Kids
In thinking about the story for my niece, Katie Balcerzak, I decided to enlist the help of her sisters. In my experience, sisters often have great stories about their sisters, and great pictures too. Katie’s sister, Bernnie Steadman tells me that one of her favorite memories of their childhood is when they moved to a new house on Brentwood Street. Where the girls had shared a room before, they now got their own rooms. As exciting as that was, the girls were used to sleeping with each other, so every night Bernnie would hear the pitter patter of Katie’s little feet coming downstairs to Bernnie’s bedroom. Bernnie loved to read and would often stay up late, totally immersed in a novel, so Katie would always bring one of her storybooks with her, so they could lay in bed and read together. Bernnie, being an avid reader would read out loud to Katie sometimes or they would just read their individual books. Katie could never outlast Bernnie, and always fell asleep first and Bernnie 
would shut off the light and read by flashlight, so not to disturb her sweet little sister.
This memory of Katie as a little girl is very different than the Katie we know today, but there are things in the story that I can totally see in how Katie is today, especially with her sisters, and with her kids, Reece and Aysa. Katie is a great mom, and her kids, much like her are always laughing and smiling. Katie has been perfect for Keifer since the day she was born, and they have known theirs was the perfect match since they were kids in school. I’m sure that Keifer took one look at Katie, and he was hooked. She is a beautiful girl, inside and out.
Bernnie wanted me to know about Katie’s very endearing qualities. Katie was always a happy kid, and she has the best laugh. In fact, her laugh is contagious. When the girls were kids, Bernnie tried to be silly all the time, just to get Katie laughing. Once she got started, all the sisters would be giggling. They couldn’t stop, because every time they would stop, one or the other would start back up, especially Katie. Katie has such a kind heart and out of all the sisters, she’s always the first one to forgive. That is a very special quality indeed. We think 
sometimes that we can always go back and make up with our siblings, but some people can’t. That ability to forgive quickly keeps the lines of communication open, and the hearts softened. The person who can forgive and forgive quickly is a rare gem indeed. Bernnie says that Katie was always the peacemaker, if they were upset with each other. And today they are all the very best of friends. That is truly such great a blessing!! Today is Katie’s birthday. Happy birthday Katie!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
My grandniece, Melanie Harman joined our family when she married my grandnephew, Jake Harman. Jake is so in love with Melanie, and he can never say enough nice things about his “perfect wife.” Jake knows that Melanie is just that…perfect for him. As a semi-truck driver, Jake looks forward to getting back home after a long day to the sweet home his wife has created for their little family. Melanie has worked for the State of Wyoming for two years now, and she is loved by everyone because of her bubbly personality and perfect smile.
Jake is so happy with his bride, calling her “the best mother in the whole world” and saying that he should know, because he had the best mom and so knows what a great mom is. Melanie has embraced that title because their kids love her so much. 
He is impressed at how she can work a full-time job and still manages to take care of her kids and husband (also a big kid) without missing a beat. Melanie makes sure that they never go with out in any way, because she goes above and beyond for them every second of every day.
For Jake, thoughts of Melanie bring up her smile…the most amazing in the world, a laugh that melts the hardest of hearts, the voice of an angel, and a face that he can only say is absolutely proof of God’s existence, because only someone who is perfect and complete and total love could make such a perfect wife as she is. Jake is a teaser, and every year he tries to steal her birthday and say it’s his. He does the same thing with their babies, Izabella “Belle” and Jax. While that part is a joke, Jake really does feel like every day is his birthday, because having Melanie as his wife, makes everyday seem like his birthday. Having Melanie as his wife has made him a better person…hands down. Jake tells me that he was an alcoholic thief, who would do anything to get booze 
and smoked 2 packs a day when I was drunk and 1 a day when not. Then, he met Melanie and fell completely and madly in love with her. He quit drinking, so he wouldn’t miss her or miss her smile. He never went back to drinking. He quit smoking, praying that it would let him live longer next to her. He says that she has given him the best children in the world. His wife and kids are his best friends, and his life is awesome, and it’s all because of this day 33 years ago that his perfect mate came into his life. Jake says that without Melanie Jo, he would still be nothing today, so he says, “Happy birthday Jake!! This is your day, because on this day your life began!! I love my beautiful and amazing turtle.” Today is actually Melanie’s birthday. Happy birthday Melanie!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
My grandniece, Elliott Stevens is six going on sixteen, and she loves riding anything with a motor. Recently, she drove her Papa Mike Stevens’ ranger at the lake over the Independence Day fun. She didn’t want to get off. She was totally in her element. She regularly drives her dad, Garrett Stevens’ 4-wheeler with him, and she drove Papa Wes Smiley’s 4-wheeler last weekend. Of course, her daddy or one of the grandpas are with her, but make no mistake, Elliott is the driver. She wouldn’t have it any other way. She always wants to drive Garrett’s truck on dirt roads. Elliott may have ten years left before she can get a license, but she can drive now!!
Driving isn’t the only grown-up thing Elliott likes to do. She is really getting into tech stuff too. Like most kids these days, Elliott is very good at the challenging games on her tablet. She is very smart. She loves her school which is a self-directed learning center called Wildflower. She is flourishing there!! Elliott is very mature for her age and understands more than she should for a six-year-old. 
Elliott is the best big sister. Sometimes it’s hard for her, because her little sister, Maya looks up to her so much and Maya will do anything Elliott will do, and Maya will do it way more than Elliott. That means that anything Maya imitates that Elliott has done, needs to be a “good example” rather than things done in anger or impulse. Hard as it can be sometimes, Elliott tries to set a good example for Maya, and that can be a big responsibility for a six-year-old girl. For the most part, Elliott is a good example, and she is the guiding person for Maya…even more so than their parents, Garrett and Kayla. Maya absolutely loves Elliott, and Elliott is her role model, whether Elliott means to be or not. Elliott has also been a great help in the tasks they have been doing recently to get our house fixed up, so they can sell their home. Elliott is her daddy’s little helper for most tasks. She is a little girl, and her “help” does slow Garrett down a little, but he tries to have the patience to let her help and learn. She is so interested in everything, and she will learn with patience and practice.
Elliott very much into gymnastics. She has gymnastics class every week, and she also has a bar at home. After 
watching her “hero” Simone Biles perform at the Olympics this week, Elliott couldn’t stop doing gymnastics tricks. She has liked Simone Biles for a long time. She even did a school project on Simone last year. After Elliott watched some highlights last night, and she was bouncing all around doing hand stands and stuff. Her parents thought it was so funny. She was talking about Simone Biles with her mom, and she said, “She is the best in the world, but the smallest one on the team!” Yes, she is, Elliott. Today is Elliott’s 6th birthday. Happy birthday Elliott!! Have a great day!! We love you so much!!
My nephew, Sean Mortensen is an extraordinary sportsman. He excels at everything from boating to snowmobiling, and he has taught his daughter, Jadyn Mortensen, and partner, Amanda Reed to do these things too. They are fearless people, and very capable in almost any sport. While he enjoys water sports in the summer, I think that he rather prefers winter sports. To Sean, there is little that compares to landing in a blanket of deep powder with the snowmobile he just raced up the hill. Of course, there is more to such activities than that, because if a racer doesn’t know what is under that powder, he could get hurt. Now don’t ask me how they stay safe, because I don’t know and maybe they don’t know either. Maybe it’s all just instinct. And maybe we will never know.
Sean and Amanda have been together since high school, and they are the parents of a beautiful daughter 
named Jadyn, who is in college now. Theirs was a made in Heaven romance, and they have never looked back. They have enjoyed their life and making friends together. They are very social people and have made a great many friends along the way. He and Amanda also love to hang out with a great group of friends on the weekend for some fun…and really goofy times. When they go to the lake, they often have an impromptu fishing contest to see who gets the biggest fish. You never know what fun they will have when these friends get together!!
While Sean and his family are fun loving people, they are not just fun loving. Sean is the owner of Triangle 
Heating and Air, LLC, and he has worked very hard to make his business a success. The company has had great reviews across several rating sites and is listed as A+ on the Better Business Bureau. That is as good as it gets, and a real credit to Sean as the owner. When he isn’t working, he can be found taking care of their home and their toys, because their toys are what they enjoy doing. Hard work and heavy labor are great, by all work and no play…well you know how it goes. Today is Sean’s birthday. Happy birthday Sean!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
My niece, Jadyn Mortensen is a dynamic person who is full of life. She is early in her college years right now and was given a scholarship for her rodeo abilities. She is an amazing barrel racer, and while the competition is fierce out there, she still manages to win in many of her races. Recently, she barrel raced at the county fair, and took fifth place. She has been riding horses and performing since she was just a little girl, and she has loved every minute. Her horses have been like family to her.
Jadyn is also a great all-around athlete and sports fanatic. She likes skiing, snowmobiling, 4 wheeling, boating, hiking, swimming, and much more. That girl is always on the go. Plus, now that she is going to college, she is deep in her studies at the University of Wyoming, majoring in mechanical engineering. Jadyn is a very capable person. On her first day of work last summer, she changed a tire on the truck, and she and her coworker performed more 
inspections that people who had no issues to slow them down…lots more. Jadyn has proven herself to be a great all-around employee and person. Nothing can hold her back. The sky’s the limit.
Jadyn has always been a beautiful girl, inside and out. She has a sweet nature and a heart of gold. She is the only child of my niece, Amanda Reed and her partner, Sean Mortensen. Jadyn has always been a part of “the gang” of friends Amanda and Sean had. She was never excluded or left with a sitter. She was a bid part of the group and was always welcomed at their events. Jadyn grew up around all of her parents’ friends…rather like having a boatload of aunts and uncles, not 
to mention their kids, so that was like having a boatload of cousins. It made for a wonderful support team and way of life.
Jadyn is a happy girl who always wears a big smile. She has a bubbly personality, and people just naturally like he. She is very social and doesn’t have a shy bone in her body. She has also always seemed more grown up to me that whatever age she was at the time. Maybe it was because she was always spending time around a variety of people of all ages. I think that is a big part of what makes Jadyn a great person. Today is Jadyn’s 20th birthday. Happy birthday Jadyn!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
My grandniece, Zoey Iverson is growing up so fast…maybe faster than most nine-year-olds maybe, but Zoey has taken her sister role very seriously. No one pushed that on her, she just knew that her brother, Lucas Iverson needed more than an average sister. Lucas is a Down Syndrome child, and his development was a little slower than most kids, bit Zoey wanted to help him get on track, and so she set her mind to it. When she sets her mind to something, Zoey gets it done. She loved her big brother so much, and she wanted to help make his life better. Now she is also big sister to her little sister, Alicen Burr, and she is enjoying that so much. Zoey is a sweet 
and happy girl, and she loves making her siblings happy. She is such a great blessing to her parents, Cassie Iverson and bonus dad, William Burr. Her life is so blessed by them, and in turn, she makes their lives richer, just by being herself.
Zoey is such a smart girl. She really excelled in school this year, and she has continued to learn things over the summer. I’m sure she is reading to her siblings and showing them the things she has learned. Zoey is also very crafty. That will be another thing she can help her siblings do. It may be coloring for now, but later on, the sky’s the limit. I have always envied people who are crafty. Their imaginations are amazing. They can picture an item in their mind, and then create it in real life. Zoey is one of 
those amazing people. She is into selling things to make money…so she can do more crafts!! What else would Zoey want to spend craft money on?
The big news right now is that Zoey is heading to church camp for a week. Her mom is excited for her, but she will miss her too. Cassie is hoping to send some letters via messenger or text to her (via email) while she is there. While the week will go by fast, it doesn’t always feel that way to the family at home. Nevertheless, I know that Zoey is going to have the time of her life, and what a great birthday week for her. Today is Zoey’s 9th birthday. Happy birthday Zoey!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
The beginning of my niece, Raelynn Masterson’s life story is really a little funny…not because Raelynn was funny, but because her mom, Dustie Masterson was. Raelynn was Dustie’s first child, and when she went into labor on this day 21 years ago, her husband, my nephew, Rob Masterson told her that she was in labor. That made sense, because he had been through this situation once before, with his daughter, Christina from his first marriage. Anyway, Rob was certain that Dustie was in labor, but as Dustie says, “I remember it very clearly Rob said I was in labor and my whole 22-year-old wisdom argument was that I couldn’t be in labor because I hadn’t had my baby shower yet.” Well, as every parent knows, labor waits for no man, woman, or baby shower.
Still, Raelynn was six weeks early, so Dustie had no reason to expect that her baby shower wouldn’t be early enough. Nevertheless, Raelynn was perfect, and they went home 2 days later. She was a miracle all the way 
around. Dustie didn’t think she was able to have children, and yet here was proof that they could. God’s plans were higher than the plans of men. Rae (as he is always called), is such a beautiful person inside and out. She has a big heart, and a great sense of humor. She is funny without even trying, which is the best kind of humor according to her mom, and I agree. Dustie thinks that one of Rae’s best attributes is her courage. Raelynn puts her mind to something, and she does it. She might be nervous, but she doesn’t let fear overtake her. From a talent show at school, to running for school office (earning her the nickname Rae Rae the Rapper) she rapped her entire speech, to major back surgery she doesn’t back down. Raelynn had Scoliosis, and it took a full back surgery to correct it. Regular high school was not for Raelynn, but she is working on her GED, and from there, she will figure out where she wants to go in life. They have faith in her abilities and know she can do whatever she wants. Her parents are excited to see where life will take their girl.
Her sister, Taylor Masterson, tells me that in the past year, Rae has started spending more time with her and their brother, Matt Masterson. The siblings are growing closer and closer every day. They like to go to the movies, and in general, they have been working on getting her out of the house more than she used to. Raelyn 
loves animals and has grown closer to the family pets too. She tends to be shy, but lately, she has been working on being more social. Being shy myself, I know how hard that can be. Socializing on Facebook is easy, but the face-to-face stuff is harder. One of the coolest things is that for Taylor, her big sister, Rae is “one of my biggest role models and one of my biggest supporters” as well. Taylor says, “I love my older sister more than words can describe and I am so glad she is my sister!!” Today is Raelynn’s 21st birthday. Happy birthday Rae!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
My grandnephew, Ryder Birky has had a busy year of exploration and growth. You might be thinking that means that he is a young man embarking on a new career or something, but the reality is that Ryder is a little boy of just 2 years. I know, you are thinking, “how could he have changed so much?” And when I accidentally published Ryder’s story a month early, thinking that June was July for some reason, I had written a very different story about Ryder’s life than this one will be, too. On July 4th, little Ryder’s life took an unexpected turn that will change his life and that of his family forever. As his family prepared to celebrate the Independence Day holiday, Ryder’s daddy, Riley Birky and his uncle, Tucker Schulenberg and two friends, Dylan and Landon were in a car with fireworks, when the fireworks were somehow ignited. I don’t need to tell you the ramifications of that. So, the last month of Ryder’s year was spent away from his daddy and his uncle. Thankfully, both Riley and Tucker are doing well, but they will have a long road to full recovery, and Ryder is so young that maybe he won’t know that anything has 
changed. His daddy and uncle will just be his daddy and his uncle. Ryder’s mommy, Sierah Martin has been such a strong woman, holding everything together when she could have been falling apart. Because of that the whole family is going to be ok.
I don’t want to make Ryder’s birthday story be all doom and gloom, but this is a part of his history now, and as such, must be told. In reality, much of what has happened this month will someday seem like everyday life for Ryder. We don’t know what his daddy and uncle will look like in the future, but what we do know is that they will always be Riley and Tucker, and they will always be Ryder’s (and his brother, Jace Lee’s) daddy and uncle. And they will always love them to pieces. Ryder’s daddy is a wonderful dad, and he has given his boys the very best that is in him to give. Tucker loves those boys so much, and they love him too. Ryder’s life might never be considered normal or average, but Ryder has his daddy and his uncle, and that is what really matters. Sierah Martin and Riley Birky would normally have their hands full keeping their little “terrible twos” aged child corralled, but Tucker and Jace have been a big help with that. It’s not that they make Tucker babysit the little boys, it’s that Tucker wants to. That is another reason that the current situation is very hard. I think it will also 
be another reason that Riley and Tucker will work extra hard to get well. They have a beautiful family to get back to.
While Ryder and Jace have been spending some time with grandparents while their daddy, they got to spend a little time today doing some fun things. They went to the aquarium, went for breakfast, and then got to spend time with their daddy and uncle. That was the very best part of it. Showing Riley and Tucker how much they are loved. This birthday was different. This summer will be different, but this family knows they are very blessed. That is the most important thing. Ryder’s parents are such loving people. That makes Ryder a very happy boy. Today is Ryder’s 2nd birthday. Happy birthday Ryder!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
My nephew, Dylan Herr is a really busy guy. Dylan is the manager of his family’s nine Red Wing Shoe stores. Dylan’s family has owned the stores for three generations. They operate under the Herr Group. Their first store was in Pueblo, Colorado in 1970. Since then they have really grown. They have seven in Colorado, including Pueblo, Greeley, Longmont, Fort Collins, Littleton, Brighton, and Johnstown. They also have two stores in Wyoming, in Cheyenne and in Casper. Dylan is a dynamic individual, and that is a big part of what makes him a prominent member of society, that and his high ideals.
He also has a big heart and likes to give back to the community. He is a member of rotary, and he is also on the 
board for the YMCA in Casper. That is something he and my niece, Katy Herr really loves. Since their son, Max is of the age when he is starting to get into sorts, they spend a lot of time there for all of Max’s activities. Max is very much his daddy’s little man, and sports is simply in his blood. He has been hanging out with his dad on the golf course and such for his whole life. Dylan regularly plays softball and golf. Dylan is a competitive person and loves playing in tournaments. He comes from a family of men who regularly participate in sports, and they are quite good at it. Dylan is naturally really good too.
While his sports are important to Dylan, his top priorities are Katy and Max. Dylan loves taking care of the family home and loves lawn work. Like every other part of his life, Dylan is meticulous in making sure that his little family has 
everything they need for a good life. Their home is a big part of that, and he is a proud homeowner, but above all, he is a proud husband and dad. He works very hard to give them the best life possible, and he has been very successful at that. They are a beautiful, happy family, and they lead happy lives. They also give back to the community, and that is an awesome thing to do. Yes, Dylan leads a very busy life, and I don’t think he would want it any other way. Today is Dylan’s birthday. Happy birthday Dylan!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
Seventy-one years ago today, two wonderful people, my parents were married. They were great parents, and the loved each other completely. I could go on and on about how my parents loved each other, but the 53 years they spent together proves that. I want to talk instead about the example my parents set…in spiritual matters, in marriage, in life, and in relationships. I know many people had great parents, but these were mine, and for that I am so grateful.
My parents raised us in church from the time we were born. People say that they were born again on a certain day, but I don’t have a day that I can say I was born again. I was always born again. I know that my sisters, Cheryl Masterson, Caryl Reed, Alena Stevens, and Allyn Hadlock can say the same thing. Our parents gave God first place in their marriage and in our home. That is the example that has carried throughout our lives to this day. That is a big part of the legacy of my parents.
Mom and Dad taught us about how we, as wives should be treated. Dad was always so loving, kind, and 
protective of Mom. They also taught us how we, as wives should treat our husbands. There were the normal lessons about understanding that marriage was a covenant, and as such should not be broken. The marriages in our family that did not last, were not the fault of their girls. I know that sounds conceited, but it is the truth. We knew that you had to work at a marriage, and we all did.
Another thing my parents taught us that we feel thankful to have learned is that you “never let the sun go down on your wrath.” That is found in Ephesians 4:26, and it was a mainstay in our home. With five girls in the house, you can imagine the drama that could happen. But we were not allowed to go to bed without making up. We had to sincerely say we were sorry, even if we were only “sorry we had fought.” That one verse probably saved the relationships my sisters and I share with each other, and the ones we shared with our parents. Even after we were married, is we had an argument with our mom, and stomped home mad, invariably, Dad would soon be on the phone telling us that we needed to call our mom and make up. What may have seemed like a stiff rule back then, was actually a blessing. Our relationships with our parents remained strong throughout their lives, and for that I am so grateful. Our parents understood that families occasionally fight, but the important thing was that the fight did 
not steal the relationship. We made up and we were not sorry that we did.
The lessons from my parents were not always pleasant, but they were always important, and I’m not sorry we learned them, or that our parents took the time to teach then. Thank you both so much, Mom and Dad. Today is the 71st anniversary of my parents wedding day. Happy anniversary Mom and Dad. We love and miss you both so very much, and we know that you are having the time of your lives in Heaven. Can’t wait to see you there.
