Not every day goes so well, but days like that make all the others worth the effort.
My kids are far from perfect but sometimes they amaze me. On Sunday I was not feeling well, and the baby was sick running a fever.She had thrown up on Saturday. She definitely was not up to going to church. My wife was feeling a bit iffy too, so I figured we were all staying home. My nine year old daughter had different plans though. She had to go because she had a talk. My seven year old son insisted on going as well. My oldest daughter told us she wanted to go as well. So their Mom took the other three children to church, and I stayed home with the baby, My oldest revealed to my wife after she had seen her younger sister's talk that she wasn't feeling well either, but didn't want to miss her sister's talk. So she came home a bit early. I love the dedication they are showing even at a young age.
Not every day goes so well, but days like that make all the others worth the effort.
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It's funny how life can throw a few fastballs. After we had our first child, I had a fear that my bad habits would rub off my children. I had a recurring nightmare that by the time my oldest daughter was two years old she was so morbidly obese that her belly literally touched the ground. We had no real problems with her weight one way or another. She was born small, but grew quickly and has always been tall for her age.
The weight problem came with our second daughter, and she wasn't too heavy. Her problem is that between the age of one year and eighteen months she didn't grow in height at all and went down two pounds. That is not normal. It is interesting that I had a fear that I would have this overweight toddler, and our actual challenge was exactly the opposite. In addition to the weight, we noticed she wasn't very active and laid around a lot instead of running around the house and getting into mischief like her older sister loved to do. The fix wasn't too difficult, though. She had special dietary needs. We just changed her diet, and the change was breathtaking. She gained weight very quickly and grew a couple of inches in a single month. She has always been smaller for her age than her big sister, but is a healthy weight. It was an easily corrected problem, but it threw me for a loop. I always was afraid that my example would harm my kids, but the trial that came up was very different than what I was anticipating. This is how life works. We can make all the plans in the world, and we should plan for everything we can foresee as a problem. Success at the game of life is all about how well we roll with the problems. I can also report that none of my children have the same kinds of problems that I have with my weight. Of course, I didn't really even develop a real problem with it until my teenage years. I have no idea what problems they will have as they grow up. I don't know if they will have some of the same problems as I have had or a completely new set I have never seen. I just know that they will have problems just like every other human being to ever live on this earth and I have to be ready to help them no matter what they may. I talked previously about using traditional stories to teach gospel doctrines. Traditional folklore all though often a bit violent were primarily stories passed down from generation to generation in order to teach some sort of message. Many of these messages are very relevant today and in sync with the gospel. Of course nothing beats the scriptures for stories that will help you children become better people and live the gospel in there lives more efficiently, but the brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Anderson can provide other helpful resources.
Yesterday we went over one of my favorite tales, "The Emperor's New Clothes." I want to focus my attention on one character in the story the Emperor. Now there are other characters with other flaws, but he holds the most interest for me right now. This is probably because his original weakness opens his entire court to a great danger that threatened everybody. So let's look at the problems that threatened to bring down our Emperor. Before we begin, I just want to say that the Emperor did not seem to be a cruel or evil man. There are no records of mass executions or persecutions, and he never forced anyone to worship him as a god which means he is better than many other world leaders throughout history that I could name. However, he did have a few fatal flaws that undermined his rule and could have ended it completely. The first major flaw is one we are warned against many times in the scriptures. He cared immensely what people thought of him and he showed this by the wearing of costly apparel. Now this is a vice shared by most other kings and emperors, but this emperor took it to absolutely new and unparallelled heights. He not only never wanted to wear the same clothes twice but he had a wardrobe change every hour. Now that is nuts. This obsession with fine clothes left him wide open for two con artists hitting his city. The second major flaw is gullibility. There is a much more acceptable form of this in which someone so innocent that they just believe that no one could do something that bad gets deceived. In the Emperor's case, though, it is the kind of gullibility that results from being so obsessed with something that you would believe anything a person said if they will help you achieve your obsession. In this case the con artists told him he could make the most impressive cloth ever seen, but if you were unfit for your office or just a real stupid person you would not be able to see it. That is a really fantastic claim that the emperor swallowed because it gave him a chance to achieve his goal of wearing the finest apparel in the way no one had ever achieved it before. Of course, they need an obscene amount of fine silk, gold and other precious materials to make the clothes, but if they were the best clothes to ever be made, then no price was too high. Next, he had a problem with honesty. He had aides go in and see the clothes and say how beautiful they were. When he went to see the clothes, he knew he would see how magnificent they were. Only when he went to see the clothes for himself he saw only an empty loom. Once again not wanting anyone to think bad about him, he lied and said he could see it when he could not. Even though he could not see the clothes, his next serious flaw of arrogance reared its ugly head when he agreed that he would wear his new suit of clothing for the first time during the royal procession around the city. He could not see the clothing, but he agreed to parade himself around the city in it. Finally, we have the inability to change or reassess one's actions. When the royal court makes its way around the city, nobody can see the Emperors clothing but no one says a thing until a child shouts the obvious truth out to anyone in earshot. Instead of reassessing his situation, the Emperor assumes the child is just being foolish and continues the procession in the nude. Let's not let pride rule our lives and our action and make us into fools. Let's not be like the Emperor. Well, I just want to say, good job Cavaliers.They had their first road test of the season and they had to travel two thousand miles to play against a top 25 squad. The Virginia D was suppose to be their strength. Their front seven is said to be littered with NFL talent, but it was their offense that really shined. It looked like this might have been their offense's coming out party. Up until this point the offense scored nearly entirely on short field set up by the defense and special team plays, but in this game Virginia moved that ball. Sometimes it seemed like our defense was just incapable of stopping them from moving the ball. Impressive showing from a team that has been labeled a mediocre offense.
They put up superior numbers in almost every offensive category possible except for points. Our third down percentage was higher in the end, although it sucked at half time. They got more yards, more passing yards and more rushing yards than us. So how did we win? I think it came down to two things that were supposed to be Virginia strengths, but where we out-performed them on Saturday. First, Virginia led the league with going in with the most take-aways in the nation. Their turnover margin has helped them win games. BYU did not turnover the ball once and made the Cavaliers turn it over twice. In a close game that was huge. The other major factor was special team play.; For the most part UVA was good especially in punting, but BYU was just plain better. BYU's punter was just drilling it for sixty yards every time he got the opportunity until he had to punt it short to pin the opponents close to their own goal. Because of these two factors UVA had to deal with more long fields than they had had to deal with all season. They put up massive yards but they had to just to stay in the game. It is always easier to win a game when you have a returner take the ball to the house. Might I just say that we have scored more than forty points against the two foes that people said had the best defenses of all four opponents we've faced so far. Many football fans laugh when you talk about the importance of special teams play in general or a punter's play in specific. Well our special teams played fabulous and up until this point with the expectation of the punter had not happened this season. This was our best game on kicking kick offs and returning. We had a good punt returns and a fabulous 99 yard kick off return. That punting outing was approaching record level. Just outstanding. When your special teams repeatedly makes them have long fields and at the same time gives you short fields and throws in a free touchdown to boot is how you get torched in yards, but win the game anyways. We were also two for two in field goals. My MVP for this game was BYU's punter. He averaged 55 yards a punt but one of those five punts was short on purpose to avoid a Virginia touchback. Good job Scott Arellano your my MVP of the game. Now my number two pick was probably Adam Hine who ran back a kick off for a touchdown. I just want to say, "Go, Virginia." You have a real chance to win your division this year. Please do! It would make me very happy if you did. It is a BYU by week. Have a good rest cougs. I was teaching a lesson to my kids today a lesson about Johann Sebastian Bach. We covered the basics about Baroque era music and about the life and works of Bach listening to two of hi most famous masterpieces. We also talked about his family. He had a large one.
Often when he would start a new piece he would put the initials on the blank piece of paper GHM. It stood for God help me. That's I guess where I am right now. No one knows better than me, my faults and failings. So I know I need God's help in everything I do. Next time I start a story I think I will write GHM, but that is just a visual reminder. It is really where are hearts are that matters. I have more to say at another time. In the New Testament we the beatitudes our taught by the Savior imploring us to love our enemies. This sentiment is repeated in the third Nephi, but the principle is taught in action through examples far before it was taught by the Saviour. Alma comes to mind. When he was kicked out of Amonaihah Alma was saddend by the wickedness of the people and was concerned over the state of their souls.
He was fasting for days because of their wickedness, but he didn't hate them for how they treated him. He was concerned for the walfare of their souls. Alma was told to go back to the city and was led to Amulet who the spirit of the Lord had prepared to meet him. Most of the people rejected the missionaries Alma and Amulek. Those who did repent were ejected from the city and their families were gathered together and burnt. This mission might have seemed in some aspects as a failure, but it produced to men who became might leaders in the church and great missionaries in there own right, Amulek and Zeezrum. Amulek was rightous enough to recieve a holy message to prepare him for Almas arrival. He might have been saved without Alma's return. Zeezorom was a wicked lawyer who tried to trick the missionaries when he first met them. If Ammonihah had been destroyed with out a return visit of Alma Zeezrom and many others could have been destroyed. How would have that changed Nephite history. Remember when Alma assembles the Missionary All-stars that to witness to the fallen Zoramites, it includes Zeezrum. It all starts when Alma is rejected from a city and prays for salvation for the very people that had just sent him packing. Now that is an amazing example of Charity. May we all do as little more for others and receive a little more charity in our hearts to share with those around us. I was wrong about Texas upsetting UCLA but just barely. Texas proved that they were not just a pathetic cupcake team. They could still do some damage in the big twelve. I feel vindicated even though the upset did not happen. I thought it was a fifty-fifty chance of Texas pulling off the upset, but I thought they would keep it close and have a chance to win. That at least happened.
Moving on UCLA is an interesting team to look at. They are a top 12 team that has a very similar earlier schedule that BYU has had. Both teams are undefeated and played Texas in the state of Texas. We will play Virginia on Saturday here UCLA has already played them on the road. They played Memphis at home which is probably similar to playing Houston at home. Things are about to change since UCLA is about to enter a challenging Pac-12 schedule. We will find out then if UCLA is a top 12 team or simply overrated. Still if we beat Virginia soundly it will make a statement. If we play two teams UCLA played and laid down a beating when UCLA could not that would be impressive. I just want to make the statement though that this game is very dangerous. This could be a trap game. I know I said that last week and I feel justified in that but this one is even more dangerous. Most people had this one as an auto win at the beginning of the season. That is not so anymore. Look everyone knows that winning at UCF or Boise State will be difficult and a loss could come, but a home game versus Virginia, that is a different animal. Let's look at this Virginia team though. It is turning into a good football team. They have a difficult early schedule. Ok they played Richmond who had no chance against UVA, but if you through out that game all three have been against ranked opponents. They lost a close game against UCLA and one a close one two fellow ACC team Louisville. We cannot take this team lightly. I think UVA has a legitimate shot of winning the coastal division of the ACC this year. Most people thought Virginia Tech was the team to beat until they got beaten by Eastern Carolina at home last week. Now the division has no teams in the top 25 and look wide open. Who knows what will happen. UVA leads the Nation in turn overs and has not turned the ball over much this year. They have an impressive turnover ratio. Like Texas they have one of the most improved defenses in the Nation. They have been brutal. There success has been and will continue to be primarily off there defense. They give there offense some short fields and gives them every opportunity for success. There offense still has no clear identity and is vulnerable. If we are going to win this is what we need to exploit. Our defense needs to keep their offense off the field as much as possible. Our offense will then have a chance to where down there defense. Don't get to worried at a 10-3 lead by the Cougs at the half. There defense is tough and has to be worn out. At half time look at yard gained time of possession first downs and third down percentage. If we have a comfortable lead in all or most of those categories we will be wearing them out and expect something good to happen in the second half. If they are leading or right with us in those categories, that's when you start to worry. This game is dangerous but it is our turn to go for revenge. We lost a strange one last year in our season opener at Charlottesville. We won't forget that. Look for Taysom Hill to have a monster game, both in the air and on the ground. He struggled last year and will not do so again. Jamaal Williams is also looking for vindication. He had a great game last year except for,y he let a pass go through his fingers that set up the game winning score for Virginia. Williams will also have a big game. In the end I believe the Cougs will win it 35-21. I have a upset prediction this week that I have seen no one make. Even loyal fans of the underdog seems to believe that they have no chance at winning. I beg to differ. Texas has an offense that is adjusting to missing players but still has real talent on it. I believe that the O-line has gained enough experience to at least give their running backs a bit of room. Let's face it UCLA's running defense is not BYU's. If Texas can run a bit it will open up the pass game. Swoopes showed no ability at the long ball but he completed more than sixty percent of his passes and has shown his ability to hit the short ball. UCLA has yet to cover a spread and has not been playing as well as people have anticipated, but are still the over whelming favorite. Every body seems to think this is an auto win I don't though. If it were played at UCLA I would say it is UCLA's game to lose. It is being played on a sort of neutral field in Dallas. Let's face it that is not a neutral field. I think the Texas defense will be out to prove how good it is. They will score one score and provide at least one other really short field for the offense. Final score 21-17. Their is my bold prediction for today.
Is Houston from last year back? The one that forced a ton of turnovers and rarely turned the ball over themselves? It looks that way. I thought BYU had that game in the bag. Midway through the second quarter we were up 23-0, and I thought we were going to be up 30-0 at half. This would be our best performance yet. Then the last four minutes of the half happened.. First, came the field goal. That was okay, nothing wrong with 23- 3 for a half, and hey, there was still time for another touchdown. Then they scored two more times. Their half ended 23-15 because of terrible special teams play on Houston's side. The screwed up a hold on a forty yard field goal and missed two extra points. Even then they Houston had all of the momentum going into the break due to great turnovers and an amazing Hail, Mary reception in the last seconds of the first half.
First, I would like to say good job to Houston. They should have been out of that game but their quarter back took care of the ball had a good passing night and played his best game of this young season, and their defense would not stop making the other side turn the ball over. Great Job. You never gave up and persevered. Texas collapsed under pressure. You did precisely the opposite. I think Houston might make a run at the AAC title this year. Even though they are 1-2 on the season, none of those games have been against conference opponents. If they keep on showing that kind of tenacity it will serve them well. I hope you Houston Cougars come in first or second in your conference. I am also fine with UCF or UConn winning the conference since we play both of them as well. I loved to see this from BYU. At some point we had to see what would happen when BYU faced adversity. What would happen when BYU had a massive momentum shift against them. BYU rose to the occasion and scored 30 plus point in every game this season.Taysom passed on over a 60% rate for around 200 yards. He also ran the pants off Houston. Jamaal had a fantastic game. They could not stop our run. Even with penalties and turnovers really wreaking havoc we were able to overcome. In conclusion, I see great things in both team's futures. Good job, Cougs. Good job, Cougs. Let me start off by saying this. I can guarantee one thing. Absolutely without any doubt the cougars will win tonight. There is not any doubt in my mind. If I were a betting man I would take a thousand to one odds that the cougars will win tonight.
The only question that remain is that the BYU cougars or the Houston Cougars. Only time will tell but I definitely think that the home team has a distinct advantage tonight. Some people are saying that this is a revenge game for Houston, like last week was supposed to be a revenge game for Texas and we remember how well that turned out for Texas. I think last week was a revenge game for us. We lost at our last appearance at Texas and we wanted to vindicate that loss. This could be a revenge game for us as well. We won last year but Houston put up 46 against us. That almost never happens and I think the defensive coaches are determined that Houston will not put up those kinds of numbers again. Here is the danger this has all of the signs of a trap game. First of all in the Bronco era we have only one 3-0 stats and game three is always the game we are most likely to lose. Houston has underperformed this season playing terrible against Texas-San Antonio, but are due for a bounce back game. They could still be a contender in the AAC this year and they gave us all we could handle last year at their place. We have to be wise in how we approach this game. If the players go in thinking that this is a gimme than we will lose. If they give the Houston Cougars the respect they deserve and play to their potential the BYU Cougars will win. I believe that this is one of those special seasons. If it is then we have to win these potential trap games. Our offence is better this year than last so I believe that our offense will score mare than forty points again. Our defense will be out for redemption. I have heard people saying how much Houston wants it and how focused they are. I heard the same thing about Texas to tell the truth. It didn't mean much last week. I don't see our defense giving up more than two touchdowns. I wouldn't be surprised if our D could hold Houston to 10 or less like we did to our two first opponents, nut I won't be that audacious in my official prediction. I predict 42-17, but I could see this end up with a much greater margin of victory. If we want to end up playing in one of the good bowls or have Taysom end the year in Heisman contention the road goes through a win Provo tonight. We need a win and an awe inspiring performance by our quarterback. Go Cougs! Well the Cougs in blue at least! |
AuthorMy name is Shane and I am just a guy doing the best he can. I live in Buena Vista Virginia with my beautiful wife and our four children. Archives
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