My own World (Cup)

There are few, if any, better husbands in existence than yours truly. Why you may ask? Simple.

Four years ago this month my wife and I were on the verge of welcoming our first child into this world. Our son, Sawyer, was born at 11:14 p.m. on June 29, 2010. We checked into the hospital early that morning to begin the process of inducing Meagan.

Being the outstanding spouse that I am, I forced my wife to watch the knockout stage games of the World Cup in South Africa that were taking place that day while she was in labor.

Hey, you can't blame me. It only happens every four years! She understood...

All jokes aside, the month of June every fourth year truly is a special time for me. The memories that come flooding back are sometimes overwhelming and emotional, and I don't want to forget them.

The first morning home from the hospital, Sawyer being just 2 days old at the time, I was up nice and early, snuggling my little bundle of joy on the couch as we watched the World Cup. The event transformed into more than just sports for me. At that moment it became something I would always have with him.

As the World Cup in Brazil kicked off Thursday, I grabbed Sawyer, sat down on the couch and shared a quick snuggle with my now 4-year-old wiggly and energetic boy. He may not understand what those few seconds meant to me -- or what this soccer event signifies -- but I sure did.

My love for soccer began in 2006 while I was serving a Spanish-speaking LDS mission in San Bernardino, Calif. The excitement and emotion from the mainly Mexican people I served with was contagious. I caught on to the nuances and pageantry of the game as I watched match after match and saw Italy win the whole thing, beating France in penalties.

Fast forward four years and I was finally able to share my love for the greatest sporting event in the world, first with my wife and then with my newborn son.

Now in our second World Cup as a family, I love the significance it has for us. Well, at least for me and the wonderful feelings and thoughts it brings back. I can't help but smile.

(Note: I picked Argentina to win the World Cup, beating Germany in the final. Feel free to harass me when my prediction inevitably goes wrong.)