Love
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.
These days, 32 years of marriage is a very impressive number, and when you add to that the three years they dated, and my daughter, Corrie Petersen and her husband, Kevin Petersen have been together 35 years. They started dating when Corrie was 15 years old and Kevin was 19 years old. You wouldn’t expect two kids those ages to get beyond dating, much less 32 years of marriage, but from the moment these two kids met…the rest was history. They never looked any further, and they couldn’t be more perfect for each other.
When they said, “I do,” on July 17, 1993, they fully meant that they would be together no matter what came to pass in their lives. They have been through thick and thin, some sickness but mostly health, and Corrie’s years in nursing school. and through it all, they have stuck together and supported each other completely. There was never any doubt that these kids loved each other. It was a beautiful thing to see. These days, they are parents to two boys, Chris and Josh. They have two 
daughters-in-law, Karen and Athena, as well as six grandchildren, Cambree, Caysen, Justin, Axel, Cyler, and Cristian. They feel so incredibly blessed, and anyone who knows them would heartily agree.
These days, with nursing school behind her, and two years as a nurse, Corrie and Kevin have been able to enjoy camping again. Nursing school is very hard, and it leaves no time to luxuries like vacations. Nevertheless, these kids stuck it out together, and now they are reaping the benefits of their labors and loyalty. They have more free time to enjoy camping and those grandkids. They have also been gardening and making some renovations on their house. Mostly, however, they have been enjoying they time they get to spend together, because after all, their love started it all. When two people decide to get married, they always have good intentions, but over the years, so many people forget those good intentions. They forget those old feelings and start to go in different directions. But not Corrie and Kevin. Their feelings never changed. Their love started it, and their love 
will always keep them together. We all feel blessed by their union. It is wonderful to watch them work together on every aspect of their lives. And if makes my heart glad to know that Kevin has always taken such good care of my daughter. Every parent of a daughter wants to know that their son-in-law is good to their daughter and loves her completely. We have been blessed to have our son-in-law, do just that. Today is Corrie and Kevin’s 32nd anniversary. Happy anniversary Corrie and Kevin!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
My husband, Bob Schulenberg is a Wyoming sort of guy. He has lived her since he was five, and while he loves to travel, he would never want to live anywhere else. Bob was born of the 64th birthday of this great state, and he likes that. Every year, when he sees something on Facebook about Wyoming’s birthday, he mentions that it is a shared event for him and his beloved state. While many people would think it odd, Bob doesn’t like fishing, camping, skiing, or hunting. Strange, I know for a Wyoming guy, but he just likes the small-town feel of the place, even though we live in the second largest city in the state. Nevertheless, it still has a small-town feel, because in the 2024 census, it only had 58,720 people…up a bit with people moving out of failing states like California and New York, but down from the 59,038 count, in 2020.
Bob retired from the City of Casper on July 1, 2016, where he had been a mechanic for 27 years. While Bob is retired, he’s not really retired. He works on lots of cars, and many people depend on him. He says he just changed bosses, and now he is his own boss and decides what jobs to take, and what jobs not to. I seldom see him turn down a job, nevertheless. Bob is the kind of guy who has a heart for people, and a breakdown is such 
a hardship that he tries his best to fix it for them. Some jobs require tools he doesn’t have, like computers and such, but if he “can” fix it, he “will” fix it. He has even fixed vehicles of friends of current clients, who are just traveling through and breakdown. Word of mouth is great advertising.
Bob has always loved bowling and is really a great bowler. This past year, he struggles some, due to a torn Meniscus, but I have no doubt that he will come back strong in the 2025-2026 season. It’s rather funny, because while I bowled for a number of years before Bob started bowling, he quickly surpassed my averages. I was a good bowler too, but Bob just took to the sport like he had been doing it all his life. That was in the late 1970s. The rest is history. No, he isn’t as good as the pros, but then he never wanted to be a pro either. If he had wanted to all those years ago, he could have, I think. He was focused and had great form. He was meticulous, and that’s what it takes to be a great bowler, or great at any other sport. Bob has also loved hiking over the years, but the torn Meniscus made that more difficult. I know he misses all the hiking we used to do, and I still hold out hope for him to make a hiking comeback in the near future.
This year, Bob and I celebrated our 50th Wedding Anniversary. I’m sure that many people didn’t think we could make it, but there was never a doubt in our minds. Now, two daughters, four grandchildren and six great grandchildren later, we are as happy as we ever were. God knew exactly what He was doing when He made our match, and we are two of the most blessed people on this Earth. It was a match made in Heaven, and Bob, I still love you very much!! Today is Bob’s 71st birthday. Happy birthday Bob!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
My niece, Kellie Hadlock, one of the sweetest people you will ever know, “tied the knot” yesterday with the love of her life, Tim Thompson. With that marriage, Kellie also gained a sweet little daughter named Jolene, whom she dearly loves. This little family was a match made in Heaven, and both of their families are beyond happy about the connection that God put together. The hilltop setting looked out on Casper Mountain, and the day was beautiful. While the temperature was in the nineties, there was a breeze and some cloud cover that kept it cool enough to make it comfortable. It was a dressy cowboy theme, and which may not seem like a thing, but it is. Cowboy boots and jeans, meets formal lacy dresses and more cowboy boots. Cowboy hats, a beautiful bridal veil, flowers, and antlers, created a mix of the complexity of the styles of these two lovebirds.
Kellie has always been a girly girl, and more noticeably, a songbird. Her sister, Jessie best said it, when she said that Kellie’s life is a “musical” filled with singing…everywhere. Kellie sings in the house, the shower, the car, at church, outside, inside…yes, everywhere!! Kellie loves to sing. Kellie also loves to laugh and smile…both of 
which are infectious and are likely a big part of what let Tim know that he had found his other half. I’m sure the fact that Jolene, lovingly called Jo or Jo Jo, loved Kellie from day one helped too. Jo and Kellie are so close, you would think they have known each other all their lives. They just totally meshed, and it is the sweetest thing to see.
In what can only be called a “stark contrast,” Tim is an outdoor, hunter, fisherman, camping kind of guy. While Kellie has gone camping with her family, she never went hunting, and to my knowledge, fishing either. She says that Tim has opened up her world to things she would not likely have experienced without him. The funny thing is, that Kellie had decided that she likes these things. It’s just one more way to see for a certainty that these two were a match made in Heaven. Kellie’s sisters, Jessie and Lindsay have commented on the vital fact that Tim just lets Kellie be Kellie. My question is how does Kellie’s singing fit in with the normally necessary quietness of hunting…hmmmm?!? I guess this is where Tim letting Kellie be Kellie comes in…especially after the deer ran off because he heard singing in the forest. Well maybe, she just sings more softly though, because the hunt was a success.
Kellie and Tim are two very different people who make up a perfect match, and to see their union was a privilege indeed. As they head out now into their future, I am excited to watch where life takes them. For now, just seeing the happiness they share is exciting in itself. Yesterday marked the beginning of their lives together, and it was a beautiful beginning. For now, they plan to spend the rest of the summer enjoying their time with Jolene, before she must head back to her mom. I know that will be a hard day, but they aren’t thinking about that right now. They are a new little family of three, and they couldn’t be happier. Congratulations Mr and Mrs Thompson on your marriage!! We are so happy for you!! I know that God will greatly bless your union!! We love you both…and Jo too!!
It’s hard to believe that my grandson, Josh Petersen and his wife, Athena Petersen have been married two years already, and yet it also seems like they have been married, or at least together for a long time. I remember the first time I met Athena. They had come to the bowling alley we bowled at for our league. It was their first date. Somehow, I knew this girl would be his wife. They were just perfect for each other. It’s not often that it is so obvious that two people are perfect for each other, but that is what happened with these kids, and the rest is history.
Josh and Athena were married on June 24, 2023. Their marriage has been blessed with three sons…Justin, born 
October 14, 2022; Axel, born September 18, 2023; and Cristian, born January 26, 2025. Their lives are busy and active. Those little boys keep them hopping, but they are very happy and loving every second with their sweet boys and with each other. I love how they are always telling each other just how much they mean to them. It’s so important to express your love for your spouse, and these kids do so all the time.
Josh and Athena actually met when they were in middle school, but like most kids, they did not make the connection until much later when they ended up working together. Their love is real and true, but that was not something they knew in middle school. In fact, Athena told me that she didn’t like Josh then, which is funny, because my mother-in-law, Joann Schulenberg (Josh’s great grandmother) told me the same thing about my father-in-law, Walt Schulenberg (Josh’s great grandfather). I guess the way boys are as kids can be annoying, but later on that boyish charm becomes endearing. In this case, it wasn’t the first moment they met, that 
mattered, but the second moment they met. Not everyone can say that they have known their spouse for much of their lives, but it is really cool when they can, and when they are still in love even after their school days are long over. Nevertheless, Josh and Athena truly are perfect for each other. I love that these kids have their priorities straight…God first, family second, and self, last. I love that they are dedicated to God and family. I love seeing their faith in action. Today marks Josh and Athena’s second anniversary. Happy anniversary, Josh and Athena!! Have an amazing day!! We love you!!
My soon-to-be nephew, Tim Thompson is in the midst of some major life changes. Tim proposed to my niece, Kellie Hadlock on December 7, 2024, and they have been excitedly planning their wedding and their future since then. Tim had worked in Gillette, Wyoming, but as part of the transition into married life, he quit his job in Gillette, and started full-time college in Casper, Wyoming, studying Construction Management. Tim has been working very hard. He finished his first semester with a 4.0 average!! Kellie says, I have honestly never seen anyone more dedicated to their schoolwork and success in my life!!” This summer Tim will be working on a certificate for teaching on the side that he is very excited about as well! Tim is all about making their life better. They are so loving living in the same city, and it has made things so much easier for them! Long distance relationships, even those that are meant to be, are a struggle for the couple. So, I’m so glad they are both in Casper now. The change has moved their relationship to the next and most important level.
Tim has a daughter, Jolene “Jo” from a previous relationship. He is an amazing dad that loves being with his daughter and doing all the outdoor and active things! Kellie says, “They will be doing lots of fishing and adventuring (when possible…we are planning a wedding after all! lol).” They are gearing up to have Jo for the summer and they are so, so, so excited for that! Kellie loves Jo and the feeling is mutual. They couldn’t be more mother and daughter if they tried. Not only are Tim and Kellie meant to be, but Kellie and Jo are meant to be, which makes this little family meant to be!! Tim and Kellie are both very family oriented, and they love Jo to pieces!! It is such a blessed little family. We are all so excited for this next family chapter.
Tim fits so well in the Hadlock family. He is helpful, family oriented, and tall, which is so important in the tall Hadlock family. Of course, that was not the only reason Kellie fell in love with Tim. Kellie says, “Tim is literally the best fiancé! He has basically given me free rein on this wedding to make it exactly what we want! We are so excited to get married and start our lives together and I couldn’t have imagined a better man for that! God made him for me and that has been made clear in so many ways from the beginning! I love this man with my whole heart!” They will be starting that new life in a little under a month, and it is going to be amazing for them! A marriage made in Heaven!! Today is Tim’s birthday. Happy birthday Tim!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
Once your mom and mother-in-law move to Heaven, Mother’s Day takes on a different kind of feel. This year, in addition to my mom, Collene Spencer and my mother-in-law, Joann Schulenberg being in Heaven, my sister, Alena Stevens, who was also mom to Michelle Miller, Garrett Stevens, and Lacey Killinger, has gone home to Heaven too. Mother’s Day is supposed to be a day to celebrate Moms, but when our moms live in Heaven, it can feel quite empty. Of course, it isn’t really empty, because I am a mom too, as are my sisters and sisters-in-law, daughters, granddaughters-in-law, and my nieces. So to all of those and to those in Heaven, I wish you a Happy Mother’s Day.
Being a mom is such a blessing, and I can’t express my honor enough at being given my two beautiful 
daughters, Corrie Petersen and Amy Royce. They have always been such great blessing to me. Their kindness and love have made me feel so happy over the years. While I can’t always be with them on this and some other special days, I always know that I am in their thoughts and prayers each day. I love that we talk, either on the phone or by text every day. To know that I am on their minds is such a sweet thought. And I hope that they always know that they are in my thoughts and prayers every day too. They have each given me two wonderful grandchildren and so the blessings grow each and every day. My two granddaughters-in-law, Karen Petersen and Athena Petersen have each blessed me with three great grandchildren, and I love each of them dearly. As my family grows, so grows the depth of the blessing I have been given. God has been, and continues to be, so very good to me. Life is good, and it will only get better and better.
Some people consider days like Mother’s Day and others to be nothing more than a commercial holiday, designed to sell greeting cards, but I could never agree with that. Mother’s Day like so many other designated holidays, is a very special day, when our thoughts turn to our moms and all the blessings they have poured out on us. Of course, I wish I could see them on those special days, but it is not to be, so I will just rejoice in the blessing they have and always will be to me. Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms and especially to mine!! I love you so much.
