MOM’S MEMOIRS – IRENE LOUISE (NEE KUCKKAN) MUELLER
(Continued)

Mom’s Autobiography – Chapter 49 – In Book, Page 117

Walk for the Cure in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Uncommon Ground, Sue Mueller’s Coffee Shop, Caleb Born, Pastoral Help in Englewood, Florida, Joshua Born, Tim’s 45th Birthday, Brian’s High School Graduation, Matthew’s Confirmation, Mom and Dad’s Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary Celebration

On SEPTEMBER 26th Jeff, Steph, Sammy, Travis, and Mitchell wrote:

Dear family and friends,

“Well, it is a little over two weeks now since the JDRF Walk for the Cure was held here in Cheyenne, and it is time to get this note out to all of you to express our tremendous appreciation and thanks for supporting Sammy and her family team. Your generosity and support was tremendous and we thank all of you so much.

“The day of the Walk was the first cold day in Cheyenne. We had rain and snow falling in the early morning as we were there helping Steph and the rest of the local JDRF Board get things set up. When it actually came time for the Walk, the rain and snow had stopped, but it was still gray and chilly. But despite the poor weather, our team showed up in force, ready to go.

“We know that many of you were there with us in spirit, and even some of you did your own little walk around your neighborhood. Again, thanks for lending your support in this way as well.

“To this point we have raised as a team $5,293.33!!!!!!!! We are so thankful for all those that contributed to this part of the cause also. When this letter was first written, we had to admit that we were in second place as the family team, but after a few extra days of waiting, we are proud to say that we took 1st place as the family team. Thanks!

“God’s blessings to you all.”

We have Sammy’s Strollers T-shirts which we treasure. Some even have pictures of our Sammy and other diabetic children on them with the words – “Our Vision Of Hope – A Cure For Diabetes”, “Seeing a Cure With Every Step”, “We Need A Cure”, “Walk To Cure Diabetes”, “Teaming Up To Tackle Diabetes”. Please remember Sammy and all others who have Type 1 Diabetes (formerly Juvenile Diabetes) in your prayers – pray for a cure!

UNCOMMON GROUND – SUE MUELLER’S COFFEE SHOP

Sue and Tim owned a quaint little coffee shop on Medford’s Main Street called UNCOMMON GROUND. Sue worked hard baking delicious muffins and scones for breakfast. She served homemade sandwiches, salads, soups, cookies, and cheesecake for lunch. Gourmet coffees – lattes, mochas, and cappuccinos were served from around the world. We were treated to many of the mouth-watering foods and drinks many times, and many other people came into the shop for breaks, lunches, etc. There were many beautiful things for sale in the shop – unique china cups, little tea services (silver cups with loose tea), assorted candies, and other goodies. We fondly remember our visits to UNCOMMON GROUND.

(MOM’S MEMOIRS, CONTINUED was started on July 2, 2008, on Page 54. The date today is July 24, 2009. Needless to say, our lives are full of God’s richest blessings. We see the hand of God in everything that happens to us and our family. As the Lord continues to give me strength, I pray that I can continue to write MOM’S MEMOIRS, CONTINUED until He takes me to my eternal home in heaven.)

CALEB DAVID CHMIELEWSKI IS BORN DECEMBER 12, 2002

Nicki, our granddaughter, and her husband, David, were blessed with a healthy, beautiful, bouncing baby boy. Cassie, his sister, loves him, as well as everyone else, so much. And what a blessing he is! When we see him now at 6-1/2 years old, he hugs us and looks up at us with the sweetest smile on his face that we ever did see. He is truly a God-given treasure. How proud his grandparents, Debbie and Glen, and Janice and Ken Chmielewski are! And how proud we, his great grandparents are!

PRINCE OF PEACE, ENGLEWOOD, FLORIDA, ASKS FOR TEMPORARY HELP

The congregation in Englewood, Florida, needed temporary help during the months of February and March, so Dick and I packed up our truck camper, and away we went. Englewood is on the western coast of Florida with the Gulf of Mexico bordering it. Dick worked with Pastor Joshua Kesting at Prince of Peace. We had wonderful visits with him, his wife, Samantha, and their little girl. Abigail. The congregation rented a little cottage next to a canal where we lived. One day I wanted to feed a beautiful tall crane which came begging, but the neighbor excitedly came over and said it was a “no, no” because of alligators in the canal. Live and learn! There is a grapefruit tree near the cottage. We bought a juicer and had delicious grapefruit juice every day. When we had free time, we went to the beach in Venice, Fl., and picked up sharks’ teeth and shells. It was great!

We were invited for dinner at a couple’s home. They are members of Prince of Peace. Their beautiful home borders a canal, and the man pointed to an alligator sunning itself on the other side of the canal. Yes, they do have alligators in Florida!

One weekend when Joshua (Pastor Kesting) preached, Dick and I went to Orlando, Florida, to see our son, Dick, his wife, Wanda, and their children, Kelly, and Chris, and had a wonderful visit with them. Wanda still had all of her unique, beautiful, homemade Christmas decorations up, including the Christmas tree. Our daughter, Stephanie, and her mother-in-law, Carla Heitsch, were also there to visit. We were so happy to see them too.

FEBRUARY 5, 2003 – THE BIRTH OF JOSHUA MICHAEL POSTON

We rejoice with Jenny and Kevin who were blessed with the birth of a beautiful healthy son. He was born at 11:11 P.M., weighed 6 lbs. 11.9 oz.. and was 19.5 in. long. He is the first of Sue and Tim’s grandchildren. What can we say but again – “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made” – Psalm 139:13. He was baptized by our son, Tim, father of Jenny, and pastor of Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Medford, Wisconsin.

APRIL 24, 2003 – TIM’S 45TH BIRTHDAY

What a beautiful picture! There Tim is holding Joshua, and they are looking at a beautiful birthday cake which is on top of the “family” balloon tablecloth. That tablecloth never wears out!

GRADUATION OF BRIAN WEILAND FROM NORTHLAND LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL

What a joyful time we had again when we went to Brian’s (son of our Susie and Jim) graduation. There was a beautiful cake which said, “Congratulations, Brian”. It’s hard to believe that our grandchildren are growing up so fast. It seems like yesterday when they were all babies.

MATTHEW’S CONFIRMATION – APRIL – 2003

Matt was confirmed in Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Medford, Wisconsin, by his father, our Tim. Sue, Jenny, Kevin, little Joshua, Timmy, Chris, Julie, and Matt were there. Matt’s sponsors, Debbie and Glen, and of course, we were there. What a joyous time for Matt and all of us to be there for Matt’s confirmation of his faith. There was a wonderful delicious cake with the inscription – John 10:27,28 – “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me, I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.”

JUNE 8, 2003 – OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

The invitation read – “In the spirit of Christian joy, we, the children, grandchildren, and great grand-children of Rev. and Mrs. Richard Wm. Mueller, invite you to share with us as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the wedding of Richard and Irene Mueller on Sunday, the 8th day of June, 2003, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Medford, Wisconsin –

TOGETHER UNDER CHRIST FOR 50 YEARS
TOGETHER WITH CHRIST FOR ALL ETERNITY”

It was all so wonderful. There was a delicious lunch served, and then our family had worked together to put on some great entertainment for our relatives and friends. Some of them had come from many miles away to be there with us. Our family is full of born actors and actresses. One of the members of Immanuel came up to me and said, “I didn’t know your children are so talented.” We had such a happy and blessed time with everyone. It was a glorious day!

Our family presented us with a beautiful family tree plaque which is now hanging on our living room wall. (For pictures and videos of our anniversary, please check out the smaller album with our picture [with gold around it] on the cover, and two 50th anniversary videos). We thank God for every person in our family. All of them are precious gifts from Him to us