Cowboys Win in First Family Game

Yes, the Dallas Cowboys are considered America's 2nd best team at 6-1. Is this happening??

We took the kids to their first game Sunday. Got some "cheap" upper level seats and cheered them on. Quite an experience. They loved it and hung in there. We even tailgated for an hour or so before the game and cooked some burgers. It was a great time and a memory we won't likely afford often, but that they will remember forever. Nothing like a Cowboys game live in Jerry World. It was loud and crazy as usual.

Go Cowboys!

Jerry Jones Can Thank Someone Else for His Marketing Machine

I have to admit. I have admired Jerry Jones' business expertise to a degree over the years - but only from a non-football perspective. Let's face it...he took the Cowboys when they were dying in the late 80s and made them into the world powerhouse they are today. Forbes recently calculated the Cowboys worth more than 3B. Yea, that's a big deal.

But, let me also say this: as the years of losing have gone from 5, to 10, to 15 and now to nearly 20 without much of anything for us die-hard fans, I've finally decided Jerry is actually just one lucky, clueless fool. The sports world and media rave about Jerry and all he has done for the game (yea, like free agency, parody and pole dancers at games - nice Jerry, real nice). Yes, he has a huge money making machine and he has done well with what has been given to him. But that's just it.

It has been given to him.

Without Jimmy Johnson NONE of this would have ever happened. The only thing Jerry can be thankful to himself for, was hiring the man that paved the way for the three, long-ago, SuperBowl wins back in the early 90s. Yea, 20 years and counting....

It is laughable to think had the Cowboys not won during those years that Jerry would have even made it to the new century without going bankrupt. Fact is all of these business deals (ATT, Victoria, Hublot, Ford, Secret, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, NCAA, WMA, MMA, and concerts galore) would never have taken place if not for those few winning years.

Those winning seasons revived the Cowboys brand...not Jerry Jones. And those winning season were thanks 100% to Jimmy Johnson and his football genius. Without the winning, America's Team would have died a slow death. Losing does that.

Because of the winning Jerry could build his empire. Because of the winning he was able to loans to finance Jerry World. Because of winning TV ratings sky rocketed and the Cowboys legend grew even bigger. Because of winning Jerry could get millions of dollars in business deals and arrangements made.

All of this because of all the winning. Winning Jerry Jones only had one part in - the hiring of Jimmy.

Winning changes everything.

If only Jerry could go back in time and figure that out, then maybe I could give him credit for where credit's due. But until them, he is just one lucky son-of-a-gun. I'll still cheer for the team itself, but honestly, I can't wait for the day when Jerry is no longer allowed to be Jerry.

500 owners with that kinda luck could have become what Jerry and the Cowboys machine is today.

Charlie Launches TV Stardom

Yes, we are proud of our dog Charlie. He is a boxer and he is hi-larious. He is our 2nd boxer (we still miss Sam....) but he has such a funny personality and he was recently recognized by Animal Planet network and featured on their show Bad Dogs. He was given the "Big Baby" award. If you have ever met him, you know this fits him perfectly.


We couldn't be more proud!


LOL. Check out the video here.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCr9XtI-oIo&feature=youtu.be

Brady and Chris on WBAP!

You might not know this but my business partner and I now have a weekly retirement planning radio show on WBAP. Saturday nights at 6pm out of Dallas. WBAP is one of the largest and oldest radio stations in the US and can be heard at night as far away as IL. I am amazed that we were given this opportunity to share our message about safe money retirement planning! God is good!


Listen live each week www.wbap.com or visit the Safe Retirement Experts website to hear one from the past!

Brady Speers Join's HPU Alumni Board of Directors

Yea that's right. Me. Your very own and only Brady Speers. HeHe.





First of all, it feels like it was just last week I was in my 20s and going to Howard Payne University as a student along with the likes of Curlee, Locks, Cofresi, Rinehart, Cozart, Hines, Wakefield, Carter, Davidson, just to name a FEW out of the many I hung with.


Blink.


Now I am 45 (in a few months) with three kids, a wife, and two dogs.


Excuse me?


So, to have an opportunity to pay forward all God did for me while at HPU by serving the school for a little while gives me great joy. I loved and still love the school. Those were some of the greatest years of my life. For real.


Hopefully, I can stir up some trouble down in good ol' Brownwood on behalf of The Fellas. Either way, it should be fun and I get to eat at Underwoods every now and then. What else could a boy like me want???


Peace it.

I Will Never Forget Korea Because of Who It Gave Us

I love, love, love South Korea. The people, the city of Seoul, the history, the architecture, SOME of the food, the traditions, the sights and sounds, and most importantly the Eastern Welfare Society which took care of our son and his birthmom nearly 7 years ago.

This time 7 years ago Julie and I were on a plane headed home with Quinny in our hands having just traveled around the world to experience his homeland and meet him for the first time. He needed a family and we needed a son.

Can you say God!

Words cannot express how proud we are of him and all he represents to us. God was beyond good. Adoption rocks and so does South Korea.

Thanks to all of you who supported and helped us along the way. You too were a part of bringing Mr. Smiley into our world and we celebrate that on this his Forever Family Day!

Parents, Take Your Kids Somewhere...They Will Never Forget It

I am a huge believer in creating a childhood of memories for my kids. Nothing in life will last more than the things you DO with them. And few things can rival jumping in a car or getting on a plane and heading somewhere neat and fun.

 

Sadly, more and more parents put work and busyness on the top of their list. Suddenly, the years fly by and you’ve basically gone nowhere with the family other than a trip to the grandparents. That’s better than nothing, but there is a world out there to see and your kids should experience it…with you! I know it’s tough and I get money can be tight, but nothing is a better investment than finding a way, any way, to get away as a family and see and do new things together. It will last a lifetime. Maybe a trip to Enchanted Rock, or a weekend at the lake, or a few days on the beach. It’s our job as parents to be creative and fun. Making money and just paying the bills is certainly top priority, but most of us in America can find a way, if we truly want to, to get a way with the littles.

 

Here are my suggestions:

 

1. Draw a circle of out from your home of places you can go within a 1 days drive, say 10 hours or so. You will be surprised at what’s close enough to go see.
2. Look for special hotel or online offers to save on hotels or attractions.
3. Consider going on quick, long weekend trips if you can’t afford to be gone long or the costs are too much. A lot can be done in just a few days!
4. Find friends in those areas and bunk up and enjoy time all together.
5. Save money and put it on the calendar a year in advance. This will build the excitement in the family and ensure that the trip gets done!
6. Ask for suggestions with others you know. You’d be amazed at all the connections and ideas you likely have!
7. Take the kids out of school a few days and go when places are slow. We love this. Kids can miss a few days and it maximizes your time and dollars spent…plus it makes the kids feel even more special to get out when everyone else is going to class.

 

Toys, games, and stuff never last. Time with each other, on the road headed somewhere will last forever. It can be frustrating and at times tempers may flare, but one thing is certain. They will jump up and down the next time you say you’re headed somewhere.

Colorado Trip Proves to Be Huge Fun

Two big things have been accomplished in our kids lives the last year. One, and most important, they got saved last fall and are now all Christians. Two, and just behind that, they love Colorado and love to ski!

We headed to the mountains for a visit with our friends Clint and Alisa Locks last weekend for our first ever winter-time visit to the Rockies. It had been 7 years since we last skied and I missed it. Julie tore her knees real bad and was somewhat timid about the whole thing. I have always loved being in God's country and seeing His creation. It's always been one of my favorite things to do. We had no idea if the kids would truly dig the cold and snow and love skiing. After all, learning to ski can be a total pain in the rear.

Julie and I both learned to ski later in life as teenagers. I have always hoped that my kids would learn and love it as kids. Seeing these other littles fly down the mountain without poles in reckless abandon has always been a hope for me.

Years later, I am now the dad with three of them! Holy cow. After one day of lessons by the amazing people at Copper Mountain all three of them were hooked like a Boulder hippie loves the legal weed! We spent Sunday skiing with the Locks and their two littles, Bree and Addi, and now they can't wait to go back!

I guess the only problem now is I just better prepare to make that 14 hour drive once a year!

I am so excited...

Kids Earn Another Belt In Tae Kwon Do

It's been fun to watch, and yes they do complain about it at times, but the kids are learning the Korean martial art. This last week they earned their Orange belt to go along with their White and Yellow belts.

Kids these days need activities that are wholesome and full of values. Their Master Mr. Yang is so great. He teaches them about family values while teaching them how to protect themselves if ever need be. It's like he's a modern day Mr. Miyagi.

Proud!