Kids
My niece, Liz Masterson is a Journalism and English teacher at Kelly Walsh High School, where she also attended high school. I think it’s very cool that she is teaching at her Alma Mater. I know she likes it too. Liz also takes most of the photographs of events for the annual, as well as producing it with her students. Her work makes the annual an outstanding book that is cherished by all who purchase it. She has also taken a lot of the senior pictures for various students. Her creativity makes each set of photographs amazing memories for the students. Being a teacher keeps Liz very busy, and there are several times during the year that we almost don’t see her, because she runs from this event to that event and back to school, and of course home to grade papers and choose pictures for her work on the annual.
Her busy schedule makes any school vacation time precious to Liz. She loves to travel and often hooks up with friends for trips that make her time off very special. This past week was Spring Break, so Liz and a friend headed down to Las Vegas to have a little fun and sun, as well as to attend a concert of Liz’s favorite artist, Carrie Underwood. Liz has loved Carrie Underwood’s music she he first came on the scene, and she is always invited to the fan appreciation events, which she tries to get to as often as she can. Having the concert be in Vegas was just icing on the cake for Liz. She and her friend also hooked up with a former student who had just finished grad school. It was a fun time for all three of the girls.
Liz has always stayed in touch with many of her former students. She is a favorite of many of her current and 
former students. She has taken their school event pictures, senior pictures, and gone on to take their wedding pictures. It’s not every teacher that you want to remember for years after school ends, much less to stay in touch with, but Liz is that rare teacher who has managed to be a great influence on her students, and they want to remember her always. She helped to prepare them for their college studies and given them a work ethic that has made them great members of society, so it makes perfect sense that they would want her to share in their wedding joy. A teacher like Liz is a rare find, and anyone who had her for a teacher is truly blessed. We all consider ourselves blessed to know Liz. Today is Liz’s birthday. Happy birthday Liz!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
My niece, Amanda Reed is one of the most active people I know. She has sports and activities for every season and looks forward excitedly for each new season’s arrival. Amanda’s friends and family make up her circle of influence, and they are a group of people she can count on to be there through thick and thin. In addition, Amanda’s partner, Sean Mortensen and their daughter Jadyn are her very life. These days, Jadyn spends much of her time in Laramie attending the University of Wyoming. It was a big change for Amanda and Sean, but they are very proud of their girl, and very happy for her.
Amanda is in the middle of a long career in banking. She began her career when she went to work at the 
Rawlins National Bank at a young age. Since that time, she has worked her way up to the pretty prestigious position of BSA Agent, which is a part of the law enforcement area of the bank. It is strange to think of Amanda in “law enforcement” and while it isn’t the normal type, it is law enforcement, nevertheless. Her work is in deterring fraud, money laundering, and such. I don’t claim to know all she does, but I know that it is an important part of the banking system. Counterfeit money and other types of fraud cost everyone in the end, Amanda works to stop this, and that is good for everyone.
As Summer approaches, I’m sure Amanda and her “gang” will be gearing up for the next season of great 
weekend fun. They love boating, skiing, jet skis, fishing, and hanging out with great friends. While Winter is great for snow sports, they look forward to summer fun too. When these guys get together, they know it’s going to be a great time. These friends have been friends for a long time, and they all have similar likes. There is never a dull moment. Amanda is very blessed with the people she surrounds herself with. Today is Amanda’s birthday. Happy birthday Amanda!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
This has been such an exciting year for my niece, Kellie Hadlock. On December 7, 2024, she became engaged to the love of her life, Tim Thompson, and they have been happily planning their summer wedding. Their lives are filled with excitement. Upon her marriage, Kellie will become bonus mom to Tim’s daughter, Jolene, and Jolene is beyond excited about that. They have become so close, and really best friends. It would be impossible not to love Kellie, because she has an infectious laugh, and she is always happy. Recently, Kellie; her mom, Allyn Hadlock; sisters, Jessi Sawdon and Lindsay Moore; and sister-in law, Chelsea Hadlock, went to Loveland, Colorado, to pick out her wedding dress. They had a wonderful time, and Kellie said, “Yes to the dress!!” Now the excitement really begins. Lindsay says, “It’s been really fun to get to witness Kellie and Tim plan for their future! It’s been a really special time, and we are all really happy for her!”
Jessi tells me that “Kellie is still a baby (these girls are always teasing each other). We went for a girls’ weekend recently and got.to play in the pool. We tried to throw Chelsea in, but she wouldn’t do it. So, Mom (Allyn) and Lindsay sat in the hot tub while Kellie and I played with all the pool toys. Then, Mom and Lindsay 
joined us. It felt like when we were kids on vacation. We don’t often play in the pool like that without our kids, so it was really fun.” Jessi says, “Kellie is also really funny, and she and I always have fun when we’re together. We’ll often have a conversation that is indecipherable to outsiders because we’ll just say a few words and start laughing. And can start laughing again with just a funny look at each other. Her laugh, as we all know, has always been contagious so it’s really easy to be in a good mood when she is around.” Allyn says, “Yes they all are so funny and fun! Never a dull moment! I’m so glad we all went to Loveland to shop for a wedding dress together because it was a very special time and exciting to get to see her trying them all on! The dress she said yes to is so gorgeous on her and we all were unanimous in that!”
Kellie has been working on an internet business that she has set up as a “side-hustle” and is called Kingdom Crochet. She makes lots of hats and blankets, and she had a very successful Christmas season. Crocheting is a relaxing hobby, but it is also time-consuming, and it takes skill. I am very proud of Kellie’s skills and her perseverance. Her work is really beautiful, and I encourage everyone to click the link and have a look.
Kellie is one of the song service worship leaders at our church, and she has a beautiful voice. I love to hear her sing. She also plays the piano and has filled in for the piano player when he has to be out of town. Kellie is really a gifted singer, and she is a huge blessing to our church. Kellie is a devoted Christian, and her entire life shows her love of the Lord. Kellie has always been a smiley girl, and her presence on the stage lights it up. She always seems to have a feeling of joy and delight in her heart. I am a backup singer, and I actually find myself smiling more, because of Kellie’s example. That is an accomplishment in and of itself, because smiling while singing is foreign to me. Kellie brings out the best in people. Today is Kellie’s birthday. Happy birthday Kellie! Have a great day! We love you!
My grandniece, Manuela Ortiz is a super sweet girl, who married into our family when she married my grandnephew, James Renville. They are so perfect for each other, because they are opposites who complement each other so well. Manuela is very outgoing, and she has opened up some new vistas for James. He has always loved to travel, and since Manuela immigrated from Columbia, they now have family in two countries. They went down to Columbia last year, and plan to go again in June. James loves her family, and they love him. Manuela has shown him all the sights of her home country, and they had a wonderful time. They are excited to be going again.
Last year, Manuela was given a promotion to Counseling Manager at the Wyoming Housing Network. She came 
to this country on a work visa to learn English, which she planned to use to improve her work status in Columbia, but things just worked out for the better here, because her language skills were very much valued at her new place of employment. They realized that she was going to be a great asset to the company, and they wanted to make sure she was happy. They succeeded!! Manuela has been making her department a better place for the counseling of first-time home buyers, and they are very happy with her work. She is a great manager and an easy person to work with.
Manuela and James also became first-time home buyers, when they had the opportunity to buy James’ childhood home from his mom. They did quite a bit of updating on the home before they moved in and have plans for more updates over the coming year. They are going to be replacing some of the old flooring, and they plan to hire a landscaping team to come in and do some work on the back yard. The house was a great house 
before, but I’m sure it is even more beautiful now, and since she is a first-time housing counselor, they already knew what to expect as first-time buyers.
While they are very settled these days, their love of travel is still very much intact. They are planning to take a little trip down to Saratoga, Wyoming to relax and enjoy the beautiful country there. They are very active, and the great outdoors is calling their names. I can relate. I love to hike and such too, so the idea of getting out in nature is very appealing. I know they will have a wonderful time, and I’m sure this will be just one of many future trips for them. Today is Manuela’s birthday. Happy birthday Manuela!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
My grandson, Chris Petersen, the boy who made me a grandma, and the man who made me a great grandma, continues to make me proud of his accomplishments every day. Chris initially went to culinary school at Sheridan College after graduating from high school, but when he realized that he couldn’t effectively support a family in Casper, Wyoming as a chef, he chose to switch careers and now is a store manager for Auto Zone here in Casper. Mechanics has always been his main hobby, and since changing careers, he is genuinely happy. Just because a person has a degree in something, doesn’t mean that they can’t change their mind when opportunities arise. Chris is an excellent manager, and that is what matters most…plus, with a family, a job of straight nights isn’t always the greatest thing to have. Chris works well with his people, and they respect his knowledge and abilities.
Chris is a great daddy. His wife, Karen and their kids, Cambree, Caysen, and Cyler are his top priorities, and his 
greatest accomplishments. He loves spending time with each of them and creating happiness for their whole family. Cambree is his little princess, and he enjoys spoiling his only girl just a little bit…not that she acts spoiled, because she doesn’t. Recently, he has taken up the sport of golf and has really enjoyed taking Caysen to be his golfing buddy. Of course, to ask Caysen, he is usually the one to beat his daddy. Cyler, thinks his daddy hung the moon. He loves playing chase with him, hoping Daddy won’t be able to catch him. For Chris and Karen, their family is the most important part of their lives. They are very devoted to each other and to their kids.
Chris is becoming quite the handyman. In the past they owned their home, and they will again, but with the market as it is, they will wait. When they moved into their current home, the back yard was really bad, but 
Chris went to work on it, and before long the yard looked really great. He takes care of the snow removal and mowing. And he has even put in a new dishwasher when it was needed. Of course, Landlords love tenants like Chris, because the place is well taken care of. some tenants just don’t care what the place looks like, but Chris is not one of those tenants. The yard is especially important to Chris, because his kids have to play there, and he wants it to be nice for them. When it comes to the yard, the kids and the dogs are the priority. Today is Chris’ birthday. Happy birthday Chris! Have a great day! We love you!
My niece, Christina Hockenbrocht has had a busy year. Christina got engaged and married her husband, Colin Hockenbrocht on February 11, 2024. On that day, Christina became a wife and also a stepmom to Colin’s son Matt Hockenbrocht. The kids didn’t have a formal wedding, but in the not-too-distant future, they are planning to have a reception. For anyone who has never hosted one, the reception can be as much or more expensive than the wedding itself. It takes planning and finances. Since that time, Christina has been settling into married and family life.
Christina and Colin have moved into a “cute” rental house, and Christina is setting it up to their liking. She is really getting into the “nesting” thing. She has also been getting into gardening and house plants. Her favorite plant is Clawdeen the Monstera. I don’t know much about plants, having a “brown thumb” and all, so I looked it up. “Monstera deliciosa, also known as the split-leaf philodendron or Swiss cheese plant, is a tropical plant often kept as a houseplant. This easy-to-grow climbing evergreen provides a dramatic focal point due to its size and unique shape. Monstera deliciosa has glossy, heart-shaped split leaves and is relatively easy to care for. It is a fast grower, about 1 to 2 feet a year, and takes about three years to reach full-grown maturity.” One thing I do know is that Christina’s Clawdeen the Monstera looks very healthy, meaning that she does not have a “brown thumb” like her Aunt Caryn.
Chistina was educated as a dental hygienist, but when Covid hit, the job she had pretty much dried up. People couldn’t even go to the dentist in those days, unless it was an emergency. Christina went from hygienist to 
medical and dental billing, and then to insurance billing. In fact, that is what she is doing now. The only thing that is different now is that she is working from home. She is doing insurance billing for multiple companies, working under the umbrella company called Cher, LLC.
Colin was a military operations analyst in the military. He and Christina met through her stepdad, and the rest is history. Before long, they were engaged and soon after they were married. He is no longer in the service, and he works as operations analyst as a separate contractor. His son Matt has the choice of where he lives, and for now spends much of his time with his mom. He comes to stay with Christina and Colin for holidays and summers. Sounds like they have a real nice life. Today is Christina’s birthday. Happy birthday Christina!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
My brother-in-law, Ron Schulenberg was the youngest of six children, and the second boy in the family. He was often told what to do by his older siblings, and especially his sisters, because, well…that’s what older sisters do. We were raised taking care of the younger siblings, and that just naturally included babysitting them and in general, telling them what to do. Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the younger children appreciated that “influence” from the older siblings. In fact, most times, the younger kids, didn’t appreciate that bossiness of their older siblings…especially as they got a little bit older.
My brother-in-law was always being told what to do, but not quite as often by his older brother, Bob, my 
husband. Maybe it was because Bob understood how it was to be the boy among multiple sisters, or maybe it was because Bob was fourteen when his brother was born, so by the time Ron could be much trouble, Bob was already grown up and out of the household…having moved out when he was eighteen. That also gave Ron a little different relationship with his brother, who didn’t mind have his “kid brother” tag along, even on some of our daytime dates, like Dairy Queen and such. We took Ron a number of places with us, and I’m sure my mother-in-law enjoyed the break very much. I didn’t mind the “tag-along” either, since I never had a brother, just four sisters, it was ok with me…and, Bob might have thought that brothers should stick together.
These days, Ron and Bob are still close, helping each other as needed. They are both mechanics, so they work on their own cars and the cars of friends. Ron has an extensive shop, so many of the tools Bob or their nephews might need are available through Ron. Sometimes, you have to have a little help working on a car. Ron has a pretty lucrative “side hustle” with his mechanics work, and it keeps him busy too. He spends a good portion of each day working on someone’s car. No bad for a part-time gig. Today is Ron’s birthday. Happy birthday Ron!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
As our tenth year without our mom, Collene Spencer approaches, and in fact, it’s ten years without parents, I think my sisters, Cheryl Masterson, Caryl Reed, Alena Stevens, Allyn Hadlock, and I have been thinking a lot about her. Time doesn’t seem to go by so fast, until it is passing without a loved one. Then you just wonder, how could it be ten years already? And yet it is. Ten years without Mom’s goofiness, her laughter, her zest for life, and mostly…her presence, just seems impossible. I think that is what I miss the most…her presence. Just knowing that I could call her to ask a question, or to tell her about her new little great great grandchildren. Mom loved being a grandmother. She loved being a mom too. Her home and her family were her pride and joy. I know that while she is in Heaven, she still knows and sees how much her family has grown, and I know that she is so happy and so proud. I think we have all tried to live lives that would make our parents proud. From the oldest to the newest great great grandbaby, Mom would be so proud.
Mom met our dad, Al Spencer, when she was just a girl. Mom knew immediately that he was the one for hr. She 
remembered thinking, “What a handsome man!!” They married when she was still 17 years old. They immediately moved to Superior, Wisconsin and began a family. Ten months later my sister, Cheryl was born. I followed two years later. My sister, Caryl was born three years after I was. My sister, Alena followed two years later, and my sister, Allyn two years after that. Of course, we moved back to Casper before Caryl was born and have lived here since that time. Wyoming was where Mom’s family was, as well as part of Dad’s family, so moving here was logical. They loved Wyoming, and they thrived here.
My mom was a great Christian woman. While she loved her family, and especially our dad, her first love was for her God. She accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior many years ago, and she never looked back. She told anyone who would listen, just how important it was to receive Jesus. Through her, countless numbers of people were saved. My sisters and I never really felt as comfortable as Mom with witnessing to people. And in our teen 
years, we often wished she wouldn’t witness when we were around. We were embarrassed, but she wasn’t. She knew that her work was important, and she was right. I know that when she entered Heaven, our Father told her, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant. We are so proud of her and hope to live up to her example. Today is the tenth anniversary of Mom’s graduation to Heaven. Mom, we love and miss you and Dad very much and can’t wait to see you when we all get there.
When I met my sister-in-law, Debbie Cook, over 50 years ago, we became friends right away. We both worked at Kmart then. She was in the Deli, and I was in the Millinery Department (handbags, gloves, and wigs, in case you didn’t know). In fact, it was at Kmart, where I met my future husband, Bob, who is Debbie’s brother. As our friendship grew, we decided to make each other our maid of honor at our weddings. Debbie and her husband, LJ were married first, on June 8, 1974. Bob and I were married on March 1, 1975, nine months later. As we had planned, I was her maid of honor, and she was my matron of honor. At that time, as with any marriage, there are no guarantees, but both marriages made it to our fiftieth anniversaries. Debbie and LJ celebrated theirs on June 8th, 2024, and we will celebrate ours on March 1st.
Our lives took turns that were the same and turns that took us in different directions. We both had daughters. 
Bob and I had two daughters, Corrie Petersen and Amy Royce. Debbie and LJ had three daughters, Machelle Moore, Nancy Cook (who passed away shortly after her birth), and Susan Griffith. The girls spent a lot of time together…until Debbie and LJ moved first to Thermopolis and then to Powell. After that, while the girls were still friends, they didn’t see as much of each other as they had before. That part made us sad, but life takes us in different directions sometimes. The moves to Thermopolis and Powell were what was best for Debbie, LJ, and their girls. In fact, they still live in Powell today.
There were some other differences too. Bob and I had three grandsons and one granddaughter, while Debbie and LJ had two grandsons and two granddaughters. Bob and I also have one great granddaughter and five great grandsons, while Debbie and LJ don’t have great grandchildren yet, but that day will come too. There 
could well be more great grandchildren in all our futures. Life has taken us in different directions over the years, but it has also taken us to the same place too…our golden anniversaries. We have remained sisters and brothers-in-law. And we have remained friends. We have shared a family, her family, my in-laws. We have shared history, experiencing many of the same things. We may have taken a few different paths, but we have arrived together. Today is Debbie’s birthday. Happy 72nd birthday Debbie!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
With her family living in several areas of the state, my youngest sister, Allyn Hadlock’s family decided to meet in Wheatland so that everyone could be there for a birthday celebration. Most of her family lives in Casper, but she has daughters and their families in Laramie and Cheyenne too, so Wheatland is the logical choice. Everyone decided that a “destination birthday party” was a great idea, even if it wasn’t like to Hawaii or something. Allyn really is all about her family. She would give her right arm for any one of them. She is a very involved grandmother too. Even though, granddaughters Adelaide Sawdon and Mackenzie Moore live in Laramie and Cheyenne, Allyn is always willing to happily go and stay a few days to babysit them if their parents have to be out of town or something. That time with the girls is so special to her, and everyone is so happy that she can work that out.
Speaking of work, Allyn has worked from home now for the past few years, so it’s pretty easy to just take her 
work with her when she is spending time with the grandkids. Allyn is actually a boss at her work, and somehow, she manages to juggle all the responsibilities she has, without missing a beat when it comes to family time. Working from home really gives her that freedom. She loves having the girls, or her local grandkids, Ethan and Aurora Hadlock come to her house and spend time too. The summertime might find her house filled with kids hanging out. She also has a bonus-granddaughter, Jolene Thompson, who joined the family a few years ago, and while she lives in Rock Springs, she gets to come and spend time periodically, especially in the summer. And we must remember the “grand dogs” too, because they love spending time with grandma too.
While she can’t always be with her kids, she talks to them just about every day, sometimes several times a day. Daughter Lindsay Moore says she can’t even imagine how many phone calls her mom gets a day. Allyn has four children, Jessi Sawdon, Ryan Hadlock, Lindsay Moore, and Kellie Hadlock, but that is only a small part of the family. Jessi is married to Jason, and they have Adelaide; Ryan is married to Chelsea, and they have Ethan and Aurora; Lindsay is married to Shannon, and they have Mackenzie; Kellie is engaged to Tim Thompson, and they 
have Jolene; and we must not forget her fifth child…her dog, Liberty…whose picture is also on the mantle!! Allyn is married to Chris Hadlock, who is just as dedicated to the family as Allyn is. The Hadlock bunch are very dedicated to each other.
This year is an extra special one, because Allyn is the mother of the bride. With Kellie and Tim getting married this summer, she and Kellie are busily planning the wedding. She and Kellie have been picking out the decorations and “doing all the things” that go along with putting on a wedding. Kellie says, “She is the most supportive, kind, funny, and amazing person, and I’m so happy she is my mom!!” And I know everyone in her family would heartily agree. Today is Allyn’s birthday. Happy birthday Allyn!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
