Kids
My nephew, Jason Sawdon is a great guy…just ask anyone who knows him. His sister-in-law, Chelsea Hadlock tells me that Jason is kind, helpful, and sister-in-law, Lindsay Moore says that he has a generous heart, which she believes to be straight from the Lord. Jason is always willing to help others with a variety of things. He helps out his church in Cheyenne, Wyoming, with their computer things, like streaming their services online, which is such an important part of church services these days. If people are sick, or just can’t get out of their home easily, they don’t have to miss out on the church service. Jason serves others gladly and with compassion. He is so handy and can truly figure anything out!!
Jason is dependable. If Jason says he will be there to help…he will. This past week, he helped his father-in-law, Chris Hadlock with the electrical work in Chris’ new garage. Jason did a great job on the wiring for the garage. It will be inspected next week, and they are confident it will get the green light. He has a lot of talent when it comes to electricity and engineering…a great plus, in the “saving money” arena. If you can save money, it’s a good thing. Having that help within the family is awesome.
Everyone tells me that Jason is also funny, but not in an obvious way!! You really can’t tell he’s joking unless you know him well!! Those are the best tricksters, because they will get you every time. Not everyone can tell a good joke or pull a really great prank with a straight face, and if you can’t, the prank with never go over. You have to have a “poker face” so to speak. Jason is quite a character, he and brings lots of fun and adventure to their lives!! Everyone feels blessed to have him as a brother-in-law, they love him very much. I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t agree with them on that.
In a “Wild Hogs” kind of time, Jason went on a motorcycle trip with his friends this summer. They went on some backroads trails across the state of Wyoming. They had a great time. Now, I don’t know if they got into as much mischief as the original “Wild Hogs,” but I’d say probably not. Jason, being a Wyoming 
Highway Patrol Lieutenant, would be very unlikely to get into any trouble, and my guess is that at least some of his friends are also law enforcement, so…getting in trouble is not an option, Haha!!
My sister, Allyn Hadlock, Jason’s mother-in-law, like every mom, takes a different view about what traits are most important in her son-in-law, and Jason has gained her approval in every area. He is a great dad and husband. He is always happy to indulge, his wife, Jessi’s whims!! He’s a great guide to their daughter, Adelaide and loves her so much!! They have a lot of fun as a family, camping, traveling, or just time at home hanging out together. Allyn says, “We are very blessed to have Jason in our family!!” Today is Jason’s birthday!! Happy birthday Jason!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
My great grandson, Axel Petersen, turns one today. He is a typical little boy. He loves the maneuver from crawling to sitting and regularly shows his parents, Josh and Athena Petersen just how smart he is in all he does. Axel is a smiley happy baby and displays such sweet little smiles. Axel recently moved with his family from Casper, Wyoming to Lawton, Oklahoma, and while we are all very sad that they have moved so far away, we are glad that they are adjusting well. We all miss him very much, especially his grandma and papa, Corrie and Kevin Petersen, who liked to have the boys over to visit. For now, they live with his mommy’s brother Jacob Salazar, his wife Idalia, and their children. Axel and his brother, Justin are having a great time playing with their cousins and getting to know their aunt and uncle better. Axel really likes spending time with his Aunt Dali.
Axel has several new teeth coming in and had 8 in total. That means he gets to eat a whole new variety of 
foods, which makes him very happy. He often says dad, and when he and his brother were finishing a bath the other day, Josh dried Justing off while Athena finished up with Axel. When she started to dry him off, and Axel saw that his daddy dried his brother off, when Axel saw that his mommy was drying him off, he cried and said “No…Dad!! Dadddd!!” Athena says she was “offended!” I guess Axel was too. Apparently, mommy didn’t dry him off right or else it was a matter of what his big brother got…Axel should get too!! I know Athena was hoping Axel would be her “momma’s boy” for a little bit longer. I guess she will just have to settle for Axel’s new little brother, Cristian (coming around February 1st) to be her “momma’s boy” now.
Axel has been having a great time touring the Lawton area with his parents. He loves going to the park and playing on the toys there, especially the swings. He loves watching what his daddy is doing, especially when Josh is being funny. Axel loves to smile and laugh. He is very ticklish, and actually likes being tickled. Of course, anyone who knows kids, knows that they really do like being tickled. There is just something about getting tickled that makes kids happy. Axel is just an all-around happy boy, who makes his parents and family very happy. He may 
not know it yet, but he is getting ready to become a big brother too. This will be a different experience for our little Axel, but I know that he will be a great big brother, just like his big brother, Justin is. Today is Axel’s first birthday. Happy birthday Axel!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
My younger daughter, Amy Royce met her future husband, Travis Royce, when they were both still in high school. They knew that what they had was something special…something forever, and now, 29 years later, they are still going strong. They are so good together. They like doing the same things…except for the football teams they support. Travis likes the Chicago Bears and Amy likes the Green Bay Packers. For non-football fans, the two teams are bitter rivals. That said, they watch the games minus their spouse…it keeps the peace.
I love how these two are together. Their house is always filled with laughter, because they both have a great sense of humor. Their jokes might be a little different, but both are very funny. They love entertaining their friends, and their house is truly the place everyone wants to hang out. Travis and their son, Caalab, along with several friends have a little band. They don’t usually go anywhere to play or charge admission for their concerts, but rather “jam” right there at the house. When they bought the house, it had a garage and recreation room, and now it is the local “T&Avern” and has everything from a pool table to bar tables. It’s a great place for them, their kids (Shai and Caalab Royce), and their friends to hang out.
Amy and Travis have a couple of places they like to go to celebrate their anniversaries. One is a quaint little 
place called Ilwaco, in southwest Washington. The town (although I have not been there) reminds me a little bit of a place Bob and I like to go for our anniversaries…Thermopolis, Wyoming. Ilwaco is a little town of about 1,087 people, so there isn’t a whole lot to do but relax and walk around the area. That is what makes it so charming. They also took an Alaskan cruise last year, which they very much enjoyed. Since they live so close to Canada these days, they have also taken anniversary trips to Canada, as well.
Amy and Travis are above all, best friends. They have been from the very start. They have an easy-going style and get along very well. They love the area they love in, being near the beaches, and being near enough to the big cities to go there sometimes, and far enough away so that they aren’t feeling like they are always in the big cities. Amy is a rain-lover!! I don’t know if Travis loves it as much as Amy does, but I think he likes it too. They 
have a beautiful back yard, that Amy and Travis keep in tip top shape. He takes care the lawn, and she takes care of the flower gardens. They have ponds that are inhabited by “voluntary” frogs and snails. It’s nice when they don’t have to spend money of the inhabitants of the pond, because they just show up and move right in. Amy and Travis are quite happy with their life together, and that makes us very happy too. Today is Am and Travis’ 29th wedding anniversary. Happy anniversary Amy and Travis!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
Every kid gets excited about their birthday and being another year older. Most start saying they are their age and a half pretty early on, but for my grandniece, Mackenzie Moore, the excitement maybe went to the extreme. In fact, she’s been talking about turning seven since she turned six!! Hahaha!! So, to think the day has finally arrived is…well, the best birthday gift ever!! Oh, don’t get me wrong, I’m sure she is excited about birthday gifts and such, but being seven is just the coolest most important part of her birthday.
Mackenzie is kind, and she has such a sweetheart. Like her mom, Lindsay Moore, Mackenzie is a social butterfly…she is a friend to everyone she meets. Mackenzie is truly a such a delightful person. She is easy going and fun. She loves her family and loves to be with them. Her grandmas and grandpas, aunts and uncles, and most of all…her cousins are a huge part of her life!! The summer, she got to spend time with her cousin Khloe from South Dakota; and lots of time with Adelaide Sawdon, who lives in Cheyenne, so not too far away. She and Addie play together often, and we try to get the girls together a lot. They build forts, make up games, and love to jump on the trampoline. Then, Mackenzie and Adelaide got to go camping with cousins, Ethan and Aurora Hadlock, and Jolene Thompson . The Hadlock family has had a long-standing tradition of camping together, and that has built a close comradery among the cousins. 
Chelsea tells me that, Mackenzie is very funny, kind, and determined…and she is never interested in Uncle Ryan Hadlock’s teasing and nonsense. Hahahaha!!
She spent a lot of time practicing her gymnastics this summer and started officially this fall. So far, she loves it. and her hard work has paid off. She is very proud of her gymnastics skills and loves to show those skills as often as possible. She’s practiced the perfect cartwheel and executes it flawlessly each time she does it. Her aunt, Chelsea Hadlock, tells me that she is super good at them!! When Chelsea asked what she wanted for her birthday she said, “makeups and lotions, lip ‘skincare,’ soft scrunchies…Simone Biles things.” Chelsea really laughed about that. For those who don’t know, Simone Biles is an Olympic gymnast.
Mackenzie loves her daddy, Shannon Moore, very much!! They are two peas in a pod, and they love doing the same things. She also loves being in 1st grade!! Mackenzie has the sweetest heart. She is always considerate of everyone around her to make sure they are included and comfortable in all situations. She is a helper and always does what is right. She is also such a sweet friend. One place where Mackenzie shows maybe just a “hint” of stubbornness, is in the area of fashion. She has her own style, and it may not be like everyone else. 
That doesn’t matter, because it is her style. She’s always been this way and knows exactly what she wants her outfits and hair to look like and will not be swayed, haha!! Her Aunt Jessi Sawdon and family love that they live so close and get to see her often! God has made her uniquely her…instilling her perfect gifts and talents. He has called her according to a purpose!! She is loved by God, loved by her family and her sweet little doggy Brinkley Bear. Today is Mackenzie’s 7th birthday!! You made it Mackenzie…six is gone and seven has arrived. Happy birthday Mackenzie!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
My youngest grandson, Josh Petersen ended his 25th year of life by packing up his wife, Athena Petersen and their sons, Justin and Axel, and moving them to Lawton, Oklahoma. The day they left town was such a sad day for those of us left behind, and while it was also sad for them, they went with a sense of adventure too. I can’t blame them for feeling the excitement of the move, but of course, I am one of those left behind. For us, their parents, grandparents, siblings, niece and nephews, there is an empty space that now lives in our lives. Nevertheless, we will find creative ways to stay close to these loved ones too.
Josh will begin his 26th year with a new job. He is still doing the same work he was in Casper…recharging fire 
extinguishers, but now he will be working at Fire Pros, LLC in Lawton. This was a step up for him, as he is making five dollars more an hour than he was here in Casper. Josh has to improve himself, especially when he and Athina are expecting their third son at the end of January. He rather fell into this work and was trained well at All Out Fire in Casper, and his new employer saw the great value in having a pre-trained employee on staff. He jumped at the chance to hire Josh. Josh had wanted to be a firefighter when he went to college, but his knees would not allow him to do so. This is for him, the next best option. It may not always be what he wants to do, but I know that whatever he decides to do, he will excel at, because Josh is a hardworking man, who is very loyal to his employers. He always has been, and we are very proud of his work ethic.
Josh is also a loyal family man and is always willing to sacrifice his needs to make sure his wife and sons have everything they need. Josh met Athena when they were in middle school, and as often happens, they didn’t 
know that this was their forever love, until much later when they ended up working together. I think they knew the minute they found out they were working together, however. The rest is history, as they say. In short order they were married, had two sons, and have one on the way. They love taking the boys to the park, and other places of interest…and they take lots of pictures, which we will all treasure even more now. We want them to be happy, and their lives to be full, but as long as they live away from us, we will all miss them very much. Nevertheless, as they have said before, “Home is Wherever I’m With You” and so it is. Today is Josh’s 26th birthday. Happy birthday Josh!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
Our aunt, Pearl Hein has spent much of her life taking care of others. She took care of her parents, husband, children, and grandchildren. She was also worked full time…plus. It seemed that the IGA in Forsyth, Montana where she lives, couldn’t function if Pearl wasn’t there. Eventually though, came the time for her to retire. I’m sure that IGA was sorry to see her go, but she was ready. After that, she took care of her husband, Uncle Eddie Hein until his passing in 2019. A short time later, in early 2020, her son, Larry Hein also passed away. This left Pearl feeling alone, even though, she has a daughter, Kim Arani living in Texas. For the most part, the loneliness was short lived. Where Pearl hadn’t really traveled much, she now made some trips to visit Kim, and I think she has really enjoyed that, and that makes me very happy. They looked like they had a great time.
Pearl is a kind and caring woman, and she is loved by many. Her humble nature tends to make her think less of 
her own value though. I know that my family and my in-laws always loved Pearl and enjoyed spending time at her home. I only wish that she could have come to Casper more, but she always worked too hard, and didn’t often give herself the time off that she deserved. That always made me sad, because she really did deserve that time off. Pearl and Eddie always had a garden and she canned food from the garden to serve her family. Pearl was a great cook…I mean a really great cook. You never went away from her table hungry, and more likely you were too full, because you just couldn’t stop eating.
Pearl still lives in Forsyth, Montana, as do some of her grandchildren, and her siblings live nearby as well. I’m sure that is part of what keeps Pearl from moving to Texas to be nearer her daughter…that and maybe the
Texas heat. I’m not sure, but some people like that heat and others really don’t. Still, she cand go visit in the cold winter months and at least enjoy not being in the “frozen tundra” of Montana. Ok maybe it really isn’t the frozen tundra, but it often feels that way in the coldest parts of Winter. It is my firm belief, that Pearl deserves whatever she wants to make her happy. She has spent so much of her life making others happy, healthy, and blessed. Now it is time for her to do things that make her happy. Today is Pearl’s 75th birthday. Happy birthday Pearl!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
My son-in-law, Kevin Petersen is a family-oriented guy who loves his kids and grandkids dearly. He and my daughter, Corrie Petersen have always been close to their kids. Like most parents, having a child move away is hard. When their son, Chris Petersen moved to Sheridan, Wyoming for college, it wasn’t that he had moved so far away, but rather that they could no longer see him every day. It’s never easy to have your child move away, and now with their son, Josh Petersen, his wife, Athena, and their sons, Justin and Axel (and their new son Cristian who is coming in January 2025) moving to Oklahoma, they are facing a new form of grief…that of being long-distance parents and grandparents. We all understand the move, but that doesn’t make it easy. Nevertheless, I know that Kevin and Corrie will find a way to make this work. Today’s technology will help some. They will call, facetime, video chat, text, and of course, visit…and it will be ok. Kevin and Corrie also have three grandchildren who still live here, and for that they are very grateful. Their son, Chris and his wife, Karen, have three kids, Cambree, Caysen, and Cyler. 
Kevin is an industrious guy, and he will also find ways to stay busy. He is currently working on his 1986 Chevy Monte Carlo right now, along with my husband, his father-in-law, Bob Schulenberg. They had to pull the engine out, finds the leaks it has, and repair them. For any who don’t know, pulling an engine is a huge job, and takes many hours. Nevertheless, these guys are experienced mechanics who have been doing this kind of work for years. When they get done with it, the Monte Carlo will be as good as new…the engine anyway. Kevin has done interior restoration and painting too, and it will eventually be showroom worthy.
Kevin is also very skilled at home renovation and has been making some changed to his and Corrie’s home. It isn’t done yet, but it really looks amazing. I have always been impressed with Kevin’s ability to restore, repair, renovate, and decorate the things they own. He really is an artist at heart, and his creativity is amazing. Kevin is also very creative in the kitchen. During Corrie’s time in nursing school, Kevin did all the cooking. He did 
most of it before as well, because he is a trained chef, and very good at it. After Corrie had her gall bladder removed, meats because problematic for her, so she became a Lacto-ovo vegetarian, meaning she eats dairy and eggs, but not meats. Kevin embraced that in his cooking for her, even though he still eats meats. The meals he made were tasty, creative, and nutritious. He kept her going through those long school years, and continues to do so, not that she is a nurse. He has been a wonderful husband to our daughter, and we couldn’t ask for better. Today is Kevin’s birthday. Happy birthday Kevin!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
My niece, Lindsay Hadlock has always been a strong Christian, but over the years, she has flourished and is now working in leadership positions within the faith too. We are all very proud of her in her endeavors. In late 2022, Lindsay felt led to start a Christian podcast called “The New Way To Live” and it is going so well. Her first podcast was on November 20, 2022, and I would encourage everyone to check it out. Lindsay’s faith is strong, and you can always tell how strongly the Holy Spirit guides her with her messages. Lindsay loves her church family too.
She and her family have been attending Harvest Church since they moved to Laramie, Wyoming for her husband, Shannon Moore’s job as assistant coach and tight ends coach and helps with special teams for the Wyoming Cowboys football team. Their membership at Harvest Church has been a great blessing to them. Lindsay has helped with the Women’s Conference there, the Vacation Bible School, and their Communion services. She is also on the church council. She has also started holding a Bible study in her home. That has 
been a great blessing to all who attend. Lindsay also attends a Bible study for (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) FCA. She loves the Lord, loves her church, and really loves living in Laramie. She has flourished there and has many friends. Lindsay makes friends so easily, so that is not even a surprise. Shannon, and their daughter, Mackenzie decorated the house for her this morning as a birthday surprise. I’m sure her Bible study group really enjoyed that.
As usual, Lindsay, Shannon, and Mackenzie usually do a lot of traveling during the summer, before Shannon goes back to work, and some for games and such during the year too. Hiking is always a part of their travels. This year they went out to Minnesota for a wedding and visited some friends there and in the Brookings, South Dakota area. They showed Mackenzie where Shannon used to live and gave her a tour of South Dakota State University. They went to Houston over spring break and had a great time seeing the sights and the beach. Lindsay works for South Dakota State 
University as the director of HOP…the Health and Obesity Program. She’s been very busy at work and had also traveled a couple of times for work up to South Dakota to do sight visits and for a conference. She is usually a speaker at the conference and does a great job presenting. She also went to Atlanta for a work conference and spoke at that one as well. Lindsay leads a very busy life. Today is Lindsay’s birthday. Happy birthday Lindsay!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
My grandniece, Aurora Hadlock started 8th grade yesterday. I keep asking myself, “How can that be?” She was just a baby the day before that, wasn’t she? No, of course, she wasn’t, but time certainly flies. She has grown into a beautiful young lady, who is definitely her mother, Chelsea Hadlock’s mini-me! Aurora is also in her second year of volleyball and totally loves it, despite the fact that practice is before school every day at 6am!! Now that’s dedication. This past weekend, she got to go to a comic con, so she could see the guys from Twilight. She loved walking around dressed up as Max from Stranger Things and buying art and Funko Pops. Still, Aurora’s favorite thing is reading and learning. She can always be found with a few books in her bag, just in case there is a moment to read.
Aurora has her own style. She is funny, clever, weird (and proud of it!), kind, compassionate, and encouraging. Her carefree style and the ease with which she communicates with people has made her a lot of friends, all of whom she calls her “bestie”, including her grandpa, Chris Hadlock!! She’s really finding her own way, with fashion and everything else, as she is quickly becoming a young woman. I love that she is following her own heart in all things, and not being just led along by what others think is style. She may like some things others do, but only if it suits her. She is her own girl. Full of confidence and spunk!! That’s as it should be.
Aurora has a sweet heart, and she is very good with her cousins, Adelaide, Mackenzie and Jolene. They absolutely love to play with Aurora!! She never acts like they are in the way, or that their games are beneath her. Rare qualities in a teenager. They all ask if she will be there every time the family all gets together…and I’m sure she will do her best to do so. She is definitely someone they all look up to!! She is such a sweetheart!!
When I asked about story ideas for Aurora, her aunt, Lindsay Moore said, “Oh you mean, Caroline?” Lindsay then went on to say, “Aurora is such a fun character and she has perfected her southern accent! We love Aurora. She is a kind and sweet girl! She is quickly growing up, but I still want to hold her like a little teeny tiny baby! She is a kind and sweet girl!!” I think that most of us feel the very same way.
The “Caroline” part intrigued me, so I asked about it. Lindsay told me, “It’s her southern name!! Lindsay said, “Aurora is Caroline, and they named Mackenzie (Lindsay’s daughter) Savannah when we were camping together.” The story goes like this according to Chelsea, “In 5th grade, Aurora’s teacher gave the class “southern names” because she was from the south and they thought it was funny. Aurora’s southern name was Caroline, and since then she will occasionally put on a southern accent and call herself Caroline. She’s so funny.” Well, there you have it Aurora is also “Caroline” and has perfected her southern accent too!! Today, Aurora is a teenager. Happy 13th birthday Aurora!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
My nephew, Wes Burr, is the partner of my niece, Cassie Franklin. Wes came along at a very low point in Cassie’s life. She had gone through a nasty divorce, and she needed someone kind to come into her life, but wondered if she could trust anyone to be that person. Wes was that person. She was finally in a good place. And her two children, Lucas and Zoey Iverson were finally in a good place. Wes treated the kids as if they were his own, from the very start, and 
gave them the kind of life they desperately needed. It was a match made in Heaven and a very great relief. to everyone in the family.
These days the family has moved to a new town, where Wes and Cassie run a business together called Back to Back Cleaning Company. They also have a new little addition to their family…little Alicen. She has been pure joy, with a big dose of spunk. Recently, she picked her first apple…and promptly threw it. Cassie didn’t say what she threw it at, but from the look on Wes’ face, I think it might have been at a person, or maybe a window. Nevertheless, she was “forgiven” for this little discretion, as everyone couldn’t help but laugh. Things like this would likely have 
been cause for a lot of stress, and a big argument before, but Wes is very good natured and kind.
Wes and Cassie have built a loving family, where imagination, laughter, happiness are free to express themselves. Cassie and her kids didn’t have that before. When a partner comes into the lives of your niece and family, who changes everything from bad to awesome, it is impossible not to like that person. That is exactly how I feel about Wes. He is a sweet man, who has made the lives of my niece and her kids so much better. Today is Wes’ birthday. Happy birthday Wes!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
