Kids
My grandson, Josh Petersen met the love of his life, Athena “Salazar” Petersen years before they married on July 24, 2023. They were in middle school when they first met, and Athena tells me that she didn’t like him then, but when they met again at work, she felt quite different about him. I could see that it was love the first time I saw them together, and of course, they knew it too. These days, their lives are very full. They have four sons, Justin (who will be 4 in October), Axel (who will be 3 in September), Cristian (who will be 2 in January), and the baby, Graham (three months). They are very happy in their life together.
In fact, Josh and Athena are all about family. They are very loyal to both her family and his. Both sides know 
that they can count on Josh and Athena to be there to help out in whatever way they can. Life is unpredictable and family often need to be able to rely on each other…especially as the years go by. That is exactly how Josh and Athena are…people who can be relied upon. They are also a family that chooses to share all of the wonderful events life has in store for people. When Athena married into our family, her whole family became part of our family. I can truly say that I love every one of them. I hope they feel the same way about us, because it’s always best to be part of one big happy family. It makes life so much easier on the happy couple.
Josh and Athena love the outdoors, and so they enjoy hiking, swimming, and barbecues with family. They are 
always busy doing something. That’s a good thing for them and the boys. Leading an active lifestyle is always best. And with four active boys, it’s a great way to ensure that they sleep well afterward. As we all know, kids have a lot of energy, and boys seem to have a double portion of it. Typical of boys. I think it’s a good thing Josh and Athena like living an active lifestyle. They need to be in good shape to handle the energy of those boys. They are good parents, and their boys love them so much. Today is Josh and Athena’s 3rd anniversary. Happy anniversary Josh and Athena!! Have a great day!! We love you very much!!
For those who no longer have their dad here on Earth, Father’s Day inevitably carries a touch of sadness. Many of us wish for just one more day or one more memory with our dad, but that, of course, is not possible. Instead, we quietly send a Happy Father’s Day wish to Heaven, knowing that our dad doing well and filled with joy. It’s we who carry the weight of sorrow and loneliness. For me, both my father, Allen Spencer, and my father-in-law, Walter Schulenberg, are in Heaven now, and I often find myself forgetting the day’s approach, maybe as a way to protect myself from the sadness their absence brings. My comfort comes from knowing I’ll see them again in Heaven. Until then, to my dads, I say Happy Father’s Day in Heaven. I’m sure it will be a truly wonderful day there…far better than anything we could ever plan for them here on Earth.
I feel so blessed to have had two wonderful dads in my life. My dad made sure that we…his five daughters and our mom…had chances to see the country, go camping, read maps, plan trips, and enjoy many other 
adventures. 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 his family didn’t travel much. They were still incredibly close and always helped each other in any way needed. It’s like a network of people with unique talents who share the load when challenges arise. I will always be proud of and grateful for my two dads, both of whom are now living with God in Heaven.
I’m blessed to have several men in my life who qualify as dads, even if they’re not my own. My husband, Bob Schulenberg, is the proud father of my children, Corrie Petersen and Amy Royce. My sons-in-law, Kevin Petersen and Travis Royce, have been wonderful husbands and fathers, working hard to give my daughters and 
grandchildren happy lives. My grandsons, Chris Petersen…father to a daughter and two sons, and Josh Petersen…father to four sons, are both deeply involved in raising their kids. I’m so proud of these men, who show their children every day what it means to be a great dad. They’re loving fathers, strong role models, and true blessings. I also want to honor my brothers-in-law and nephews, who are amazing dads as well. Today, on Father’s Day, it’s a time of memories for me, but also a celebration for us all. Happy Father’s Day to them and to all the dads out there!
My grandnephew, James Renville has always loved to travel, and in fact, he would probably enjoy living in another country for a while. A likely choice for him would be Columbia, because his wife, Manuela Ortiz has family there. During their almost 5 years of marriage, they have made several trips to Columbia to visit her family…and as it turns out, James and his mother-in-law, Consuelo share the same birthday, a fact they both like very much. James and Manuela have also taken a number of trips with his parents, Toni Chase and her husband, Dave; and Jim Renville and his wife, Rhonda. James and Manuela love hiking with Toni and Dave, and they have gone on a number of trip when they could take in stunning 
views while hiking. Manuela has opened up a whole new world for James in a number of ways. Being from Columbia, she is into Salsa dancing and other forms of dance that James had never done before, but with her teaching him, he has become quite skilled. James and his dad, Jim have taken up playing pool, and have not only had a great time, but they have become quite skilled. They even won a championship and a trip to Las Vegas last year. While in Vegas, James got to take a ride on a helicopter. He had a great time!!
James and Manuela are always open to new kinds of activities, and they have not only enjoyed hiking, but also snow shoeing, and other winter activities. They are very adventurous people, and they are always looking for a new activity to engage in. This year, James and Manuela have taken several trips to Colorado, including a trip 
over New Year’s Eve, which was a lot of fun. They’ve hiked with Toni and Dave at Centennial at the Snowy Range Lake Marie. He and his dad did a Vegas trip for the Mosconi Cup pool tournament in February.
James has to travel a lot for his work in safety and compliance, but that doesn’t exactly constitute an exciting kind of trip. Nevertheless, sometimes a road trip, even for work, can be pleasant. Other than that, James and Manuela love spending time working on their house and hanging out with Toni and Dave and Jim and Rhonda. They like going to the cabin with Toni and Dave and they got to do that a couple times too. Today is James’ birthday. Happy birthday James!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
My great grandnephew, Max Herr is one of the “smiliest” little boys I have ever met. His whole face smiles, and his happiness simply pours out of him. Max loves his mommy and daddy more than anything in the whole world. He is his family’s pride and joy. Hs grandparents feel very blessed to have Max as a grandson. In turn, Max keeps everyone in his family smiling…if not laughing. He isn’t the only grandchild in the bunch, and in fact, it would seem like most of the grandchildren in the families have smiley faces. They all keep the days sunny and lighthearted. Max loves all of his cousins. He loves hanging out and playing with them. 
Max has always been his mom, Katy Herr’s biggest cheerleader. Katy has gotten into marathon running, and that requires a lot of training. It’s amazing that it could be so, but often, her workout buddy is her 6-year-old son. It’s not that her husband, Dylan Herr isn’t supportive, because he definitely s, but Max has the time to go to the gym with his mom and really cheer her on. Of course, he has had less time since he started school, which is just the way it goes, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t cheer her on. Max is very proud of his mommy, and he is proud of the help he has given her through the years.
In addition to his mom, Max is very proud of his dad, Dylan. The guys love to play golf together, and since Max started young, I wouldn’t be surprised if he got to be an 
excellent player or even a pro. Dylan is good at sports, and it will be something the two of them will always have. Max and his daddy are very close, just like he and his mommy are. They are a close family. They love to take trips to visit family in Colorado and take other trips around the country.
Still, in most ways, Max is like any other little boy. He loves to play with cars and other typical boy toys, as well as the tech toys all the kids are good at these days. Max is a good boy and a friend to everyone he meets. I’m sure he has lots of friends at school, because Max is such a happy kid that nobody can resist him. Today is Max’s 6th birthday. Happy birthday Max!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
When my grandparents got married on December 24, 1927, the country was in a recession and money was tight. My grandfather owned a matching set of six-guns that he cherished, but he loved Grandma more. He sold them to cover the wedding expenses and buy her a ring. Though he never managed to get them back, he always felt he came out ahead. I wonder if he always wished he could have afforded a ring, but there were just more important things to consider.
When times were tough, Grandpa chose to go without a wedding ring so Grandma could have one. He valued having a wife and family more than a piece of jewelry. His instincts proved right, as they enjoyed 52 years of marriage before Grandpa went home to be with the Lord. Their life together was blessed with 9 children, as well as with countless grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even great-great-grandchildren. If anyone questioned the lack of wedding ring, I’m sure Grandpa set them straight concerning his loyalty to his beloved wife.
Years later, when their second child, my aunt Virginia Beadle, was around 8 to 10 years old, all the kids were playing outside. Aunt Virginia was the second of my grandparents nine children. She wandered over to the side of the house, between Grandma and Grandpa’s place and Great Grandma’s, where a flower garden grew. Glancing down, she spotted a man’s wedding ring in the soil, likely unearthed during gardening, and maybe having been there for years. She had no way of knowing how long it had been there, and she knew of no one who could have lost the treasure. Thrilled by her discovery, she scooped it up and ran inside to show her parents what she had discovered.
Grandpa looked at it and told her it was a beautiful ring. He put it on his hand and looked at it. It fit him perfectly. Then he took it off and gave it back to Aunt Virginia. She said, “Daddy, you should keep it.” He said he couldn’t, but she insisted!! She couldn’t think of a better person to receive the treasure she had found, than her sweet daddy…and that is how my grandfather got his wedding band from his daughter. Aunt Virginia was so 
pleased to be able to give her dad the wedding ring he had never had and would not be able to buy for himself, as there were too many other things that his paycheck was needed for. And Grandpa was so pleased that she wanted him to have such a beautiful ring. He wore the ring proudly for the rest of his life. And everyone in his family was very pleased that he had been blessed with the ring. While it wasn’t a birthday gift, it was still one of the best gifts ever given or received. Today would have been my Aunt Virginia Beadle’s 96 birthday. Happy birthday in Heaven, Aunt Virginia. We love and miss you very much.
My brand-new grandniece, Tayla Allyn Thompson arrived on June 3, 2026, at 9:15am. She is the second daughter of my niece, Kellie Thompson and her husband, Tim Thompson; and Kellie’s first baby. She is very much loved by her older sister, Jolene Thompson. Tayla’s big sister, Jolene “Jo” is over the moon excited and always willing to help with anything Tayla!! She wants to hold her and love on her all the time and Tayla loves it!! She also loves her mommy and daddy very much!! Tim is her favorite dirty diaper changer (or maybe Tim is Kellie’s choice for changing Tayla’s dirty diapers)!! Haha!! But really!! Tayla loves her daddy!! He is so good with her and can calm her down right away!! Tim is the best girl dad!!
Tayla is a name that gets its roots from the Hebrew name Talia, meaning “dew from God” and in this context, 
means “divine blessing, unconditional love, and quiet spiritual renewal.” It is such a beautiful name. Allyn is a Celtic/Old English name that means “little rock, noble, or harmony” and in a Christian context is associated with “stability, strength, and being a rock of faith.” Allyn is also Tayla’s grandmother, my sister Allyn Hadlock’s name. I can’t think of a better name for this sweet little girl.
Tayla’s mommy tells me that she is absolutely the sweetest!! She has been spending a lot of her time giving her parents and sister lots of sleepy smiles and snuggles, and Kellie just can’t get enough of this precious little girl!! Kellie tells me that Tayla is a “very chill baby” so far, making me picture her in her favorite pair of sunglasses, lazing about in the sun. As is common to babies, Tayla has slept a lot so far, but when she is awake, she is so aware of everything and just 
loves to look around!! Last night, the family went for their first walk, and Tayla loved it. We went on our first walk tonight and she loved it! Kellie and Tim have a bassinet stroller, so Tayla gets to relax and not be strapped down!! It gives her the freedom to stretch out and relax, as if she were simply in bed. Kellie says, “Tayla is so patient with me, as she learns the ropes of being a new mommy and she gives me this look that I can’t get enough of!! I love that she knows who I am and unlike other babies and am one of the ones who knows how to calm her down!! I feel like I have waited my whole life for what I have now and we are so blessed to be a family of 4!!” It’s a beautiful new life. Welcome to the world and to your family!! We love you so much already!!
My sister, Alena Stevens would have been 65 years old today. We miss her every day. So much has happened since she went to be with the Lord. Two of her children and their spouses are having babies this summer…Alena’s favorite season, so now, she will have six grandchildren. I know the new babies would absolutely love their grandma, just as her current four grandchildren did. Of course, they will get to know her (and probably already do, since they originated in Heaven) when we all go to Heaven and join her and other family members who have gone on before us. Today is a joyous day for Alena. She is happy and has much to celebrate with the Lord and family members in Heaven. I’m sure she knows that this is her Earthly birthday, and that would make it even more joyous in Heaven.
Alena has always loved children. When she worked, she had a very soft spot in her heart for children who were 
upset or having a bad day, and especially for those with life struggles they faced at home. That is what made her so good at her job as a Refocus Room teacher at Verda James School in Casper. While getting a child to refocus is at times difficult, once they are calmed, it can be very rewarding. Many of Alena’s students kept in touch with her even after they graduated from high school. That is amazing, since she work in an elementary school. A teacher who changes a child’s life is hard to forget, and her abilities were a long-lasting tribute to her and one she never forgot. She felt honored.
While being a Refocus teacher was Alena’s occupation, her main focus was on her family. Mike was the love of her life, and her nearly 41 years with him were her greatest treasure. Alena always wanted to be a wife and mother, and her children, Michelle Miller, Garrett Stevens, and Lacey Killinger were her pride and joy. As with 
most mothers, the second-best thing to having children is the day those children have children. Being a grandmother is so much fun, and Alena thoroughly enjoyed it. She loved taking trips to Sheridan to spend time with Garrett and his family, and very much enjoyed the time she spent with Lacey’s stepchildren, Brooklyn and Jaxon. She was a terrific grandmother, and they all love her very much…as do we all. Today is Alena’s birthday. Happy birthday in Heaven. We love and miss you very much and look forward to seeing you when we join you in Heaven.
My younger daughter, Amy Royce has once again caught up to her Irish Twin, who is my older daughter, Corrie Petersen. Both girls are now 50 years old. I don’t quite know how that could be, but here we are. Amy and her husband of 31 years now, Travis Royce decided to move to the Pacific Northwest in 2014, after both of their kids, Shai and Caalab graduated from high school The kids moved too, so her family is together and happy. I do miss them, but I’m glad that they are happy, and Amy never liked the harsher winters here in Wyoming.
For her birthday weekend, her family, and Shai’s boyfriend, Angelo took her to Belfair, which is a lovely place south of Seattle. They rented an Airbnb right on the water, 
and Amy said it was like Heaven. I suggested that someplace like that might be a perfect retirement place for her, or even a vacation home. I think she might be considering such an option. She was truly in her element there. She is totally my “Beach Girl” even though she was born in Wyoming. Amy loves everything about the beach and while Ferndale isn’t right on a beach, she is only eight miles from Birch Bay, which is a very pretty place. She and Travis go out there quite often, and I can totally see why, because I love going there too.
Amy is, quite amazing to me, my “Flower Child” and maybe that because of the longer growing season in the Pacific Northwest, or maybe it’s because of the rainforest of that area. Amy has always loved flowers, but they 
aren’t quite as easy to grow here as they are there. Her gardens get more and more beautiful every year, and her yard too, because Travis loves yard work. Their back yard is a quiet haven for them to get away from it all at the end of the day. All their friends and family would agree that it is the place to be…and everyone takes whatever opportunity is offered to come and hang out at the Royce home. It’s a cool thing to be the favorite “hang out” spot, and they love it. Amy and Travis have always been social people, although Amy is a bit shy. Still, once she gets to know people, she is fine…she gets that from her mom…as well as some of her looks. Today is Amy’s 50th birthday. Enjoy the month of being the same age as Corrie…it will fly by. Happy 50th birthday Amy!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
My grandnephew, Jaxx Harman is one of the sweetest boys ever!! He learned being a gentleman from his daddy, my nephew Jake Harman, and like his dad, Jaxx is always telling his mom, Melanie Harman and sisters, Alice Green and Izabella Harman they are beautiful and telling his dad he is handsome! I suppose it makes him a “sweet talker,” but he genuinely means what he says too. It is a very sweet trait to have. There is nothing nicer than to have people around you who always have kind words to say.
Jaxx is the youngest of Jake and Melanie’s kids and their only son. Often, having older sisters means that the boy either gets picked on or picks on his sisters, but these three get along very well. Jaxx just loves everybody so much…but at times he 
can definitely be onery especially to his dad. The two of them are “peas in a pod” when it comes to joking around together and just trying to make the whole family smile! Melanie tells me that “Jaxx’s laugh is one of the best things in this world and his adorable smile!!”
Like most kids these days, Jax is a huge gamer, just like his dad was growing up! With Jake’s abilities, Jaxx came by gaming quite honestly. His favorite games are Kingdom Hearts and God of War! He isn’t into any sports, although that could come later. Still, it seems doubtful. Jaxx is his daddy’s boy, and Jake never really went in for sports much. Nevertheless, Jaxx does enjoy going out and playing with his sisters outside!! They play lots of rough and tumble games, so getting his exercise and staying active are no problem. Jaxx also really 
loves his cousin Nathaniel Kirk, or as Jaxx and his sisters call him “Na Na!” They are all such good friends, and love to include Nathaniel in their play as much as possible.
Like most boys, Jaxx is ok with school, but not exactly a big fan. He does love seeing his friends and hanging out with them, however. I would assume recess if his favorite subject. Jaxx is going into 4th grade next year, and that means that he only has two more years in elementary school. Kids grow up so fast, and school days are so soon over. I can’t believe how much Jaxx has grown up already. It seems like just yesterday that he was a baby. Today is Jaxx’s 9th birthday. Happy birthday Jaxx!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
My nephew, Tim Thompson has a lot of things happening these days!! In the last year, he joined our family when he got married last year to my niece, Kellie (Hadlock) Thompson on June 28, 2025. Not wanting to wait, to grow their family, they got pregnant within 3 months, and his daughter, Jolene gained a second mom and now a new sibling…in the next few days. To top it off, shortly before their wedding, Tim started school and now has a new job. To say his has been a big year, is an understatement!!
Tim is one of those people who are always on the go. He has been working diligently in school, and Kellie says it is amazing to watch! He has been a 4.0 student every semester including the last semester when he had to take not only physics, but trigonometry and a law class at the same time and that isn’t even including the other 3 class he had outside of those. In the last few weeks of the semester, Tim was offered an internship and started that a week before finals and still managed to keep his 4.0!!Normally, Tim would take 
classes in the summer semester too, but with the internship, and the new baby coming, he decided to take the summer off of school. That would allow him to be full time at the internship during the summer though and he is enjoying learning new things and the much-needed break from studying!! And it will give him more time to spend with his family and get to know the new baby.
Tim is a gentleman all the way. Not only is he doing all these things, but Kellie tells me that “he has been the most amazing and supportive husband through this pregnancy and before the pregnancy! He has been taking care of me in the middle of all of his stuff, and I can honestly say I am blessed beyond measure to have been the one that got to marry him! He works so hard to be there for Jolene and me, and now baby Thompson! We are both so excited for the new blessing coming in just a few 
days or sooner! (Induction is 7:00 pm on Monday, June 1) he is an incredible dad to Jo, and I couldn’t have picked a better man to be the father of our children!!” I agree!! Tim is a gentleman and a helper to many. I too have been blessed by his helpfulness, when he assists me with my aunt, Sandy Pattan at church. His kindnesses and assistance do not go unnoticed. We all think Tim has been a wonderful addition to the family. Today is Tim’s birthday. Happy birthday Tim!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
