BYU season opener

 My brother had two extra tickets to the BYU v Portland State game Saturday and offered them to me. Aston had already flown back home so I brought dear friend Kristi Aase as my date. 

What. A. Game. 

If we’d been at home, we might have tuned out because it was such a blowout. But being there for it was everything. The energy was insane. 64,000 attendees at this sellout game. I believe it was the highest attended home game since like 2009. 

Look at that huge student section. The ROC (roar of cougars) is the greatest student section of all college teams. Really, byu fans are just the greatest. The marching band always faces the visiting section before coin toss svd plays the alma mater of the visiting team to welcome them. The champions club makes themed food to honor the visitors (they served pulled pork, fried chicken, and other southern goodies when they played the razorbacks last time I was here.) and during the third quarter of every game, that student section just goes all out crazy. It’s the best and I’m so happy my daughters were in that crowd making memories and getting a full college experience. 

3 hours to catch up with my Kristi? Gosh I love her so SO much. I’d say age and I just connected well when she lived in Arkansas, but I think all the credit just goes to her personality. She ministers with conversation and I leave wanting to be more like her. I love her mindset, tre way she asks questions, and how much she LOVES to be alive. Over the last 10 years, Kristi has grown 3 daughters up and out into adulthood, found a career in serving emerging adults and their higher level educators, endured a painful divorce, moved herself to Utah, buried a parent, battled cancer, become a mother in law and grandmother, and earned a masters degree. She is easily delighted by any small thing that could spark joy, builds everyone up, is so very fun, a die hard cougar fan, and to quote her when she saw our seats, “oooh we are living life right!” 

Yes M’am, we are. It was the best 3 hours talking and singing the cougar fight song a zillion times with her. 

We sat with Melinda’s brother Greg, and my cute niece Taylor and McCoy and their family. I could gobble up her children. Mark and Nelinda are the cutest grandparents. I love watching them with Taylor’s kids! The pic above is one I took for Corbin. He’s obsessed with Grayson. 

Mark and Melinda gifted us dinner at the Ironside Grill. We treated Q to food and sent her skipping back to the ROC. We also got a visit from Reese once she was peopled out by the student section. 

Then photo stretched weird when it reposted on Instagram but Quincy had a cameo on the byu insta page! That’s her roommate right next her. I always knew this child would love college. When she called today she said, “mom I have never had so many assignments in my life!  I reminded her of waking up at 5 for seminary, then school with AP classes and orchestra and Ignite and work and YW and college applications and alllll the fun things she still found time to do with friends and  still managed to earn straight A’s. If she prays for guidance and help

Prioritizing, I know balanced will come. 

Both girls went to the temple tonight. 

That’s the best season opener.