The Muench Bunch

 It sounds weird to say the year is 2020. 2019 was a rough year and one I do not wish to repeat. I am looking forward to a new year with new happenings and praying for blessings and good things to come. Our family along with cousin Jaynie went to Des Moines to roll in the New Year. We asked cousin Rylie and Maggie but they had other plans. We stayed in a hotel, did a little shopping, ate at Johnny's Italian steak house, swam in the pool, made gingerbread houses (our tradition), and celebrated the new year. It was a nice little getaway and a fun outing. We had a giant suite to enjoy and the girls had their own room too. When we checked out on January 1st, the temps were pretty mild around 40. A new year always brings resolutions...my goal is to eat healthier by knocking out as much sugar, fat and carbs as I can. I want to spend more time in the Word reading my bible and memorizing scripture. I also want to be more intentional about staying in touch and reconnecting with friends.

Jake, Jayden and I signed up for Krav self defense classes in Dec. It was good timing, Luke had his black belt taekwondo class and ours followed on Monday and Wed nights. Youth group did not meet during the month, so it was ideal. It was nice to get back into it and I loved that my kids are learning too. I think taking a self defense class is probably more important than learning any sport or musical instrument or hobby. It is a matter of protecting yourself and maybe even saving your own life. You learn defense tactics, along with getting physically fit and having a quick response. The Krav class this time around felt very light as compared to the previous session Jayden and I took a year and a half ago. I am not sure why that is, but we didn't work as hard and I didn't get as sore, plus the people  take it easier on you. There are two kids in the class, prob around 12/13 years ago. They really make things awkward and really should not be in the class. There are a few people t

Love your neighbor as yourself. I've heard loving certain neighbors, can be some of the hardest people to love. Maybe that's the point. I have always tried to be kind to the neighbor, give him goodies every Christmas, wave at him on the road, talk to him when needed. I consider myself a good neighbor. Out in the country you can go miles in between homes and that is one of the greatest parts of living in the country, isolation and privacy. Our neighbor's home is directly across the driveway and is in view out every window to the east. When we dine, or wash the dishes, my view is his home. He is like a little worker ant busily working in his driveway every chance he gets. His driveway does not look any better from the first day he started working on it some 4 or 5 years ago. He rakes, he sweeps, he harrows, he chops, he spreads, he scatters his rocks day in day out. His back is crooked and hunched, yet he keeps going. I have never in all my life seen anyone spend so much time

Christmas is a day to rejoice in the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. He cam into this world to serve and not be served. He came humble and for our redemption. We traditional celebrate with early morning gifts and breakfast. The tree is decorated with gifts all around. The stockings are full and Christmas music is blaring. We wait together in the hallway so that everyone goes to the tree together. It was 9 AM when we all were up starting with stockings. By 11, we wanted to enjoy the beautiful day. Near 60 degrees, no snow or wind on Christmas in Iowa is unheard of!! Mark and Jayden saddled horses and took a ride. I didnt feel like I had enough time with the house tornadoed in wrapping paper, lunch to fix, Ali and Blake to come with the kids, and to be dressed and ready to go to Karen's at 3. I did go out for a nice walk down the hay field. It was a jacket kind of day but that was all that was needed. Mark and Jake also took a bike ride. Riding horses and a bike on Christmas has to

It has been a tradition to celebrate Christmas Eve with my family, typically in Williams. This would be the second time I hosted. Everyone gathered at our home around lunch time and we had light snacks that everyone brought along with my favorite, Cheesburger soup. It was a hit. We had the kids exchange gifts and gifts from Grandma and Grandpa. That ended up being a lot of gifts and took most of the afternoon. Mom had a craft planned for the afternoon for the girls. We all made little gnomes that turned out really cute.  In the evening we all went to our church in Boone for the evening Christmas Eve program. Wade stayed back with Levi, but the rest of us attended. They had a packed house and a nice service. They had people overflow into the aisles and back. Memories of Aunt Alice were fresh. Last year I sat next to her in Williams in a pew both holding our candles. I held back tears knowing that it was her last Christmas with us. I sat there with knots in my stomach trying to both enjo

Jayden arrived home from her first semester on December 13 and had break until January 13! Alex and Jayden left Friday after finals at 11:30 and made good time getting home around 9:30. Jayden told me they ate candy for lunch and had no supper. When they travel,  they don't stop except for fuel. I am glad she looks forward to coming home. Her first semester was a whirlwind of activity. She is happy in Alva, so that makes me happy. She finished her finals and passed her classes with flying colors and very little effort. Jayden doesn't sound like she puts a lot of effort into her classes because they are not hard and she is not challenged. She tells me she isn't learning much. That isn't really what you want to hear when you are spending all kinds of money to put her through college. WE really wish she would challenge herself and take the harder classes, choose the harder career, and make the most out of her education. Mark and I only say this because we know she is capab

Jake's changed his looks over the past year and has really grown and matured. He is not afraid to stand in front of the mirror. Since he has been in Krav class, he also started lifting weights. He is strong and has nice muscles. He likes to check them out now and then. The other day he put on his dad';s cowboy hat and I got some good photos of him in it. He is such a handsome kid. Look out ladies! We decided with hoods on, these two could be twins!

12/3/19 On Tuesday Mark and I, along with our newest employee Mich, drove to MN for an Ag marketing conference. We stayed at the Millennium hotel, a repeat trip we had taken 3 years ago. The last trip, I spent my whole day shopping in the skywalk shopping mall with a huge Macy's with a fashion consultant. I was looking forward to that. The Macy's had closed along with many of the other shops downtown. It was so sad. There wasn't much for me to do, I spent most of my time catching up on reading and my blog. i enjoy quiet time now ant then. Mark's conference focused on markets and prices. The China trade has really created a challenge. Prices look to be going up for corn and beans. The farmers are way overdue for good prices. I enjoy December, not the Christmas preparing and shopping frenzy, but the together time. i enjoy having all family together. There are 2 weeks where you are home nestled in toasty and warm. No school, youth group, activities, and time off work. I l

Here is the annual photo of the boys wearing Dad's shirt and tie.

Jayden came back for Christmas break with a trailer full of  horses. She gained a new horse she calls"Queen." She is a barrel horse with race bloodlines. The gal selling her said she is hard to ride and few can ride her. She has a ton of power and Jayden made some runs with her and loved her. Here we go again! These new horses stress me out.Jayden pampers and cares for her horses. She exercises them regularly and enjoys them so much.