To Realize...

To realize The value of a sister/brother
Ask someone Who doesn't have one.

To realize The value of ten years:
Ask a newly Divorced couple.

To realize The value of four years:
Ask a graduate.

To realize The value of one year:
Ask a student who  Has failed a final exam.

To realize  The value of nine months:
Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.

To realize The value of one month:
Ask a mother  Who has given birth to  A premature baby.

To realize The value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize The value of one minute:
Ask a person Who has missed the train, bus or plane.

To realize The value of one second:
Ask a person  Who has survived an accident.

Time waits for no one.
Treasure every moment you have.

You will treasure it even more when
You can share it with someone special.

To realize the value of a friend or family member:

LOSE ONE.

A busy summer coming to an end

Connecticut Sunset

Missouri Sunset

What a summer it has been. From starting a new job to July recruiting to many adventures in St. Louis, this summer has been a success. Maybe a little damaging to my bank account but still a success. I love my new job, the people I am working with and especially being back in Missouri. Although there are many people and things (the Beach) I miss back in CT, I am settling in nicely here.

This was my first experience of July recruiting and what a July it was. Out of every where I went (Indy, Chi, B-Town, KC) I will have to give props to Indy. It's a fun city and I really enjoyed spending time here. Now of course KC was my favorite by far but mainly for the fact its like a second home to me. I know that city like its the back of my hand as well as knowing many people that live there I was able to see. Lets not forget about the whole purpose of July, recruiting... it's not as bad as someone might think. Sitting in a gym watching basketball for 8-10 hours a day could be a lot worse, but when you are surrounded by an assortment of other coaches you're bound to have a little fun.













Definitely one of the highlights of my Summer was my 15 hours spent in Ames for a little Cyclone reunion. Like I have mentioned in my blog many times, those ladies are my best friends, and they always will be. We had a great time pretending like we were seniors all over again and had just made it to the Elite 8.

Kenny Chesney and Billy Currington

Craig Morgan at the Rodeo!

 I think I saw more concerts and Cardinals games this summer than I have in a long time. From Kenny Chesney to Craig Morgan and a few Cards win... it was all worth it!

To finish up my summer, I made a fantastic purchase off of Stub Hub... Another Concert... Taylor Swift tickets and you better believe it, it was worth every penny I spent. She was amazing, and her concert is like none I have been to before. So many props, wardrobe changes, and different sets. As I sat surround by 8-15 year old girls screaming at the top of their lungs, I decided this is definitely one of the finer moments in my life :).

Don't Quit - Don't give Up.

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,

When the funds are low and the debts are high

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit,

Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,

As every one of us sometimes learns,

And many a failure turns about

When he might have won had he stuck it out;

Don't give up though the pace seems slow--

You may succeed with another blow,

Success is failure turned inside out--

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,

And you never can tell how close you are,

It may be near when it seems so far;

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.  

Things I've learned...

1. Family always comes first.

2. Money isn't everything.

3. It's not about where you are, it's about who you surround yourself with.

4. Don't forget to keep in touch with old friends.

5. High school was a long time ago, people change.

6. College flies by, no matter how hard you try for it not to. Live it up, every second you can.

7. No matter how many times you say you can't wait to graduate and get a real job, take your time.

8. Tell people how you feel, you will regret it if you don't.

9. Coca-Cola really isn't as bad for you as people say.

10. Travel as much as you can and more.

11. Don't let anyone tell you, you can't do something.

12. DREAM BIG

Ending one chapter, starting a new one...

“Laugh when you can, apologize when you should, and let go of what you can’t change. Life’s too short to be anything… but happy.” Anonymous

So much for that New Years Resolution..... But I am not giving up completely. 

I went to Six Flags for Memorial Day... It made me feel like a kid again... I loved it. 

P.S. I moved. Back to Missouri. Connecticut was fun but there is no place like home, right Dorothy?

Go Cyclones wait no go Stags No no Go Redhawks! The good thing about all of these, I don't have to change the colors in my wardrobe much. The common theme.. RED. 

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature.”– Helen Keller

So have you ever drove through 8 states in 2 days? What about over 15 hours in a day? Ok yes if you are a truck driver you win, but that's not me and this was my moving process. Surprisingly it wasn't bad at all. All thanks to Mrs. Tina Fey and her Audiobook. (if you haven't read/listened to it, let me know I will send you an audio copy, it's great!) 

12 foot moving truck and approximately 3 tons of "stuff" moved into my apartment in less than 30 minutes, all thanks to my cousin who lives in my new town! 

I actually should give even more thanks to my cousin cause if it wasn't for him my apartment wouldn't have furniture, a washer and dryer and might have exploded already. In appreciation I am taking him out for Margarita Madness on Wednesday. 99 cent Margs, who can pass that up??

Side note: New city is Cape Girardeau, approximately 90 miles from Poplar Bluff Missouri home of both my parents HS alma matar (many will know Poplar Bluff from Tyler Hansborough, yes same town) Ok now that we are on the same page, this is home to most of my family.. SCORE! Cape is also about 270 miles from my home town of Springfield, MO, much better than the 1250 miles I was only a month ago. Moral of the side note, its nice to be close to home!

“Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass…

It’s about learning how to dance in the rain.” — Vivian Greene

Another Sunrise, Another New Beginning.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

With the past, I have nothing to do; nor with the future. I live now. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

What a week or two. Weddings. Tan lines. Airports, lots of airports. Baseball games. And most importantly life.

 Welcome every morning with a smile. Look on the new day as another special gift from your Creator, another golden opportunity to complete what you were unable to finish yesterday. Be a self-starter. Let your first hour set the theme of success and positive action that is certain to echo through your entire day. Today will never happen again. Don't waste it with a false start or no start at all. You were not born to fail.
-Og Mandino

"I don't know why I'm scared, 

I've been here before, 

Every feeling, every word, 

I've imagined it all, 

You'll never know if you never try, 

To forgive your past and simply be mine..."

"The one and only" by Adele

"The first step... shall be to lose the way." -Galway Kinnell

"Do not take life too seriously.  You will never get out of it alive."  

~Elbert Hubbard

 My whole life is waiting for the questions to which I have prepared answers.  

~Tom Stoppard

 "Art is everywhere, except it has to pass through a creative mind." -Unknown

“Remembering you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.” 
~ Steve Jobs

"God put us here, on this carnival ride. We close our eyes never knowing where it'll take us next." 

— Carrie Underwood 

“One has to live in the present. Whatever is past is gone beyond recall; whatever is future remains beyond one’s reach, until it becomes present. Remembering the past and giving thought to the future are important, but only to the extent that they help one deal with the present.” – S.N. Goenka