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

Mom’s Autobiography – Chapter 66 – In Book, Page 158

New ROC Site, Testimonials at Plan Commission Meeting, Budget Exceeded, “The Lord Will Provide”, Christmas Eve at Loving Shepherd in Milwaukee and Nicole and Dave’s Home, Fabulous Christmas Gift – The Cruise, Puzzle, Poems, and “Time To Be A Kid Again”, We Can Hardly Wait

FEBRUARY 23, 2010 – WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES ISSUE

On Monday, February 22, 2010, at a meeting at the Watertown City Hall, at 4:30 p.m., the Conditional Use Permit for the ROC building, was approved by the Watertown Plan Commission. In the February 23rd issue of the Daily Times, it stated: “PERMIT FOR NEW ROC SITE OK’D – A jam-packed council chambers erupted with applause after the Watertown Plan Commission granted a conditional use permit that will allow the city’s Recreation and Outreach Center for Youth to move into a new building. According to the Rev. Timothy Mueller, the director of the ROC, the youth center has been open for over six years and is a safe, positive and free place for teens to socialize and learn how to contribute to the community.” Planning for the ROC began in 1999 when the four Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran churches in the city – St. John’s, St. Luke’s, St. Mark’s and Trinity saw the need for such a youth center. “The teens who come to the ROC youth center, most of them are unchurched,” Mueller said, “We are serving many, many, teens, and hundreds and hundreds of teens over the six years we have been open here in Watertown that would otherwise be walking the streets. It is our hope to continue to serve those teens and to serve the community as we reach out to those teens and provide that place and show that love and kindness to them,” he added. Richard Witte, a truancy abatement coordinator for the school district and police department said the new location for the ROC should help even more teens visit the youth center. He also told the supporters that the teens who come to the ROC are not troublemakers. The ones who do not come to the ROC are the ones who make trouble. The Daily Times also said: “After the conditional use permit was issued, the audience, which filled every seat in the room, applauded and thanked the plan commission for their support.” We thank God for His loving kindness in moving the hearts of the Plan Commission to granting a conditional use permit for the new ROC building. What a blessing!

MARCH 24, 2010 – THE LORD WILL PROVIDE

Our son, Tim, Pastor/Director of THE ROC, told me on the phone that they are now $11,000. over the budget. Remodeling of the Carew Heating & Air Conditioning building has begun. It is an old building, and they are running into anti-code problems. Some of them are that instead of using wood studs to put the dry walling on, they are required to use steel studs. Extensive wiring is also needed. The floor had to be taken up in part of the building, and a new cement floor laid. Because of the new cement floor, there is a step which has to be made into a ramp. The false ceiling cannot have insulation put over it. They probably will run into more “problems”, but we know that WITH GOD NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE AND THAT HE WILL PROVIDE!!!!!!!!

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE REMODELING (EVEN PICTURES) OF THE ROC BUILDING, PLEASE REFER TO: WttnROC@sbcglobal.net

AND NOW ——— BACK TO THE PAST ————

DECEMBER 24, 2006

We were privileged to attend the Christmas Eve Children’s Service at Loving Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. We were invited by our loved ones, Debbie and Glen Wilson, Nicki, Dave, Cassie, and Caleb Chmielewski, and Janice and Ken Chmielewski (Dave’s parents). Cassie and Caleb took part in the singing and reciting of the wondrous story of Jesus’ birth by the school children. The church was beautifully decorated with two very huge impressive angels, one on each side of the altar. The angels are used during the Christmas season only. There were two multi-lighted trees, also one on each side, and of course, many poinsettia plants and wreaths.

Christmas gifts were opened by Debbie and Glen, Cathy and Roger, and Sue and Tim’s families. Elaine Wilson, Glen’s Mom, was also there. Dick and I had made Wisconsin-shaped wooden (scroll saw) clocks which we gave as gifts. Sue and Tim showed us their wonderful sports-decorated room in their basement. An impressive part of it is the lighted shelves which Tim built. On the shelves are displayed all the wonderful curios from Zambia (where Tim was born before Independence when it was Northern Rhodesia) and Malawi, Africa.

Our families gave us a big envelope which on the front said: “Merry Christmas Dad and Mom”. They told us that we were not to open it until more people in our family would be able to be there which would be December 31st.

Debbie, with a mischievous grim on her face, said “IT WILL BE WORTH IT”. She, probably with Glen’s help, wrote this poem for us:

“Christmas is the time of year That we give gifts to these held dear,
We’ve learned this from our Father in heaven above Because he loves us is why we love.
Now about this gift, it’s here on time But to know its contents would be a crime
Before January 1st at 1:00 p.m. It might be tough to wait ‘til then,
So buckle up, be tough, the gift you’re seeking Just might be void if there is peeking
Be good, behave, I know sounds sappy But if you wait you’ll be very happy.”

All week that envelope sat staring us in the face. How tempted we were to open it, but to our credit, we did not! But what was in it? The time came on New Year’s Eve when we were allowed to open it – HOORAY!

DECEMBER 31. 2006 – A FABULOUS CHRISTMAS SURPRISE – A CRUISE!!!!!!!

Our wonderful family gathered together at Sue and Tim’s home. After a wonderful dinner, Tim dumped a puzzle (which he had created) on the table in front of us and told us to put it together. Why? – we thought. All of their faces were BEAMING! We started putting it together, and as we did, we could hardly believe it! First of all, parts of a huge ship appeared, then the happy faces of our six children and their spouses. On top was a picture of us with a poem:

DAD AND MOM, A CHRISTMAS/ANNIVERSARY GIFT FOR YOU! WE LOVE YOU MORE THAN WORDS CAN SAY!

In the year two thousand eight The sailing’s going to be just great!
For how much better could it be Than setting sail with family!
And thus, we give this Christmas gift Designed to set us all adrift.

Yes, your six children (spouses, too!) Will cruise the southern seas with you!
For 4 fun days and 5 fun nights Here’s the year, the month, the date:
(The Mueller clan can hardly wait!)

Navigator of the Seas Family Cruise: January 28 – February 2nd, 2008

Wow, it was unbelievable! How blessed we are!

But what was in that big mysterious envelope???? We opened it and found beautiful, and some funny, cards from our families. In them also was “monopoly money” which would turn into real money for spending money on our cruise. We were shocked, surprised, and happy! Yes, Debbie, it was worth it to wait, like you said. And we know it will be worth it, too, to wait until January 28, 2008, to go on that magical cruise with all of you. But, it will be hard, but we are so looking forward to it. Thank you, loved ones, for your love for us. We love you more than words can say, too.

It’s Time to be a Kid Again! (By our son, Tim)

Adult life with all its responsibilities, has a way of stealing all that excitement and joy. We can learn much from the kids. Here’s how excited I am:

“I’ve been excited waiting for the cruise, to the point of bursting.
I can’t wait to go into nowhere land with my best friend.
I can’t wait to see my family and my best friends of my youth – just to be with them.
I can’t wait to have that feeling as the plane sits at the end of the runway about to GO.
I can’t wait to look down from the airplane and see the ants below, and the blanket of patches, and then the clouds looking like you could stand on them.
I can’t wait to see the big ship waiting for us.
I can’t wait to see it shove off from the shore taking me into a temporary world of no worries.
I can’t wait to have coffee with my lover. (oops, I jumped into being an adult, but this one I love) watching from our balcony, the waves and the beauty of the sea.
I can’t wait to bounce on the bed. (Oh, oh, this one shouldn’t have come after the last one.)
I can’t wait to see all of us making fools of ourselves and not caring but enjoying.
I can’t wait to get lost in the corridors and hallways of the ship.
I can’t wait for the oodles of food.
I can’t wait to feel the sand between my toes.
I can’t wait to feel the ocean wind in my face.
I can’t wait to swim with the fish.
I can’t wait to feel the dolphins at my feet.
I can’t wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

WE CAN’T EITHER, TIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tim also made a chart for us (which we already have on our refrigerator), which says: “Counting Down To Cruise Time”. It starts at January 1, 2007, and ends at January 28, 2008 – cruise time! There are 393 days in all. We will certainly mark off those days as they go along. Wow, Tim, you think of everything!