The Muench Bunch

Jayden does very well playing the saxophone and is quite far ahead in her book. Her band instructor expects the kids to practice 100 minutes a week. Jayden has an average of 60 minutes a week and is doing a great job. I feel that if she is playing good and not getting behind, I am not going to push her. She dreads practicing and really likes to have an audience. I try to sit in and listen when I can. She plays very well and I enjoy hearing her play. I hope that she can stay with it over the years even though her instructor is making it very difficult.

Today was the last day for Mark at his NRS roping clinic. I didn’t have much to do, so I drove around looking at nice houses, hoping to spot Trevor Brazile's, LOL. Trevor is the 8 time world champion all around cowboy from Decatur. He was in the western store on two of the days I was there, just not at the same time, Bummer! I spent most of the time watching the clinic in the warm 85 degree sunshine. It was fun to watch as everyone is at a different level. Mark is one of the better ropers. He is so determined and sometimes tries too hard. He spent 3 days riding a light palomino horse and felt like he was really a good horse. I knew before we left Iowa, if he found a horse for sale, it would be coming home with us. I got to ride him awhile too. I think this will be a nice horse for us, he is nice and hopefully will be one everyone in our family can ride. I am still without horse and hopefully someday will find me one too. For now, I will enjoy Mark’s and work with Jayden’s horse. In

After having breakfast with Mark and the group, I headed to southlake, TX where I met my good friend Cherice. She lived in Boone for a short time and we became very close friends. We have stayed in touch and today we spent the day together. We started out going to shops talking all the while. Then we had a nice lunch and more shopping. Cherice had scheduled a pedicure for us and we chatted while we had our feet decorated so lovely. It is neat when two friends can get together and talk as if it was only yesterday we saw each other last, when it has been 4 years. Back at the NRS center, Mark had a long day of learning and roping. We went into Decatur for dinner. The evenings were so nice as warm breezes blows. It was so nice each day in Texas, it just make one feel good.

Day one at the NRS Roping clinic. The clinic started with 8AM cowboy breakfast and introductions. Krece Harris was the instructor with a long history with horses and winnings. There were 13 people in the clinic from all over,Texas, Wyoming, Louisiana, and Canada. There was a Grandfather, son, and grandson group from Canada. It turns out the grandson is Jake Church from the television series “Heartland”. Jayden and I are big fans and have bought a couple seasons of the show on DVD. The grandfather leases all the horses for the show. I got to speak to Jake a little about his filming. Very cool, he gets paid $3,000/day to film. The entire setup and clinic was spectacular. The riders got breakfast and lunch each day and the majority of them leased horses. I spent my day roaming Decatur spending most of my time at David’s western store that is part of NRS. Mark had a day of roping from the ground to the hot heels pull behind a jeep steer, to live cattle. He talked non-stop about his day. It

We got the kids off to school and left for the airport, flying into Dallas Fort Worth around 2:00. We rented a car and drove to Decatur where Mark had signed up for a 3 day team roping clinic. This location is team roping central of the world. We arrived to a sunny Texas afternoon 80 degrees, checked ourselves into the bunkhouse and looked around the area. The facilities were awesome. I have never seen an arena so big anywhere. The owner, who we later met and talked with quite a bit, David, started out owning a western store and eventually built the NRS National Roping Supply center. There he holds ropings, rodeos, clinics, and lots of other events.

Today MArk and I have been married for 12 years. On this day 12 years ago we said our vows to one another and it has been a great road and I look forward to our road ahead. Mark is a wonderful husband and father. He is very driven and hard working. I feel very lucky to have found such a loving husband and thank God for him. Today Mark brought home the horse trailer that we just recently purchased. Jayden rode along with him for the big occasion. Buying a new horse trailer is something I have wanted to do for years and Mark and I have talked about for a very long time. Today it happened and I am very excited. We got an '08 feather lite aluminum 3 horse slant trailer. It has black and is very neat looking. One feature I am excited for is the sealed tack/dressing room in the front. I have hauled my little blue stock trailer since '96 and my tack was covered in a layer of dust everywhere I went. This trailer is so nice and i can't wait to use it. I hope this summer will be a ye

March 11, 2011 an 8.9 earthquake hit Japan. The largest earthquake in the world. Moments after, a Tsunami occurred and the devastation and destruction was unbelievable. There have been numerous photos and videos of live footage that I watch in disbelief. The damage and number of lives taken are going to be awful. We watch and we pray for the hurting country. I read a statistic that said there are 200 million people in Japan and only 1.9 million Christians. That is startling to me. I think God got their attention today. God is a sovereign God, for the reasons behind many things we will never understand. Press Release TOKYO – For more than two terrifying, seemingly endless minutes Friday, the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Japan shook apart homes and buildings, cracked open highways and unnerved even those who have learned to live with swaying skyscrapers. Then came a devastating tsunami that slammed into northeastern Japan and killed hundreds of people. The violent wall of wa

Jayden sang with her cousins Jaynie and Maggie in church. I worked with the girls a few times and had them sing," Holy, is The Lord". They did a really good job together. Later that day, Jayden gave her 4-H presentation with friend Makenna. They both had attended the 4-H babysitting clini together, so gave it on Babysitting.

Today was my birthday and I turned 36. Jayden had a 4-H horse tack sale in Ft. Dodge, so my parents and Wade’s family met us in town and had lunch with me. Mark has been deathly ill with strep throat. He is beyond miserable when he gets sick, grouchy and short, so we tried to stay out of the house as much as possible over the past 4 days. Poor Mark.

I had teacher's confrences for the kids this week. Jayden is doing outstanding and we are just amazed at her ability. She can read 209 words per minute, which is exceptional. Her teacher said she is the top #1 in her class. Jacob has improved so much in his first grade class also. He is working harder, staying on task, and doing all that he can to get his work done. His teacher and I have a daily notebook to keep me posted on his work and behavior. He has had all good reports for months. He comes home proud of himself and eager to show me his good report. His reward is an hour on the XBOX game player. That is a big reward that he looks forward to. He has to keep working on math and reading, but is improving.

Jake has become quite the little charmer. It didn't take him long to see how the ladies smile, blush and love when he compliments them. Not only will he give kind compliments, he is a smooth talker too. We don't know where he comes up with them, but he knows just what to say. Tonight at AWANA, Jake was charming the ladies, women around the 50 to 70 year old. He went up to one lady and said "Hello beautiful." He has also said things like "you are a lovely lady."

Mark got himself a new set of wheels, semi trailer wheels that is. Literally, now he has an extra set of wheels on his semi and an extra set on his new larger sized triple axle grain semi. More bushels per load means more corn hauled at one time. Luke likes to make a trip to the ethanol plant with Daddy now and then too.