let it be Christmas!

it's a family tradition to construct gingerbread houses every year at Christmas time. as you can see, we take liberty as to what we construct. i took a break from the usual at&t center to make a south Texas longhorn ranch this year. i like it. the lil colonel proclaimed enthusiastically that everyone did a "great job!" it was good times. merry Christmas y'all!

a fine display of craftiness from clara.
i suppose amy would probably win if these were judged in a contest. :)
lil forrest helped his dad create this masterpiece.

after struggling for ideas, Chrissy just started whippin it up and came out with a dandy.

hook 'em horns!

it is an honor...

to call these men brother and father. i'm feeling out of place in my usaa polo today. thanks for the pic ang.

eye believe

it was ugly. colt mccoy got thrown around and we got lucky and escaped with the win. but we did win...the big 12 championship, and now it's on to pasadena on jan sev. we'll have to play a lot better to win that game. but i love sports...i love the pounding heart at the end of the game. i knew hunter lawrence would make it do. i got nervous when the clock hit zero...but i knew there was still a second left...i'm just grateful the refs made the correct call and put the second back on the clock...but we've got to manage the clock better than that with so much on the line. college football is amazing. hook em horns.

Our greatest glory...

...is not in never falling, but in rising each time we fall.

For a number of years, starting in high school, I wasn't interested in anything related to the gospel, and didn't live my life according to its teachings. You very well could say that I "fell". I had a seminary teacher named Don Lindberg, who knew me quite well as he was also the father of a long-time good friend of mine. He seemed to take a special interest in me and tried so hard to get me to attend seminary, knowing that it would have a great influence on me. He once even brought the seminary class to our house. I continued to live how I thought I wanted to live. One day Bro Lindberg approached me and told me he had something he knew would be very special and important to me, and that he wanted to give it to me. He wrote up a contract and told me that either way at the end of the year he would reveal what that item was. I didn't attend seminary and one Sunday afternoon Bro Lindberg came over and showed me an official NFL game ball autographed by my favorite football player of all time, Steve Young. My heart sank when I saw it and it was a sad event for all involved. A number of years later, after a mighty change of heart, I turned course in my life and became worthy to serve a full-time mission. I was excited to notify friends and family the day I received my call to Baltimore, MD. When I told Bro Lindberg he told me he would have something waiting for me when I returned. A few years later, on another Sunday afternoon, Bro Lindberg and his wife came over and presented me with that signed football. I appreciate having that autographed football so much...but the story behind it means so much more to me. I love how the gospel of Jesus Christ provides a way for us to rise each time we fall. For that I am grateful. Good times y'all. Happy Thanksgiving.

Sunday Will Come

It’s always difficult losing loved ones. I lost three of my grandparents at a young age so the reality of it didn’t really quite sink in at the time. I did get much more time with my Grandma Nielsen though, and I’ll never forget that general conference weekend in Winchester,VA when President Moody called me to inform me of her passing. It’s a heartbreaking thing to lose a grandparent or any loved one that has touched you in so many ways. Chrissy and her family are going through this very thing right now with the passing of her Grandpa Freeman. My heart certainly goes out to them and their family. What a blessing the gospel is during difficult times like this. I’m reminded of one of my favorite talks from Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, it brought comfort to me and he shares a great message in it. Just thought I’d share it.

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=00400d034ceae010VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD