Kids
My grandnephew, Zack Spethman is such a sweet guy. He has a heart of gold and is loving toward everyone. Zack is a very tall man, and he is literally a teddy bear. Whenever you see Zack, you can expect a hug from him, because that’s just who he is. He wants the people he loves to know they are loved, and believe me, we do. Zack makes that very clear. For him, it’s a matter of never wasting the precious time we are given with people we care about. Zack is the second oldest child of my niece Jenny Spethman and her husband Steve Spethman. He has an older brother, Xander Spethman, younger brother, Isaac Spethman; sister, Laila Spethman (who lives in Heaven); and sister Aleesia Spethman. Zack has always been a great blessing to his 
siblings and to his parents.
Zack works at Best Buy in Casper, Wyoming, in the geek squad area. Like most young people, Zack loves tech, and he has learned a lot from the people he works with. He likes his coworkers and they like him. Of course, it helps, I suppose that one of his coworkers is his cousin, Matthew Masterson, who has also been his best friend since birth. Zack is just four months older than Matt, so they have always been friends. Zack fits in very well at work, as he does in virtually any setting…work and social. Zack is someone people want to know.
Zach is the kid that’s always willing to help out. When his mom’s dog, Romeo got away from her, Zack came to the rescue…chasing down the pup for his mom. Zack loves hiking and is always up for 
a hike, and he is the first one to volunteer to hit Casper Mountain with her. Zack is very close with his brothers and cousin, Matthew. They all hang out together. He’s also very close with his sister, Aleesia. He is very protective of her and always takes the time to check on her and play video games with her. For the last three weekends all of the boys have been working together to help their dad build a new fence for the new family dogs. It was a lot of hard work, and it sure did pay off. It looks great. It was very special for Jenny to see her whole family work together on a project and have a good time doing it. Today is Zack’s 21st birthday!! Happy birthday Zack!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
When our children were little, it didn’t take much to make them happy. A ball and a small wading pool could provide hours of entertainment, and back then, they usually cost less than $10, making them easy on any budget. Our girls loved splashing around in a wading pool on hot summer days while I relaxed in my chaise lounge with a good book. Those were the wonderful, lazy days of summer. The memories take me back to an easier time, less hectic and more relaxed. My girls were little and play dates were not a thing at the time. We lived in the country and didn’t make trips to town every day. I was a stay-at-home mom then, so often it was just the girls and me at home during the day.
Back then, any video games that existed were pricey and basic. We got one when they were a bit older, but unlike kids today who seem to be born with technology at their fingertips, the girls relied on their imaginations for their play. I’m not saying technology is bad, in fact, I’m a big tech fan myself, but it just wasn’t as easy to access in those days. Nobody really had those kinds of games and what was out the was in the old DOS system. The kids didn’t play with electronic toys. My girls, like kids today, loved playing in boxes, imagining them as forts or other fun things. They had Cabbage Patch dolls and enjoyed playing house. With their friends, they would have tea parties and dress up. They also loved spending time in the sandbox, creating little cities or building sandcastles.
The technology we have today is incredible. You can search the internet for any information you can imagine. 
Anything you want to know can be found online. Of course there is a lot on misinformation too, but that is another story. Kids’ games are becoming increasingly graphic, and murder and crime hardly faze them anymore because they’ve seen it all in a game. Sometimes we struggle to relate to a tragic event because it resembles the fantasy worlds we’ve watched on television. I often wonder if criminals and terrorists get some of their ideas directly from TV and video games. I’m not saying technology is bad, just that it sometimes robs our kids of a precious commodity—imagination.
My sister-in-law, Jennifer Parmely knew her calling with the birth of her first son, Barry Schulenberg. From the moment he arrived, Jennifer began working toward her nursing degree, and within two years she was a labor and delivery nurse. Jennifer also drove herself to the hospital when her second pregnancy turned into a bit of an emergency. Nevertheless, her son JD Parmely was born healthy and well, as was her third son, Erik Parmely. As to her career, there is no way to say exactly how many babies Jennifer assisted in their entry into the world, but I know that four of them were my grandchildren, Chris Petersen, Shai Royce, Caalab Royce, and Josh Petersen. Jennifer’s nursing career was long and exciting and finally came to an end when Jennifer retired on February 28, 2023. She had been in healthcare since she was 17 years old…first as a candy striper, then as a CNA (as required by the nursing school at that time), and then as a labor and delivery nurse.
Since her retirement, she still spends time with children quite a bit. She has three granddaughters and a grandson, all of whom love to spend time with their Oma, especially if they can spend the night. Jennifer especially loves to spend time one-on-one with the kids, so they can each do things that they are specifically interested in. The kids are 13, 11, 8, and 6, so their interests vary greatly, and sometimes it’s just nice to get away from siblings. I know that Jennifer is a blessing to her son, Eric and his wife too. She sometimes picks the kids up from school when their parents are working and keeps them until they get off work. It takes a load off of working parents and pleases Jennifer and the kids too.
Of course, not all of Jennifer’s time is spent with children. She and her partner, Brian Cratty own a cabin on 
Casper Mountain, and they love spending time up there throughout the year. They love hiking, skiing, and just relaxing at the cabin. The kids all love to go up to for picnics, holidays, hiking, skiing and whatever everyone comes up with. Prior to her retirement, Jennifer’s time on the mountain was more limited. Now, she is free to go up as often as she wants, and since their house in town isn’t that far from the base of the mountain, it’s just a quick trip up there. Jennifer is very much enjoying her retirement. Today is Jennifer’s birthday. Happy 65th birthday Jennifer!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
For my niece, Chantel Balcerzak, life is always busy. She is the grandmother to seven sweet grandchildren!! That is something that would keep any grandmother busy. One of those little ones keeps her especially busy, because she babysits little Nathaniel, who often goes by Nathan or Nate. Nathaniel and his parents, Siara Kirk and her husband Chris live in the house next door to Chantel and her husband, Dave Balcerzak, so he is with his grandparents a lot and that suits him just fine!! It has been a great arrangement for everyone. Siara and Chris know that when they are working, their baby boy is having a great time with his grandma, and that makes going to work much easier for them. Leaving your baby with a sitter isn’t always easy, but it’s a whole lot easier when the sitter is Grandma. She enjoys spending time with each and every one of her grandchildren.
As it turns out, Chantel and Dave live right next door to their best friends, Siara, Chris, and Nathaniel, and they love spending time together. They often go to concerts and football games whenever they can. While Chantel isn’t as into sports as her husband and kids, she really enjoys the trips they’ve taken to the games. She loves traveling and will happily go whenever the chance comes up. Concerts, though, are definitely one of her favorite things to do with her family.
Since she was a little girl, Chantel has always had a flair for the artistic—whether it’s art, makeup, or fashion. Always a diva, she knew exactly how to pose to make any photograph of her look amazing. She loves to paint and has completed several murals, my favorite being the one she created on the backyard wall of her sister Toni and her husband Dave Chase’s house. They love it too, as it transforms their yard into a beautiful mountain scene that makes you feel like you’re truly in the mountains.
Chantel, being an artist, is also incredibly talented at interior design. Her home is stunning, something I’ve always admired and wished I could replicate, even though I’m neither an artist nor a designer. Her house has a 
distinctly feminine flair, but that doesn’t bother her husband Dave in the slightest…in fact, I think he loves it. It makes him feel cared for and appreciated, and I believe most men enjoy feeling “taken care of” in their own homes. Dave feels very blessed. Chantel’s gift for design truly brings that warmth. Today is Chantel’s birthday! Happy birthday, Chantel! Have a great day! We love you!
April Fools’ Day has been around for centuries. In 1700, English pranksters made it popular to play practical jokes on each other. Some believe it began in 1582 when France switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar, following the Council of Trent’s 1563 mandate. Those who didn’t adopt the change and still celebrated the new year from late March to April 1 were mocked and teased for being gullible.
When I was a kid, my sisters and I loved trying to fool each other. We pulled all kinds of tricks, from claiming there was a spider in someone’s hair to swapping the salt and sugar in their containers. Most of the time, no one fell for it, but every now and then we’d get a completely shocked reaction, or even a scream. Historians have mentioned pranks like dressing in disguises, and even the weather seemed to join in the fun with its unpredictable seasonal changes. I think most of us have been fooled by that one—bundling up in the morning only to be too hot later, or the other way around. And of course, the weather never plays along for just one day.
As we get older, we have to be much more creative with our antics, because, let’s face it, adults aren’t going to fall for the old spider-in-the-hair trick. They know exactly what day it is. April Fools’ Day pranks need careful planning and should be harmless, because that’s what the day is really about. Of course, there’s always the chance of some unexpected hiccup when trying to undo a prank, which could backfire, but hopefully the people you prank are good sports who understand it could just as easily have happened to them.
Some of the best pranks these days are tech-based, with endless ways to make someone think their computer has gone haywire. A bit of tape over the mouse sensor can make it seem frozen, or you could change the language settings…though from personal experience, that’s tricky to undo if you pick one you can’t read…like Russian or Japanese! My favorite is flipping the screen so everything’s upside down…it’s easy to reverse, so no harm done. There are plenty of low-tech options too, like wrapping the entire office in newspaper or filling the room with balloons so you have to pop your way in. Office pranks are a great way to take your prank game to 
the next level, and they’re especially fun when your target is left completely stunned.
Some people are naturally gullible, while others have a knack for dreaming up outrageous ideas. If you fall into the first group, get ready for a day full of pranks, as pranksters love to exploit that gullibility. And if you’re one of those pranksters, this is your moment to shine. Happy April Fools’ Day! Let the fun begin and let the gullible beware!
My niece, Elizabeth, is one of the busiest people I know. As a teacher who loves her job, by this time of year, she is also looking forward to the end of the year! She has more free time then, to do the many other things she loves to do! Even though it’s only March, she has already begun raking the yard to prepare it for the spring. Elizabeth has a real eye for what will look nice in the yard, and she enjoys shopping for flowers and plants that will create that atmosphere.
Elizabeth also loves to travel and has the opportunity to do a lot of that during the summer. She and her sister, Jenny, and her niece, Aleesia, drove to Colorado to attend a Christian concert earlier this month to see a group of bands they all enjoy listening to. They had a great time and cannot wait to go to the next one! Elizabeth loves concerts and attends many during the year. Especially during the spring and summer. She almost always goes to Nashville or somewhere else to see her favorite singer, Carrie Underwood, at least once a year. She jokingly calls Carrie, her “BFF!”
This year, Carrie will be in Montana. Elizabeth and two of her good friends, Lacey and Jamie, will be attending 
that concert, and spending a few days with Jamie’s family in Montana. They all like a good road trip but haven’t been able to get together to travel for a long time so they plan to take good advantage of this opportunity to do both things.
Elizabeth is also a huge sports fan. Her top three favorites are football (Denver Broncos), baseball (New York Yankees) and basketball (Denver Nuggets), in that order! She and her lifelong friend, Kristina, who lives in Colorado with her family, traveled to Denver last September to see the Denver Bronco’s play, and last week they went to Denver to see the Denver Nuggets play. Elizabeth has even traveled to New York to watch the Yankees play more than once! She is such a sports fan, that her little dog, Holiday has to be dressed up in a jersey for each team whenever she watches a game on television! Her other pup, Gracie, would have to wear a 
jersey, too, except that Gracie has ripped hers off, and shredded them in disgust the few times Elizabeth tried to put them on her! She has been known to dress her other dog, Scout, in jerseys, too, but Scout has escaped lately, since Holiday tolerates it so well, or at least most of the time!
Elizabeth is very close with all her siblings and with her cousins. They all get together during the year for concerts, games, and downtown events. This girl is very rarely not busy. Probably only when she is asleep!
I would have to say Elizabeth is a person of many, many interests and never lives a dull moment! Happy birthday, Elizabeth!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
Astrid Lindgren had always loved words and stories, and while she may not have known it at first, she also possessed the ability to tell a good story. As a child, Lindgren devoured every book she could get her hands on, from the adventures of Robinson Crusoe to the spirited tales of Anne of Green Gables. She penned several creative essays that impressed her teacher, and one was even published in the local newspaper. That story, unfortunately, and the attention that followed, led to teasing from her classmates, and she vowed never to write again. How sad that even in those days, children could be so cruel.
Astrid Anna Emilia Ericsson, later known as Lindgren, was born on November 14, 1907, in a red wooden house in the small town of Vimmerby, Småland, Sweden. She was the second of four children of Hanna Jonsson and Samuel August Ericsson. The family lived on a farm called Näs, which had stood for 500 years and had been rented by the Ericssons for three generations. Her childhood was happy and carefree—after finishing her chores, she roamed the fields and nearby woods freely. With her siblings, she spent time climbing trees, swimming in the river, and playing in the barns. This sense of childhood freedom is reflected in her stories, especially in the beloved Pippi Longstocking books.
Lindgren fell in love with the magic of words at just five years old, when a farmhand’s daughter read her a story. Her first book, Snow White, came from a teacher, and she was thrilled each time she got a new one. In her biography Astrid Lindgren, author Eva-Maria Metcalf shared a quote from Lindgren about her passion for books: “I can still remember how these books smelled when they arrived fresh from the printer. Yes, I started by smelling them, and there was no lovelier scent in all the world. It was full of foretaste and anticipation.”
Lindgren’s life wasn’t easy, even after she escaped the cruelty of her schoolmates. In 1924, she started working for the local paper, the Wimmerby Tidningen. She stirred up the town when she cut her hair into a bob, embracing the “flapper” style of the 1920s liberated women who wore short hair and defied social norms. At 19, pregnant and facing judgment from the Vimmerby villagers, she moved to Stockholm. Her son, Lars, was born in 1926, but she had to place him in foster care because she couldn’t afford to support him. It was the hardest thing she ever did.
While in Stockholm, Lindgren studied stenography and found a job as a secretary, though the pay barely covered food, rent, and train trips to Copenhagen to see Lars. She later worked at the Royal Swedish Automobile Club, writing tour guides for drivers, where she met Sture Lindgren. They married on April 4, 1931, after which she happily gained custody of Lars. Their daughter, Karin, was born in 1934. For a number of years, she set aside her natural ability to write…until Karin rekindled it, that is. In fact, it wasn’t until the 1940s that she began to reconsider her childhood decision. Pippi Longstocking was created in 1941 when seven-year-old Karin, bored and stuck in bed with pneumonia, asked her mother for a story about “Pippi Långstrump” (Longstocking). Karin had made up the name, and it instantly sparked Lindgren’s imagination, leading her to dream up tales about the wiry, spirited, freckle-faced Pippi, whose braids jutted out to either side. Pippi quickly became a favorite with Karin and her friends. Lively little Pippi would go on to make Astrid Lindgren among the most widely translated authors ever, after she shot to fame in the 1940s with her creation of the beloved 
storybook character. Throughout her life, she penned over 40 children’s books, selling around 145 million copies across the globe. Lindgren passed away at her home in central Stockholm on January 28, 2002, at the age of 94. Her funeral was held at Storkyrkan in Gamla stan, attended by King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia, other members of the royal family, and Prime Minister Göran Persson. Dagens Nyheter described the ceremony as “the closest you can get to a state funeral.” It was a fitting tribute to a beloved author.
My niece, Amanda Reed has spent most of her adult life working in the banking industry. She worked her way up through the system, and last year she was promoted to Vice President of Operations at Rawlins National Bank. We are all so proud of her accomplishments. Not many people ever achieve such a great status, but Amanda is a very hard-working person, and she is driven to succeed at everything she does. Amanda is a very motivated person. She is a dedicated and loyal worker, and that is, of course, what the Rawlins National Bank saw in her from the beginning. They knew she was the right person for advancing through the company. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised to see he in the position of President of the bank someday. She is, after all, highly motivated.
Amanda and her partner, Sean Mortensen owned a cabin in the Snowy Mountains. His parents also owned a cabin there too, and a while back they sold their cabin to Amanda and Sean. His parents’ cabin was a better fit 
for Amanda and Sean, so when they decided to sell it, Amanda and Sean bought it. Now, they have sold their cabin, and they couldn’t be happier. They love spending time at the cabin, and they can go there year-round, so it makes the cabin a great purchase. Amanda and Sean love the quietness of the cabin, and the wild animals that sometimes almost seem like pets, because they really aren’t afraid of Amanda and Sean. They have been able to see animals most of us never can, like fox, moose, coyote, and more.
Amanda, Sean, and their daughter, Jadyn and her boyfriend, Marcus are all very outdoorsy people. They love boating, hiking, skiing, snowmobiling, 4 wheeling, motorcycling, and just about any other sport you can imagine. They also love hunting and fishing. In fact, right now Amanda and Sean are in Louisianna doing some 
bow fishing and enjoying the area. They are two of the most active people I know. They and a large group of friends get together often to enjoy so many activities that it would make most of us tired just thinking about it. Nevertheless, this family takes that as everyday activities. It is one way to stay young, and they are quite good at it all. Today is Amanda’s birthday. Happy birthday Amanda. Hope your vacation is fabulous. Have a great day!! We love you!!
My aunt, Sandy Pattan and I were talking about the things the current generation does that we and especially our parents (hers being my grandparents) would never even consider doing. Being a child of the 60s, I was less shocked by things that really shocked her. She would never consider a tattoo, and while I don’t have one either, my children and grandchildren do, and so do some of hers. Tattoos don’t bother me these days. Sure, people might expect me to gripe about the styles, attitudes, or something along those lines that is the current generation, and while I admit those things can be irritating at times, that’s not where my mind is tonight. What struck me is the simple reality that one day we’ll be handing the baton over to 
the current generation. Many people cringe at the thought, and when I see some of the kids around, I sometimes feel the same way. But we can’t judge them based on who they are today, because once responsibility hits, they’ll change in an instant…just like we did. No adult can honestly claim that their parents approved of everything about them…the clothes they wore, their hair, the music they loved, or the friends they kept. Sure, some things might have been acceptable, but not all. And what parent hasn’t sighed or scowled when talking about the so-called next generation?
Just as we were once the dreaded next generation and eventually became today’s establishment, they too will become the establishment of tomorrow. They’ll look at their children and friends as the next generation and hope that, just as they grew into responsible adults, their kids will follow the same path. And they will cringe at the things their kids see as 
normal and cool.
Like us, most kids will grow into responsible adults if we instill in them the values we were taught, along with love and respect for their feelings. With that foundation, they can blossom into people we’re proud of. Kids seek approval from someone, so while you don’t need to pretend to love their clothes, hair, music, or attitude, it’s important to praise them when they truly earn it. Without positive reinforcement, they may act out just to get attention. We can’t be absent from their childhood and still expect them to become great adults. Loving, encouraging, and keeping them in our prayers is the most important thing we can do for them…and for the grownups they will become.
