Love
My husband, Bob Schulenberg is a hard-working mechanic, by trade. Technically, he is retired and has been since July 1, 2016, but in true mechanic style, that hasn’t stopped him from being the main mechanic for many of his friends. I can’t imagine Bob spending his life in the absence of mechanic work, although I suppose there will come a day when he no longer can. Still, for his sake, I pray that day is a long way off. I think it would very likely drive him a bit crazy. I’ve seen winter days, when no one had work for him to do, and the weather was too cold anyway. He practically went “stir crazy” with boredom. During those days, he almost welcomed the myriad of sales texts and calls, hahaha!!
Bob doesn’t like to sit idly around…unless he is watching his favorite shows, like MASH, Andy Griffith, NCIS, Walker Texas Ranger, or Everybody Loves Raymond. Even then, if a mechanic job shows up, the television is 
turned off, because he is back in his element. His garage is his “man cave” and his favorite place to hang out. Personally, I don’t get it. The garage is cold in the Winter and hot in the Summer, but somehow Bob doesn’t seem to notice. He just plugs along on whatever car he is working on. The times he spends figuring out what is wrong with someone’s car are some of his happiest times. The good news is that it keeps his mind young and sharp. It can also be frustrating for him sometimes. Not every mechanical problem is as simple as an oil change.
Bob has joined the “old boys breakfast club” these days. He goes to breakfast every weekday morning with his buddies and often meets other retirees at the various restaurants he goes to. I’ve told him that is his thing. I go for a two hour walk instead. When I retired, I knew I didn’t want to spend the mornings talking politics with the 
old guys. Besides, that is his time with his buddies. We go to breakfast on the weekends, and that’s good enough for me. Bob needs that “guy time” with his friends. It’s important. He is a very social guy, and he needs his friends. Plus, the fact that many of his best friends are also the guys he calls on when he needs a mechanic’s helper or a consultation on a particularly difficult job. Bob’s friends have been a big help to him, and for that I am grateful. Today is Bob’s 72nd birthday!! Happy birthday to the love of my life. I have been very blessed by you!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
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!!
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.
When I think of Easter, I’m reminded of my Christian faith, the miracle of salvation, and the willing sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Humanity was in deep trouble. Because sin had entered the world, we were left doomed to eternal damnation in Hell. There was no escape, for the wages of sin is death, and all have sinned. But God created this world so He could have a family. He loved His children, and so he provided a solution: innocent blood had to be shed to pay the price for everyone who had sinned. There was no other way to break the curse that sin had brought into the world. God knew it, and Jesus accepted the decision.
The death of Jesus on Good Friday was incredibly brutal. Humans can inflict terrible pain and suffering on one another, and Jesus, both man and God, felt every lash and endured every humiliation. He faced it all knowing it was essential…the most important mission in the history of Earth, past, present, and future. No other act could compare, as his death on the cross was a “once for all” sacrifice. It changed the course of history, restoring to humanity what the devil had taken.
When Jesus rose from the dead three days later, our justification was complete. For us that is unfathomable. rapping our heads around forgiveness…without the need for some sort of penance is almost impossible, but that is exactly what grace is. We could enter Heaven simply by believing in His sacrifice and accepting Him as our 
Lord and Savior. It’s such a simple way to receive eternal life, yet many refuse because they think they’ll have to give up their fun. Little do they realize what they’re actually giving up. This life is just a fleeting moment, but Heaven is forever. The contrast is striking. Like it or not, this life will soon be gone, but the next will never end, and we get to choose where we spend it, so we must choose wisely.
Many people celebrate Easter with a big dinner and plenty of candy, and that’s wonderful, but we should never forget the true reason for the holiday…the resurrection of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Jesus is risen! He is alive! Happy Easter to all!
When a marriage endures through the passage of time, it goes through many seasons. Those seasons can vary from marriage to marriage, but most of them begin with a courtship. Ours was no different. Bob and I dated for a little over a year before we were married on March 1, 1975. Soon after, the season of family growth followed. Our girls, Corrie Petersen and Amy Royce were born eleven months apart…Irish twins. That began the season of raising our girls and the many school activities they were involved in. The season of babyhood was quickly handed off, and the season of kids began. The next 15 to 20 years were filled with quickly maturing kids and all the many activities that teenaged girls participate in.
Soon, our girls were grown and before long came the season of sons-in-law and grandchildren. Our girls 
married wonderful men, Kevin Petersen and Travis Royce, and their first children were born just one day apart. Irish twin cousins (not sure if that is a thing, but Christopher Petersen and Shai Royce were so close that they could have been twins.) Soon, my four grandchildren were spending their early morning hours with me. What a wonderful blessing it was for me to have all four of my grandchildren, Chris and Shai, as well as Caalab Royce and Josh Petersen with me every weekday morning. I love it, and it made my days so complete. I relished being a “hands-on” grandmother. I could hardly believe how blessed I was. Soon, that season was ending. My grandchildren were grown up and living their own lives. It was a new season.
Nevertheless, before long the next season arrived…great grandchildren. These days, two of my grandchildren have children of their own, Chris and his wife, Karen have Cambree, Caysen, and Cyler, while Josh and his wife Athena have Justin, Axel, Cristian, and a fourth son coming any day now…more Irish twins and Irish twin 
cousins. The blessings just keep coming, and I know there are more to come in the future. In a long-term marriage, the blessings are the same for husband and wife. There are no blended situations. In our case, our girls are in long-term marriages too, and Chris and Josh are heading for the same. We have generations of direct connections…a blessing in itself. As we enter our 51st year of marriage, we look forward to the next seasons. Today is our 51st anniversary. Happy anniversary to the love of my life!! I love you, Bob.
Back in high school, I met the man who would become the love of my life. From that moment, I knew no one else could ever compare to him. Bob is my soulmate…the missing piece that makes me whole. I can’t imagine life without him. He’s the father of my children, my confidant, and, most importantly, my best friend.
Bob and I married young…I was almost 19, and he was 20. Many might say we were lucky, but honestly, it was hard work that helped us beat the odds. Marriage isn’t easy. When you’re young, it’s easy to believe it’s all hearts and flowers, but if you can’t handle the rough patches, those sweet moments won’t last. We’re both stubborn and hate to lose, and I think that determination carried us through the tough times. Eventually, it became second nature…we just knew our love would survive the hard days and endure through the years.
I can’t imagine how different life would be if we had never met, and I’m grateful I never had to find out. We’ve faced tough times, like the challenges of caregiving we’ve dealt with over the years, but I believe we’re exactly where we’re meant to be. If we weren’t together, I don’t know where those we care for would have been. You never really know how your spouse will step up to care for your parents until that moment arrives, and not everyone can manage that role for their own parents, let alone in-laws. I’m thankful Bob was there to grow old with me, and that I could be there for him through those hard moments.
So much has changed as we’ve grown from love-struck kids to parents and then grandparents. Looking back on 
all we’ve shared, I realize that while there were challenges along the way, the richness of our life together far outweighs those brief, harder moments. I wouldn’t trade a single second for any other kind of life. I’ve taken this journey with the man I love, and I’m so thankful God brought us together. He knew what was best for us and that this would be the love of our lives. Happy Valentine’s Day, sweetheart!! Thank you for making my life’s journey so rich. I will always love you and thank God for you!!
When my husband, Bob and I began going to Thermopolis, Wyoming each year for our wedding anniversary, the one thing I noticed about the place, that always reminded me of Thermopolis, were the crows that hung out there. Crows can be annoying birds, and most people don’t like them, but they don’t bother me really. They always make me think of our anniversary trips. Now, crows that had migrated to the Casper area. They settled near our house, as well as other areas around town. I don’t recall seeing them around before, but now that they are here, they remind me of the lovely times we had in Thermopolis.
The reality is that crows are incredibly smart birds, showing off problem-solving skills, social smarts, and cognitive abilities similar to those of young kids. Their intelligence is often compared to that of a 7-year-old, as they can tackle tricky problems, use tools, and grasp abstract ideas. Research has found that crows are capable of tasks involving planning and foresight, like figuring out how to get food through a series of obstacles. They’ve been seen using sticks to pull insects from tree bark. Their problem-solving abilities have been 
showcased in various experiments, including the well-known Aesop’s fable test, where they dropped stones into a pitcher to raise the water level and reach the food…clearly demonstrating their understanding of cause and effect, and their willingness to stay with a task until the problem is solved.
Crows are highly social animals that live in complex family groups and engage in cooperative behaviors. They can recognize individual human faces and remember those who pose threats, passing this information down to their offspring. This ability to hold grudges and teach their young about dangerous humans showcases their advanced social intelligence. They have even been known to observe a person who lost something, followed them, and returned the item…provided the person was not one they disliked. I’ve seen them swoop down and “dive-bomb” a person they didn’t like, however.
Even though crows have relatively small brains, they pack “a high density of neurons, especially in the pallium, which is similar to the human cerebral cortex.” This helps them process information quickly and engage in complex behaviors. With a brain-to-body ratio comparable to primates, crows show just how intelligent they 
really are. They’re not only clever but a true example of the depth of avian smarts. From solving problems and adapting to new situations to keeping complex social bonds, they rank among the smartest animals in the world. Recognizing their intelligence challenges old ideas about animal minds and showcases the impressive abilities of these remarkable birds. No wonder they have held a fascination for me for so many years now.
It’s hard for me to imagine that my younger daughter, Amy Royce and her husband Travis have been married for 30 years today. It just doesn’t seem like she should be old enough to have been married that long, but do kids ever really grow up in our minds? Of course, today, Amy is a seasoned insurance agent, and not the teenaged girl in my mind, just learning to drive a car. She and Travis are parents of two adult kids now. They are gloriously happy together and have created a beautiful life together these past 30 plus years. I never expected my girl to choose to live in the country, since she hated it as a child, but times change, and they have built a beautiful sanctuary in their own back yard. It is totally peaceful and serene there, and a place where all their friends love to hang out.
The truth is that Travis has made my girl extremely happy over the years, and that is all I need to know. The 
Pacific Northwest suits them, although I wish they had liked it here better. Nevertheless, I can’t imagine them living in frigid Wyoming winters again. Amy and Travis always hated the winters here…especially the wind. And the beauty of the area in which they live is a definite draw. The rainforest and all the flowers that grow there make my daughter so very happy. Her garden and back yard is a wonderful source of joy to her. She could spend hours out there watering, planting, enjoying, and yes, even weeding her gardens. And Travis love yard work. He dutifully builds anything she wants…from ponds to a covered patio. The yardwork, specifically mowing is Travis’ peaceful place.
In all, I could never have wished for a better life and marriage for my girl. Travis is perfect for her. They are perfect for each other. That, of course, is the very reason why they have been married for thirty years today. 
They love each other so much. It is a beautiful thing to see. They are comfortable together…their love is always obvious. It is their priority always. They are each other’s priority. Their love was strong in the beginning, and it has only blossomed in the Pacific Northwest. Who could ask for anything more of the marriage of their children. Today is Amy and Travis’ 30th wedding anniversary. Happy anniversary Amy and Travis. Have a wonderful day and a great year. We love you both very much!!
As the 41st anniversary of my sister, Alena Stevens’ marriage to the love of her life, Mike Stevens arrives, I am saddened, as is the rest of our family, that Alena isn’t here to celebrate it with her soulmate. Since Alena’s passing on April 23, 2025, Mike has gone through all of the normal feelings of grief…sadness, sorrow, loneliness, and that knowledge that nothing will ever be the same again…nothing will ever be quite right again. The “new normal” is not what it’s cracked up to be, and I don’t think anyone ever thought a “new normal” was exactly a good thing anyway. Mike is doing ok though. He is doing a lot of projects with our brother-in-law, Mike Reed, who is married to my sister Caryl. They recently installed a deck and a new door at Caryl and Mike’s house. Mike is making himself get out there and join in the activities of the family. That is so important, and I am very proud of Mike’s determination. Alena wouldn’t want him to just disconnect from the family.
Alena and Mike had almost 41 years of marriage, and of course their years of dating. They met when they both worked at Shellabarger Chevrolet, and the rest was history. They were taken with each other from the very start. Theirs was a wonderful life. They traveled. They loved car races, and so they went to some of the big 
raceways. Alena’s happy place was always the lake, and they camped at various lakes as much as they could in the summer, even having Stevens Family Competitions, complete with trophies and all. They made many good friends and spent blessed time with family. They were a close family and loved each other very much. Alena had a flair for decorating, and their home was stunning. Mike made sure that everything was kept in good working order. Together, they took care of their house, making it a home for their three kids, Michelle Miller, Garrett Stevens, and Lacey Killinger.
As the children grew up, life began to change. Garrett married Kayla Smiley, and soon they had two daughters, Elliott and Maya. Then, Michelle married Matt Miller. Lacey met and married Chris Killinger, and Chris brought children, Brooklyn and Jaxon into the family, making the grandchildren count four. They were so happy. Of course, there is still room for more grandchildren, possibly in the future…there’s always room for more grandbabies. While their life was a beautiful thing to see, now that Alena is in Heaven, it’s hard for me not to think about the things she is missing. Things like watching her grandchildren grow up and knowing any future grandchildren. These are things that Mike will do alone now, but he will also tell them about their grandmother; as will their kids, Michelle, Garrett, and Lacey; and their spouses, Matt Miller, Kayla Stevens, and Chris Killinger. It also makes me sad that Alena’s family will miss out on a future with her. It’s hard to make sense of it all. Cancer is such a cruel disease. As we work through our feelings, we are learning to 
think less about how sad we are and more about how happy Alena is in Heaven. There is no sadness in Heaven, and that helps us a little bit.
I know that the love Mike and Alena created together was a lasting, forever kind of love. They were a match made in Heaven, and while Mike lives on Earth and Alena lives in Heaven now, they are still soulmates. I read a story by a woman who lost her daughter to cancer, and the last line seemed perfect here too, “Love does not end when breathing stops.”
When she first met him, she told me that her heart skipped a beat. He was the most handsome man she had ever seen. That view of him never changed. He was older than she was, which was not unusual in those days. Her own dad was sixteen years older than her mom. Still, my mom, Collene (Byer) Spencer was just a girl of 15 or 16 years, and my dad, Allen Spencer was 12 years older than she was. Nevertheless, their love was real and lasting. Her parents, George and Hattie Byer liked him too, so there was no problem there. He had been a friend my Aunt Virginia (Byer) Beadle and her later ex-husband, Jim Reynolds’ for a while before he met my mom. Once they met, however, he and my mom were a match made in Heaven, and neither one of them were ever interested in anyone else again.
They married when Mom was 17 years old and Dad was 29 years old, and they were married until his passing, 53 years later. Their love was a beautiful thing to grow up with. We, their daughters, Cheryl Masterson, Caryl Reed, Alena Stevens, Allyn Hadlock, and I always knew that they loved each other forever and ever. The years found Al and Collene blessed with a growing family, sons-in-law, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and now great great grandchildren. As parents, their daughters have worked to keep their legacy of love, telling all the kids about their wonderful grandparents. One day the kids who haven’t known them will get to meet them in Heaven, and that will be a great day. Mom and Dad loved the grandbabies, and I know they already love them as much as we do.
Mom and Dad loved to travel around this great country of ours. They were patriots through and through. While they had been to other countries, they always felt that the United States was the best nation on Earth and wanted their girls to see it. And see it we did. Every summer found us taking a vacation somewhere. We were probably the most traveled students in school, as was mentioned when teachers asked what we did in the 
summer. They were always surprised at the states we had seen. Now that we know how amazing our travels have been, we feel very blessed that our parents gave us that wonderful gift. Nevertheless, the greatest gift was the gift of their unconditional love. We weren’t perfect, but we were always loved. Today would have been Mom and Dad’s 72nd anniversary. Happy anniversary in Heaven Mom and Dad. We all love and miss you very much and look forward to seeing you in Heaven in our future.
