Summer Fun

Ellie making the most of her summer vacation! Seen here she continues swim lessons - this is the jumping in part, and playing miniature golf at State Farm Park!

Celebrate!

Lessons from the Stanley Cup journey

This was my favorite after the game moment .. veteran goalie congratulates younger, playoff MVP goalie .. respect, experience and tradition at its finest!!

The Consequences of Caring
By Bill Simmons on June 8, 2012
From his daughter's passion for the Cup-less Kings to his own for the aged Celtics, Bill Simmons gets a refresher course in disappointment


This article was WAY too long to put in the blog, but it's an amazing story of a dad (sports fan, journalist) and the lessons of his young daughter becoming a sports fan.


Click HERE for full article.

Pool Time

Leaving a Legacy

Today's date has stood out for me as far back as I can remember. June 7th was the day my father died. I was 8 years old. He died exactly one week after my birthday.

I've always taken time on June 7th to recall my father and all that I remember of him. And all the traits I'm told that I inherited. I know he was a proud man who believed strongly in his faith, his country and his family.

I've treasured all the stories people have told me about him, always looking for something to hold onto. I know that a legacy is something you create with your actions, your beliefs and how you choose to live. He only lived 39 years, but he left a legacy.

I've learned to value June 7th for another reason for nearly 10 years as well. State Farm began on June 7, 1922. We celebrate this day every year as Founder's Day with pomp and circumstance recalling the 'old days' and optimistically projecting what the future will be like. Today we celebrated our 90th anniversary. That's quite a feat these days with companies that come and go.

I'm proud to work for a company that believes in many of things my father believed in. I'm part of my father's legacy, and now I'm part of State Farm's legacy as well. We're a State Farm family as Bill celebrates 10 years with the company in a few months, and I celebrated 7 years in January. And with all the State Farm influence of living in Bloomington Ellie has already told us she plans to work there too. That, too, is quite a legacy!

SF Family Fun Day

As you can see Ellie loved everything .. the petting zoo, rides, games, meeting new friends and of course, the wonderful fair food!