College Football Picks Season Results

1. Clint 33
2. Rex 34
3. Lisa 43
4. Tammy 57
5. Michael 71

Scores were determined by each person's place each week being added up.

Congrats to Clint for winning the college football picks this season.  Thanks to everyone who participated.  It was fun.

Bowl Game Results

1.  Rex -16 tiebreaker 67
2. Tammy -16 tiebreaker 43
3. Lisa -17 tiebreaker 49
4. Michael -20 tie breaker 49
5. Clint -21 tie breaker 54

actual tiebreaker 66

President Eyring Quote

I got this quote in my email today.  It's a good reminder of what mortality is all about.  Life is hard.  Keep trying.

That's my two cents.

“The Lord proves us ... to strengthen us. That proving does not come in moments of ease or comfort. It comes in moments when we feel stretched beyond what we thought we could bear. The Lord teaches that we are to continue to grow and never tire in our efforts, that we never give up, that we keep trying.” Henry B. Eyring “Proved and Strengthened in Christ,” general conference, Oct. 2025, Gospel Library

34 Years

Today marks 34 years since I started my full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on January 15, 1992.  Best decision of my life.  It was hard, but well worth it.

To me, missions are a microcosm of mortality.  You leave your family and everything familiar to embark on an intense learning experience with many trials, but also much joy.  You go to an unfamiliar place– for 18 months – not knowing anybody but you're given a mission president and companions to help you along the way.  It's like starting a completely different life.  Completing your mission is like graduating from mortality and going home.  At least that's the way I see it.  Looking back on my mission brings back many fond memories, but also much growth and many trials.  Just like mortality.

I imagine we will look back on mortality, when it is over, in much the same way that I look on my mission.  We will be glad it's over but also thankful for the experience.  And we'll be extremely grateful for the opportunity and for everything we learned and for the growth we experienced.

It's hard to believe that it's been 34 years since my young 21-year-old self entered the MTC (Missionary Training Center) and started my mission.  On one hand it seems like a lifetime ago and on the other hand I remember it like it was yesterday.  Life is funny that way.

Some pictures from my first area – Zephyrhills, Florida.  February 1992.

I consider it a great privilege to have had the opportunity to serve a full-time mission for the Church.  And I'm so thankful for the opportunity and experience.

That's my two cents.

Just a fun fact – Today also happens to be what would have been my maternal grandmother's 99th birthday.  I started my mission on her 65th birthday.   She died in 2004 at age 77.  Happy birthday Grandma Sabin.  RIP.

RIP President Jeffrey R. Holland

The Church announced on Christmas Eve that President Jeffrey R Holland, president of the quorum of the 12 apostles, was hospitalized.  So I figured he might be graduating soon.  This morning at 3:15 AM MST it was announced that he indeed had crossed through the veil to the other side.

I think President Holland was everybody's favorite apostle.  He made everybody feel like he was their friend.  Yet he boldly testified of truth.  I loved his way of teaching.  Boldly yet lovingly.  He was a strong defender of our Savior, whom he was called to testify of, and of His gospel.

President Holland has been physically ill for several years now.  His beloved wife, Pat, died in 2023 and he has been missing her dearly.

I'm happy that they are now reunited.

I'm sure when President Holland met his Savior He told him "well done thou good and faithful servant".  If anyone deserves that greeting, President Holland does.  He gave his life for the Lord. 

RIP President Jeffrey R. Holland

December 3, 1940 - December 27, 2025

God be with you till we meet again.

That's my two cents.

College Football Picks Weeks 15 & 16 Results

1 –Clint -3 tiebreaker 52, Lisa -3 tiebreaker 52

3 –Rex -4 tiebreaker 44

4 –Tammy -6 tiebreaker 63

 actual tiebreaker 41

Happy Birthday To Me

Another year has come and gone.  I've reached the double nickel mark.  Happy birthday to me.  I just wanted to thank everybody who made my day so special today.  Thank you for all of the email birthday wishes, phone calls, flowers, cards, and gifts.

It truly has been a wonderful day.  Thank you for making me feel so loved.

That's my two cents.

The Good Shepherd Calls

The other day in my Book of Mormon study, the following Scripture stood out to me:

Alma 5:60 

"And now I say unto you that the good shepherd doth call after you; and if you will hearken unto his voice he will bring you into his fold, and ye are his sheep; and he commandeth you that ye suffer no ravenous wolf to enter among you, that ye may not be destroyed."

This Scripture reminds me of a talk given by one of the 12 apostles, Elder Patrick Kearon, when he said that the Lord is in relentless pursuit of us.  I love that!  If I felt better, I would find some quotes from that talk to post here.  But I don't have the energy.

I just wanted to post this Scripture really quick and share it with you.  Jesus is the Good Shepherd.  He calls after us.  He wants us to come into His fold.  We are His sheep.

How do we come into His fold?  We obey His commandments.  We follow Him.

I love this time of year when we focus more on Christ and perhaps try to be a little more like Him.  I love that He is in relentless pursuit of us.  But it is up to us to choose to follow Him.  If we follow the Good Shepherd, no ravenous wolf will destroy us.

May we all choose to follow our Savior, Jesus Christ.  May we all heed His call to join His fold.  Maybe all try to be a little more like Him.

That's my two cents. 

College Football Picks Week 14 Results

1. Clint -14 tiebreaker 52
2. Rex -15 tiebreaker 67
3. Lisa -16 tiebreaker 54
4. Tammy -19 tiebreaker 61

actual tiebreaker 49

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!  It's hard to believe that another Thanksgiving has come and gone.  I just want to express my gratitude for all the blessings that God has bestowed upon me.  Including all of you.  I am so incredibly blessed.  

No matter what we do we will always be indebted to God for all of our blessings.  I don't have the words to express how thankful I am for the wonderful life I have had.  Especially for the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I'm so grateful to belong to His Church.  And I'm so grateful for loved ones who care for me and have blessed my life so deeply.  

We would all be wise to ponder on all our many blessings and give thanks daily to God for them.

That's my two cents.

College Football Picks Week 13 Results

1. Clint -17 tiebreaker 52
2. Lisa -18 tiebreaker 37
3. Rex -19 tiebreaker 37
4. Tammy -19 tiebreaker 43

actual tiebreaker 20

College Football Picks Week 12 Results

1. Clint -12 tiebreaker 58
2. Rex -13 tiebreaker 59
3. Lisa -14 tiebreaker 52
4. Tammy -16 tiebreaker 50

actual tiebreaker 83

College Football Picks Week 11 Results

1. Clint -15 tiebreaker 58
2. Lisa -17 tiebreaker 53
3. Rex -18 tiebreaker 59
4. Tammy -19 tiebreaker 55
5. Michael -22 tiebreaker 57

actual tiebreaker 36

College Football Picks Week 10 Results

1. Rex -17 tiebreaker 62
2. Clint -17  tiebreaker 52
3. Lisa -18 tiebreaker 62
4. Tammy -20 tiebreaker 49
5. Michael -22 tiebreaker 49

actual tiebreaker 59

Happy 56th Anniversary

Today would have been my parents' 56th wedding anniversary.  Dad died three months shy of their 50th wedding anniversary.  Dad was always very proud of every anniversary and was very much looking forward to their 50th.  Six years later I'm sure they're celebrating together on the other side of the veil.

I am so blessed to be born of goodly parents.  They took the responsibility of parenting very seriously and dedicated their lives to raising their children.  Shortly after they became empty-nesters I had my accident and they cared for me for the rest of their lives.  I will always be eternally grateful to them for that and for their willingness to go the extra mile and serve me in my time of need.  I know there is a special place in the Celestial Kingdom for them.

Happy 56th Wedding Anniversary Mom and Dad!

I love and miss you so much!

That's my two cents.