Monthly Archives: July 2025
On July 8, 1951, the city of Paris, the capital city of France, celebrated its 2,000th birthday. While 2,000 is an amazing feat, the reality is that Paris was probably much older than that. In fact, it is believed that the “City of Lights” was most likely founded around 250 BC. If we accept the 2,000-year mark in 1951, the city would then be 2,074 today. If we accept the “roughly” 250 BC date, then Paris would be 2,275 today.
The history of Paris dates back to around 250 BC, when the Gallic tribe known as the Parisii settled on an island in the Seine River, now called Île de la Cité. By 52 BC, the Romans, led by Julius Caesar, had taken control of the area and named it Lutetia, meaning “midwater dwelling” in Latin. Over time, the settlement expanded to both banks of the Seine, and the name Lutetia was replaced with “Paris.” In 987 AD, Paris became the capital of France. As the city developed, the Left Bank became known as the intellectual hub, while the Right Bank was known as the business district.
Paris became more like the city we know today, when during the French Renaissance period, from the late 15th century to the early 17th century, it became a center of art, architecture, and science. In the mid-1800s, Napoleon III enlisted the help of civic planner Georges-Eugène Haussmann to modernize Paris. Haussmann’s designs transformed the city with wide, tree-lined boulevards, expansive public parks, a modern sewer system, and other infrastructure projects. Paris continued to flourish as a major center for arts and culture. The French Impressionist movement emerged In the 1860s, showcasing the works of Paris-based artists like Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir.
Currently, Paris is home to around 2 million residents, with an additional 10 million people living in the surrounding metropolitan area. The city continues to shine as a hub for food, fashion, commerce, and culture. 
It remains one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, famous for landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, which was built in 1889 to mark the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution, the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs-Elysees, Notre Dame Cathedral, built in 1163, Luxembourg Gardens, and the Louvre Museum, where Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” is displayed.
As hard as it is for any of us to believe, my grandniece, Taylor Masterson is all grown up. As of today, she is 18 years old, and as her sister, Raelynn says, she’s a “full adult” now. Raelynn says, “I really couldn’t be more proud of who Taylor is becoming.” Taylor is happy and working at Starbucks now. She is also learning to be her own best advocate, making sure that she has the things she needs and that people don’t step on her. Taylor spent much of her young life being shy, and maybe, a little insecure, but now, her voice keeps getting more and more confident. Raelynn tells me, “She’s going from the little kid who had trouble talking, who had trouble speaking out, to this adult who loves so deeply, and speaks her mind, it almost feels unreal. She’s creating boundaries and making sure they stick.”
Taylor has a long-time best friend named Christian. When they were 14, they spent most of their time playing board games on the porch, but these days, they are going out and being active in the world more often. Taylor is becoming a very responsible adult. She insists on buying her own things when she has the money. Even for dentist or doctor appointments when her parents, Rob and Dustie Masterson say it’s fine. She even called the dentist all on her own and made her own appointment! Taylor is doing quite well at the adulting thing, I think.
Taylor never fails to tell Raelynn when she is getting too worked up. She is learning to be a calming effect of her sister and others around her. Raelynn has some anxiety issues, and Taylor knows how to help. Raelynn says, “If it’s a particularly bad day she’ll tell me to go take a nap, or bring me a snack, or tell me to drink some water and just breathe. Mom and dad do that as well, but Taylor in particular is the one usually on my case about it.”
Taylor’s mom, Dustie says, “Taylor is one of the most sensitive and caring people that I know. People say that they’ll give you the shirt off their back and some people may, but most people really don’t. With Taylor, whether it’s a detriment to her or not she will give you whatever you need or want. No matter how much it hurts.” Dustie knows her daughter well. She knows that Taylor is introverted and introspective. Dustie says, “I think that it’s important to mention most people anymore are more about ‘look at me look at me’ but in a lot of ways, 
Taylor reminds me of me she’d rather be behind the scenes getting it done with nobody being the wiser as to who got it done.” Very well said, Dustie!!
For Dustie, this birthday is particularly hard, because Taylor is the baby of the family, and now she’s an adult. All of Dustie and Rob’s kids are adults now. It just feels strange for a parent. Taylor was a rainbow baby, arriving after a loss. She helped her mom heal when she was baby and she’ll probably never know how much. She’s such a loving kind of soul and Dustie just wishes more people could see that that. I think Dustie and Raelynn told the world. Oh, and Taylor’s favorite non-human is her cat, Axel, whom she loves with all her heart. Today is Taylor’s 18th birthday. Happy birthday Taylor!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
Every year, my husband, Bob Schulenberg and I take a week and head to the Black Hills over the week of the Independence Day holiday. It is a week of relaxation and hiking. One of our favorite hikes starts at the Calumet Trailhead on Sheridan Lake. It winds around the lake giving us incredible views from far above the water. One year, we saw a group of Turkey Vultures sitting in the trees. These are incredibly big birds, that resemble turkeys a little bit, and you tend to wonder how they are able to fly at all…they are so big. The trail also has Chipmunks, Downy Woodpeckers, and many other birds.
At the far end of the trail, you cross over an earthen dam, to the opposite side of the lake, where there are a 
set of stone stairs and other stone structures. The trail then winds down to a dam and at some point, winds on to points unknown…at least to us. That part of the trail is steep and almost more of a rock-climbing event…not the kind of trail we like to hike. The trail actually splits of at a couple of different points and ends up quite far from the trail we are hiking on. Maybe, someday we will take one of those spurs and see where it takes us. The Black Hills is full of trails that cross each other and even share the same space for a short distance.
Our all-time favorite trail in the Black Hills, however, is the trail to Black Elk Peak (we always knew it as Harney Peak). I won’t go into my thoughts on the name change, because it won’t do any good anyway. The hike to 
Harney Peak was a difficult one. It takes three hours one way, but it was worth every step. The view from the top is absolutely amazing. You can see five states from up there. The chipmunks up there are really friendly, or they like to beg for some of your lunch. Either way, I have had them com right up to me to get a chip and even climb over my leg like it wasn’t attached to a human, supposedly their enemy. We haven’t been able to hike Harney Peak for a number of years now, and I really miss it. Nevertheless, our trips to the Black Hills will always be a treasured time for Bob and me.
During World War II, Winston Churchill had little choice but to focus all of his attention on winning the war against Hitler. While that was a necessary situation, the people of England, as people will do, felt like he was ignoring their struggles. The reality is that if he hadn’t done things the way he did, they would have been living in a very different England, more likely known as part of Germany. Winston Churchill was Prime Minister in the United Kingdom from May 10, 1940, to July 26, 1945, when he was replaced with Clement Attlee, who was more focused on social services and free services, which came about because the people were feeling put out and broke during the war years.
The reasons for Churchill’s loss in the 1945 election are listed as 1. Churchill’s loss of focus on people’s mood as he concentrated solely on winning the war; 2. The Labour 
Party’s promise of social reforms that Churchill delayed, causing a gain of public support in post-war Britain; and 3. The Labour Party’s strong messages and the Tories’ past failures. These things all shifted votes away from Churchill’s war successes. Churchill really had no other choice, but to do what he did, but people get tired of war and the hardships that can come with it. They don’t see the reasons that these things are necessary.
The Labour Party, led by Attlee, achieved a massive victory in the 1945 general election with their post-war recovery agenda. They took over a nation nearly bankrupt after World War II, facing shortages in food, housing, and resources. Attlee formed the first Labour majority government, aiming to ensure full employment, a mixed economy, and expanded state-provided social services. They nationalized public utilities and major industries, introduced key social reforms like the National Insurance Act 1946 and National Assistance Act 1948, established the NHS in 1948, and increased subsidies for council housing. The government also reformed trade union laws, working conditions, and children’s services, created National Parks, passed the New Towns Act 
1946, and set up town and country planning. In foreign policy, Attlee focused on decolonization, overseeing the partition of India (1947), the independence of Burma and Ceylon, and the end of British mandates in Palestine and Transjordan. Attlee and Ernest Bevin urged the U.S. to play a strong role in the Cold War, supported the Marshall Plan to rebuild Western Europe, and helped establish NATO in 1949 to counter the Soviet bloc. After narrowly winning the 1950 election, Attlee sent British troops to support South Korea in the Korean War.
By 1951, the Labor Party and Attlee were losing their support from the people. Socialist policies really don’t work, even though they sound good at first. In the election, Winston Churchill was returned to the office of Prime Minister. The people now understood that he was always the best choice for that office. Churchill held the office until April 5, 1955, when he retired. He was replaced by Anthony Eden.
Independence Day is always a special day for those of us who are patriots, but under some presidents, it is much better than under other presidents. This year, we have a wonderful president in charge. Yes, I’m a conservative, a patriot, and I’m a Trumper!! And…yes, I am unapologetic about it. I was in Keystone, South Dakota when President Trump came to Mount Rushmore, and I would have been inside, if I could have won the lottery on the tickets. That would have been a fantastic moment. Either way, the fireworks at Mount Rushmore that year were awesome. The reality is that Independence Day is a day for patriots…the ones who love this country and the conservative values the United States has always stood for. We will continue to fight for the United States, now and forever.
My husband, Bob and I love to spend the Independence Day week in the Black Hills, and almost always do. In fact, I can only think of one year that we haven’t in decades. The fireworks display in Custer, South Dakota is amazing. The whole show is very patriotic, and everyone has a great time. The event takes place on Pageant Hill, and people get there early. Music is played for a couple of hours while waiting for it to get dark enough for the main event…the fireworks display. Of course, the real meaning of the fireworks display is to remind us of the battles that took place to win our freedom for the British during the Revolutionary War. People think of Independence Day as one big party, there is a much deeper meaning to it.
Nevertheless, we can celebrate this day, because with the battles that took place to win our freedom, came the celebration when we won our freedom. That is a cause for celebration, and it is a reason to continue to fight 
against those who are trying to change the United States from the dream our forefathers had in mind for this nation. We have to protect the values they set for us, the protections they put in place, and the Constitution we live by. These things are as worth fighting for as our freedom from British rule was in 1776. Happy birthday to the United States!! Happy Independence Day everyone!!
My grandnephew, Lucas Iverson was born with Down Syndrome, but that has not kept him from becoming a great young man. Like any child with Down Syndrome, Lucas faces life challenges, including physical, health, and developmental challenges. Nevertheless, he faces them with determination and a great smile. No matter what is going on in his life, Lucas always has that great smile. It’s hard for me to believe that Lucas is a teenager now. This past school year was a good one. Lucas was finally able to make it to school for five days a week without being sick. That is a great victory for a kid who has fought illness as a regular course of daily life.
His teenage and pre-teen years have been spent growing into his own skin, getting dressed by himself…and eating lots of his favorite fruit…bananas. He has really been working his way into being a teenager…something he has looked forward to being for a long time. While he is growing into being a teenager, he still really appreciates his stuffed animals. He is enjoying the summer, relaxing and reading. His button books are a big hit. Lucas is big brother to sisters, Zoey and Alicen, and he loves them both very much. The girls love their brother very much too, and while they understand his challenges, they still think of him as just their goofy brother, and while he is mostly a more serious teenager, he does have that goofy side. Occasionally he has a little spout of funny misbehaving, such as throwing cat food in 
his mom, Cassie Franklin’s plants. Plants need food too, I guess. Hahahaha!!
Lucas has been in Special Olympics bowling for over a year now. Last year, Lucas took first place. They did a lot of practicing this year, and Lucas is hoping to hold on to his record from last year and be the champion again this year. He seems to be a natural bowler, and he has a great time with his Special Olympics teammates and coaches. Lucas is a great kid, and he is really coming into his own in so many ways. We are so proud of all his accomplishments. Keep up the good work, Lucas!! Today is Lucas’ 14th birthday. Happy birthday Lucas!! Have a great day!! We love you!
This birthday, and the days leading up to it, have been unusual for my niece, Chelsea Hadlock. A few days before Chelsea was to be a bridesmaid in her sister-in-law, Kellie Thompson’s wedding, Chelsea stepped off of a curb wrong and rolled her ankle. She thought it was just a sprain, but the longer it went and the more painful it became, the more she suspected that might actually be broken. Nevertheless, ever the one to persevere, Chelsea pulled off her bridesmaid duties with grace and style…and crutches. Chelsea is pretty resourceful and determined to succeed, so pushing through the pain to make sure her part in Kellie’s wedding went smoothly, is nothing less than expected. The good news is that when she had it looked at, they told her that it was only a sprain, and just to keep on doing what she is already doing!! Praise God!!
This summer has found Chelsea and her family doing a bit of camping, which is an activity. They are getting ready to go to the Big Horns with Ryan’s parents, Allyn and Chris Hadlock, and his sister and brother-in-law, Lindsay and Shannon Moore and their daughter Mackenzie. They are all looking forward to a relaxing time after 
the busy activity of the wedding. Chelsea and Ryan’s son, Ethan will not be going this trip, because he has to work. I don’t know for sure, but it is my guess that this will be the first camping trip they take without Ethan. Ryan and Chelsea love camping and have been taking regular trips throughout their 17-year marriage, so I know they are really looking forward to this trip, even with Chelsea’s crutches, which don’t always mix well with camping on a mountain. Nevertheless, camping often includes lots of sitting around the camp site and around the campfire, so a little ice and a place to put her foot up will be just the ticket for Chelsea. And if they wait on her for her birthday…well, that’s cool too.
Chelsea has been such a perfect fit in the Hadlock family, and they all love her very much. She is really more like Chris and Allyn’s daughter that daughter-in-law, and Ryan’s sisters, Jessi Sawdon, Lindsay Moore, and Kellie Thompson all agree that she is their sister, not sister-in-law. They all love her very much and they are all 
a close family, that Chelsea is a perfect fit for too. Chelsea has a beautiful singing voice and often sings as a backup singer at our church. She loves the Lord and makes sure that her family knows Him too. Chelsea has grown spiritually so much over the 17 years that she has been a part of our family, and we are all very proud of her. She has a sweet, loving heart that has endeared her to all of us. We all feel blessed to have Chelsea in our family. Today is Chelsea’s birthday. Happy birthday Chelsea!! Have a great day and a great camping trip!! We love you!!
Sometimes, even the smallest of towns can find themselves the center of attention of a nation or even the whole world. Nevertheless, I seriously doubt if tiny little Medicine Bow, Wyoming thought it would amount to all that. At its peak in 1990, Medicine Bow had a population of 408. The lowest population was a stable 238 between 2000 and 2023. With these small numbers, I’m sure that Medicine Bow, while loyal to its small-town vibe and to it population, never thought it would be a well-known place.
So, how did Medicine Bow get its “15 minutes of fame” moment? It wasn’t anything Medicine Bow did, but rather it was thrust upon the small town. In February 1931, advances in radio technology reached tiny Medicine Bow allowing pilots to fly coast to coast regardless of weather conditions. How could such a tiny place become such a big deal for the world of aviation? It was actually a surprise to many. While its significance went largely unrecognized at the time, historians now compare the event to the of the golden spike that marked the completion of the transcontinental railroad 62 years earlier.
The completion of the Medicine Bow low-frequency radio signal, linking the radio beams from Springs and Cheyenne, Wyoming, completed the route from San Francisco to New York. This advancement enabled pilots to traverse the country with unprecedented safety and efficiency. The achievement marked a transformation for aviation and the trans airmail system, paving the way for the airlines that we all rely on today. Prior to the radio advances, there were flights, but it was more difficult for pilots to find their way across the country. During 
those years, the railroad had played a part in navigation. From the air, early U.S. Mail pilots followed the tracks, referring to them as “the iron compass.” Frequently, mail was transported part of the way by airplanes and then transferred to trains for land-based delivery. A system of beacons and concrete arrows, visible from the air, was installed to guide the pilots day and night so-called contact flying.
Transcontinental airmail originated during World War I, as a result of an initiative by U.S. Post Office executives. The war had spurred significant progress in aircraft design and reliability, so airmail was the next logical step. But flying even over short distances with unreliable compasses, inadequate maps, and no ground-based navigational aids, caused pilots to get lost often. Contact flying helped, but night flight or flying during storms was still dangerous. Despite the hazards, the mail got through, and in fact, the completion rate gradually improved to 95 percent or better. By 1921, the U.S. Airmail Service had established its role as a daytime-only operation between New York and San Francisco, commonly known as Columbia Route or the T Route. Mail planes would land each evening at designated locations, where the mail was transferred to a waiting train for further transport. In the morning, another plane would retrieve the mail to continue the journey. This leapfrogging system provoked criticism from congressional appropriation committees and disdain from rail officials, as it offered only a negligible commercial benefit.
With the threat of cancellation of the program by Congress, Colonel Paul Henderson, Second Assistant 
Postmaster General, decided to stage a daring night flight, to prove the value of the airmail program. So, on February 22, 1921, a daring night flight began, flying from coast to coast. Only one pilot got through. Jack Knight, who braved treacherous winter weather in a heroic night flight between North Platte and Chicago, succeeded in convincing congressional members of the value of the airmail system. That proved that something had to be done to make it safer for the pilots. So, they began to come up with ways to make night flight safer. The resulting “something” was the radio technology that was put in place when radio technology came to tiny Medicine Bow, Wyoming.
