Caryn
Standing on Mars, as the sunset radiates its final blue hues, one might wonder if humans will ever live there. Of course, it isn’t us that is standing there watching the strange-looking sunset, but one of the rovers placed there by NASA to explore the red planet. I find it odd to think that the red planet has a blue sunset, but that is definitely the case. The rovers have clearly shown that fact. Interesting as it is to see pictures of a blue sunset, our mind tells us that it could just as easily be Sci-Fi or AI. Still, the prospect of seeing it in person is infinitely remote. And living there is even more remote.
The air is not breathable. It is only about 1% of Earth’s atmospheric pressure 
and mostly toxic carbon dioxide. The water is frozen solid, buried beneath the soil or locked away in polar ice caps. The gravity is weaker than Earth’s, causing concern for its effect on human life. The fact is that nothing’s alive there anymore. There is no farmland, no trees, and no shield against dangerous cosmic rays, meaning a single day on Mars is like getting a constant chest X-ray. Even if these obstacles could be overcome, there is no equipment that would work to do the job. And ultimately, the cost to get to Mars is completely prohibitive. Every trip into space costs millions and setting up and running a colony on Mars would take an enormous amount of money too…likely more than the world currently has. We just don’t have the extra resources to overcome all the technical challenges and risks involved in building a settlement beyond Earth. Not to mention 
the cost of transporting those people back and forth from Mars to Earth as the need arises…meaning ongoing astronomical costs.
Still, if Mars is ever colonized, the people who move there will find some things in life to be very different than on Earth. The planet is covered in red dirt, and any plant life that grows there would be in a greenhouse, because plants could not grow outside. People can’t live outside either, so there would never be the opportunity to go outside for a walk…or for any other reason for that matter. And while a blue sunset might seem like a novel idea, I think the tradeoff for that blue sunset would be more than I would want to pay. I guess I’m not that much of an adventurer.
When I think of my husband’s aunt, Esther Hein, I am reminded of the relationship she had with my mother-in-law, her sister-in-law, Joan Schulenberg. These days they are both in Heaven, and I can just imagine them reminiscing about the old days. When Esther was a young girl, her family lived on a ranch in Montana. By that time, her brother, Walt Schulenberg (my father-in-law) was married and living in town. Montana winters can be harsh, making it tough for kids from rural areas to get to school. To solve that problem, from time to time, Esther stayed with her brother and his wife, my mother-in-law, Joann Schulenberg. As kids often are, she could be a bit rowdy and mischievous…not a bad child, just a kid. My mother-in-law, being a mom herself, had to maintain order, so 
whenever Esther did something she didn’t like, she’d say, “Don’t, Esther!” She might spank her own kids, but dealing with a sister-in-law was different, so her go-to discipline was just that phrase.
When my mother-in-law was older, she was afflicted with Alzheimer’s Disease, and eventually, it all clicked. I’d always known who she meant but never understood the connection to me. Esther and I had a good laugh about it, and I told Esther it was better for her to take the blame…after all, she was far away and didn’t have to deal with Mom actually being mad. As for me, I decided that if I ever did something my mother-in-law disapproved of, I’d just say, “Esther did it!” It figured it would be sure to keep me out of trouble…sorry about that Esther!!
I think Esther forgave me for my little fib when putting the blame on her. In fact, when I told her about it, she 
thought it was really funny. When you are dealing with an Alzheimer’s patient, each day is a new story, and you have to learn to “roll with the punches,” so to speak. When my mother-in-law said, “Don’t Esther,” it gave me an out, and as her main caregiver, sometimes I needed a way out of taking the blame of “bossing” her around. Alzheimer’s patients often need to be told when to go to bed, get up, when to eat, and most other activities as time goes by. Blaming Esther gave me “a way out” of being the bad guy.
During World War II, POWs taken prisoner by American troops often ended up in the United States, where they were “employed” in camps around the country. The men were often put to work farming and other types of labor that had been done by the soldiers in the past. At the end of the war, many of those prisoners wanted to stay in the states, because they had been treated so well by the Americans. This was in great contrast to the way Allied soldiers were treated in POW camps in Germany and Japan.
It was Christmastime in 1944, and three feet of snow had fallen on a small, isolated prisoner of war timber camp near Dubois, Wyoming. Because of the snow, the prisoners and Army camp staff were snowbound together for several days. If any of the staff had hoped to get home for Christmas with their families, they were quickly losing all hope of that happening. On Christmas Eve, POW Rudolf Ritschel noted, they all “celebrated together quite according to German custom. The men on both sides were deeply impressed by the entertainment presentations.” Sometimes situations, especially in wartime, can bring about a kind of camaraderie that would not have been possible if circumstances had been different.
Lieutenant Harold Harlamert, commander at Camp Dubois, provided details about the Christmas program the POWs put on in their mess hall, a program he said was “exceptionally good.” The prisoners arranged a special table for the American personnel and shared their Christmas treats and food with them. They even handed out typed, printed programs featuring acts and poems that playfully teased both fellow POWs and the US military members. Harlamert recalled a small orchestra playing Christmas music while the prisoners joined in singing German carols, with instruments provided by the YMCA. There was also a special Christmas tree lighting. The US Army camp interpreter, dressed as Santa Claus, pinned large “PW” letters on his back, which amused the 
prisoners since they were required to wear those letters on their own clothes. Among Santa’s gifts were letters recently arrived from the prisoners’ families in Germany, which brought them great joy. Those letters from home, especially at Christmas are vital to morale. In addition to the wonderful letters in 1944, the men at Camp Dubois, as with most American POW camps, were treated to a nice Christmas party too. It was a good day, in spite of the three feet of snow they had received.
The gifts are all purchased, the packages wrapped. Finally, the commercial side of the day is done. Now, at last, there’s time to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas…the birth of our Savior, Jesus. Too often we get so caught up in the holiday rush that we forget to think about the incredible gift God gave us. We were lost and headed for Hell, and He had no obligation to rescue us. We got ourselves into this mess, and He could have left us there. But God’s love isn’t like human love. We hold grudges, even toward those we love, but He chose to make a plan to change everything. He sent Jesus to Earth to live a sinless life as a human and then pay the ultimate price. And Jesus agreed to it!! For God’s plan to work, Jesus had to give His life so we could live under grace and one day receive Heaven instead of Hell. And Jesus agreed to that plan…knowing what He would have to go through and doing it anyway.
Too often, the birth of our Savior gets lost in the mix of Santa Claus and a big holiday dinner. It’s sad, especially considering the sacrifice He made for us. Imagine being God and choosing to take on human form…coming to Earth as a baby, helpless and dependent on others for every need. Then, though completely without sin, being captured, beaten, and nailed to a cross. In the only way it could work, Jesus was separated from God as He took all the sins of the world upon Himself. It had to be this way, because the worst consequence of sin is separation from God, which is far worse than Hell itself. God’s love is the most important thing we have. It is what saves us from the pit of Hell. 
There’s nothing wrong with the Christmas traditions we hold dear, and giving has always been at the heart of who God is. What matters most is that, amid all our customs, we remember to be grateful for the greatest gift ever given. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16), one of the most important verses in the greatest book ever written…the Bible. God is love, and when we sinned, He made a way for us to be reconciled to Him by sending a Savior named Jesus. That’s the true reason for the Christmas season. Merry Christmas and may God bless you all!
Some people open gifts on Christmas day, and some people open gifts on Christmas eve, while still others end up celebrating the holiday on a different day, due to scheduling issues. Our family had done all three of these types of celebration, and because one of our daughters lives in Washington with her family, we also have a long-distance celebration too. The reality is that life is what you make it, and celebrations are too. Flexibility is key. Rather than put a big guilt trip on people, work with them.
I think the most extreme celebration we had, was during Covid-19. My husband, Bob and I ended up having Covid on Thanksgiving. It was a bummer, but we figured, 
“better Thanksgiving, than Christmas” but that didn’t exactly work either. Our daughter Corrie Petersen and her husband, Kevin got it over Christmas, and to make matter worse, our family had a baby in our midst, so we didn’t want to cause her to get sick. So, that year ended up being the longest wait for Christmas since the days when Christmas had been banned in the mid-1600s. We were finally able to get together to celebrate Christmas on January 19th.
Some people celebrate Christmas Eve in a slightly different way, like my grandparents, George and Hattie Byer, who were married on that day in 1927. Marrying on Christmas Eve wasn’t all that uncommon in those days, especially if the families had moved out west. The families were together for the holiday, so sometimes it was 
decided to add a wedding to the festivities. Whatever the case may have been for my grandparents, their marriage started a family that boasts somewhere between 600 and 800 people now. We haven’t counted it in years, so I can’t be sure just how many of us there are, but we all feel blessed to com from such a wonderful couple, and it makes Christmas Eve just a little bit more special. Of course, Grandma and Grandpa Byer are in Heaven now, but they are fondly remembered on this their 98th anniversary. We love and miss them very much. Merry Christmas Eve everyone. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday, no matter how you celebrate.
Whether a big rancher or a small one, the loss of cattle to rustlers is a hit that no one can afford to just write off. The cattleman, John Chisum, born in Tennessee in 1824, knew that only too well. Chisum had moved to Paris, Texas with his family when he was eleven. As an adult, he worked for several years as construction contractor. In 1854, he decided to go into the cattle ranching business, and by 1875, Chisum was running more than 80,000 head of cattle near the Pecos River in Lincoln County, New Mexico. Such a massive herd spread over a remote area inevitably drew rustlers, and Chisum claimed to have lost nearly 10,000 head to thieves. As expected, he became very frustrated, so he teamed up with two other New Mexico cattle kings to take on the small cattlemen and merchants they suspected of the thefts. Their main targets were two Irishmen who owned a large general store, known as the House, in the town of Lincoln. Not only did the House support the rustlers and small ranchers Chisum despised, but it also secured most government contracts for supplying beef to Army posts and Indian Reservations, cutting into the big ranchers’ ability to sell cattle directly to these buyers at high profits.
In 1878, when a deputy sheriff working for the House killed one of Chisum’s allies, the Lincoln County War 
broke out. But the conflict was about more than just the death of his alley. It was a fight for economic and political dominance in the region. Chisum and other big ranchers turned their cowboys into gunslingers, including a likable young man named William Bonney, better known as Billy the Kid. Billy quickly became one of their most loyal and ruthless supporters, helping kill many of the House’s backers. When the House eventually won, Bonney asked Chisum for $500 for his deadly work. Chisum refused, and Billy retaliated by stealing his cattle and horses. Without the protection of Chisum and other powerful allies, Billy’s fate was sealed, and in 1881, his former friend Pat Garrett shot him dead.
After the Lincoln County War and the constant loss of cattle to rustlers and Native Americans, Chisum saw 
much of his wealth and influence slip away. Still, when he passed away in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, just three years after the war ended in 1881, his estate was valued at half a million dollars…a testament to the enormous fortune he had built. If he was worth 500,000 in 1881, after losing “much of his wealth,” one can only imagine how much he had been worth in his heyday. Chisum passed away on December 23, 1884, at the age of 60, from complications following surgery to remove a growth from his jaw. Unmarried, he left his $500,000 estate and ranches to his brothers, Pitzer and James. It was a sad ending to the life of a great cattleman.
England once had a restriction on Christmas that endured very nearly 400 years. This boycott authorized by the Puritan Parliament from 1647 to 1660 stemmed from Puritanical beliefs. The ban led to widespread public backlash and the eventual repeal of the ban. It all started during the English Nationwide conflict. During this time, the festival of Christmas was made unlawful and the people who took part in the celebrations were rebuffed. All types of Christmas festivity, including enriching, devouring, and present giving was banned and individuals who wouldn’t agree were fined or even detained. This boycott was in the end lifted, but it lastingly affected the English public’s disposition towards Christmas. Because of the pressure applied by the Puritans, in 1647, during the English Civil War, the Parliament declared Christmas illegal. The Puritans viewed Christmas as a time of excess and immorality, believing that it encouraged drinking, gambling, and other sinful behaviors. They sought to abolish festive celebrations, viewing them as contrary to their religious principles. As a result, all festivities associated with Christmas, including decorations, feasting, and gatherings, were prohibited. 
As you can imagine, the ban was met with significant public resistance. Many people continued to celebrate Christmas in defiance of the law, leading to riots and protests across the country. For instance, in Norwich, riots broke out, resulting in numerous casualties. The public’s discontent was evident as they hung holly and other decorations in protest against the restrictions. While Oliver Cromwell is often associated with the ban, it was Parliament that enacted the legislation. Cromwell, as Lord Protector, enforced stricter laws against Christmas celebrations, including patrols to prevent festive gatherings. Cromwell, born on April 25, 1599, was an English statesman, politician, and soldier, widely regarded as one of the most important figures in British history. He came to prominence during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, initially as a senior commander in the Parliamentarian army and later as a politician. Cromwell was one of the leading advocates of the execution of Charles I in 
January of 1649, which led to the establishment of the Commonwealth of England.
The ban proved to be deeply unpopular, and the public’s desire to celebrate Christmas persisted despite the legal restrictions. Amazingly, the ban on Christmas remained in place until the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660. King Charles II, upon his return to power, reinstated Christmas celebrations, marking the end of the Puritanical restrictions. This reinstatement helped to revive the festive spirit associated with Christmas in England. Christmas was banned in America from 1659 to 1681 for the same reasons.
My great grandniece, Izabella Harman is ten today, and that just shocks me. My first thought is that she is getting so big…so grown up, and she is, but when I saw the picture of Izabella with her Great Dane-Lab mix dog, Samson, who is one of four family dogs, well, it was obvious that while she is growing up, she isn’t exactly big. Izabella, whom I normally call Belle, although I don’t know if she still likes that name or not, is her mother, Melanie’s mini-me. Maybe it was just me, but I didn’t realize that when she was little. Nevertheless, the older she gets, the more obvious it becomes.
Aside from looking just like her mom, Belle is very much her own person. She is always so sweet and helpful with everything! Known, at least in her own family, for her “sass” one might say that it has definitely become more noticeable as she’s gotten older. She and her sister, Alice and 
brother, Jaxx share a great bond, even though they might fight like siblings do. They’re always together playing some strange game. They have great imaginations. From the bedroom, their parents can hear their laughter, and Belle’s is always the loudest. She has a great sense of humor, but if anyone gets hurt, she’s the first to help, and the first to tell if someone does something they shouldn’t. I’m sure her siblings would say that can be good or bad, depending on who ends up in trouble.
Belle is very much a princess, but she’s not afraid to get her hands dirty when helping Dad work on cars or 
pitching in wherever needed. She’s a “girly girl” with attitude. She loves trying to prank people and every now and then pulls it off pretty well!! She’s super funny, always calling out others when they mess up their words, and laughing just as hard when she’s the one who slips up. Part of laughing at others is being able to take it when the joke is on you, and Belle does that very well. She very expressive. Every time she leaves her mom or dad, she says, “I love you, you’re my best friend,” though, according to her mom, her dad is truly her best friend. Nevertheless, she’s so sweet she makes sure to tell her mom the same. That’s the mark of a real sweetie. Today is Izabella’s 10th birthday…that most important double-digit birthday. Happy birthday Belle!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
My grandnephew, Isaac Spethman has always been a bundle of energy. He was always busy from the time he was just seven years old when he talked a Grant Street Grocery into “hiring” him. He provided the needed resume, and they were so touched that they put him to work. Of course, they couldn’t pay him, so he go candy, sandwiches, or other items from the store. It was a mutually beneficial agreement, and both parties were delighted.
When Isaac was a little boy, his parents, my niece, Jenny Spethman and her husband Steve were told by a number of people that their son was ADHD. They were told he needed to be medicated to calm him down, but they chose not to do so, and not to label him. Instead, they channeled his energy in ways that helped him to focus and be productive. They never told him that he couldn’t do something that he dreamed up, unless it was dangerous, of 
course. The Grant Street Grocery job was across the street from their home, and they knew the owners. They knew he was safe and occupied. They didn’t know how long his interest would last, but it lasted a long time. The people at the store started teaching him about running the store, including cuts of meat. They just couldn’t let him cut the meat. Isaac had such a wonderful experience working at Grant Street Grocery, that he has had a job ever since, and just before he turned 18, he purchased his first home.
Success is often measured in the things we have and the accomplishments we make, but for Isaac, it was also measured in the things he didn’t do or didn’t have forced upon him. He has never taken medication for ADHD, 
nor has he ever been labeled with it. His parents raised him instead to be the best man he could be, and to focus that incredible energy he had into good things, helping others, and creating the kind of life he wanted, even if he did things at a much younger age that society would have expected. I’m not saying that people should never give their kids medication for ADHD, but rather that people should be sure of their options first, and either way, don’t label a child with things that will ultimately limit them. Today is Isaac’s 19th birthday. Happy birthday Isaac!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
Most likely everyone has heard of Cleopatra. She belonged to the Ptolemaic dynasty. She was a descendant of Ptolemy, who was one of Alexander the Great’s generals. Her family ruled Egypt from the city of Alexandria, which was, of course, named after Alexander the Great. A strange fact about the Ptolemaic dynasty is that every male ruler was named Ptolemy, which makes studying them pretty confusing. Cleopatra was not, of course, a male descendant, and women were often considered incapable of learning, or at least incapable of learning very well. Nevertheless, while Ancient Egyptian is known as one of the hardest languages to learn, Cleopatra mastered it…along with eight other languages, including Ancient Greek, Ancient Iranian, Ancient Parthian, Syriac, Ethiopian, Troglodyte, Hebrew, and Arabic. While she was “just a woman,” she proved herself to be very intelligent. Of course, IQ could not be measured in those days, and as we all know, women are just as intelligent as men, so for Cleopatra to master nine languages, while an amazing feat, is not unheard of among women or men.
Cleopatra VII was famous for her political skill and romantic ties to Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. She was also a shrewd entrepreneur with a thriving perfume and cosmetics empire. Her factories near the Dead Sea produced some of the most coveted beauty products of the ancient world, like Kohl eyeliner, rouge, and luxurious fragrances. She personally experimented with ingredients and formulas, often testing them on herself. This booming beauty business brought immense wealth to Egypt and shaped cosmetic trends across the Roman Empire. Her lavish recipes featured crushed pearls, gold flakes, and rare plant extracts from Africa 
and Asia, making her creations exclusive to royalty and the wealthy elite. Cleopatra was very much ahead of her time when it came to manufacturing and business. Truly, she was lightyears ahead of many of the men in her era and even modern eras.
Cleopatra VII, born around 70/69 BCE, was the last reigning monarch of Egypt’s Ptolemaic Kingdom. The daughter of Ptolemy XII, she ascended to the throne with her brother, Ptolemy XIII, after their father’s death. Her famous ties with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony played a key role in her fight to keep Egypt free from Roman control. Though of Greek heritage, she fully embraced Egyptian culture and earned a reputation for her sharp mind and political skill. Her rule came to an end with her death in 30 BCE, marking the fall of the Ptolemaic dynasty and the start of Roman rule in Egypt.
