Kids
My Grandnephew, James Renville is a multi-talented guy. When he and his dad, James Renville’s team finished 1st in the 10 Ball pool league, the won a trip to Las Vegas USAPL National Championship. The trip was all expense paid, and the guys had a great time. It isn’t often that James and his dad get to take a trip together, and that made this even more special. Playing pool on a team together has really been great for James and Jim. James also took a trip with his dad to Florida to watch the world nationals, called the Mosconi Cup. It was a 9-ball pool tournament. It was a big surprise Christmas present to his dad. James flew both of them out to Orlando Florida to watch it. He accidentally got tickets on the European side of the tournament though, so that was a pretty funny little side note. I can just see it now…cheering for what appears to be the opposite team, at least when it comes to the side you are sitting with. Nevertheless, I can imagine the guys saw the humor in the situation and got a good laugh out of it.
James’ mom, Toni Chase and stepdad, Dave Chase have also done some traveling with James and his wife, Manuela this past year, taking a trip to Glacier National Park last July 4th. They did a bunch of hiking and touring, and everyone had a great time. James has long loved to travel, so any trip is a big deal for him, but Glacier National Park is a special trip from any point of view. And as for snow and mountains, James and 
Manuela decided to take a stab at snowshoeing this year. That may not seem like such a big deal, but since Manuela immigrated from Columbia, loving the snow is not exactly natural to her. Nevertheless, she seems to have taken to the Northern weather pretty well.
James and Manuela have been saving up for a trip to Columbia this year. James’ birthday is on the same day as Manuela’s mom’s birthday. That has made their relationship special, and because Manuela’s mom is turning 50 this year, it is a big deal. They plan to have a celebration together for it. James had a great time on their first trip to Columbia, and he is very much looking forward to this trip too. Today is James’ birthday. Happy birthday James!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
For those who no longer have their dad on Earth, Father Day inevitably carries a touch of sadness. Many of us long for just one more day or one more memory to share with their dad, but that is not possible. Instead, we quietly wish him a Happy Father’s Day in Heaven, confident that he is at peace and filled with joy. It is we, his children, who feel the weight of sorrow and loneliness. For me, both my father, Allen Spencer, and my father-in-law, Walter Schulenberg, live in Heaven now, and I often find myself forgetting the approach of day, perhaps as a way to shield myself from the sadness that follows the thought of their absence. My solace lies in the certainty that I will see them again in Heaven. Until then, to my dads, I say Happy’s Day in Heaven. I know it will be a truly wonderful day there…better than any we could possibly plan for them here on Earth.
I was just so blessed to have two wonderful dads in my life. My dad made sure that we, his five daughters and our mom, had opportunities to see the country, go camping, read maps and plan trips, and so many other things. He taught us responsibility, love for one another, and most importantly, love for God. My father-in-law 
was much the same kind of man, even though the family didn’t do a lot of traveling. They were still a very close family and helped each other in any way they needed. It was and still is almost a network of people with unique talents who share the load when it comes to needs. I will always be proud of and grateful for my two dads, who are now in Heaven.
I also have several other men who qualify as dads in my life. While these men are not my dads, they are part of my family. The first is my husband, Bob Schulenberg, who is the father of my children, Corrie Petersen and Amy Royce. Kevin Petersen and Travis Royce are my sons-in-law, and they have been wonderful husbands and dads to my daughters and grandchildren. They have worked very hard to give them happy lives. Then, there are my two grandsons, Chris Petersen who has a daughter and two sons, and my grandson, Josh Petersen who 
has three sons. Both have very active roles in raising their children. I am so proud of all of these men…dads who are with the mothers of their children and are showing their children what it means to be a great dad. They are great role models and loving fathers, and in them we have all been blessed. I also want to recognize all my brothers-in-law and nephews, because they are amazing dads and great blessings too. Today is Father’s Day, and while it must be a memory day for me, it is a special day for all of us. Happy Father’s Day to these and all dads today. Have a great day!!
My great grandnephew, Max Herr is all boy, and as his mom, Katy Herr says, wild and crazy!! He is also Katy’s “little sidekick” and best friend. Those things are common in 5-year-old boys, but what isn’t as common is for a 5-year-old boy to faithfully run with his mom when she is racing, and one of these days plans to actually race with her. Running marathons, as Katy does, is no easy task, since marathons are 26.2 miles and extremely difficult. Nevertheless, Katy can count on her son to get out there and pace her, so she is properly trained. Nevertheless, Max does just that and he is barely five. And by the way, Max’s great training helped his mom to take 2nd place in her first marathon!! A Tough Guy, that one!!
Max loves monster trucks and just this year, he started riding dirt bikes. Max still loves all superheroes and that is not surprising, since he is a real like superhero to his mom. He also loves his cousins, Reece and Asa Balcerzak. While Max is his mom’s best friend, he is also very much his daddy, Dylan Herr’s boy. They like to play golf, and Max is quickly learning the ropes. Max loves both of his parents so much and he is the light of their lives. He is comfortable in any setting and can usually be found doing whatever his parents are doing. Like his dad, I’m sure Max will be a natural athlete, and I can’t wait to see where his talents take him. Max loves to go hiking with hi parents, and like most kids, a place with a waterfall is always a big hit. Max also loves all things car and mechanical, and his cars had better be a tough as he is, because they are quite likely to find themselves going through the water and the mud. Max is a kid filled with adventure and energy, and he’s a sweet as he can be.
He loves plane rides and of course, hanging out with the grandparents and great grandparents. Like most 
people, Max loves the good old American hamburger, and Burger King is one of his absolute favorites. Max is a smiley boy, and when he smiles, his whole face lights up. Every day is a new delight to this kid. There is no such word as boring. He finds excitement wherever he goes. Today is Max’s 5th birthday! Happy birthday Max! Have a great day! We love you!
For my nephew, Garrett Stevens, this birthday brings sad changes, because it is the first one since his mom, Alena Stevens passed away. Since Garrett and his wife, Kayla had their girls, Elliott and Maya, they have been blessed to have his mom be able to come from Casper to Sheridan to watch the girls when Kayla has to be out of town for work. Now, there is a definite void that will be a hard one to fill. Garrett’s Dad, Mike is still with them, but babysitting the girls really was Alena’s thing. This summer finds Kayla taking a few less out of town trips, because her family needs her to help with the emotional transitions of this hard time. Kayla’s career as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker has made her uniquely qualified to help her family through this time of grief, but it doesn’t help to fill the void when she has to go out of town. Still, I know that Garrett will manage when the time comes, and the girls are getting older too, so they can help to do more.
Garrett went through some special training that culminated in a very hard test and his promotion to certified welding 
inspector recently, and the whole family is so proud of him. Many people have tried to pass that test, but few do so. Garrett worked very hard, and even then, it was no easy task. His boss was so proud of him too. I don’t really know what all his job entails, but I do know that when a weld fails, it is never a good thing, and it can spell disaster, depending on what things were welded. I can’t say what types of welds are processed at Garrett’s work, but I know that a bad weld has been known to bring down an airplane, so it must be strong, and it must be right.
Garrett tells me that Kayla is the family activity planner, and she has a full summer planned for the family. That is a good thing, because as we all know, when it comes to grief and loss, staying busy is a key part of the 
healing process. Their daughter, Elliott is a very busy girl too, with cheerleading camp, nature camp, parade camp, and many others. Elliott is almost seven years old, so she understands death to a degree. Keeping her busy is as essential as it is for adults. Maya is just three, and I’m sure that the big job with her will be in telling her about her grandmother, so she will somehow know her. Nevertheless, Garrett and Kayla are great parents, and they will manage. Of that I have no doubt. Today is Garrett’s birthday. Happy birthday Garrett!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
This has been a difficult six months for my sister, Alena Stevens, family and for her daughter-in-law, Kayla and son, Garrett, Alena’s passing has left a specific void, because with Kayla’s job as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, comes periodic travel around the state and even the nation. That has not been a problem, because whenever Kayla had to go out of town, Alena would travel to Sheridan to take care of Kayla and Garrett’s girls, Elliott and Maya. There is nothing more comforting for a parent who must travel for work, than to know that their children are well cared for, and especially when it is the grandparents who take care of them. Children love to spend time with their grandparents, and they always have a great time.
The family is slowly adjusting to Alena’s April 23rd passing, but it was particularly hard, because when they found out, Kayla and Garrett were on vacation at Disney World with their girls. That definitely put a damper on the trip. Garrett tells me that they are doing ok, and that it has been a very busy summer, which has helped too. This summer has held fewer trips for Kayla, because they are still adjusting to having no one to come and stay with the girls. Nevertheless, she will be taking a few as the summer goes on. She has turned down some of the trips so she can help her family get through this tough time. Kayla, as a social worker is very good at helping people wade through grief, and that is so helpful for her family. The girls are young, but they know that Grandma isn’t there anymore. Kayla felt like it would be had on Garrett to try to handle the girls alone while she is out of town. As time goes on, they will figure out a new way to deal this those trips, and as the girls get older, they will be able to help their daddy more, but this summer, they all need time to adjust. Kayla usually stays overnight for the events that are more than a couple of hours away. Garrett and the girls usually had Alena come up to help with the kids during those times so now, there is a definite void. In addition to Kayla’s ability to help with the grief of her own family, she is very skilled at her job too. Garrett says, “She has more credentials than I can even remember, and she is one of the go-to people in her field. She is so incredibly smart and skilled at what she does.” He is very proud of his sweet wife. and all she has accomplished.
Kayla is a great planner. She has been busy planning out the summer camps that Elliott will be in this summer. It’s setting up to be a busy summer for Elliott, with cheerleader camp, nature camp, parade camp and many others. She is very organized. Kayla loves to make sure the kids have great activities to keep them busy and to stimulate their young minds. Garrett says, “She has been such a great support to me during this time. Anything I needed she was there, and she has sacrificed a lot.” Garrett, Elliott, and Maya, as well as the rest of the family, have been very blessed by Kayla and her caring heart. Today is Kayla’s birthday. Happy birthday Kayla!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
My grandnephew, Chris Spicer has been busily working very hard on his future. Since moving to Casper from Rawlins, Wyoming following his high school graduation, Chris has been working at Ace Hardware while pursuing his degree in Graphic Design. Chris was a great student. He loved his classes and almost never miss school. He worked very hard and carried a 4.0 average for most of his two-year college career…an amazing achievement while holding down a job too. Chris is well liked at Ace Hardware, and I’m sure they will be sorry to see him leave, when he gets a new job, but by the same token, they will want him to excel in his chosen field. Graduation is such an exciting time, with all the future possibilities opening up and knowing that the formal schooling is done now. When a kid starts school, it seems like they will be in school for years, and suddenly they are finished, and you realize that they are an 
adult. It’s a bit of a shock for parents and grandparents. Chris, who has been lovingly called Topher by his family is just that…all grown up and ready to embark on his exciting future.
Right now, Chris is looking for a job as a graphic designer. At present, he is still at Ace Hardware, but he also has an online business commissioning his own personal art. The cool thing about graphic design is that the artist can easily sell their own work and make good money at it too. I’m sure he will always have that online business presence to fall back on or just as a great side hustle. That is one nice thing about graphic design. It is multi-faceted, and gives a person a number of possibilities, both online and in an office. We are all very excited to see where his future takes him.
Chris is really into all things retro these days. He loves playing music on an old album and turntable setup. His dream car…a Volkswagen van, of course. I wouldn’t be surprised if the old flower power van ended up being what he drove for quite a while. It’s funny how so much of the old stuff comes back into popularity when the future generations take notice of it. Chris has plans to move into town soon. He and his mom have been renting 
an apartment on his grandparents’ ranch outside of Casper, but for Chris it will be better to be closer into town and all the activity he will want to be a part of. The plan is a late summer or early fall move, also giving him time to get a new job and get settled in. Chris doesn’t just jump into things. He has grown into a very responsible adult and so makes his plans carefully and with purpose. He is very kind and thoughtful to people and tries to see things from their perspective. He is a true blessing to his mother, Andrea Beach; grandparents, Mike and Caryl Reed and Warren and Diane Beach; as well as the rest of the family. Today, we celebrate the wonderful young man Chris Spicer has become. Congratulations on your college graduation, Chris!! We are very proud of you and all you have accomplished!! We can’t wait to see where the future takes you!!
When your child is young, you sometimes see traits that carry into their future, and you can almost see their lives mapped out from the very start. Other children seem to show their true selves a little bit at a time, sometimes over a few years, and other times changing over their whole lives. My younger daughter, Amy Royce is a blend of these things. From a very young age, Amy did not want to be the same as her older sister, Corrie Petersen. It wasn’t that she didn’t like who Corrie was, but rather that Amy didn’t want to be a carbon copy. She wanted to be her own person. I get that, and I got it when she was young, because it just made sense. Amy was a different person, and she wanted to make sure that her own style and ideas for her life came out.
While Amy’s own style and tastes were always allowed to flourish, she also showed some typical kid 
characteristics, like a cluttered room and definite preference not to “waste time” cleaning the room any more than absolutely necessary. While she was growing up, I figured she would be the “clutter queen” child, because Corrie was always the clean freak. I just knew Amy would not be the “Susie Homemaker” type. Boy was I wrong!! As Amy grew up and got her own place, her “Susie Homemaker” side suddenly arrived. She loved having a cozy home that was well decorated and much of that decor was of her own style and much of it created by Amy, who’s artistic side appeared and so flourished as she got older. Who knew there was an artist in there?
While Amy’s house became a showplace, her yard became even more a showcase, especially the back yard. Amy has a great flair for gardening, and her beautiful gardens show that prowess very well. Is there such a 
thing as “Susie Gardener” by chance, because if there is, Amy is that person. She is always picking out unusual flowers to add to the uniqueness of her garden and her yard. Of course, her husband, Travis helps with the yard and the beauty therein too, but not the flowers. That is Amy’s department. Nevertheless, their place is beautiful, and so relaxing. They have added a covered lanai that attaches to their rec room-tavern, and their home has become the place where everyone wants to hang out. I never would have guessed that Amy would be the crafty, gardener type, but she has found and shown off that side of herself over the years quite nicely. I’m very proud of the woman she has become. Today is Amy’s birthday. Happy birthday Amy!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
My great-grandnephew, Jaxx Harman is Such a sweet boy. He parents, Jake and Melanie Harman say, “That little boy by far is one of the sweetest things God has ever created!” He is the youngest of his parents three children, and his older sisters, Alice and Izabella are his best friends. He wants to be around Izabella all the time and even tries to fall asleep beside her. His parents know that where Izabella is, Jaxx will be too. Jaxx has such a sweet temperament. He is kind and loving to all the people he knows, especially to his parents.
While Jaxx is best friends with his sisters, he is also very much like his daddy. One thing they have in common is gaming, and they often find themselves having to kick him off of the game so he can go do something else, like just to be a normal kid to 
run around outside and scrape some knees or something, hahahaha!! For many kids, gaming just comes naturally. Raised in a computer age, the totally get all the tech stuff from a really young age. Jaxx is no different. Add to that, watching his daddy play, and you have a very proficient gamer…at a very young age!!
Jaxx has a wonderful sense of humor. You just never know what things he might come up with. Every time he hears a new joke, he has to share it constantly. In that way, he tweaks it a little bit and makes it his own. Jaxx has a contagious laugh. When he gets started, everyone around him giggles too. He has a smile that will brighten a room! He is the first to tell his mother and sisters how beautiful they are and open doors for the ladies and says ladies first! In that way, he is his daddy’s boy too, because that is exactly how Jake is. Jaxx just has a heart of gold, and he 
knows that women are supposed to be treated as princesses. It’s an amazing trait. Still, even in his gentlemanly role, Jaxx has a silly side too, so he is just as likely to open the door for his dad and say, “Ladies first!” Hahahaha!!
As much as Jaxx is a gentleman, he is also definitely a boy! He is loud and crazy and a “little monkey!” He absolutely loves the family dogs and lays with them and cuddles them all the time! His mom says, “He is our Handsome Pandsome (Lol yeah it’s just something his mom said one time and it stuck ha ha) as we call him and we are so grateful to God every day for this sweet little boy!! He is a huge blessing!!” Today is Jaxx’s 8th birthday. Happy birthday Jaxx!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
My soon-to-be nephew, Tim Thompson is in the midst of some major life changes. Tim proposed to my niece, Kellie Hadlock on December 7, 2024, and they have been excitedly planning their wedding and their future since then. Tim had worked in Gillette, Wyoming, but as part of the transition into married life, he quit his job in Gillette, and started full-time college in Casper, Wyoming, studying Construction Management. Tim has been working very hard. He finished his first semester with a 4.0 average!! Kellie says, I have honestly never seen anyone more dedicated to their schoolwork and success in my life!!” This summer Tim will be working on a certificate for teaching on the side that he is very excited about as well! Tim is all about making their life better. They are so loving living in the same city, and it has made things so much easier for them! Long distance relationships, even those that are meant to be, are a struggle for the couple. So, I’m so glad they are both in Casper now. The change has moved their relationship to the next and most important level.
Tim has a daughter, Jolene “Jo” from a previous relationship. He is an amazing dad that loves being with his daughter and doing all the outdoor and active things! Kellie says, “They will be doing lots of fishing and adventuring (when possible…we are planning a wedding after all! lol).” They are gearing up to have Jo for the summer and they are so, so, so excited for that! Kellie loves Jo and the feeling is mutual. They couldn’t be more mother and daughter if they tried. Not only are Tim and Kellie meant to be, but Kellie and Jo are meant to be, which makes this little family meant to be!! Tim and Kellie are both very family oriented, and they love Jo to pieces!! It is such a blessed little family. We are all so excited for this next family chapter.
Tim fits so well in the Hadlock family. He is helpful, family oriented, and tall, which is so important in the tall Hadlock family. Of course, that was not the only reason Kellie fell in love with Tim. Kellie says, “Tim is literally the best fiancé! He has basically given me free rein on this wedding to make it exactly what we want! We are so excited to get married and start our lives together and I couldn’t have imagined a better man for that! God made him for me and that has been made clear in so many ways from the beginning! I love this man with my whole heart!” They will be starting that new life in a little under a month, and it is going to be amazing for them! A marriage made in Heaven!! Today is Tim’s birthday. Happy birthday Tim!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
My grandniece, Brooklyn Killinger has grown up so much this year. Her pictures took me by surprise a little bit. Sometimes you just don’t notice the changes…until you do. I guess that is typical of a girl turning 12 years old. Brooklyn has become a beautiful young lady. She loves all things girly. She has been asking stepmom, Lacey Killinger to get acrylic nails, so they went for her birthday to make that dream happen, and Brooklyn in totally obsessed with her new nails. Coming into the preteen years, Brooklyn is very much into makeup and skin care. She discovered Ulta Beauty, and wants to go every chance she gets. She also has her own makeup model…her little brother Jaxon. She makes him sit in her room so she can practice makeup on him. Thankfully, Jaxon is patient and loves his sister, so he “tolerates” being the model…for now.
In addition to being a girly girl, Brooklyn is an athlete. She is really into volleyball, and she has basically been playing it all year through different places. She doesn’t want volleyball to be just a few weeks during the school year. We all know that the more you play a game, the better you get, so I’m sure that Brooklyn is a great 
player. Brooklyn will be starting 7th grade in the fall, which used to mean junior high school, but now the kids start middle school in 6th grade, so she won’t be going to a new school. Nevertheless, she will be moving into the upper group of middle school, and no longer the newbie age. Kids change so much in middle school, that is it really shocking…to us adults anyway.
Brooklyn’s birthday party for her friends and family was held over the weekend at the Aquatic Center, and everyone had an absolute blast. Now that summer is almost here, Brooklyn is very excited for camping with her parents Chris and Lacey Killinger and brother, Jaxon, but she will probably bring a friend for the first time too, 
because she’s at that age now, where she doesn’t want to just play with her brother anymore. She is very excited to be able to bring a friend camping. It will be a whole new experience for them both. Of course, Brooklyn is still very excited about getting to spend more time with cousins Elliott and Maya. The girls live in Sheridan, so Brooklyn and Jaxon don’t get to see them as much as they would like to. They are so close, especially Brooklyn and Maya. Maya, being the youngest of the cousins, and Brooklyn being the oldest of the cousins, means that Maya thinks Brooklyn hung the moon, and Brooklyn just loves playing with Maya. The summer looks to be shaping up into a great time for all. Today is Brooklyn’s 12th birthday. Happy birthday Brooklyn!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
