No pain... No game!

Helloooooo family and friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 I'm glad you all enjoy my creative subjects.  I work hard on those and am trying to be creative and clever with them.  Wow Austin Happy birthday!!!!!!!! Big 16!!!!!!!! You know what that means?  I'm gonna send a video of me singing happy birthday to you!!!!!  I'll try and be creative with these as well.  Mom I know you were the first one I did this for so I'll give you a really good one next year hahahaha!!!!!! Austin,  I'm glad you had fun with your friends.  I'm so sad I couldn't be there for it.  I really do miss you!!! I wish we could go back to old times where it was you and me playing together.  I want us to play like we used to.  Remember when we'd pretned we were Jedis or army guys?  Man I miss those days!! I'm so glad that my Heavenly Father loved me so much that he gave me a little brother to play with, to laugh with, and to love!!! I hope you see and recognize that too!!!!! I want to be your buddy just like old times... Wow. When I wrote "buddy" just now I started crying...I love you Austin I really do!!! I can't wait to see you when we FaceTime or Skype.  I just want to see my little brother again! Oh my gosh I can't stop crying.  I've been crying for the past 15 minuets- I've been trying to stop but nothing's working. I know that's the spirit testifying to me that families are important and that the relationships you build with your family is so important.  Alright enough of that. hahaha

Wow Cantwell's wedding and then Paul's wedding. I am gonna need some more pictures hahaha!!!!!!!!! I always ask for pictures and it is because I love getting them of you guys.  I love sending pictures to let you know where I'm at and what I'm up too!!! Yea mom I love LDS.org.  Then again, that's all I can get onto so it's not like I have a selection I can choose from haha!!! Guess what you guys?  Star Wars 7 plays in theaters in 4 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!  Brother Haroldsen, one of the members of the branch, keeps rubbing it in because he's a Star Wars fan too and he gets to go see it!!! So he keeps torturing me and telling me how many days left till it comes out.  He's a great guy and he is really funny.  

Oh how cool that you're doing Plan Of Salvation shirts.  That's a neat way to do missionary work! Oh man the football banquet- that's so weird that Coach Bradley isn't the coach anymore!  That means Tyler has been home a year now!  What a changes a year makes huh?  

So this week has been pretty awesome.  So when I played the piano and sang at the same time at Zone Conference this past week it went really well.  With the pointers from Sister Macbeth, it went a lot smoother and I could definitely feel the spirit as I was singing.  I don't get as nervous anymore either. l will admit that I was still nervous but not as nervous as I used to get.  I got a lot of compliments. President Johnson thanked me and said he was going to use me more often!!!!!  That was exciting to hear!!!  We got to play basketball at the church with a few less actives.  At first I felt like an idiot playing.  I still don't know how to play or what to do so they just told me to get rebounds.  I can jump that's what I did.  My companion is 6'3 and he got a lot.  I feel so lost in the game of basketball.  I really wish I had wanted to learn how to play when I was younger.  I was all about soccer.  I'm athletic so not knowing what to do is very frustrating!  At the end I just tried having fun and doing what seemed "normal" so it wasn't all bad.  I did wear my knee sleeve and my ankle brace (remember when I sprained it in Olean?).  It hurts when I play on it sometimes but that's normal for a sprain.  I just can't stop getting hurt! Hahahaha!!!!!!!! I just need to have a talk with Heavenly Father and ask Him to help me to stop getting injured!!!  lol  That guy definitely has a sense of humor!!!  This week we also had our branch Christmas party.  We had a few less actives's show up that haven't been to church in a long while.  That same night Brother Punjack and I had our pizza eating competition.  Let me tell you that that was fun and painful at the same time!!!!  We each had 8 pieces of pizza and every time we finished a slice we had to do 20 push ups.  So 8X20=160 push ups.

 As you can tell in the picture, my face doesn't look too happy or excited at the end!!!!! Hahahaha Brother Punjack is an ex-marine and a real competitor.  He challenged me to this competition and I agreed.  What's crazy is that he always wins.  This time was different!  I was the first Elder to tie him.  I didn't win but neither did he!  We literally finished at the exact same time.  He finished his last piece of pizza before me but I busted out the push ups at the end and we both finished at the same time.  It only took 11 minuets to accomplish all of that!!!!! I was in pain and my stomach didn't feel too good either but brother Punjack said that I was the closest Elder to beating him or to even come close! So I was pretty excited to hear that!

Elder "H"  leaves at the end of the month and is getting trunky.  I am doing the best I can to stay obedient during this hard situation. Yes I got the package.  Thanks mom and dad I really appreciate it!!!!!!! I love the gloves but it's not even cold here!!!!! Yesterday it was 71 degrees.  The lowest it has gotten here in McKeesport has been high 40's.  It isn't getting cold; in fact, it's warming up!!!!!!!!!!!  I've talked with people and they've said this has been the most bizarre weather they've ever seen!?!  It is never this warm this time of year.  Maybe I'm just good luck! hahaha  It's crazy that I'm allowed to wear shorts in December!!!!!!!  I did enjoy the cards you sent to hand out to people.  No I haven't played anymore football. I did see one of the guys I played with at the turkey bowl at Wendy's.  He worked there and guess what?!?!?!?! He even called me Gronk!!!!!!! How cool is that!!????  I was so pumped when he remembered me!!!!  No I don't remember what Ty said to the mailman.  What would he say??! I do need a few things:  1. scripture tabs.  I am going to start using my hard copy scriptures more instead of my iPad.  2. Shorts.  I have enough shirts but I only have 3 shorts and one pair doesn't have pockets.  3. Japanese pens.  The ones you got Ty for his mission and also for me! I know I lost them but if you could, could you send me those?!

I hope you all have a fantastic week.  I love you.  Take care.  Bye!!!!!

Elder Gronkowski