MOM’S MEMOIRS – IRENE LOUISE (NEE KUCKKAN) MUELLER
(Continued)
Mom’s Autobiography – Chapter 56 – In Book, Page 134
Wedding of Kelly and Ismael, January 7, 2004, Joshua Poston’s First Birthday, Steve and Melody’s Marriage, March 2, 2004, Two Great-Grandchildren Taken to Heaven (Cary and Jenny), Christina’s Confirmation, Travis Graduates from Luther Prep, Becky Weiland Graduates from Northland Lutheran High School, Tim and Sue’s Twenty-Fifth Wedding Anniversary, Visit to Dutch Hollow Lake, Circus Parade in Baraboo, Wisconsin, July 2004 – Family Reunion in Cheyenne, Wyoming
AND NOW ——– BACK TO THE PAST – – – – – – – –
JANUARY 7, 2004 – WEDDING OF KELLY MUELLER AND ISMAEL CABAN, ORLANDO, FL
Dick and I were not able to go to Kelly and Ismael’s wedding, but they were in our thoughts and prayers. There is a copy of a beautiful card in our 2004 album which Dick created for the occasion. It says,
“A wish that God will richly bless your marriage from above,
and may you always dwell within the circle of His love”.
FEBRUARY 5, 2004 – JOSHUA MICHAEL POSTON CELEBRATES HIS 1ST BIRTHDAY
What a cute delicious bear cake Jenny made for their son’s 1st birthday! Kevin, Jenny, and Joshua lived in Manitowoc where Kevin taught school, so Tim, Sue, Timmy, Chris, Matt, Julie, Colleen and Bill Poston, (Kevin’s parents), Joanne and Jerry Brandt, and we went there to celebrate. What a joyous occasion it was with little Joshua smiling and happy, as well as all of his loved ones!
MARCH 2, 2004 – MELODY AND STEVE’S MARRIAGE
Melody Karas, a beautiful girl Steve met at work, and our son, Steve, were married in St. John’s, Antigua, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, by Pastor Joshua Sternhagen. They built an indescribably elegant home at 113 Lower Woodford Circle, West Bend, Wisconsin, 53090. We thank God for all the blessings He has bestowed upon them.
THE ANGELS TAKE TWO LITTLE GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN TO HEAVEN
Our granddaughters, Cary Anderson, and Jenny Poston, both had little ones carried to heaven by the angels – Cary and Grant’s on April 6, 2004, and Jenny and Kevin’s July 20, 2004. The book of Job in the Bible was written for our learning. Job is an example for us. We ask God, for Jesus’ sake, to grant us steadfast faith amid suffering. We look forward to being with our Savior and those two little ones in our eternal home in heaven.
MAY 16, 2004 – CHRISTINA WEILAND’S CONFIRMATION
Our granddaughter, Christina, daughter of our Sue and son-in-law, Pastor Jim, was confirmed in her faith with five other young people at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, Merrill, Wisconsin, on May 16th. Jim’s SERMON TEXT was Psalm 50:15: “Remember” – l) Remember your great need of God’s help. 2) Remember God’s great help for your need. 3) Remember to honor your God. On the bulletin cover for that Sunday, it says, “REMAIN IN ME AND I WILL REMAIN IN YOU” under a picture of Jesus. Christina’s parents, brothers, sisters, grandfather, Donald, grandmother, Elaine Weiland, and family, Pastor Timothy, Sue, and family, and we were there for the blessed service, and the wonderful Open House at the parsonage after the service.
GRADUATION OF TRAVIS HEITSCH – MAY 22, 2004
In the Spring of 2004 Travis graduated from Luther Prep (formerly Northwestern) in Watertown, Wisconsin. Steph, Jeff, Mitch, and Sammy all came from Cheyenne, Wyoming; Carla Heitsch, Jeff’s mother came from Tarpon Springs, Florida; Barbara (Schmiegelt) Rosslein ( a special friend of Steph’s who was confirmed with her by her Dad when he was the pastor of Lord And Savior, Crystal Lake, Illinois), Debbie, Glen, and family, Sue, Jim, and family, Sue, Tim, and family, Melody and Steve, and many other relatives and friends were there, too. All of us got together at Debbie and Glen’s home, making use of their beautiful home and deck. It was a very exciting day for all of us; especially for Sammy because we also celebrated her 12th birthday which was on May 22, 1992. There were two delicious beautifully-decorated cakes for the occasions. How thankful we are for all of the special occasions God so graciously provides our family.
MAY 29, 2004 – BECKY WEILAND’S GRADUATION FROM NORTHLAND LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL, WAUSAU, WISCONSIN
Becky’s father, Jim, preached a very inspirational sermon for the graduates. We were thankful we were able to be there. It was a beautiful day, and everyone gathered outside the school to wish the graduates God’s richest blessings. Of course, we were all invited to Sue and Jim’s home in Merrill to visit with one another and have a delicious meal.
MAY 31, 2004 – SURPRISE PARTY GIVEN BY SUE AND TIM’S CHILDREN IN HONOR OF THEIR 25TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
The party was given in a room in a hotel in Wisconsin Dells. It was great, complete with singing, speeches, games, gifts, and food. The delectable cake was decorated with two adjoining hearts on which were written, “Happy 25th Anniversary Sue And Tim”.
JUNE 16, 2004 – A VISIT TO DUTCH HOLLOW LAKE
For “old time’s sake”, Sue, Jim, and Laura went with us to see the lot which we had sold overlooking the lake, and also went to the clubhouse and walked on the pier in front of the clubhouse. We had happy memories of how many times we had caught delicious crappies off that pier, swum in the pool and lake, and had fun water skiing, too.
JULY 3, 2004 – THE BARABOO, WISCONSIN, CIRCUS PARADE
Oh, what a wonderful parade! We were enthralled! There were many beautifully decorated horses, ponies, elephants, lions, bears, giraffes, camels, circus and covered wagons, antique fire trucks, cars, etc. The people driving the vehicles and riding on the animals were all colorfully dressed. Some might call the wagons “gaudy”, with their bright red, gold, yellow, white, blue, etc. colors, but they are artistically designed and beautiful. The Circus Museum is in Baraboo. We have gone to one of the circus shows there, and it was wonderful – a band, clowns, trapeze artists, tightrope and cable walkers, many animals doing tricks, etc. We also were allowed into the huge warehouse where the wagons are stored.
I remember the Ringling Brothers Circus coming to Watertown many years ago when I was a child. A “big top” tent (with three rings) was put up by “roustabouts” for the show. The people nibbled on fluffy cotton candy, popcorn, and peanuts. It was so exciting and spectacular! There were also many side shows – a snake charmer, a sword swallower, a fire-eater, a tattooed man, “freaks”, etc.
The five Ringling brothers built up the world’s largest, most famous, and most spectacular circus in the early 1900s. A Ringling house is still in Baraboo. There is also a Ringling Theater where Dick and I have been. Many of the old buildings for the circus are still standing. And, of course, The Circus Museum is still there and open to the public during the summer months.
BIG FAMILY REUNION IN CHEYENNE, WYOMING – JULY 20, 2004
We rode all the way to Cheyenne with Sue, Jim, Christina, and Laura. It was great being with them. Jim drove up to the building where Steph works as the Injury Prevention Coordinator for the United Medical Center and is the State Coordinator for Safe Kids, Wyoming. Outside the building in which she works was a very colorfully painted van. On the side of it, it said, “Chevy Ventura Mobile” and “Safe Kids, Buckle Up”. There also was a picture of a child safely buckled up in his car seat with a helmet on its head. We went into Steph’s office to find her hard at work with her assistant. Of course, she had to check Sue and Jim’s vehicle and make sure that Laura had a safe car seat and a helmet.
On the same day we arrived, we were whisked off by Steph, Jeff, and Sammy to the sprawling Diamond Guest Ranch outside of Cheyenne. What a blessing it was to be with all of our six children, their spouses, and many of their children! We were especially happy and blessed because Dick’s sister, Helen, her husband, Carl, and their daughter, Carla, her husband, Pete, and three children, John, Richard, and Laura came from Renton, Washington, Wanda, Dick, Chris, Kelly, and baby Christina from Orlando, Florida, and Cary, Grant, Ben, and Aiden, from Wichita, Kansas (where Grant was stationed with the United States Aid Force) to be with us. Of course, the Wisconsinites, Debbie, Glen, Nicki, Dave, and their children, Cassie and Caleb, Tim, Sue, Jenny, Kevin, Joshua, Matt, and Julie, Sue, Jim, Christina, and Laura, Melody and Steve, and us were there. Sadly, some in the family were not able to be there because of work, but we were thankful that so many in our family were with us. If I have left anyone out, please forgive me.