Vanquished two number fours

 Oh hi Bakey!

It’s Saturday night, so I’m not sure how far I’ll get with this letter tonight, but what a crazy weekend. Here are some weird highlights. Deon Sanders is now the head coach at Colorado, BYU mens basketball lost to South Dakota, Ethan Miller played a tuba Christmas carol at the ward Christmas party, both the Utah mens football and basketball teams beat the fourth ranked teams this week, and just now our seven year old neighbor girl ran in the house, ran downstairs, barged into the music room and told Joey to ask out her gorgeous 17 year old sister. That last one was encouraged by your mother.

I have to say though, I’m still totally geeked out over last nights game. I must admit that at the end of the game as the Utes were wrapping up the dominant victory my heart hurt for you, I really wished you had been with us in our basement, then I thought about how happy I’d be when you’re home next year, then I remembered Joey was going was going to be gone for that game, ouch! While I know that I’m often casual with my testimony, there is no way I would ever encourage you guys to serve if I was any less than 100% convinced of the truth of the gospel and the value of the sacrifice your mission service allows you to experience.

I think Joey is starting to feel the stress that comes pre mission, and pretty hard too. After the game everyone was asking if we were going. I had already decided not to because we owe that tax bill, because we went last year, because it was sooo much fun watching the championship game at our house with all of my crazy cousins, but mostly because I didn’t want to go again without you. But Joey was feeling like he was missing his last chance, like he is about to miss out on so much, and he was pretty frustrated that I had decided that we weren’t going. Sound familiar? Later he and chatted it over and he understood. I know that stress is building though. The other night he dreamt that he was serving in Paraguay. I think that scared him a little too. I’d be a little scared to be called there too.

That game though Jacob, not to rub it in or anything, but the Utes are incredible. They did so much with so many back ups. I was reading comments on this article about Williams being “less than 50%” after he heard his hamstring pop.the usc fans were making excuses for that being the reason for the loss. Then I suppose a Ute fan added that Rising had a torn meniscus since the last usc game. Then they all jumped in and called bs on that. It’s not bs. Even Kirk Herbstreet in the post game celebration said that most players with Risings injury would have missed several games. Not a single Ute has made any excuses for that loss. I love the Utes!

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It’s Sunday afternoon now, we’re watching the Christmas devotional. It’s the lady with the Utah haircut. The Utes are 8th in the CFP, 7th in the AP, highest in the PAC12. Utes are playing Penn State in the Rose, BYU is playing SMU in the New Mexico Bowl, pffft. Most of my byu fan buddies are being extremely gracious regarding utahs recent prominence. While it may be through gritted teeth, I sense real sincerity and deep, longing envy. I think it’s going to be a pretty long time before byu wins their conference championship twice, and they know it.

It’s been fun reading and watching reactions today. One commentator said that he wished the Utes would get into the playoffs. Another guy said that coach whittingham was clearly a better coach than Lincoln Riley. Cam Rising is a freaking hero. It’s really fun to see the Utes getting a little respect.

In other news, not much. The Runnin’ Utes beat Washington state in OT on the road. They are now 6 and 2, it’s been a while since that happened. We’ll have to start going to games. 

This week was really busy with the party chores, a temple night of sealing with the ward, a snowstorm, and just busy at work. Hopefully things will normalize a little next week.

We’ll talk to you tomorrow,

Love,

Pop