The Muench Bunch

 I couldnt keep up with Jayden while in Oklahoma and Texas, I was just looking forward to her coming back to Iowa for Jossie's wedding. She was staying at Morgan's some of the time hanging out with her and her boyfreind. One weekend they went to a concert and on Memorial weekend went to the lake. Some of those were fun times, some not as much. She rode her horses and took them back and forth wherever she went. She even baked a cherry pie for fun.I told Jayden that if Shark was still in the picture, maybe he should meet her family. His family has gotten to spend much time with Jayden. Mark wasnt so sure about the idea and was still upset over the trailer paint job. Jayden had talked to Shark about the idea and he was for it. They were making plans up until the last minute.          

This week started with rain and ended with sunshine. On Tuesday I heard the weather radio exclaiming   a tornado watch and before long a warning and we were in the path. I told Mark, who was at the shop and Jake who was in Dayton working. Mark sent his guys home and to various places to take shelter before coming home. I was tuned in to the television for minute by minute radar. The storm was moving northwest, which is so unusual. Our storms typically move east.  It was just a little rainy, not much wind, and no dark clouds. It fizzled out and we managed to get 3.5 inches of rain. Karen and Orrie got 5 inches of rain, wind, and uprooted trees! They are only 5 miles away. Jake had a lot of excitement at work, moving cars into the shop, watching the sky, and taking cover in the pits. He took some video that showed rotation starting in the sky. It was an eerie day and we are all thankful it didn't amount to much. The heavy rains filled fields with ponds for miles. The perfect crop and

JMO- Open Up Already. This has gone on too long. The shelter in place, social distancing, quarantine, social isolation, it is way over the top craziness. I am tired of it along with most of the country. There are those that live in fear, there are those that are immune suppressed and I understand the need to proceed with caution. However, this should be an individual decision, not a forced shut down. Each person has freedoms and each individual should decide for themselves whether they feel safe going to a restaurant, church, movie, concert, graduation, or swimming pool. Our country is being controlled and we are the puppets. Each day that passes like this, is creating enormous damage. Damage to our economy, the small business owners, every industry, people are abusing spouses, children, and mental illness is sky rocketing, along with suicide. There are people that are in need of serious medical help, surgery, cancer treatment that are being declined help or fearful to get help. People

Satisfaction...For Jayden it's doing well at a rodeo and placing. For Jake it's the satisfaction of bringing a vehicle back to life. Jake has done it time and time again. It started with Mark's old 4 wheeler, then it was the old IH German tractor, then the Farmall M. He also took Mark's old Chevy and gave her some big renovations and got it running much better. Then it was the old flatbed Ford and now his Cutlass Oldsmobile. These are all projects Jake has started and he gets such satisfaction in seeing them run. The smile on his face and enthusiasm in his voice when he is talking engines, carburetors, transmissions, and all kinds of things I have no idea what he is talking about. I just nod my head and say wow as he goes into all kinds of details explaining how he did this and that. The old Ford truck had been very frustrating. It made numerous trips to Nate's shop and had many fixings only to have it not start. Mark told Jake that is why it had been sitting in the

Sunday we watched church on the couch then headed to my parents in the afternoon for a grill out. They invited the Hansen family. They were neighbors in Williams for many years. Don, Dave, Debbie, and Kathy. I grew up with them as babysitters and riding my bus.  They frequent Williams during special times like the 4th of July and Memorial Day. They came with some of their family and met at mom's along with our family. Wade and Carina stayed home so Levi would nap. They miss out on things often due to Levi's schedule. It was nice visiting and seeing everyone. I was in Dave and Annetee's wedding as a flower girl. It had been years since I had seen them. On the way home we drove out to the Williams cemetary to visit my Wahlert Grandparents and Alice's memorial. We went on to Webster City to see my Laugerman grandparents and relatives. The sky was getting dark and it began to rain just as we were leaving.  Monday we had breakfast at Karen and Orrie's with Cousin Suzy B

This is a bit of a rant, I absolutely despise passwords. You must enter a password for nearly everything anymore. I have a doctor appt and I have to fill out registration forms, password required. I have to fill out a password to order from a clothing store, vet, postal service, sign up for attending church, sign up for volunteering, checking medical records, credit cards, rebate cards, earning rewards points, having an account with youtube, facebook, netflix, amazon, and the list just goes on and on and on. Each of these requires a password. Not just any password, that would be too simple. It must always be more than 8 digits, include a number, a lowercase letter, uppercase letter, and a symbol. Now you must realize that for each account, it is suggested you have a different password. Because there are hundreds, it is impossible to remember them and I have a book just full of passwords. And then you have to have your own username and simple ones like your first name, last name, initia

On May 23rd, my dear cousin Angie would have turned 45. It is sad to think that I got to live this life, blessed with a husband and kids. She lived only to be 32 and spent 16 years+ living with the affects of Ataxia, slowly taking over her body. Angie and I were cousins and besties. When we were young, we thought we were twins because we dressed alike all the time. My blonde hair and hers brown, my tall figure and hers much shorter said nothing of twins. To us it didn't mater and we loved to look alike in hairstyles and outfits. She was a sweet cousin I am so thankful I had her  in my life. She loved the Lord and is an angel in heaven with her mom and dad. My friend and neighbor Paula was a big part of my childhood as well. The three of us rode the bus, were in dance, had sleepovers, played dolls and had clubs together. We had a great childhood full of neat memories. I am so thankful for that and I treasure the memories and moments in these photos.

Monday seemed busy. School in the morning, the vet came to look at the dogs,Traveler was re-homed, and I had a chiro appointment in Ames. We said goodbye to Traveler, a horse we have had for 11 years. He is going on to a new life as a therapy horse. I really hope he works out for the ministry that he will be part of. He is such a great horse and I think he will be a great addition to the Godspeed Equine ministry program. Tuesday we finished school our school year, so to celebrate , I wanted to do something fun with the boys. I took them to the Don Williams golf course. We live 5 miles from the course and have never played there. The day was gloomy, cool, and foggy. I was hoping for sunshine and lovely. This was the boys very first time golfing. We watched a quick Youtube video on how to properly grip and swing the club. With that little tiny education, we hit the course. Because Wednesday is the discounted rate, there was a steady flow of golfers. We had to let people play ahead. We w

Mark is officially the owner of a shiny bright blue big brand new Peterbilt. I have to admit, I did not understand how big of a deal that is. Typically only trucking companies own new semis. So with that, I was excited for him. Ok, so the boys were way more excited because I am not that into semi's. I went to Des Moines on one occasion with Mark to place the order and go over the customized details.  Luke went a couple other times and for the drive home. It was a big deal and a purchase Luke will remember and was part of.    We took the Peterbilt out for a photshoot. Peterbilt in Altoona asked us to take a photo for their wall of semi photos. 

Day 64 of the pandemic,  May 20- I have stayed away from social media, news, posts, radio, and articles on COVID and because of that I am a much happier, less stressed person. Today I thought I would give an up to date map. Here are the numbers as of today. In retrospect, we are still well below flu numbers, majority of deaths are elderly and those with many pre-existing conditions. The recovery rate is extremely high and the death rate low. Of the statistics, it sounds like there are so many numbers included into these positive cases, that are not legitimately positive. There is a lot of gray area in the positive testing. I have not watched Governor Reynold's speak since March.  I prefer to live without fear and trusting in our God to see us through this. My focus is on family and friends and trying to spend more time reading my bible. That is where our focus should be,  because we have  hope in the Lord, we can find joy..

We have had Traveler for approx 11 years. He has been a great horse, an all-around horse that we have done many things with. Over the past 5 years, he has had some soundness issues and some breathing problems. We tried listing and selling him to a family friend for her young son. He was just too much for the boy and what they wanted to use him for. We continued to do riding lessons with him until last year and he hasn't had a job since. I would pull him out to ride at various times only to find him too lame for what I was trying to do. I would end up just walking him around while the guys roped. I had known about a ministry run by a former barrel racer. I had contacted her a couple times about Traveler hoping he would be something she would want to purchase. Eventually we decided we would just donate him. Kellie was an IRCA barrel racer back when I ran barrels. She too had an Iris Joe horse. She has since remarried and started a minisirty called GodSpeed. Here is what it is about:

A mother's love for her children is like no other. A mother shepherd's her children in the ways to walk. She wears many hats in her life as a nurse, teacher, bus driver, coach, and cook just to name a few. Mother's hurt when their children hurt and want to fix everything that is broken, whether it is physical or emotional. Our hearts hurt when they hurt. We want to see our children make good choices and follow the right path. Even if we know it is the wrong path or the difficult path, we support and love them through it. We are there for them when they come back and comfort them and encourage them when they need it. We like when they are happy and rejoice when they are find success. Mother's want the best for their children. I have been so blessed to have not only one amazing mom, but two. My mother has been there for me through it all. She has been a shoulder to cry on and a huge supporter in every crazy endeavor I took on. She is kind and caring, crafty and creative,

Week 9 of the pandemic. I am over it! This pandemic is outrageous and I am ready to be done with it. . I haven't worn a mask yet. I noticed Tuesday I was the only person in Fareway not wearing a mask. All the employees are now required. I look at them with their handkerchief tied or their thin piece of fabric, and wonder how on earth is that protecting anyone. When this whole thing came to be, it was said that the masks can do more harm than good. UGh! It is sad walk through a store and not get to see one smile. I made sure to smile at everyone, although I couldn't tell if anyone was smiling back. I also bought my $20 bag for the food pantry that I buy every time I grocery shop. I buy so many groceries for our family. We always have plenty, in fact we always have an abundance. My grocery bill is always near $200. A $20 bag for the food pantry is a small sacrifice that will help a family that greatly needs the food. It's nothing much, but I know it helps. Hidden Acres start