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

Mom’s Autobiography – Chapter 63 – In Book, Page 151

At Lord and Savior, Crystal Lake, Illinois, Tim and Timmy Elongate Our Patio, July 2006 – In the State of Washington to Visit Helen and Family, Frontier Days in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Tim Jr. Installed as Principal/Teacher at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Sparta, Wisconsin, ROC Fundraiser at Glen’s Market, Watertown, Wisconsin
 

LORD AND SAVIOR EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, CRYSTAL LAKE, ILLINOIS

There Dick and I are in pictures of us in Mrs. Eunice Rigg’s home. When Dick was Pastor of Lord And Savior in Crystal Lake, Mrs. Rigg and I were “choir buddies”. She is the lady who also decorates all kinds of eggs (duck, goose, ostrich, etc.) beautifully and sells them in her little shop in her home. We have many eggs which she has gifted us and which we treasure. She has a tree in her living room which is decorated only with her beautifully made eggs.

We also have pictures of Emma, Ann and David’s little girl, who is with other children. They have all just graduated from kindergarten and are wearing caps and gowns. We are very proud of her, as well as David, our grandson, who is Principal-Teacher of Lord And Savior School. Ann, his wife, also teaches there. Not to forget Elaina, another of their beautiful little girls.

It was a blessing to be with Mrs. Rigg, David, Ann, Emma, Elaina, and all the other wonderful people of Lord And Savior, many who still remember us and many new faces. We did miss some of our other friends, who are now living in their home in heaven with Jesus.

JULY 4, 2006 – OUR SON, TIM, AND GRANDSON, TIMMY, ELONGATE OUR PATIO

The door from our garage to our patio was outside the fence of the patio, so our wonderful talented son and grandson came to the rescue. Dick had gotten the lumber and cement from Menards in Johnson Creek. They elongated the fence with its gate, and dug out where the cement would go. They mixed the cement in a cement mixer, and poured it where they had dug out the dirt. Wow! Now we could go directly from the garage into the patio, and the patio is longer! It’s great! They wanted me to put the imprint of my feet into the wet cement, but I chose to press my hands into it instead. Also, they imbedded into the cement a brass horseshoe with the words, “GOD BLESS OUR HOME" (not that we are superstitious – it belonged to “Ma”, my mother). The handprints are near the fence at the start of the cement, and the horseshoe is near the gate. What a blessing the longer patio is!

JULY 17, 2006 – OFF TO THE STATE OF WASHINGTON TO VISIT HELEN AND FAMILY

What can I say? We were welcomed by everyone with open arms! We had wonderful visits with Helen and all in her family. We sat in Carla and Pete’s Jacuzzi, listened to Carla and Laura play violin solos, Pete and John play clarinet solos, and watched Laura perform with her hula-hoop. We went to Seattle with Helen and Carl’s son, Mark, where he showed us a job which his brother, John, was supervising where workers were using huge cranes to build a skyscraper. It was so interesting to watch! Mark drove us past the Space Needle, Qwest Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks NFL team. And right next to that huge stadium is Safeco Field, home of the Seattle Mariners baseball team. They are two beautiful stadiums located adjacent to each other.

And the fantastic food! It was unbelievable! We celebrated Christine’s 46th birthday at Carla and Pete’s with a huge delicious chicken dinner! There was a beautifully decorated birthday cake with 46 candles on it which Christine blew out. All the “kids” played a game where they tossed beanbags into holes. We were also invited to Kathy and Mark’s home, and Helen took us to visit Wendy and John in their home in North Bend, Washington. At both homes we were treated royally, and ate more delicious food.

At Helen’s home in Renton, Christine played a great concert for us with her violin. She plays with a symphony orchestra, so it really was a treat. We had some very joyful times with Helen and their family.

But, on July 24th, we visited Carl in a hospital, not knowing in what condition we would find him. He looked so pathetic, and could not talk to us. It was very sad. I did ask him if he would lift up his arm, and he did! We felt so helpless. He went to his heavenly home on September 14, 2006.

JULY 25, 2006 – FRONTIER DAYS, CHEYENNE, WYOMING

We have our joys as well as our sorrows. Jeff (Heitsch), our son-in-law, picked us up from the airport in Denver, Colorado, and took us to their home in Cheyenne. Cheyenne Frontier Days – wow! – July 21-30, 2006 – 110th Annual Daddy of ‘em All! Steph and Jeff’s daughter, beautifully costumed Sammy rode her horse with other girls on their horses into the arena carrying flags, starting the beginning of the famous Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo. The rodeo, which we watched from the grandstand, was quite extraordinary.

There were so many events. There was bull riding, steer roping, bareback bronc riding, steer wrestling, team roping, tie-down roping, barrel racing, and wild horse racing. It was great! Besides the rodeo, there was an amusement park and many wonderful crafts displayed inside and outside a special road in the park.

We loved being with our loved ones in Wyoming. Dick, of course, got a great haircut from Steph – “had his ears lowered”, as my father used to say. They took us to an arena where Steph, Jeff, Mitch, and a girl-friend of Mitch, rode horses, showing us that they, too, know how to ride horses in the “wild west”.

On July 27th we went to downtown Cheyenne where there was a fantastic parade. Again, Sammy and the other girls rode their horses in it. What a swell parade it was! Of course, it being in Cheyenne, there were many, many, horses (including magnificent Clydesdales) pulling antique stagecoaches, dairy wagons, and covered wagons. There were great bands, the Wyoming National Guard, fire trucks (old and new), clowns, etc Also, on the 27th Travis took us to the fire station where he was a volunteer. He had a key and showed us the office and the fire trucks. I actually climbed up into a streamlined one, which was a thrill! He showed us the emergency vehicle, opening up about six (on each side) compartments with various equipment for each need inside them. He even showed us the “jaws of life” which is used to rescue people out of wrecked vehicles. And then he asked Dick to time him in getting in and out of a fireman’s uniform. He did it in a few short minutes! Thank you, Travis, for educating us on what firemen actually do – amazing!

While Steph caught up on giving people haircuts, Jeff and Sammy took us out to where their horses are kept. A farrier (he corrected me when I called him a horse-shoe-er) with his kit of tools was there to replace “shoes” on one of their horses. It was so interesting! Jeff gifted me with the two “shoes” which were taken off the horses. They are hanging in our home adorning one of our walls. They bring back many memories of our wonderful time in Cheyenne. After the farrier finished, our delightful Sammy stood on top of her wonderful horse, giving us a couple of great pictures. Thank you, Steph, Jeff, Trav, Mitch, and Sammy for your very warm hospitality.

AUGUST 6, 2006 – SPARTA, WISCONSIN – TIM MUELLER, JR.’S INSTALLATION

We were blessed to be at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church and School when Tim, Jr. was installed as Principal/Teacher. Sue, Tim, Jenny, Kevin, Joshua, Jonah, Chris, Matt, Julie, Joanne and Jerry Brandt, and we were there, as well as many people in the congregation. After the inspiring Installation Service, there was a delicious lunch. Tim made a great speech. Then he took us to see his very interesting classroom and office. The schoolhouse clock and the “Road to Emmaus” picture we had given him adorned one of the walls in his office. On the wall of his classroom was a sign which said, “Welcome Mr. Mueller to St. John’s! God’s blessings in Your Very First Classroom!”

AUGUST 12, 2006 – ROC FUNDRAISER AT GLEN’S MARKET

Outside Glen’s market there is a separate building (with picnic tables outside and huge figures of a pig, chicken, and cow) in which our son and the ROC teens sell hamburgers and brats which are grilled by volunteers behind the building. We always love to go there and eat a brat or burger, and visit with the teens, volunteers, Tim, and other relatives and friends. The brats and burgers are great! Thank you, teens, volunteers, and Tim who work so hard to raise funds for the ROC.