birthday
My great grandnephew, Max Herr is all boy, and as his mom, Katy Herr says, wild and crazy!! He is also Katy’s “little sidekick” and best friend. Those things are common in 5-year-old boys, but what isn’t as common is for a 5-year-old boy to faithfully run with his mom when she is racing, and one of these days plans to actually race with her. Running marathons, as Katy does, is no easy task, since marathons are 26.2 miles and extremely difficult. Nevertheless, Katy can count on her son to get out there and pace her, so she is properly trained. Nevertheless, Max does just that and he is barely five. And by the way, Max’s great training helped his mom to take 2nd place in her first marathon!! A Tough Guy, that one!!
Max loves monster trucks and just this year, he started riding dirt bikes. Max still loves all superheroes and that is not surprising, since he is a real like superhero to his mom. He also loves his cousins, Reece and Asa Balcerzak. While Max is his mom’s best friend, he is also very much his daddy, Dylan Herr’s boy. They like to play golf, and Max is quickly learning the ropes. Max loves both of his parents so much and he is the light of their lives. He is comfortable in any setting and can usually be found doing whatever his parents are doing. Like his dad, I’m sure Max will be a natural athlete, and I can’t wait to see where his talents take him. Max loves to go hiking with hi parents, and like most kids, a place with a waterfall is always a big hit. Max also loves all things car and mechanical, and his cars had better be a tough as he is, because they are quite likely to find themselves going through the water and the mud. Max is a kid filled with adventure and energy, and he’s a sweet as he can be.
He loves plane rides and of course, hanging out with the grandparents and great grandparents. Like most 
people, Max loves the good old American hamburger, and Burger King is one of his absolute favorites. Max is a smiley boy, and when he smiles, his whole face lights up. Every day is a new delight to this kid. There is no such word as boring. He finds excitement wherever he goes. Today is Max’s 5th birthday! Happy birthday Max! Have a great day! We love you!
For my nephew, Garrett Stevens, this birthday brings sad changes, because it is the first one since his mom, Alena Stevens passed away. Since Garrett and his wife, Kayla had their girls, Elliott and Maya, they have been blessed to have his mom be able to come from Casper to Sheridan to watch the girls when Kayla has to be out of town for work. Now, there is a definite void that will be a hard one to fill. Garrett’s Dad, Mike is still with them, but babysitting the girls really was Alena’s thing. This summer finds Kayla taking a few less out of town trips, because her family needs her to help with the emotional transitions of this hard time. Kayla’s career as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker has made her uniquely qualified to help her family through this time of grief, but it doesn’t help to fill the void when she has to go out of town. Still, I know that Garrett will manage when the time comes, and the girls are getting older too, so they can help to do more.
Garrett went through some special training that culminated in a very hard test and his promotion to certified welding 
inspector recently, and the whole family is so proud of him. Many people have tried to pass that test, but few do so. Garrett worked very hard, and even then, it was no easy task. His boss was so proud of him too. I don’t really know what all his job entails, but I do know that when a weld fails, it is never a good thing, and it can spell disaster, depending on what things were welded. I can’t say what types of welds are processed at Garrett’s work, but I know that a bad weld has been known to bring down an airplane, so it must be strong, and it must be right.
Garrett tells me that Kayla is the family activity planner, and she has a full summer planned for the family. That is a good thing, because as we all know, when it comes to grief and loss, staying busy is a key part of the 
healing process. Their daughter, Elliott is a very busy girl too, with cheerleading camp, nature camp, parade camp, and many others. Elliott is almost seven years old, so she understands death to a degree. Keeping her busy is as essential as it is for adults. Maya is just three, and I’m sure that the big job with her will be in telling her about her grandmother, so she will somehow know her. Nevertheless, Garrett and Kayla are great parents, and they will manage. Of that I have no doubt. Today is Garrett’s birthday. Happy birthday Garrett!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
This has been a difficult six months for my sister, Alena Stevens, family and for her daughter-in-law, Kayla and son, Garrett, Alena’s passing has left a specific void, because with Kayla’s job as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, comes periodic travel around the state and even the nation. That has not been a problem, because whenever Kayla had to go out of town, Alena would travel to Sheridan to take care of Kayla and Garrett’s girls, Elliott and Maya. There is nothing more comforting for a parent who must travel for work, than to know that their children are well cared for, and especially when it is the grandparents who take care of them. Children love to spend time with their grandparents, and they always have a great time.
The family is slowly adjusting to Alena’s April 23rd passing, but it was particularly hard, because when they found out, Kayla and Garrett were on vacation at Disney World with their girls. That definitely put a damper on the trip. Garrett tells me that they are doing ok, and that it has been a very busy summer, which has helped too. This summer has held fewer trips for Kayla, because they are still adjusting to having no one to come and stay with the girls. Nevertheless, she will be taking a few as the summer goes on. She has turned down some of the trips so she can help her family get through this tough time. Kayla, as a social worker is very good at helping people wade through grief, and that is so helpful for her family. The girls are young, but they know that Grandma isn’t there anymore. Kayla felt like it would be had on Garrett to try to handle the girls alone while she is out of town. As time goes on, they will figure out a new way to deal this those trips, and as the girls get older, they will be able to help their daddy more, but this summer, they all need time to adjust. Kayla usually stays overnight for the events that are more than a couple of hours away. Garrett and the girls usually had Alena come up to help with the kids during those times so now, there is a definite void. In addition to Kayla’s ability to help with the grief of her own family, she is very skilled at her job too. Garrett says, “She has more credentials than I can even remember, and she is one of the go-to people in her field. She is so incredibly smart and skilled at what she does.” He is very proud of his sweet wife. and all she has accomplished.
Kayla is a great planner. She has been busy planning out the summer camps that Elliott will be in this summer. It’s setting up to be a busy summer for Elliott, with cheerleader camp, nature camp, parade camp and many others. She is very organized. Kayla loves to make sure the kids have great activities to keep them busy and to stimulate their young minds. Garrett says, “She has been such a great support to me during this time. Anything I needed she was there, and she has sacrificed a lot.” Garrett, Elliott, and Maya, as well as the rest of the family, have been very blessed by Kayla and her caring heart. Today is Kayla’s birthday. Happy birthday Kayla!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
In life, there are things you never expected to live through, and your younger sister going to Heaven before you, is one of those things. Nevertheless, that is what happened on April 23, 2025, when my sister, Alena Stevens went home to Heaven. I know where my sister is, because she was a strong spirit-filled believer, who knew Jesus as her Lord and Savior, but for those of us left behind, every day is a challenge, with memories of her, texts we don’t get from her now, the sister dinners without her, the holiday parties now one short, the sister prayer warriors and the sister birthday greetings, also now one short. And her family now must go forward without wife, mother, and grandmother. It is so very sad for us, but for Alena, life goes infinitely forward, and it is amazing…a life we can only imagine.
Alena was a cute little girly girl, and we always knew that she would have a flare for the beautiful. She loved cutting hair, especially her own. Mom was not always a fan of that, because it meant fixing Alena’s “new do” that was invariably very short. Alena’s hair was fine, so shorter cuts worked on her, and really helped to thicken it, but since all the rest of us had long hair, Alena’s short haired look was a sure sign that she had managed to get a hold of the scissors again. While her personal cuts were a trial for our mom, Collene Spencer, Alena was also Mom’s personal hair stylist, cutting her hair and always making Mom’s hair look beautiful for her. Alena never went to cosmetology school, but rather she became an amazing educational support member. Instead, she passed that hair talent, on to her youngest child, daughter, Lacey Killinger, who did go to cosmetology school and now owns her own salon. I know that was a proud moment for my sister. Lacey’s marriage to Chris, also brought Alena two treasured grandchildren, Brooklyn and Jaxon. She loved them very much.
Alena always had a flair for decorating too. Her home is beautiful, and her style always shines through. I never thought of her as an artist, but I think she was to a great degree. Some of the ideas she used on things were stunning. She just knew what colors would look well together and she could mix design styles and have it come out beautifully. I always thought Alena’s daughter, Michelle Miller got her artistic ability from our mom, but when I think about it now, I can see that it was from her mom. Michelle went on to college and got her degree 
in art and education. I know her mom was very proud of her. When Michelle married her middle school sweetheart, Matt, it was such a happy day for Alena. She always knew they were perfect for each other.
While Alena was never a welder, and like her sisters, would have no clue how to begin, her son Garrett followed in the footsteps of our dad, Allen Spencer, and became an excellent welder. I know that was a proud moment for Alena. She thought it was very cool that Garrett took to welding just like Dad. Garrett has not only excelled in welding but is now a trained inspector too. Alena was so proud the day he passed that really tough test. When Garrett and his wife, Kayla began having children, Alena graduated to the rank of “Grandma” and she was delighted beyond words. The time she spent with Elliott and Maya was absolutely wonderful for her, and she gloried in it.
While Alena was mom and grandma, and treasured both roles, it was the life she and Mike created that was absolutely blissful. Alena and Mike were perfect for each other from the very start. Anyone who knew them could easily see how much they loved each other. Theirs was a marriage made in Heaven, and a love that will last forever. The love and kindness they showed each other was the glue that sustained them through more that 40 years of marriage. Their Christian faith flourished through the years too, and they brought their children up to love the Lord too. That is an accomplishment to be very proud of. The last few months that Alena was with us, were the hardest we have ever faced, but Mike carried the heaviest load. Since they were both retired, Mike was home with her, and he was her main support. My sisters and I were so pleased and impressed with the care that Mike gave her. Of course, I’m sure Mike would just say something like, “of course I did, I love her,” but we have all been caregivers, and we know what it entails. No matter how much a caregiver loves their patient or loved one, caregiving is not easy. Mike didn’t care about how hard it was. Alena was the love of his life, his world, and he gave her the very best care, love, and attention we have ever seen. For that we are both proud of Mike and thankful to him. We couldn’t have asked for a better brother-in-law.
Today marks Alena’s 64 birthday, and the first one in Heaven. None of us can believe this is real, but we are 
slowly facing the finality of it. The entire Stevens family is in my thoughts and prayers today, as they face the first of many of her birthdays without Alena. Happy first birthday in Heaven, Alena. I know the party there will be way better than any we could put on here, but we sure wish you were here anyway. We love and miss you very much.
When your child is young, you sometimes see traits that carry into their future, and you can almost see their lives mapped out from the very start. Other children seem to show their true selves a little bit at a time, sometimes over a few years, and other times changing over their whole lives. My younger daughter, Amy Royce is a blend of these things. From a very young age, Amy did not want to be the same as her older sister, Corrie Petersen. It wasn’t that she didn’t like who Corrie was, but rather that Amy didn’t want to be a carbon copy. She wanted to be her own person. I get that, and I got it when she was young, because it just made sense. Amy was a different person, and she wanted to make sure that her own style and ideas for her life came out.
While Amy’s own style and tastes were always allowed to flourish, she also showed some typical kid 
characteristics, like a cluttered room and definite preference not to “waste time” cleaning the room any more than absolutely necessary. While she was growing up, I figured she would be the “clutter queen” child, because Corrie was always the clean freak. I just knew Amy would not be the “Susie Homemaker” type. Boy was I wrong!! As Amy grew up and got her own place, her “Susie Homemaker” side suddenly arrived. She loved having a cozy home that was well decorated and much of that decor was of her own style and much of it created by Amy, who’s artistic side appeared and so flourished as she got older. Who knew there was an artist in there?
While Amy’s house became a showplace, her yard became even more a showcase, especially the back yard. Amy has a great flair for gardening, and her beautiful gardens show that prowess very well. Is there such a 
thing as “Susie Gardener” by chance, because if there is, Amy is that person. She is always picking out unusual flowers to add to the uniqueness of her garden and her yard. Of course, her husband, Travis helps with the yard and the beauty therein too, but not the flowers. That is Amy’s department. Nevertheless, their place is beautiful, and so relaxing. They have added a covered lanai that attaches to their rec room-tavern, and their home has become the place where everyone wants to hang out. I never would have guessed that Amy would be the crafty, gardener type, but she has found and shown off that side of herself over the years quite nicely. I’m very proud of the woman she has become. Today is Amy’s birthday. Happy birthday Amy!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
My great-grandnephew, Jaxx Harman is Such a sweet boy. He parents, Jake and Melanie Harman say, “That little boy by far is one of the sweetest things God has ever created!” He is the youngest of his parents three children, and his older sisters, Alice and Izabella are his best friends. He wants to be around Izabella all the time and even tries to fall asleep beside her. His parents know that where Izabella is, Jaxx will be too. Jaxx has such a sweet temperament. He is kind and loving to all the people he knows, especially to his parents.
While Jaxx is best friends with his sisters, he is also very much like his daddy. One thing they have in common is gaming, and they often find themselves having to kick him off of the game so he can go do something else, like just to be a normal kid to 
run around outside and scrape some knees or something, hahahaha!! For many kids, gaming just comes naturally. Raised in a computer age, the totally get all the tech stuff from a really young age. Jaxx is no different. Add to that, watching his daddy play, and you have a very proficient gamer…at a very young age!!
Jaxx has a wonderful sense of humor. You just never know what things he might come up with. Every time he hears a new joke, he has to share it constantly. In that way, he tweaks it a little bit and makes it his own. Jaxx has a contagious laugh. When he gets started, everyone around him giggles too. He has a smile that will brighten a room! He is the first to tell his mother and sisters how beautiful they are and open doors for the ladies and says ladies first! In that way, he is his daddy’s boy too, because that is exactly how Jake is. Jaxx just has a heart of gold, and he 
knows that women are supposed to be treated as princesses. It’s an amazing trait. Still, even in his gentlemanly role, Jaxx has a silly side too, so he is just as likely to open the door for his dad and say, “Ladies first!” Hahahaha!!
As much as Jaxx is a gentleman, he is also definitely a boy! He is loud and crazy and a “little monkey!” He absolutely loves the family dogs and lays with them and cuddles them all the time! His mom says, “He is our Handsome Pandsome (Lol yeah it’s just something his mom said one time and it stuck ha ha) as we call him and we are so grateful to God every day for this sweet little boy!! He is a huge blessing!!” Today is Jaxx’s 8th birthday. Happy birthday Jaxx!! Have a great 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!!
I first met my husband’s step-grandfather, Walt Hein when he was the age that I am now…69 years old. I was 18 years old at the time, and soon to be married to my husband, Bob Schulenberg. While Walt, as most of the family called him, seemed gruff and tough, but underneath all that, he was really a softy. As stepfamily goes, Walt or Grandpa as I always called him was a “bonus” grandpa. He always loved when we came for visits. My girls, Corrie Petersen and Amy Royce stole his heart from the very start. They had him wrapped around their little fingers immediately. He let them chase the chickens, and he took them for little horse rides around the corral. Grandpa wanted the girls to have fun. He wanted all kids to have fun there. He placed a bathtub in the yard years before, and when the girls were there, he would put water in it so they could “swim” and cool off. It was great fun. The girls loved going to visit Grandma and Grandpa Hein.
Grandpa loved playing cards and having us come for visits. When it was just him and Grandma there, playing 
cards really didn’t happen very much, and that was sad for Grandpa. When we came the first time, they taught us to play “Pitch” and so we played…every time we were there. Quickly, I became his official “Pitch” partner. We both tended to be ruthless…at least during the card games. We seldom lost, and he never wanted to quit playing, even when we needed to go to town for visits with the rest of the family. Once we went to town, Grandpa would head off to one of the outbuildings on the ranch for his afternoon nap. That usually lasted an hour or so, and then he was totally re-energized and ready to go play cards again. If Grandpa could have had his way, this would be the agenda for our visits there…and Grandma would have never gotten any of her work done.
When we got ready to go to town, the look of disappointment on his face was so hard to see. I knew that he didn’t get to play cards much when we weren’t there for a visit, so he really wanted to play all day, but Grandma had other things to do. She loved working around the house, cooking and cleaning, and her other activities, so sometimes we just had to stop. Poor Grandpa!! That ruined his whole day. Maybe that was why he took the naps. I miss those days. Today is the 119th anniversary of the birth of a sweet old man. Happy birthday in Heaven, Grandpa Hein. We love and miss you very much.
My grandniece, Brooklyn Killinger has grown up so much this year. Her pictures took me by surprise a little bit. Sometimes you just don’t notice the changes…until you do. I guess that is typical of a girl turning 12 years old. Brooklyn has become a beautiful young lady. She loves all things girly. She has been asking stepmom, Lacey Killinger to get acrylic nails, so they went for her birthday to make that dream happen, and Brooklyn in totally obsessed with her new nails. Coming into the preteen years, Brooklyn is very much into makeup and skin care. She discovered Ulta Beauty, and wants to go every chance she gets. She also has her own makeup model…her little brother Jaxon. She makes him sit in her room so she can practice makeup on him. Thankfully, Jaxon is patient and loves his sister, so he “tolerates” being the model…for now.
In addition to being a girly girl, Brooklyn is an athlete. She is really into volleyball, and she has basically been playing it all year through different places. She doesn’t want volleyball to be just a few weeks during the school year. We all know that the more you play a game, the better you get, so I’m sure that Brooklyn is a great 
player. Brooklyn will be starting 7th grade in the fall, which used to mean junior high school, but now the kids start middle school in 6th grade, so she won’t be going to a new school. Nevertheless, she will be moving into the upper group of middle school, and no longer the newbie age. Kids change so much in middle school, that is it really shocking…to us adults anyway.
Brooklyn’s birthday party for her friends and family was held over the weekend at the Aquatic Center, and everyone had an absolute blast. Now that summer is almost here, Brooklyn is very excited for camping with her parents Chris and Lacey Killinger and brother, Jaxon, but she will probably bring a friend for the first time too, 
because she’s at that age now, where she doesn’t want to just play with her brother anymore. She is very excited to be able to bring a friend camping. It will be a whole new experience for them both. Of course, Brooklyn is still very excited about getting to spend more time with cousins Elliott and Maya. The girls live in Sheridan, so Brooklyn and Jaxon don’t get to see them as much as they would like to. They are so close, especially Brooklyn and Maya. Maya, being the youngest of the cousins, and Brooklyn being the oldest of the cousins, means that Maya thinks Brooklyn hung the moon, and Brooklyn just loves playing with Maya. The summer looks to be shaping up into a great time for all. Today is Brooklyn’s 12th birthday. Happy birthday Brooklyn!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
My niece, Cassie Franklin is a mother of three children, a partner, and an entrepreneur, but mostly…to me anyway, she is her mother’s daughter. Cassie was born when her mother, Rachel (Franklin) Schulenberg was just over 16 years old. It was a dark time in Rachel’s life. Rachel lost her mother, Connie (Mooren) Franklin, just a month and two days after she turned 10 years old. She lost more that day that just her mother. To a large degree, she lost herself too. It was a temporary loss, but a long one, that would culminate in becoming a wild child, and then to becoming a mother at 16. Many people would think that was one more way to sink into a pit, but for Rachel, it was not. Cassie was her saving grace. Rachel was a good mother to her little mini-me, and while they, like all mother-daughter relationship struggled at times, but they loved each other so much. Rachel passed away on January 19, 2021.
Truly, I think Cassie learned much of her mothering skills from her mother. Of course, it wasn’t like Rachel set 
out to specifically teach her daughter to be a good mom, but rather that together, they became a great mother-daughter team. Rachel told me once, that they really grew up together. That’s probably true. With only 16 years between them, Rachel was still a girl too. She didn’t really know how to mother from her own mom, because she died when Rachel was so young. Nevertheless, there were people around her to help. There was her stepmother, Janice (Grosch) Franklin, who married her dad Clifton Franklin in 1981, for example. Of course, that can be a blessing or a curse in the early days, but later on, they got along, and the relationship was a blessing. For Cassie, Janice became a beloved grandmother. The only one she had ever known. Janice passed away on June 17, 2019.
Cassie has three children now, Lucas Iverson, Zoey Iverson, and Alicen Barr. The children are so blessed by their mom, who is a hands-on health advocate and protector against medical abuse and overuse. She doesn’t agree with vaccinations, because they have too many issues tied to them, and too much in them that is unknown. Cassie is also the guardian on her youngest brother, Tucker, who lives with her and her partner, Wesley Burr. They are a healthy, happy family, and together, they run a growing cleaning business. Today is Cassie’s birthday. Happy birthday Cassie!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
