Carbon Valley | Mead | Erie Consumer Report
1999-2025
Creating Community by Connecting Neighbors
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By Linda Allour
Love could be considered one of the most important human emotions. From the moment of conception, biologically we are connected with our Mother; this is a bond that in theory cannot be broken. However, sometimes due to life choices and circumstances, the bond must be separated for the wellbeing of the child.
At age 11 “Joe” would feed his younger siblings and make sure they went to school since Mom wasn’t capable. At age 14 “Sue” took care of her niece since neither her Mom nor her Sister was able to care for her niece. Sadly, the situation for “Joe” and “Sue” is not uncommon. ey are still children, trying to take care of children. ese are circumstances that create the need for the Foster system.
Most of us may not even be aware of the critical need of foster parents or the support needed by a foster family. Tracee Rudd, the Director of Colorado Kids Belong, became aware of the foster crisis when her brother, Todd (and his wife) became foster parents. To show support, Rudd and her husband Dave took training as “helpers” with the foster system.
Not really intending to foster or adopt, Rudd continued her work with the Colordo Kids Belong. at changed when she met a child thru a video program used to bring awareness to certain kids needing a family: Something just connected. ru a series of feelings and comments from family, whether it was from God or coincidences or both, Rudd and her husband pondered the idea of fostering. Rudd and her husband had “kind of a ‘why not’ thought” believing they had “enough support around them”. rough a series of visits, the Rudds welcomed a teen child in need to their home on Mother’s Day in 2020. Fast forward to 2023, the Rudd’s welcomed a second teen into their home. As with many families, Rudd says we’re just a “crazy beautifully
blended family”, but we had to be trauma aware and ready for it to be hard.
Being a foster parent and subsequently adopting the child is not easy. Rudd warns future foster parents that the journey “is messy and not always easy”. She says you have to ask yourself, “Do you have enough margin in your life for the time needed” to handle all that comes with fostering or adopting a child that comes from a broken place. Being a foster or adoptive parent many times can include dealing with substance abuse in addition to PTSD, anxiety, or depression. e government does provide Medicaid, counseling, training, but additional support is signi cant for success. e Colorado Kids Belong is the additional support many foster parents need. You can help in many other ways besides fostering or adopting. Rudd feels “these aren’t government kids, these are OUR kids”. Businesses can give discounts or special services to foster/adoptive families. If you can’t foster, you can still make a huge di erence.
“Joe” was adopted separately from his siblings, but does keep in touch. “Joe” needed to release the role of parent and focus on his own healing. “Sue” needed someone else to help with her niece so she could focus on her needs as a young adult. e ability to guide and discipline without the child feeling rejection and “to get to a place of trust” is one of many rewards Rudd has felt. Children need a chance to experience a healthy connection and to live joyfully, not just in survival mode. Love can help repair a distressed child. To be part of healing our children, start by going to www. cokidsbelong.org. Every Child deserves a future lled with hope, love and the joy of belonging. You can read true-life stories of foster/ Loved by Choice: True Stories at Celebrate Adoption, available through Amazon. https://a.co/d/i3r89vl
Kelly MartindalePublisher
What's OnMy Mind
One More Chance
YouTube’s national news had many options to view in the days leading up to the Inaugural events. e People’s March, Saturday, January 18, 2025, caught my attention. It took half a minute to realize it was another chance, and in their words, “a demonstration to oppose” then President-elect Donald Trump.
I scrolled through speakers, listening to dramatic expressions of accepting all people in every walk of life, lifestyle, race, age, and religion. en a bit of chaos ensued.
March supporters blocked and pushed away a man holding up a sign that simply read, “Jesus Saves.” ese same people put themselves between that man and the news cameras and shoved him until he was essentially ejected from the group.
Rejecting a Jesus believer was the opposite action of what their speeches had projected. All should be welcome at e People’s March. Truth says every human is loved by their creator. *****
Later, a marcher held up a sign that read, “We matter more than zygotes, embryos and fetuses.” Again, I was struck by the incongruity that the sign was lifted by someone who, in fact, started as a zygote (a single cell that is formed when a sperm and egg cell fuse, contains all the genetic information needed for an individual to develop into a baby), developed into an embryo and later was a growing fetus who was allowed to live and eventually hold up that sign. Isn’t that a perfect example of irony?
I continued listening to various speakers and pondered their objectives. e collective message leaned heavily on women’s rights, well, one right—to choose death on demand, starting with the most vulnerable, pre-born children. e darkness thickens as more Americans accept the lie that abortion, genocide, letting the elderly and in rm die, and euthanasia are acts of mercy and an inherent entitlement.
Regardless of your belief system of how humans came to be, killing another being isn’t an act of compassion or a gift of dignity. It’s a sacri ce of one human for the bene t of another. e Creator of life commands us to care for the innocent, the sick, the marginalized, and the underserved. It’s our duty to protect and nurture, not dispose of them.
Two of my ve pregnancies (one ended in miscarriage) were out of wedlock. e rst one, I was seventeen and a senior in high school. I was terri ed. I know what it’s like to consider having an abortion. e fear is unbearable. e questions regarding how I let that happen and what was I going to do, cause panic and desperation.
I empathize with every female faced with an unplanned pregnancy. But most of us must own our original decision—our rst choice to have sex. I’m not talking about rape or incest. ose actions are a criminal violation. Yet, regardless of the sexual act, every single zygote was known by God when it was made in the secret place. (Psalm 139:15 NIV).
Even if there seems to be no other choice, aborting a baby is sacri cing a child on the altar belonging to the enemy of life. I know many who’ve made that choice. ankfully, it’s not the end of their story. ere is One who loves us even when we’ve made dreadful mistakes. e cross of Jesus, His death being the greatest of sacri ces, and His resurrection accomplished blotting out our bad decisions. (Micah 7:18-19 NIV) *****
Listening to additional speakers and reading more signs, I realize I’m no di erent from these protesters. I’ve made many unwise choices in my life and rationalized each one. Eventually, my mind and heart were a ected by those choices and to live with myself, I needed to ght for my rights—or I needed to come clean. I made the decision to sit with Jesus and express the how and whys, the excuses. rough those conversations, I was cleansed and freed from the chains I’d bound myself. I learned God always gives second chances. *****
Into another hour of the march, I noticed a crassly penned sign, “If My Vagina Shot Bullets, You’d Regulate It Less!” I’ll admit that sign was a creative way to push the agendas of getting rid of guns and allowing abortions. More irony.
Do those people do their homework? Apples and oranges, as the saying goes. According to www.bradyunited.org/resources/statistics, 23 minors are shot each day in the U.S. www.everytownresearch.org/ graph/firearms-are-the-leading-cause-of-death-for-american-childrenand-teens/ says that 12 of them die every day. BradyUnited.org states that mass shootings make up 1% of gun violence.
I don’t take these numbers lightly. My nine-year-old daughter and my twenty-three-year-old son died in separate accidents. All child deaths are a tragedy. But the participants at e People’s March and many others in our nation, seem unaware that every day in America, there are 2,841 abortions as compared to 12 shooting deaths.
In 2023, the above links show there were just under 4,500 shooting deaths. I feel con dent to assume that not one of those parents chose to take the life of their child.
On the other hand, statistics from https://www.guttmacher.org/ monthly-abortion-provision-study shows an estimated 1,037,000 abortions occurred in the formal health care system in 2023, the rst full calendar year after the US Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturned Roe v. Wade. Each abortion death is a choice. e casualties and destruction in our nation and around the world must stop. We lack respect for another’s opinions and choose estrangement instead of communicating our faith and convictions. I believe this latest election was God drawing a line in the sand. His heart breaks at what one human does to another. He created us from His love. He has beautiful plans for every individual, starting in the womb. Ephesians 1:4-14 (NIV) tells us before He created anything He had a plan for you and me.
You may call it the big bang, but regardless, we’ve been given a chance to pursue life in a better way, the right way—His way.
God may be extending to us one more chance to choose life over death by embracing good, old-fashioned morality. e results of choosing to do the right thing helps avoid bad choices and the negative consequences that follow.
If you don’t already, consider the existence of God and Jesus. Just by living according to their teachings, we can alleviate stress and problems for ourselves, grow peace, and foster safety and unity in our communities. Love and forgiveness conquer hatred and division, and following Jesus’ example brings us together. Let’s seize this divine opportunity and choose the path of life, guided by love, faith, and unwavering moral principles.
Warm Wishes
Deadline for Every Issue of the CVCR is the 10th of Each Month...Late??? Try Anyway! We do
We hope you are having winter fun. New members can join our club until March 1st and show at this year’s fair. Recap of events:
• At our January meeting, after the business portion, the kids made Valentines cards. We will drop them o at the senior care center in February.
• Upcoming events:
• Monthly Freethinkers meeting for February is the second Sunday 2/9 at 4:30. Please contact us for the location.
• February 1st - Camp Cloverbud-Keenesburg
• February 2nd - 4H volunteer day at the Weld Food Bank
• February 15th - Visual Arts Workshop - Greeley
• February 4th - 4H O cer training - Greeley February 5th - Shooting sports meeting - Greeley
• February 15th - Leather craft Workshop - Greeley
KEEP BREATHING
If you’ve su ered the loss of a child, you’re invited to join other moms who share this experience. Whether it’s been years ago or weeks ago, we can support each other. Come sit and share or not share. Mark your calendars for Sundays, 2/16 & 3/9 from 4:00pm to 6ish pm. RSVP not required but helpful. Held at Prairie Greens Clubhouse ( ank you) at 7781 Mountain View Dr. in Frederick, CO 80530. Just drop in, even if you’re running late. Join us and visit with one another. Email Kelly at carbonvalley@gmail.com
• February 22nd - Shooting Sports Safety Day - Greeley
• February 22nd - Creative Cooks Contest - Brighton
If you have questions about 4H please reach out to Rachael Smith at 4rachael.smith@gmail.com or Danielle Lammers at lammers4H22@gmail.com or 720-470-3293 (leave a message).
We hope you and your family stay safe and warm. Firestone Freethinkers 4H Club. (Kenzie Lammers, reporter)
April 19th at Hart Park, Firestone | 1:00 - 2:30 pm
Carbon Valley Rotary Easter Egg Hunt Sponsors Needed!
2,500+ attendees - 12,500 candy filled eggs in four separate hunt areas. Egg Hunts every 15 minutes.
1,000+ free books - one for every child. Free activities for the children, including the Fire Safety House. health service projects. information go to www.carbonvalleyrotary.org
Net proceeds benefit Club’s literacy and mental Sponsorships available from $100 to $1,000. For
A long-time customer contacted us recently. She wanted us to hook up a new printer with the Instant Ink program. e printer wasn’t purchased yet, and I remembered hearing that Instant Ink printers weren’t all that great. I asked her to wait, promised to look into it, and would let her know. Here’s what I found:
Programs like HP’s Instant Ink and Brother’s Refresh EZ programs are subscription plans. Essentially when you get a printer compatible with these programs, you are not really purchasing a printer. You are signing up for a subscription to print a set number of pages each month. You’ll receive more ink when HP or Brother determines that you need it. If you print the same number of pages every month, this may be an option to consider. If you print 10 pages one month and 100 the next, this program won’t work for you. In addition, it appears that if you discontinue the program, even if you have 90% ink left, you won’t be able to use the rest of the ink in those cartridges.
ere are lots of online complaints about the service, mostly about how the printer stops working, suddenly, with no warning. e error is almost exclusively because a credit card was changed, or the printer was disconnected from the network. Here’s an image of one of the error messages:
Not everyone is complaining about the service. Some people just don’t want to be bothered to remember to buy more ink. Here’s a comment from Reddit:
Weld County To Freeze Childcare Program
e Weld County Department of Human Services (DHS) will implement an enrollment freeze on the Colorado Childcare Assistance Program (CCAP), e ective Feb. 1, 2025, due to program funding shortages. is decision comes in response to a combination of factors, including newly introduced federal regulations and increased state-mandated provider rate adjustments. Unfortunately, these changes have not been accompanied by su cient funding at either the federal or state level to fully support the necessary adjustments, leading to the need for this di cult but necessary step.
CCAP is designed to assist low-income families who are homeless, working, searching for work, or currently enrolled in school with childcare assistance.
DHS Director, Jamie Ulrich, said, “We understand the negative impact this will have on the families and communities we serve, but with a lack of funding, this is something we have to do to continue supporting our enrolled families.”
is enrollment freeze will mean that general information will be accepted in lieu of a full application, however submissions received on or after February 1, 2025, will be placed on a “freeze list” and eligibility will not be determined until the freeze has been lifted after an undetermined period. Families who are currently enrolled in CCAP will not be a ected, assuming they continue to meet eligibility criteria.
Businesses
“My elderly mother had Instant Ink and liked it. She didn’t print much each month, but she did use her printer regularly. She is very forgetful and used to run out of ink all the time before she had instant ink. Mom FELT like she wasn’t spending much because it wasn’t much per month.“
But then added that it was a more expensive option:
“When that printer died, I convinced her to stop using the service, and I now take care of ordering replacement cartridges. She’s saving money even though she doesn’t feel like it.”
Kelly Martindale, owner of this newspaper, had the opposite experience. “I loved it at rst. e ink cartridges showed up just before I needed them and I sort of built up a stash of them. But when I upgraded to a new printer, all the extra cartridges I had couldn’t be used anymore. I couldn’t even give them away. e cartridges have chips and only work with the subscription printer,” Kelly said.
Printers have, unfortunately, turned into a disposable appliance. Software problems are xable. With physical problems, it’s just more cost-e ective to purchase a new printer. If you do need to get a new printer, make sure you understand what you are purchasing. If you need help setting up a new printer or connecting it to your network, let us know! For more information or to schedule PC or MAC repair, contact Geek for Hire, Inc., at 303.618.0154.
Real E$tate Re$ource$
Real Estate Investment Property
Many people have looked to the real estate market as a place to diversify their investment portfolio. e stock market and mutual funds have increased quite a bit over the last few years, but they still have their ups and downs, so spreading out your investments into other things may be something to consider. e idea of having someone else make the payments on your property so that you gain equity is very appealing. Ownership can be either directly or through your retirement account.
One of the ways to become a landlord, is to buy a new home for yourself and keep your existing home as a rental property. As with any method, you must analyze what best meets your speci c needs. In the current market, we are starting to see a little more inventory in the move-up price ranges due to more new construction, so in those price ranges you are usually not in a bidding war for a property.
e rst consideration is whether or not your current home would make a good rental. If the property is in the lower to middle price range in an area, it may be a good rental. Conversely, a higher priced custom home will not bring in the same proportion of rent to value as the lower valued house.
Advantages to this method of acquiring property can include an easier move, better nancing, knowledge of the physical condition of the rental property and a way to move up in house and build long term wealth. Since you would be purchasing a new home to live in, the timing and moving is under your control and since you are already very familiar with the home, you know potential physical problems that you would have to deal with.
Financing can be an advantage because it can be more cost e ective to use the equity in your current property, which can be taken out at a lower interest rate. Instead of needing to save up a large cash down payment, the current home can be re nanced at today’s low interest rates. en, when you purchase the new home (with the down payment from the old one) you get another attractive loan as an owner-occupant.
Another important consideration is the management of the property. Decide carefully between nding a tenant yourself and hiring a professional to manage the property for you. You may save some money up front, but if you are not careful, doing it yourself can cost more in the long run. Your retirement account can also own real estate, not just stocks or mutual funds, so for some people, this can be a good way to diversify a portfolio. ere are speci c rules pertaining to this and not all account managers are set up for it, but it may be worth consideration.
Your Realtor can be of great help in starting you on the right path by looking at your speci c needs and desires, as well as educating you on what you don’t know. Owning real estate has been one of the great ways of building long term wealth that our country o ers.
By Greg Zadel, CRS, CRB, GRI, ePro:
Obituaries, Memorial Messages & photos are always
or you can e-mail to carbonvalley@gmail.com. Because
You may post funeral service information at www.facebook.com/CarbonValleyConsumerReport and we will share with the community.
George Paul Walter
May 3, 1942 — January 2, 2025
George Paul Walter of Casa Grande, AZ, and Frederick, CO, departed this life January 2nd, 2025.
George was born May 31, 1942, son of Paul Walter and Velda Walter (née Smart). After the early passing of Velda, he was raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, by Paul and stepmother Hildegard (née Happel). In Cedar Rapids, George attended grade school at Trinity Lutheran and graduated from omas Je erson High School in 1961.
Building on a youthful enthusiasm for mechanics, George carried out his military service as a B-47 bomber mechanic at Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth, NH, from 1961 to 1965. In the 60s and early 70s, he turned a passion for automobiles to success in car sales in Portsmouth, NH, Denver, CO, and Everett, WA. Some of his fondest memories were of starting Little Auto City in Denver at the young age of 24.
After graduating from Everett Community College in Washington State in 1968, he began a career in life insurance sales, which remained his vocation for the rest of his working life. While eventually becoming an independent agent, he sold insurance notably for Aid Association for Lutherans and the Presbyterian Ministers Fund.
George married Kathleen, née Wolf, in 1965, from which marriage he leaves 4 children: Adam, Aaron, Andrew, and Susan.
George married Bobbi, née Krueger, in 1994, from which marriage he leaves 5 stepchildren: Tamra, Paula, Troy, Scott, and Lantry. Bobbi was his devoted wife of 30 years and his caregiver during the di cult, nal months of his life. In Bobbi’s words, “George was my adventurous, fun guy and a great joy to be with.”
e impact of George’s life is best expressed in the memory of these ones who loved and now mourn him. And the list extends to his 19 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren as well as to his nieces, Stephanie Walter and Christa Walter, and their children, and to his sister-in-law, Sandra Walter.
Most recently, George attended church at Risen Savior Lutheran Church, Broom eld, CO and at Risen Savior Lutheran Church, Chandler, AZ.
Visitation was Friday January 17th, 2025 12:00 noon - 1:00p.m, followed by Funeral Services at 1:00p.m both at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1515 N Trekell Road, Casa Grande.
Flowers may be sent to Trinity Lutheran Church in Casa Grande, AZ. Charitable donations in George’s memory may be sent to Trinity Lutheran Church and School in Cedar Rapids (1361 7th Ave SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404) and Concordia Seminary (801 Seminary Place St, Louis, MO 63105).
WCR 6 & WCR 13 Roundabout
As construction of a roundabout is underway at the intersection of Weld County Road (WCR) 6 and WCR 13, residents are asked to sign up for an email newsletter, intended to keep them informed of signi cant progress throughout the roughly eight-month project. Signing up for the newsletter is easy. Visit the county’s newsletter sign-up page, enter an email address and select “WCR 6 & 13 Roundabout.”
“We understand the importance of this intersection to many, as more than 7,000 vehicles pass through it every day,” said Curtis Hall, Director of the Weld County Department of Public Works.
Local tra c within the area — residents with homes in the construction area, business owners, postal carriers, etc. — will still be accommodated and can access property by utilizing WCR 4, 8 11, 15 or 17, which have been established as “Local Tra c Only” road closures.
Detours can be found on the Weld County Road Advisory Map https://apps.weld.gov/publicworks/roadadvisory/
Gillian Elise Peck
November 11, 1959 – January 7, 2025
Gillian Elise Peck, 65, of Firestone, Colorado returned home to her Lord and Savior on January 7, 2025 after a life of service to family, community, and nation. Gillian was born on November 11, 1959 in Danville, VA to Gene Lockey and Dolores Gray who preceded her in death. Gillian married John Earle Peck on July 28, 1986. John preceded her in death after 36 years of marriage. In humor, she was fond of saying they stayed together because they were both stubborn and nobody blinked rst.
Gillian didn’t just grumble about life’s inequities, she acted. When upset with her Homeowners Association, she ran for president and served for five years. When upset with her government, she attended caucus and manned voter registration. Gillian served others whether opening a retirement facility, taking in and raising her grandchildren, or providing hospice care to her mother inside her home. She volunteered at Vacation Bible School, wrote service members each Christmas and Valentine’s Day, and steadfastly found a way to support Carbon Valley Help Center and the Weld County Foodbank.
Working with her friends, her legacy includes the complete renovation of the Idaho Creek Open Space to protect many endangered species, the creation of a stress release / relaxation room for Joint Task Force Service Members deployed in the Guantanamo Bay Detention Area, and organizing shipping crate containers of support for Christians fleeing Iraq during the ISIS invasion saving hundreds of her brothers and sister in Christ.
Gillian was ercely loyal to her family and friends, adored her cats, steadfastly rooted for the Denver Broncos, cherished her father’s voice singing Amazing Grace, and loved a good oceanside chair at Myrtle Beach.
Gillian Elise Peck is survived by her father: Gene Lockey, siblings: Jana Dean and Kevin Lockey, children: Anna Daggs, Thomas Herrin, Timothy Herrin, and Samatha Peck, the grandchildren Gillian adopted and raised: Claire Peck and Brittany Peck, her other grandchildren: Halie Peck, Katelyn Daggs, and great-grandchildren: Amelia Brown, McKenzie Peck, Brent Swain Junior, Malakai Swain, and Jonathan Swain.
To honor her wishes, no funeral service will be held. Any gifts in her name should be acts of service to store up your treasures in heaven, for Gillian to no longer be present with us was to be present with Jesus.
David Johnson is UP’s Senior VP
United Power is pleased to announce the hiring of David Johnson (R) as its Senior Vice President and Chief Information O cer. He will join the cooperative on Jan. 13.
“David brings the depth and experience we need in this critical position,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power President and Chief Executive O cer. “As United Power continues to navigate our energy transition, it is imperative that we have the right people overseeing the security of the many information systems that make our cooperative run smoothly. David’s diverse background brings a rich blend of experience in a variety of utility elds.”
“As utilities incorporate more technology into operations, it improves the member experience. Having the right people overseeing those additions is vital,” said Gabriel. I am con dent he is the right addition to our leadership team and will help us as we continue to grow the cooperative and the services we o er members.”
Health&WELL BEING
Food for the Soul: Music Washes From The Soul The Dust Of Life
By Jim Coleman
After I met the Lord in 1970, I was fortunate to come upon a special group of on- re believers on the campus of Iowa State University and fellowshipped with them for the bulk of the next couple of decades until moving to Colorado in 1988.
One of their peculiarities was using the Bible as a hymnal- many of the Christians in the group put music to passages that really ‘grabbed’ them spiritually, so there was no shortage of Bible-based music among us. e songs were catchy, and we readily memorized them through repetition, accomplishing two good things at once. Not that we didn’t use hymnals (and eventually) new spiritual songs, along with the Bible ones, but the bulk of our praises came from the Bible itself.
From the Old Testament to the New, along with Psalms and Proverbs, we had a blast with music. One Book had it all!
I’d like this month to give you a random sampling from the whole of Scripture, starting with Exodus 15:2. It was from the KJV, and the rst verse went like this “I will sing unto the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and rider thrown into the sea.” en that verse was repeated, and the next group started it over while the rst group went on to “ e Lord, my God, my strength, my song, has now become my Victory.”
Here’s one in Numbers23: 19,20. “God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent. Hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Behold, I have received a commandment to bless, and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.” (repeat rst line).
Joshua 1:9- “Have I not commanded you? (repeat) Be strong and courageous. (repeat) Do not tremble or be dismayed (repeat), for the Lord your God is with you, wherever you go. (repeat song).
e Psalms are loaded, because of course they were all songs. Psalm 1 in its entirety; Ps 19:7-11; Ps. 25:1-7 and 8-10; all of Ps. 46 and 67 and 98 and 150. So many more Psalms over the years- this list just scratches the surface.
On to Proverbs 3. “My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and years of life, and peace they will add to you.” e chorus comes from verses 5 and 6 “Trust in the Lord, with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Verse two is verse 3 “Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart, so you’ll nd favor with God and man.” (Chorus again) Verse 3 is verses 7 & 8 “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn from evil. It will be healing to your body, and refreshment to your bones.” (chorus) Final verse is 13 &14. “How blessed is the man who nds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding. For its pro t is better than the pro t of silver, and its gain than ne gold” (chorus and done).
I John 4: 7,8 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God, and knows God. e one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. Beloved, let us love one another.”
We’ll stop with Rev. 19:6b &7. “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. (Repeat). “Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory unto Him.” (repeat 1st line). is session has no doubt been far more exhilarating for me than you readers, unless some of you were in one of these many churches yourself. I could hear the songs and the enthusiasm of the many college students who were a part of those gatherings of believers. But I hope you can get some of the avor, if not the sound, of these precious verses. In our home in Berthoud hangs a sign I found in my college days in Missouri while looking at an abandoned house that cattle had walked through. It reads, “Music washes from the soul the dust of life.” is is indeed true. My sign was found in a rusted metal frame but printed on leather, and it is now properly glassed in a wooden frame hanging above my wife’s piano.
Music is meant to bless you, and good Christian music heads my list of refreshing and certainly true rhythms and harmonies. Try some for soul-soothing blessings.
Jim pastors along with Josh at Abundant Life Church, 4380 Hwy 66, just 3/10 mile east of I25 on the south side. Church starts at 10 am, so bring the family and don’t be late.
EDITOR’S NOTE: While driving in the car you can listen on the radio to KLOVE, 91.1 for more uplifting, life-changing songs.
The Benefits of Strength Training
Strength training is one of the best exercises for your overall health. In short, this is done by making your muscles work against resistance or force, and can come from using your own body weight, free weights, exercise equipment, and machines.
Studies have shown that strength training has so many health bene ts including:
• Building muscle strength, increasing mobility, range of motion, and metabolism.
• Improves endurance, balance, blood ow, and mental health.
• Reduces your risk of falls, injuries, bone loss, chronic illness, cognitive issues, and can make daily activities easier to perform.
For women, strength training during the childbearing years can help prep your body for a healthy pregnancy and delivery. In your late 30’s, women start to lose around 4 -7% of your muscle mass each decade. Women in the peri/post-menopausal years will need to build and maintain muscle to prevent age-related muscle loss. at’s why it’s so important to have a consistent strength training routine during all of your adult years.
Hiring a personal trainer to help with your strength training program has many bene ts. Some women feel self-conscious going to the gym, or they may not know where to start. When you hire me as your Mobile Personal Trainer, I come to your home for your convenience. You can expect a high level of accountability, motivation, and a workout program that’s customized for your speci c tness goals.
rough my 13 years of personal training experience, and prior medical training in Occupational erapy, I know when and how to make modi cations to prevent injuries, and challenge you in a way that helps you reach goals without compromising your form or quality of movements.
I have a passion for helping women improve their health through tness and nutrition. I’m o ering $20 O an 8 Session Mobile Personal Training Package through the end of February. I also o er Strength Training Group Fitness Classes 2 days per week to add into your tness routine. To nd out more, visit www.BeginLifeAnew.com or call 303828-2856 for a complimentary consultation. Tracy Rewerts, NASM CPT, WFS, CES, CCLC
The Voice of Rabshakeh
Just quit. Give up. You can’t do it. You won’t succeed. God is punishing you.
Negative voices are everywhere in life. ose critical words, those doubt causing statements, those insults, and phrases of discouragement can be very destructive to the spirit. Once the seeds of doubt and fear enter the mind, if not combatted correctly, they will grow a gray cloud of dysfunction and cause instability and inaction.
Have you heard of Rabshakeh from the Bible? He was an emissary of the King of Assyria, the world dominating empire of the time. Assyrian forces had conquered the northern territory of Israel and continued their destruction south into Judah. While attacking cities of the Shephelah, in the fertile hills and valleys, Sennacherib, King of Assyria, sent a delegation to Judah’s king, Hezekiah, living in the forti ed city of Jerusalem in the high country. e delegation’s mission was to intimidate and cause Hezekiah to surrender without a ght. It would save Sennacherib time and resources using propaganda to defeat Hezekiah if he could scare him into submission with fear tactics. is would be much simpler than besieging a walled city in the high hills of the Promised Land. Rabshakeh was the voice of Sennacherib to Judah’s king. In addition to violent threats and persuasion to surrender, Sennacherib sent letters of the same to be hand-delivered to Hezekiah reminding him of Assyria’s violent victories against the peoples and their “gods” who were powerless to protect them.
e voice of Rabshakeh shouted out for all in Jerusalem to hear and fear: What reason do you have for con dence? Don’t think to make alliances (plans) because they will fail. ere is no reason to hope. You cannot trust your leader; he lies to you. Come out and we will bless you; stay and you will eat your own dung before we kill you. No god can save you, not even your own! Look at the devastation we have caused, has any god been able to stand before us? e truth about this was that Hezekiah knew of all the destruction and devastation that Sennacherib’s brutal armies had already caused, and a great many lives in Judah were already gone. Hezekiah took the letters he had received and brought them before the Lord, praying, “Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear, open your eyes, O Lord, and see; and listen to all the words of Sennacherib… Now, O Lord our God, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, Lord, are God.”
God sends Isaiah the prophet to Hezekiah in answer to his prayers. God declared, “Because you prayed… he will not come to this city or shoot an arrow there; and he will not come before it with a shield, or throw up a siege ramp against it. By the way that he came, by the same he will return, and he will not come to this city, for I will defend this city to save it for my own sake and for my servant David’s sake.”
e hero in the story is not Hezekiah, it is God Almighty. But the lesson for us today, a leader or not, is to have this attitude: Trust God, trust that He will ght for us and bring deliverance. Be devoted to prayer! Know that He loves us and wants us to experience joy and peace, not anxiety, despair or defeat.
Don’t listen to the voice of Rabshakeh. What will happen in life because YOU prayed?
Read about this account in 2 Kings 18:13 – 19:37; 2 Chronicles 32:1 – 23; Isaiah 36 – 37.
Weld County Welcomes New Commissioners
Jason Maxey replaces Commissioner Mike Freeman, who served as commissioner of District 1 for 12 years.
Lynette Peppler replaces Lori Saine, who served as commissioner of District 3 for four years.
CREATING YOUR DREAM BASEMENT
“I’m excited to serve our new homeowners for their projects in 2025. Reflecting back on the last 25+ years I am grateful for the support of my family and friends, the incredible homeowners and their projects I completed, the tradespeople and workers-past and present and our vendors and key suppliers who collectively have made this journey so wonderful. Thank you! And looking forward to many more.”
George Zyznieuski, Founder & Managing Director
Carbon Valley Multiple Sclerosis Support Group
e Carbon Valley Multiple Sclerosis Support group meets on the third Saturday of each month at the Carbon Valley Library, located in Firestone, at 10 AM. ese are Meetup formats, where all can ask questions, share experiences, or just chat with others who also battle MS. Caretakers and partners are welcome, as are people from our neighboring communities like Fort Lupton, Mead, Erie or Longmont. If you know of someone that has MS, this is a safe, handicap accessible location that welcomes their participation. No need to drive to Denver, Fort Collins or Boulder anymore, this is our local group!
Greetings Motorhead Show Attendees,
We’ve received some tough news. e Town of Mead is engaged for the foreseeable future in a large-scale infrastructure project. Unfortunately, due to the scope of the project, and all of the access problems it brings, city sta have decided to cancel all 2025 events at the beloved Town Park. I’ve been assured 2026 is a go, and with all the infrastructure upgrades, our show will be bigger and better than ever! anks to all of you for your continued support of this show, and get excited for what 2026 will bring with venue upgrades, additional space to include more cars, and ability to raise more funds for veteran causes. Best wishes, e Mead Motorheads
Frederick Meals on Wheels Now Hiring
Meals on Wheels of Greeley and Weld County is seeking a part-time Satellite Program Manager to oversee daily operations of our Firestone o ce, including managing client and volunteer records, coordinating delivery routes, recruiting and training volunteers, maintaining kitchen operations, and fostering community relationships. is role requires strong communication, organizational, and computer skills, along with the ability to work independently and lift up to 25 pounds. e position is Monday-Friday, 8 AM to 1 PM (25 hours/week). Join us to make a meaningful impact in the community! Email resume or questions to info@MealsOnWheelsGreeley.com
Carbon Valley Help Center Needs Your Help
Using your King Soopers loyalty/shopper card, or other store cards, helps us when you choose us as a recipient of that store’s donation program. Open the app, click the 3 bars, click on search organization and enter Carbon Valley Help Center and Enroll. e other way is to Adopt a Shelf and ll it once a month. For more info call 303-8336626 or email schmitzac@carbonvalleyhelpcenter.org or visit carbonvalleyhelpcenter. org . We helped 205 clients w/2666 lbs. of food in 12/25.
Group Fitness Classes & Mobile Training
Join us for Interval/Strength Training Class Mondays & Fridays at 9:30am, Cardio Dancing Weds at 7pm. See website for details and how to sign up. O ering Mobile Personal Training where I come to You! Visit https://beginlifeanew.com/ group-fitness-classes/ or call 303.828.2856 for more info. Tracy Rewerts, NASM Certi ed Personal Trainer & Corrective Exercise Specialist. up.
