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

Mom’s Autobiography – Chapter 75 – In Book, Page 180

Laura Weiland’s Confirmation, Chris Mueller Graduates From Valencia College in Orlando, Florida, More “Pebbles From The Roc” – Bible Talk Time, Update on Remodeling, 2010 Events – Brat Fry, Rummage Sale, Golf Outing

MAY 2. 2010 – LAURA WEILAND’S CONFIRMATION

Laura is our youngest granddaughter, so Saturday, May 1, Dick and I drove up to Merrill, Wisconsin, for the happy and blessed event. It was a beautiful day. That evening Sue and Jim took us all to the Pizza Hut for a wonderful meal and get-together. The next morning all of us walked over to Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church where Sue’s husband, Jim, is the pastor. Jim had a very heartwarming sermon based on Matthew 5:14, 15, 16. Jesus says, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way let your light shine before me, that they may see your good deeds, and praise your Father in heaven.” Jesus says we are the light of the world. We are l) to nurture it and 2) share it. It was such a joy to hear Jim preach and hear Laura and the other four confirmands confirm their faith in the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Sue and Jim sang beautifully in the choir. We were so proud of them. AFTER THE BENEDICTION, the choir sang again and I took two pictures. I thought it was okay to take them then, but I did receive a couple frowns from some in our family. Thank you, family! You are “on the ball”.

After the service all of us went over to the parsonage and partook of a delicious meal prepared by Sue. The weather was fantastic, so we were able to sit on the patio and visit with one another all afternoon. Soon it was time for most of the people to drive back to their homes. It was so good to be with all of Sue and Jim’s five children, Jimmy, Brian, Becky, Christina, and Laura. Karen, Jimmy’s wife – Jessica, Brian’s fiancée – Patrick, Becky’s husband – and their little boy, Gabe. Ann and David Wilson, Laura’s sponsors, and their two children, Emma and Elaina, came all the way from Livonia, Michigan, to be at Laura’s Confirmation. Little Elaina will never forget when I greeted her. Her mother was holding her. I was holding a glass of ice water and accidentally spilled some on her shoulder when I greeted her! She will never forget that! We were so happy to visit with Jim’s parents, Elaine and Don Weiland, too. We also enjoyed visiting with Wendy and Mike Hammer, long-time friends of Sue and Jim. Gabriel, son of Becky and Patrick, born December 13, 2005, was Dick’s pal because when there are a lot of people talking, it is difficult for Dick to hear what is going on. Sad to say, his hearing is not what it used to be. It’s frustrating getting old, for me too, because my eyesight is not what it used to be. But, we are thankful for all the blessings we do have.

During the afternoon, all of us went to see Christine’s apartment. She had just moved to Merrill not too long ago. She lives in an upstairs apartment – lot of steps – but we made it. She has furnished it very nicely, but found out that in no way will the big davenport fit around the corners so that it can be moved up there. How many times has that happened to us?

We slept at Sue and Jim’s overnight. Thank you, Laura, for giving up your bedroom for us. The next day, another beautiful day, May 3rd, Sue said she wanted to take us up to St. Germain Lake to see “Uncle Johnny’s” home there. On the way we stopped at an Amish store. How interesting it was! There were shelves and shelves of homemade jams, breads, fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, candies, etc. I bought a bag of figs and a jar of raspberry spread. I loved the eagle chimes they make which were hanging outside, but they were a bit too expensive.

From the Amish store we headed to Eagle River to have lunch with Chris Mueller, our grandson, who is Principal/Teacher of Christ Evangelical Lutheran School. Sue had called ahead to ask if we could have lunch there with him. The salad lunch was excellent, served by Mr. and Mrs. Savage, who ate with us. We complimented the children on all the energy and work they had put into the school musical, “ Tall Tales and Heroes” which they had presented on March 19th and 21st, 2010. Chris had sent us a DVD of it. There were gerbils in a cage in Chris’s schoolroom, and Sue couldn’t resist asking Chris for two of them to take home to Laura. Sue asked Chris and the children if they would like their 7 foot boa constrictor, cage and all, but they said “no”. I wonder why. I actually do not like snakes – can’t even touch them – ugh? Guess snakes remind me too much of the devil in a snake when he tempted Adam and Eve.

From Eagle River we went to St. Germain Lake. “Uncle Johnny’s” home is actually next to Fawn Lake which is off St. Germain. It’s sad that Uncle Johnny had to leave his home – he was only 97 years old!!!! He is now in a retirement home closer to Jim’s parents, who live next to Lake Winnebago near Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

On the way from St. Germain, Sue took us to Clear Lake where they enjoy many hours of camping with their trailer. Then she took us to see where she and her girlfriends ride their horses on trails in the woods. People with horses can actually rent a camping spot from the County, park their trailers (even sleep in some), and put up a fence for their horse(s) overnight. From there she took us to see an elk farm next to the road. There must have been at least 25 elk looking at us through the fence. And I, of course, looked at them, with my camera, through the fence. What a great blessed day we had!

Sue persuaded us to stay another night, so the next day, May 4, she took us out to the members’ home where she keeps her horses, Honey and Cisco. At first they avoided us, but we cornered them so that we were able to feed them carrots. It was great! Sue and I took pictures of the horses, and also the big-enough-for-two horse trailer she had bought. We also saw the grave of Sassy, Sue’s beloved horse which had died. That was sad for me because she had taken me on some very enjoyable rides, too.

When Laura had heard that we had lunch with Chris, she asked us to stop at St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran School in Schofield to have lunch with her. We had delicious pizza with her and her classmates. It was fun!

We were on our way home now, but we followed Sue to Weston, south of Wausau, where Becky, Pat, and Gabe live, to see the townhouse into which they had just moved the previous Saturday. It is very nice; has an upstairs and basement. Pat, Becky’s husband, is a tattoo artist, so he got out his case containing his tattoo machine, paints, etc. No, we did not ask him to give us tattoos.

Not to be outdone, Sue took us to the Diagnostic and Treatment Center, Marshfield Clinic, in Weston. It is a very beautiful building – only five years old. We met the people with whom she works and took pictures. Dick was able to see what a mammogram machine looks like. It is the machine which Sue uses to give mammograms. We met the radiologist, and I took one picture of her and one of both of them. Sue said the radiologist usually doesn’t like to have her picture taken, but she was all smiles for me. She’s a very nice Philippino lady.

AND NOW BACK HOME LADEN WITH DELICIOUS FISH WHICH JIM HAD CAUGHT AND VENISON STEAKS FROM DEER WHICH HE, HIS FATHER, AND BROTHERS HAD HUNT ED ————–AND – NOT QUITE – BACK TO THE PAST ——–

MAY 8. 2010 – CHRISTOPHER JOHN MUELLER GRADUATES

Wanda, our son, Dick’s wife, called yesterday from Orlando, Florida, to let us know that our grandson, Chris, graduated from Valencia College in Orlando today, May 8th. There were 2800 students who graduated. Already he has a good computer job for which we, too, are thankful. He has a degree in Computer Engineering or Computer Networking. We are very proud of him. We can tell that Dick and Wanda are very happy and proud, too, because there are some great pictures of his graduation on the internet. Chris, Dick, Wanda, Kelly, Ismael, Christina, Alya, and Jonathan’s smiling faces are on the pictures. How we wish we could have been with all of them for this very blessed event in their lives. We have yet to see pretty Alya and cute Jonathan, who looks so much like his grandfather, Dick, and his uncle, Chris. God bless all of them.

APRIL, 2010 – PEBBLES FROM THE ROC

“May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else” (1 Thessalonians 3:12). At the ROC at our regular Bible Talk times during Lent, we viewed the movie, “The Passion of the Christ”. We regularly stopped the movie, noted what was in the Bible and what had been added, and then enjoyed the riches of God’s grace in Christ’s Passion. We have seen that Gospel of Christ increase the love in the teens. The teens have now joined the multitude of volunteers at the new ROC building as they helped insulate the heat ducts. As the remodeling project continues, we are astonished by the progress of the project and the love of people involved. Please stop down at the building (213 N. 3rd St.) and see what has all taken place. The metal studs have been installed, the garage door has been replaced by a block wall, the openings have been framed out, the duct work, furnaces, and air conditioners have been placed, the leaks have been fixed, the rough electrical and plumbing is done, and the walls have been insulated and dry walled. By the time this article is printed, so much more will have been done. Please stop by anytime to see the progress. If you can’t help with your time and talents, please help with your gifts. About $45,000. is still needed to completely pay for the building and remodeling. Please send your gifts to THE ROC, 1411 Wedgewood Drive, Watertown, WI 53098. Together let us always pray that the Lord make our love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else.

FUTURE 2010 ROC EVENTS TO KEEP IN MIND;
Saturday, May 29 – Brat Fry at Pick N’Save
Thurs., Fri., Sat., July 22, 23, 24 – Rummage Sale
Fri., Sat., August 27-28 – Glenn’s Brat Stand
Sunday, June 27 – Golf Outing