit and sense of humor from her dad, Jason Sawdon too. Nevertheless, when it comes to her looks, Addi gets it from her mom. While Addi might have a joking side to her, she also has a sweet and very kind side to her too. She is very kind and sweet to her friends and they all like her very much. Addi is also very well behaved, and that makes her teachers very pleased with her too.

Addi is good at just about anything she puts her mind to. She had a busy summer thus year. She did a soccer camp, a camp at the college, and a family trip to Michigan and Hocking Hills Ohio with her dad’s family. Then, she took a week to do a Mystery Missions camp for girl scouts at Camp Sacajawea. Addi has a great group of friends from school, and the good news is they all live in her neighborhood, so they rode bikes from house to house all summer and played until dark. They had a blast. There is nothing better that lots of friends in the neighborhood!! Addi also got a new cousin this year and she loves to hold little Tayla Allyn Thompson and be with all of her cousins on both sides of the family. Addi has been blessed with many cousins on both sides, and when she sees them they all have a great time.

Addi is starting to be more responsible and independent, which is another example of how much she is growing up. Nevertheless, her mom loves that Addi still wants to snuggle with her parents and spend time with them. They would hate to lose that little girl stage so completely, just yet. It will come, but hopefully not too soon. She is such a joy and has a sweet heart that loves the Lord. She’s funny and incredibly smart. Addi is a blessing to all who know her. Her parents feel very blessed to be with her and watch her grow. Today is Addi’s 10th birthday!! Happy birthday Addi!! Have a great day!! We love you!!

My nephew, Steve Spethman is a very busy man. He is always working on something. He has made knives in his forge; made metal art out of the strangest things and turned them into amazing things; and built fence with the help of his kids, Xander, Zack, Isaac, and Aleesia. Steve is a really handy guy and his kids have learned so much from him. Steve is an excellent teacher, and his kids have been the beneficiaries of that ability. Steve is the kind of guy who can handle just about any job you throw his way. With broad shoulders and strong, muscular arms, he’s always ready to take on the heavy lifting—something the family has come to value more than once.

Steve loves to cook, and he is very, very good at it. A family favorite is his Green Chili, but I have never tasted anything Steve makes that wasn’t delicious. He makes excellent Bacon Knots and other snack items for various parties. I’m not sure where he got his cooking talent, but wherever it was, they taught him well. His mom, Marie Spethman worked in food service, so my guess is that she is the one who showed him all these great dishes, and from there, he created his own ideas too. Steve is creative, so he just cooks things to taste, and the things he makes are wonderful.

Steve got a German Shepherd dog, and he is totally in love with her. She is the only dog he has ever personally owned. She is his dog…even though she loves Jenny a lot too. There is nothing quite like having an animal that is totally devoted to you, and that is exactly what Steve finally has. I think it must make him feel like a little kid again. I don’t know if he had pets as a kid, but since marrying Jenny, he has had a variety of pets, but not one that really adopted him for her own. That is exactly what has happened here. Steve doesn’t mind having a dog that thinks she is a “mother hen” one bit. In fact, the idea makes him quite happy. Today is Steve’s birthday!! Happy birthday Steve!! Have a great day!! We love you!!