A Short Update

Greetings from the City of Mound. Now I know some of you are probably wondering how has our "cone-of-shame" Buster healed these last few weeks. The answer is quite nicely and TOO FAST. He is a fast healer and our 2 or 3 days of silence ended pretty quickly. He is back to his hyper-energetic self. And can you believe that he still barks and acts like he wants to chase cows. You just can't get this dog down! Either that or he doesn't remember what almost cost him his life or a limb. While he might be too wound up for us at times it is nice to see him back to his old self. To be honest, I am REALLY glad his cone is off. That poor dog never realized how big his head was or how close he was walking behind me. I have the bruises to prove it!



Since our last blog the wonderful holiday of Thanksgiving has occurred. Bryson and I had a short but amazing visit in Colorado with his family. Lots of food was ate, cold walks were had, many Christmas lights were to be seen and pictures to be taken!




Not a whole lot has happened since then so we will leave you with this!

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE BUNGERS!!

The Cone of Shame to Holiday Cheer

Behold - Buster now wears the cone of shame. How did this happen? Well his love for cows of course. No, he did not get trampled by a herd of cattle, he thought he could jump out of moving car (going around 60mph), survive, then chase cows. He only made it to step two but if I hadn't stopped the car and ran to him, he probably still would have tried to chase the cattle. It was a very scary moment. Probably the scariest in his life as well. After I picked him up and rushed him back to the car Bryson and I desperatly tried to find an Animal Clinic that was still open. Luckily, after we had called 411 and they patched us through to a place they told us to hurry in because they were closing at 5 (which was in 5 min and we were 15 min away...) Thankfully, out of the love of their hearts they stayed there and waited for us to arrive with our banged up doggy...We should probably change Busters name to Lucky because the Vet was very surprised all he had was some road rash and a few abrasions. Right now he is on antibiotics and is wearing the cone of shame. Poor dog. Makes me sad every time I look at him. Right now, Bryson and I are counting our blessings. I can tell you what I am thankful for this Thanksgiving - Buster. :)





On a lighter, much happier thought - Bryson bought me flowers last Friday. No particular reason (that I am aware of anyway). A milestone Bryson and I have been looking forward to was our first Christmas as husband and wife - so our first act of the holiday season was buying our first christmas tree!! It isn't anything too extravagant but it is perfect for us and we will handle and love it with care. Now, I am not one that likes all the corny lawn christmas decorations. You know the ones I am talking about. The blow up snowman or rudolph...I apologize if you do and I honor your style. It just isn't mine. Finding holiday decorations that I like will prove to be quite difficult so maybe this is the holiday I will allow Bryson to decorate however he likes. Which means our house will be one of those houses that has the blown up snowman or rudolph...



Tomorrow is Bryson's birthday. He will be 24 - one year closer to a quarter of a century. Go ahead, you can make fun of him. : )

A visit from the Pitts

This past weekend was the Arts and Crafts Festival here in Mound City. Ever since Bryson and I moved to great town of Mound City everyone has been telling us about this festival. "Over 20,000 people come to town!" they said. Bryson and I couldn't fully believe that THAT many people came out of the woodworks to this town of 800 for a crafts fair. The morning finally came of the arts festival and this little town was sprung to life. This festival is so big that they have to have bus routes and cops directing traffic because of all the people trying to get in and out. It was insane! Below is a picture of part of the festival. And believe me when I say that this picture does not do justice for how overly crowded this place was!




Not only was the festival this weekend but also my parents decided to pay us a visit! It was our first visit from them since we have moved here. My mom seemed to have really enjoyed the festival. Maybe a little tooo much. ; )



While we were leaving the festival we decided to walk back to our car instead of tacking the bus. Even though we were tired of walking we felt like we made the right decision. Who wants to be cooped up in a crowded hot bus when you could walk outside with a nice cool breeze? We sure didn't. Plus, if we had we wouldn't have had the opportunity to view this lovely autumn creek.



I enjoyed showing my parents around our new home and hearing my dad complain about there not being a Cafe in town to eat breakfast. My parents were really glad to find out and see with there own eyes that we do in fact live in the ONLY hilly and tree filled part of Kansas. It was also really rewarding seeing how proud they were of Bryson and I.

A fishing we will go

For a long time Bryson has been itching to try out the fishing scene around Mound City. Finally, on Friday we went fishing.




Bryson caught 2 fish for the day and kept one to filet.

I caught one but it wasn't worth keeping.


Buster didn't seem to fond of the fish.

We then ended the evening of a good fishing day watching the Jayhawk Linn football game.

Now Bryson is super hooked on fishing. Please pray for my sanity. ; )

Bunger Update

So what have the Bunger's been up to?

1. 5th and 6th Grade lockin: We had 21 kids show up when we planned for 8. Truly a blessing. One kid threw up, one lost a tooth, and we had to run the kids from the youth building to the basement of the church through pouring rain because of a tornado watch.




2. Bryson became the JV Jayhawk football announcer! I ran the clock, but needless to say, I probably will not be asked to do that again.

3. We taught the Youth Group Human Foosball, which was AMAZING/HILARIOUS to watch and play.

4. Taught Buster some new tricks. He is a super smart dog. Except when I pretend to throw his red ball. Silly dog is determined to find it.

5. I receieved my substitute teaching license in the mail! From which I leaped for joy and skipped all the way from the mailbox to the house upon arrival.

6. Bryson received his Matt Holiday bobblehead in the mail and he also leaped for joy and skipped all the way from the mailbox to the house upon arrival.

7. Buster did not recieve anything in the mail. But he did attack a frog and leap around with it. So I suppose that counts.

8. My best friend Cassie, and her husbad, Joel, moved to Belfast, Northern Ireland last Sunday! You can read all about their amazing adventures @ Northern Irish Binkleys

9. I am trying to cook new things like Lemon Squares (Epic win) and my grandmas fried chicken (Epic Fail).

10. I really feel like there needs to be a number 10 to even it out but I can't think of anything relevant so me writing this will make myself feel better. Gotta keep it even.

In Sickness...

and health.

Bryson and I just experienced what it is like to share sickly/married germs. I do not like being sick but I am glad I have someone to be sick and miserable with. I am not sure Bryson feels the same way but I have a feeling this is one thing he does NOT like about marriage. Poor guy never got sick until he met me. And this time this infection took a larger toll on him than it did me. Which is rare.

Being sick as an adult seems to be almost the same to me as to when I (and Bryson) was a child. However, if you lay around all day sick as an adult you feel as though you haven't done anything productive except catch up on your DVR list of The Office and House or win the World Series on the playstation (Actually, come to think of it that seems to be very productive to me.). But as a child you didn't care about anything, not even the piles of homework you had waiting for you at school. Being sick was a vacation. As and Adult, being sick is a major road block in the busyness of work/family/bills/and friends. And when you are feeling better, it takes forever to get back on track and even remember what you were doing before being sick. Nonetheless, it is amazing the types of things your mother did for you when you were sick are the same things you want when you're sick as an adult. For instance, having sprite on hand, eating applesauce, gargling salt water, sticking vicks vapor rub up your nose and the most popular eating all the chicken noodle soup you could eat.

Why I like being a Youth Ministers Wife

Why I like being a youth ministers wife:

1. I get to go to and participate in awesome events.
   
2. I get free lunches when visiting the high school and elementary.
   
3. I get to help my husband minister to teenagers every week and encourage them in their walk with God.
4. I not only get to help teach the teens but I get the opportunity to learn right along with them.
   
5. I get to go to youth group instead of "Big Church" no matter how old I am.
6. I get to hang out with people younger than me, so I don't have to grow up quite as fast.
7. I can make a fool of myself and the kids will hopefully still think I'm cool.

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By the way, it has officially been one month since Bryson became a Youth Minister and I a Youth Ministers wife. Huzzzah!

Weird views from a youth minister

You know so far being in Mound city is awesome. For a small town in kansas its pretty legit. Now while I grew up in a big town of about 80-90 thousand it hasnt been that bad of change, because its made me thankful for everyday things like your redbox or your walmart half mile away or your walgreens , stuff like and its really opened my eyes on how blessed i truley am as a married christian man. In all honestly and with all due respect to people that live in big cities and have lived in big cities including myself, your spoiled. Or your blessed if that word makes you feel better, but either way its true and I am so thankful that God has opened my eyes to what you do and dont need in society and everyday life. I will tell you this as a youth minister living in mound city, ks i have noticed two crazy/funny things about the place where i work. Every time i open the door into my office, its like im opening that closet door in the movie narnia and welcomed into a winter wonderland. Because its freezing in this place all the time, and for good reason at times when its 100 plus outside, i sometimes start to think at any moment snow flakes will start falling from the ceiling and see frost on my office window. Its like i walk into straight into winter, i mean i love winter dont get me wrong im not bashing or ranting at all i just thought it was something to be talked about. The other interesting thing about this office is how clear the windows are, its like that glass cleaner commerical right infront of my very own eyes. Where the crows fly straight into the windos cause they cant see it, except those birds are replaced with huge bugs flying at the speed of sound an hitting a glass paned window that they somehow cant see. I mean from a bugs standpoint youd think theyd get the point that hey maybe i shouldnt do that again cause now my wings aint in the brightest of shape. So i must conclude that i love my job, because God is good all the time and all the time God is good, nuff said.

Yeehaw Mound City

I can already tell that I am going to be really terrible at keeping this updated and filled with information/stories you are going to want to know!

Last week was the Linn County Fair and Bryson was introduced to the life of a small town pretty quickly.

The first night we went to the demolition derby. Where we got to witness mini vans duking it out! Sadly, there were only two vans in the heat but it still made for an awesome show.



The next night was the tractor pull where we saw tractors on steroids. It was insanely loud, stinky, dusty, completely redneck but so much fun. I'll admit I had a good time.



The last fair event we went to was the rodeo. I will say I was mostly people watching during that time but I did enjoy watching Bryson getting freaked out when a bull ran toward him. Ok, maybe I was a little frightened as well but he doesn't know that.

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We are on our third week here in Mound City and we have been blessed beyond words by this community and church. It is amazing how compassionate and giving people can be. Everyone is constantly bringing us food, asking if we need tools, or even willing to break in our house and let our dog out for us. There is nothing this church can't do. God is really working within this church and His light shining through them.

Leap of Faith

So I meant to start this blog when Bryson and I had our official day here in Mound City, Kansas but with the busyness of moving and all that comes with it, it consumed our lives.

For those of you who do not know, Bryson and I moved to Mound City, Kansas so Bryson could pursue his dream of being a Youth Minister and my dream of being a Youth Ministers wife. At first it was hard to think about being in a new place, with new people, and away from what we knew. Family was especially hard to leave behind but we both knew we needed to get out of our comfort zone and put our full trust in what God has planned for our life together. I will be honest, I remember telling Bryson even before we were married that I never and I mean NEVER wanted to live in Kansas. It is flat and boring. At least that was what I perceived ALL Kansas to be like. When Bryson was called for an interview in Kansas I just shook it off because "I" knew it was not a place for me. I needed trees. I needed hills or mountains. But boy, does God really make you eat your own words! He led us to the small town of Mound City which is located in its little own oasis just south of Kansas City. When I drive through this town I can't believe I am in Kansas. There are lots of trees, beautiful views, hidden lakes, hills, and the most amazing people you could ever meet! Bryson and I both have never felt more blessed than we do right now to be here. I have learned to never tell God what and how you want your life to be. Prepared to be surprised, blessed, and overjoyed with the plan he has in store for your life. Now I am not saying this has been the easiest transition for a newlywed couple but has definitely made us mature even greater in the real world and with each other. Submitting to God and putting all your trust in Him isn't the easiest but he called us to do this and we want to do our best to answer that calling. This truly was a leap of faith.

Oh, and meet Buster.
He is our athletic, loving, obedient and all around amazing dog. Without him this move would have been even tougher.