Love
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.
Who would have thought that this day would come? Fifty years ago, my husband, Bob Schulenberg…the love of my life…and I said our “I dos” and stepped out into a lifetime of love and great memories. I am actually so surprised to be here…not at our Golden Anniversary, but rather at this point so quickly. It seems like just yesterday that we got married!! How could the years have gone by so fast. Nevertheless, while they went by quickly, the years have been so blessed. I could not have asked for a better life if I tried. Following our marriage, we quickly became the parents of two precious little girls, Corrie Petersen and Amy Royce. They blessed our lives beyond measure. They were always well behaved, sweet little girls who were each other’s best friends. They got along so well, and almost never fought.
Through the years we had many opportunities to travel the country and show our sweet girls what a great nation this is. We especially loved the Black Hills of South Dakota; a place we still go every year. We also took some trips with just the two of us. These were like second, third, fourth, etc honeymoons, and we felt very blessed. Our parents helped out with those trips, of course, by watching our girls while we were gone. Those were usually just weekend trips, but they were a lot of fun.
All too soon, our girls were graduating and then getting married. We became empty nesters, but it wasn’t too long before our house was filled with babies. We were young grandparents…I was 39 and Bob was 40, and we were so excited. Plus, being young gave us more energy to be active grandparents. The girls brought the kids 
over every morning before school, and they would be with me until it was time for school. Those were always precious times for me. We had one granddaughter and three grandsons…Christopher Petersen, Shai Royce, Caalab Royce, and Joshua Petersen. We were so very blessed. Those were wonderful years, filled with giggling, laughter, love, and fun.
As with our girls, our grandchildren soon grew up and two of them are now married with children. Once again, our world is filled with babies laughing and playing. We don’t babysit as often, but sometimes we do. We have one great granddaughter, and five great grandsons…Cambree, Caysen, Justin, Axel, Cyler, and Cristen Petersen, and we feel so very blessed. We see the kids as often as we can, but when we can’t their parents are so sweet to send us lots of pictures and videos. Technology is a great blessing too.
Bob and I still enjoy traveling, going to the Black Hills and Thermopolis, Wyoming every year. Our travel is rather simple. We love hiking and the sightseeing of these scenic areas. We like to go to visit our daughter Amy Royce and her family in Ferndale, Washington too. That area has so much beauty, and the hiking is amazing. Now, we find ourselves on a new road…part of the Golden Anniversary crowd. How amazing is that? We are both retired, so our time is our own, to do with as we please. These are blessed days in a whole new way. We might jump in the car and take a drive to the lake on the spur of the moment. Or we might decide to just have a 
quiet evening at home. We don’t have to make serious plans. The thing we are doing the most is to simply enjoy being together, because after all these years we still say “I do” and still love each other very much. Happy Golden Anniversary to the love of my life, Bob Schulenberg. I love you so much and thanks for the memories.
Paris is known as the city of love, and France is famous for love, so it’s not too surprising that it is thought that the first-ever Valentine’s Day card originated in France. At that time, Charles, the Duke of Orleans was in prison as a prisoner of war. He spent 25 years there, and he sent love letters to his wife from there in 1415. These days, the French village called “Valentine” turns into the epicenter of romance between the 12th and 14th of February. Everyone gets in on the fun. Yards, trees, and homes, are decorated with love cards, roses, and proposals for marriage. It seems like everyone gets in on the fun, making it one of the most beautiful Valentine’s Day traditions in the world. And it all started from a prison cell. Charles was allowed to live in relative freedom, and could even write letters, but he was not allowed to go free or be ransomed for almost 25 years. Sadly, his wife Bonne of Armagnac, the daughter of Bernard VII, Count of Armagnac, died before he returned from captivity. So, while he was rather famous for his letters and poems to her, they did him no real good. Still, their love was an unending love.
Sadly, some valentines have good endings and others don’t, but the idea of valentines, and Valentine’s Day is as timeless as the love between Charles and Bonne. Every year, couples exchange things like cards, candy, flowers, and gifts to show their love for one another. Many of these gifts are exchanged over a nice dinner and wine. Other times, the dinners might be held at home, even including the children of the couple. It doesn’t 
really matter how it is done…the idea is to celebrate the love the couple has for each other. Some people might think the tradition is silly, but usually those are the people who don’t have anyone to spend the day with. Some people think that it has become too commercialized, and maybe it has, but as commercialization goes, this one seems to be the sweetest. Happy Valentine’s Day!! I hope yours is very special.
Paris has long been known as the “City of Love” and is visited by many couples. I’m sure it is the Eiffel Tower that stands out for so many, and it is beautiful, but there are many other sights to see as well. Paris is, after all, one of the top honeymoon destinations. I can’t say it is any more romantic than any other city, but then I have never been there, so I would not really be the best person to say. Paris is not only dubbed the City of Love but also the art capital of the world. One of the most famous artistic styles that flourished in the city is, you guessed it, Romanticism. I can see where art would be a big deal there. Some of the landscapes and cityscapes are stunning. Paris was a city of many things. One of the many forms of love that came out of Paris was the Love Lock Bridge. Unfortunately, this one wasn’t totally a great idea.
It seems that as the many honeymooners and couples in love wanted to leave a lasting expression of their love. The arches of the Pont de Arts bridge, located in the heart of Paris have carried couples across the Seine since the early 1800s. Its original design included trees, floral beds, benches and other park-like amenities. Unfortunately, the original design was altered, due to boat collisions and two world wars. Even though the bridge didn’t take the couples to a romantic destination, it was still viewed as a romantic place due to its 
stunning views of the Eiffel Tower. The bridge still attracts visitors from around the world. It also attracted romantic gestures, but that is a relatively new tradition.
In 2008, something strange started happening. The visitors began engraving their names on padlocks, attaching the padlocks to the bridge, and throwing the keys into the river. It was a romantic gesture symbolizing never ending love. At first, nothing was done about the practice, because officials thought it was a fad that would quickly die out. It did not die out, and by 2017 there were about 700,000 padlocks secured on the bridge. That was how the bridge got its nickname…Love Lock Bridge.
Even with all those locks on the bridge, the fad continued. In fact, it literally exploded. At one point, it was estimated that there were over a million locks on the bridge. A section of the bridge railing actually collapsed under the weight of the extra load in 2015. A board was placed there as a temporary repair. At the point of the rail collapse, the bridge carried nearly 50 tons above and beyond its intended load capacity due to the weight of the metal locks. Apparently, that was about the weight of twenty elephants. Now the practice became more than just what might be considered an eyesore, they were a cause of concern for public safety. So, with that in mind, the city removed the locks. These days, visitors are still welcome to cross the bridge and take in the views of Paris, but they are no longer allowed to put locks on the bridge to “declare their enduring love.” Still, 
this hasn’t stopped some visitors from trying to add new locks to Pon des Arts bridge. Of course, now the locks are removed as soon as they are spotted. Instead of the locks, visitors are encouraged to take selfies or find less destructive declarations of love. I wonder if they might consider throwing roses into the river or something. I guess no one asked my, but it’s a thought anyway.
Looking back on the years of my life, or more specifically the Christmases of my life. I know that I have been very blessed. The years have changed the look of our Christmas, but not the joy. With the addition of now, great grandchildren, we have new little faces on with to see joy, and we also still have the faces of the grandchildren and the children to enjoy. Just knowing that we have brought them some Christmas cheer makes me feel so blessed.
Some years have found us with some people in the family missing. Some have moved and some had to work. It 
makes for a different kind of Christmas, but you still feel blessed that they are in your life, and that the next year will likely be different. Then, you consider those who have family serving our country far away and overseas, and you reconsider your situation in light of theirs. And you feel grateful for their service, and the sacrifice their families made so that this country can remain free.
And then, there are the family members who have left us for Heaven. Those are the changes that hurt the most. The ones that can’t be reversed. Of those we just have the memories of Christmas past, when times were different, and there were no empty seats. I think the empty seats are the hardest part, whether it’s people who have left us or those who have moved. Missing them just doesn’t stop, no matter how many years have 
gone by. Now they spend Christmas with Jesus, the one for whom we celebrate Christmas. I can’t think of a better way to spend Christmas than with Jesus himself. And I can only imagine the party!! Someday we will all see for ourselves. Until then, our memories and Christmas changes will continue to accumulate. Merry Christmas everyone. May your day be sweet and blessed, no matter where your loved ones are. And thank you to all who are serving our country far from home.
