As the final days and hours of 2011 come to a close, I can’t help but reflect on my official slogan for this year, which was “Life is AMAZING, if you allow it to be!”

For me and my journey of playing Michael Jordan 1-on-1, 2011 was beyond amazing and for that I am so thankful!

Having said that, there were definitely some struggles over the last 365 days, but overall it was without a doubt more than I ever could have expected!

Here is a recap of all that was 2011 for mevsMJ.com!

-1st Quarter-

(January, February, March)

Looking back, January seems like years ago.  I began 2011 gaining my first 1-on-1 match-up win (Me vs. Scott Spencer) and feeling like my game was getting stronger and stronger.  Unfortunately then, but rather fortunately I suppose as I reflect now, I got injured on the next to last day of the month (Pop Goes The Dream) and was faced with painful rehabilitation that consumed the next eight weeks, testing me both physically and mentally.

During the rehab, even though I wasn’t playing, some great things still happened!

The very next day following my injury in the most surprising turn of events, I got some Jordan love! (Jeff Jordan promotes mevsMJ.com!)

Over the eight weeks of rehab I wrote 18 different posts including (Dear MJ:  My Letter to Michael Jordan).  Then exactly 62 days after the injury that left me devastated, I made my comeback in the last part of March against now Virginia Tech Hokies freshman Robert Brown, a good friend and the very first player to really believe in what I’m doing here on this site! (I’m Back!!!!)

-2nd Quarter-

(April, May, June)

I gave my life to the Lord when I was 23 years old (Yes, I’m a huge Jordan fan, but no, I didn’t plan that!)  I’ve sprinkled my faith over many of the posts I’ve written on this site and I mention that to say that I always feel that God has a plan for me.  During the injury I believed that and as I went through the second quarter of 2011, HE left me amazed as things began happening so quickly that I could hardly keep up!

April began with me meeting up with a talented young man named Ziarekenya Smith!  He had gained National accliam for his Jordan typeface, pictured to the right.  (God Inspired Designs)

From there, a simple hope filled email returned back to me, someone I now call a friend and mentor, Dave Hopla. (My time with Dave Hopla, World’s Greatest Shooter)

Then, still in April, I took on my first real professional basketball player, in what was the worst showing of my life! (Me vs. Garfield Blair)

May began with another no and then the biggest YES to date! (Nick Anderson Called Me!!!)

While nothing ever materialized with Nick, it was beyond cool having the former NBA player call me on MY cell phone!

Later in the month I had the blessing of getting to know and workout with then one of the top high school coaches in the country and now George Washington assistant coach, Kevin Sutton! (My First Workout with Coach Kevin Sutton!)

June came around, I played much better against my second professional player (Me vs. Andy Gebru) and had my third rematch with Robert Brown (Me vs. Robert Brown – Round 3).

-3rd Quarter-

(July, August, September)

The third quarter of 2011 kept up the momentum with me spending a little time with Tracy McGrady and even getting a shout out from T-Mac himself! (My Time with T-Mac)

On August 22nd, mevsMJ.com turned 1 year old. (me vs. Michael Jordan – 365 Days Later!)

In September I flew to Vegas for Impact Basketball’s Competitive League, where I told Chauncey Billups, John Wall, Rudy Gay, OJ Mayo, Corey Maggette, Jared Dudley and more about my journey to play Michael Jordan and almost had a shootout with NBA Sharpshooter Damon Jones! (Me vs. Damon Jones – The Shootout That Almost Was)

-4th Quarter-

(October, November, December)

In October I switched things up a bit and did my first video post (Where Are You Going?) so that everyone could actually hear me speak!  [Side note:  I often wonder how people sound when I’m reading their blogs/posts.]

A few days later, by reader request, I posted a video of me draining 22 of 24 from the 3 point line. (Is This Why NBA Guys Won’t Play Me??)  So pretty!

Mid November, I began working harder and sweating more than I probably ever have in my life! (Me + B Meyer Training – The Man Behind Dwight Howard)

On Thanksgiving day, Eric Griffin and I helped one young man’s dream come true, in what was one of the most fulfilling moments of my life.  (Thanksgiving Day Dreams)

Then the moment I had been waiting for happened!

→Michael Jordan KNOWS!!!←

I‘m still blown away by what happened in the first moments of December, the last grouping of days of 2011!

In what played out like some scene from an inspirational movie, I met Michael Jordan! (Michael Jordan Knows About ME and mevsMJ.com!)

As I wrote when I began this post, LIFE IS AMAZING, IF YOU ALLOW IT TO BE!

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Through all that has happened on this journey, the part I never really anticipated is all of the great people that would come into my life and become true friends.

This mevsMJ.com walk has always been about truly believing that anything is possible with faith and hard work and I really feel that through 2011 that became more eveident than ever!

I’ve always believed in me vs. Michael Jordan and now I’m sure a few more people do too!  That’s a great thing!

For every person that has read a post, for each one of you that has believed in what I’m doing, for those who took time out of their life to help my dream come true, for those of you that I’m fortunate enough to call my friends, I say THANK YOU!

2011 was an unbelievable ride!

Off to 2012 we go!

me vs. MJ…the journey continues!!!!!  Thank you for following along!

Connect:  Twitter (@KennyEller) and mevsMJ.com Facebook Fan Page.

httpvh://youtu.be/SfN16daQ300

When I began this site with my rather large dream of playing my childhood hero Michael Jordan 1-on-1, back in August of 2010, I knew then that I’d need a lot of help.

I knew I could work on my game and get in the best shape of my life and do all of the things that I could control, but that in the end it would take the HELP of someone else to make my dream come true.

I never thought that when I began this mevsMJ.com journey that I would be placed in a position to HELP someone else’s dream come true, but on Thanksgiving Day, that’s just what happened.

Just as I was getting ready to head over to my parents to enjoy the Thanksgiving festivities, I received the following email from a young man sharing his dream with me.

Hello,

I just found your website mevsMJ.com.  What a great idea and website! You are an inspiration for me. I also am a big fan of Eric Griffin from Campbell University and I saw that you interviewed him. He is a great dunker and a great all around player. Do you know how I might get in touch with him? Maybe you have his email or phone number? I’ve been a Campbell University fan my entire life. I’m 13 years old and I’ve loved them my whole life cuz my favorite uncle went there for college and I want to go there too. I just want to tell Eric how much I like watching him play basketball. Maybe one day I can play at Campbell too.

Thank you for your great website and for any help you might offer to get in touch with Eric Griffin. 

Sincerely,

Adam Thompson

Me and Eric Griffin

If I think about how I met Eric Griffin and now perhaps why I met him, it makes me appreciate this amazing walk of mine so much more!

Shooting alone in an empty gym one morning back in May, I met Coach Kevin Sutton.  We talked about my journey to play MJ and within minutes Coach Sutton, one of the kindest men I’ve met, was inviting me for an informal workout with a group of high level ball players, so that I could better my game.

I went to the first workout and as fate would have it, was paired with Campbell University’s high flying Eric Griffin.  Through the some two-hour session, we did ball handling drills, shooting drills, and so on with one another.

Eric impressed me with who he was as a person, as much as he did with his sick basketball game, so when I came up with the idea of 23 Questions, a sort of informal interview that would allow some insight into the lives of the best basketball players I knew, I thought immediately of Eric.

Now some seven months from when Eric and I initially met, the reason for our meeting, came to light in an email from a young man, just 13 years of age.

Thanksgiving Day Dreams

When I got Adam’s email I was immediately almost overwhelmed with emotions, because I know what it was like to send an email filled with hope.  I’ve sent tons of them during this journey.  Too many to count at this point.

Most people I’ve reached out to, never respond.  Some brush me off with a less than half hearted response and then no longer reply when I kindly continue to pursue their assistance.  Others have cast their negative views on my walk, missing the whole point along the way.

I’ve always done my best to quickly shake my head free of the hurt and push forward, but honestly at times it’s been tough.

So when I received Adam’s email, I spent a good period of time at Thanksgiving dinner working on making his dream come true.

Because I knew I could!

“I would love to!”

Between the love filled food and family stories at Thanksgiving dinner, I sent Eric Griffin a message telling him that I had just received the coolest email from a young man that was a big fan of his.  I went on with how it would be amazing if it turns out that Adam is local to set something up so that he could meet him!

It took Eric less than a minute to reply with, “I would love to!”

I told him great and then forwarded him Adam’s email so that he could read it for himself.

Adam’s Dream Comes True

Less than 24 hours from Adam’s initial email to me I received another email from him:

Hello Kenny,

Thank you so much! I got email from Eric! WOW!!!!! Best present I got in a long time! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Eric asked about coming to his game and my mom says maybe later in season. WOW!!! I am trying to do interview with Eric for school cuz I have homework to interview someone who works in the job I want when I grow up. Thank you Kenny. I hope you play Michael Jordan!

Sincerely,

Adam Thompson

Dreams Do Come True!

So I’m going into the 16^th month of mevsMJ.com and while my dream of playing MJ still hasn’t come true, it’s the best feeling in the world to play a part in helping someone else’s dream come true!

I’d like to give HUGE SHOUT OUT and THANKS to my man Eric Griffin (@The21Story) for being so kind and willing to take the time to impact someone’s life in such an amazing way!

Adam closed his email to me fittingly, filled with hope.  I too hope I get to play Michael Jordan one day soon, but until then, helping Adam is just fine with me!

me vs. MJ…the dream filled journey continues!  As always, thank you for following along!

Connect:  Twitter (@KennyEller) and mevsMJ.com Facebook Fan Page.

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More on Eric Griffin

Through the first six games (5-1) of the season, Eric Griffin leads the Fighting Camels of Campbell University in almost every category, averaging 21.1 points, 10 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks, while shooting a staggering 74% from the field and 60% from three point land.

On top of all of that, he can now add something even more important to his statistics, making one dream come true!  A class act for sure!

We all have the ability to impact others in a way that could very well change the course of how they approach life!  On this day, the dreamer who took action in the form of an email wins!  Eric and I have won as well!  Go get your dreams!

Coach Kevin Sutton, in a kind, yet authortative tone instructed, “Alright guys, partner up!”

It was my first workout with the group and on this cool spring night in May, I just so happened to get paired up with 6’8″ 215 pound Eric Griffin.

With his height and long arms that stretch into tomorrow, I expected Griffin to be strictly a post player.  Fifteen years ago I’m sure that’s exactly where some coach would have placed him.  All I can say is, I’m glad it’s not fifteen years ago!

During the workout, I was amazed at Griffin’s ball skills and his ability to shoot the rock.  He literally takes jump shots from three point land!  I’m talking a couple of feet off the ground JUMP SHOTS!

It’s one thing for a 6’2″ guy like myself to do that, but when you’re 6’8″, well you can understand how and why Eric Griffin took Campbell University by storm last year!

Transferring in from the community college level, Eric averaged 13.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 2.1 blocks per game, while shooting over 50% from the field, for the Fighting Camels.  In February of last year, he was named Atlantic Sun Conference’s newcomer of the week (see video below) with a stat line (22.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 blocks, 2.5 steals and 1.5 assists) that’ll make any basketball fan say damn!

What’s just as amazing as Eric leading Campbell in points, rebounds and blocks last season, is that this, his senior season at Campbell, will be just Eric’s fifth year of organized hoops!  That’s right, the guy swatting shots, raining three’s and thumping dunks on foolish defenders, played just one year of high school basketball at Boone, in Orlando, Florida.

As good as Griffin is right now, logic has everyone wondering just how good can he be?  That’s a question Eric Griffin wants to find the answer to as well, which isn’t great news for opponents!

Without further ado, here is 23 questions with Campbell University’s Eric Griffin!

23 Questions With Campbell University’s Eric Griffin:

1.  What sparked your interest in basketball?

Eric Griffin:  About the age of 8 watching the Orlando Magic, I fell in love with the game.

2.  What’s your jersey number and why do you wear it?

EG:  #21, my pastor blessed me with this number.

3.  Do you have a nickname?

EG:  E-money.

4.  Favorite Food?

EG:  Hot Wings.

5.  Hidden Talent (Something you’re good at that most don’t know about)?

EG:  I know how to Rap lol….

6.  Something you’re surprisingly really bad at?

EG:  Cooking.

7.  Favorite Musician/Group?

EG:  Lil Wayne/One-way Boys.

8.  Proudest moment as a basketball player thus far?

EG:  This year made six three points in one game, made player of the week, and ended the game with 27pts.

9.  If you didn’t play basketball, what else would you enjoy doing?

EG:  That’s a really good question.  I love the game of basketball so much can’t really see myself doing anything else.

10.  What advice would you have for someone looking to achieve your level of success on the court?

EG:  Work hard, never let your goals fall behind, play every game like it’s your last and keep faith in God.

11.  Who are your role model(s)?

EG:  Mom and Grandmother.

12. What is your earliest basketball memory?

EG:  First year playing basketball, my 12^th grade year, making the basketball team.

13.  Twitter or Facebook?

EG:  Twitter (@MRCU21)

14.  If you could meet any celebrity who would it be?

EG:  Kevin Durant

15.  What kind of basketball shoes do you wear?

EG:  I don’t have a specific pair.  Any shoes will work.

16.  Favorite pre-game meal?

EG:  P&J lol…..

17.  Do you have any pre-game superstitions?

EG:  A good old Nap.

18.  What motivates you?

EG:  My mom.  Seeing her smile.

19.  During an average week, how often do you play basketball and or do something related to basketball like conditioning?

EG:  Every morning I start with a run and end the day with a good workout.

EG:  Making it to the NBA and supporting my family.

21.  How do you think you would fair today against MJ 1-on-1?

EG:  Go Kobe lol….

22.  How do you think you would do against Jordan in his prime?

EG:  Jordan was the man in his prime.   It would be a good game.

23.  Any advice for me for WHEN I play Jordan?

EG:  Do your best and don’t let him win!

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Thank You Eric Griffin!!!

I want to give a BIG SHOUT OUT to Eric Griffin for taking a few minutes away from his training and school work to be a part of the journey that is mevsMJ.com!

All the best to you this upcoming season!

You can follow Eric Griffin senior season on Twitter @MRCU21! 

Video of Campbell University’s Eric Griffin:

httpvh://youtu.be/y5rszOSzxk4

Eric Griffin with one of the SICKEST DUNKS you will EVER see!

httpvh://youtu.be/SfN16daQ300

Me vs. Eric Griffin???

For inquiring minds, yes I will match-up with Eric after the season when he makes his way back to Orlando!

Until then, I’ll keep working on my game in preparation for my upcoming opponents and ultimately, Michael Jordan!

me vs. MJ…the journey continues!

Yesterday morning as the second hand eased past the number twelve and pushed time forward to 11:26am, I officially began my 34^th year of life.

Yes, yesterday was my birthday!

I finished year 33 on Tuesday, with an intense two-hour workout at “the lab” with the acclaimed Kevin Sutton.  Meeting him has truly been a blessing that extends far beyond the game of basketball!

On the nearly one hour long drive home, I reflected on the year, all of the wonderful things that have happened and all of the blessings still yet to come.

This journey, my journey to face my childhood hero Michael Jordan 1-on-1, has truly been the most amazing experience of my life and I’m just nine months into it.

HEART

This road has shown me an up close, in your face, bring tears to your eyes, look into the hearts of others.

I knew when I began mevsMJ.com that it would take Faith, Hard Work and YOU.

I just never could have imagined the capacity to which others have to give of themselves for ME.

My brother told me just yesterday, “You have a whole group of people behind you, helping you and looking out for you!  It’s really, really cool!”

I couldn’t agree more!

It seems like just yesterday that I was sitting in the living room with my buddy Karol discussing my HUGE DREAM.  Fast forward over a year and a half later and I’ve been able to experience a plethora of special events!  More importantly, I’ve been able to see the goodness of people like no other time before!

I am humbled and feel so extremely blessed!

THANK YOU each and every single one of you for every comment, text, tweet, email, phone call, connection, assurance, support, your time, your love and your heart.

You’ve left a grown man with the urgency to be better.  Thank you for believing in ME!

M.O.A.M.!!!

With things beginning to happen at a much more rapid pace these days, I’m more focused than ever.  Pushing myself harder than ever.  Attempting to squeeze every drop of potential out of myself in my preparation for the man, Michael Jordan.

The last couple of weeks of training have showed me how much I need to pick up the pace and I’m ready for it!

I’m a MAN ON A MISSION!

As always, thank you for following along!

A Preview Of My Next 1-on-1 Opponent (Video)

Sometime in late June I will take on my next 1-on-1 opponent, Andy Gebru, as I continue to face the very best on my road to MJ!

Andy played professionally in Brazil for Sorocaba this past season.

I will detail more on Mr. Gebru in a later post.

For now, check out the video!  Andy is the one soaring through the air!!!!!

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qyABNaMXRk

[If you are reading this through email or RSS the video may not show up.  Click here to view!]

I pushed the door open and felt the cool air of night as I exited the gym.  Soaked with hard work from head to toe, I made my way to my car and thought about what Coach Kevin Sutton had said to me just days before when we met for the first time.

Raising his right hand he gestured by making about a one-inch space between his thumb and pointer finger last Wednesday and said, “It’s about getting a little better each time.  That’s what we’re looking for.”

It was after 10pm on Tuesday evening and I had just finished my first workout with Coach Sutton.  Over two hours of two ball dribbling drills, shooting between and blasting around chairs as if they were defenders, working on Kevin Durant and Paul Pierce moves, one-on-one drills, and at the end of it all, there is no doubt that Coach Sutton and the other coaches made me at the very least a “little better.”

In a group of 17 elite players that featured James Bell (Villanova), Eric Griffin (Campbell), Adam Jones (Fairfield), Pierre Bakinde (undecided) and Morgan Jones (Northwestern/#9 Ranked Girl in USA by ESPN) to name a few, I was definitely lost at times, but I did what I do and gave my all.

On top of all of the basketball, stapled to the heart of the workout was a genuine sense of comradery amongst players and coaches that I haven’t seen in quite some time.  On the makes I heard, “Great finish, nice shot, way to shoot it!” and on the misses, “You’ll get it next time, come on you got this.”  At one point players and coaches were actually cheering me on as I pushed through the fatigue I was feeling!  Amongst the high fives, encouragement and high level of competition was a true feeling of desire from each and every player that we all get better and improve.

Near the end of the workout as I was doing some shooting work with 6’8″ Eric Griffin (he’s really good!), I heard someone right next to me say, “Hold on a second, look how you’re lined up.”  I looked over and it was none other than former Orlando Magic player, Anthony Bowie! There to support his kids, he had made his way all the way across the court, to stop me and show me the proper way to set up to receive the pass.  He then encouraged me and later even gave me some tips for my 1-on-1 battles!  (Watch out MJ! ;-))  So, very cool!

As workout #1 came to a close (yes, there will be more!) Coach Sutton gathered the players and told them about how we met, mevsMJ.com, and about my journey to play Michael Jordan, before closing it out with a prayer.

Life is Amazing, If You Allow It To Be!

OK, I know I’ve been saying it over and over again lately, but LIFE IS AMAZING, IF YOU ALLOW IT TO BE! (My 2011 Slogan)

A week ago Coach Sutton walked underneath the basket at which I was shooting free throws in a gym that was completely empty.  Less than a week later, I was being instructed and inspired by one of the top basketball coaches in the country!

He allowed a soon to be 34 year old with a rather large dream to come in and work with his group and treated me like I belonged.

The kindness and willingness of people like Kevin Sutton to HELP ME continues to blow me away and I am forever thankful.

I’m Sore and Can’t Wait For More! (Pictures and Video Coming Soon!)

I woke up Wednesday morning sore and hungry.  Hungry to get back on the court.  Hungry to improve just a little more each time.

I plan on going back next week for more training and will do my best to get pictures and video of some of the things I’m doing with Coach Sutton.

I’m having a blast here at mevsMJ.com and I thank each and every one of you for following along and for your support!

me vs. MJ…the journey continues!  I hope you’re getting ready Mr. Jordan!

SPECIAL THANKS!

I want to give a special thanks to Coach Sutton, Coach Alton Clark and Sean Russell of FAAZ Magazine, as well as all of the players for making me feel welcome and pushing me to get better!  So very much appreciated!  See ya next week!!!!

Later tonight I will take the next step in my preparation to face Michael Jordan by attending my first training session with Kevin Sutton!!  Due to the group of players participating in this session (I’ll be the only 33 year old), I’ll be giving it my all.

Will everyone else?

Truthfully, will the college guy give everything he’s got against me or just enough to attempt to accomplish his goal of winning?

Do I decide that or does he?

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I’ve been at the gym a lot lately working on my game, but since my injury I haven’t really played a lot of hoops besides my 1-on-1 match-ups with Robert Brown and Garfield Blair, a couple of times with a buddy of mine and then this past Sunday with my brother.

My brother actually came up to the gym to workout, but the weight room and cardio room were both closed so he came to the court and told me that I have to be his cardio today.

I asked him if he wanted to shoot or play, knowing that I could help him get a good workout either way.  He said play, to which I confidently told him that he’s not ready for me.  My brother has played hoops just twice in the last four months.  He’s not in basketball shape.

I went into the game with the mindset that I’d give just enough effort to win.

Bad move on my part. I lost.

I regrouped and won the next two, but I should have won every game.

Not to take anything away from him, because he’s amazing on the court, but my focus and effort decided the outcome of those games…the wins and the loss.

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Who dictates the effort that you give?  Is it you or your competition?

If you go back to how I began this post, I have a tendency of letting my competition dictate my level of effort.

That is a titanic mistake just waiting to sink my dreams.

I can no longer allow that.  I Must Always Give My All!

Reminder: Be sure to check back Thursday for a recap of my first training session with Coach Kevin Sutton!

God has a plan for me.

I have no better way to describe what is happening in my life these days than to give credit where credit is due.

In the last month and a half, I just happened to meet the designer of the Jordan typeface, just happened to come across and work with Dave Hopla, just happened to get connected with pro basketball player Garfield Blair, just happened to meet my next 1-on-1 opponent (more on this in a later post), just happened to get a call from Nick Anderson and just happened to yesterday morning meet one of the top basketball coaches in America, Kevin Sutton.

I believe in God and I don’t believe that many things just happen.

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As I said I would in my last post, I’ve been at the gym every morning this week working on my free throws.  Working on getting past the mental block I’m currently battling and moving closer to my goal of 100 free throws in a row.

I’d love to report that I’ve pushed past my personal best of 34 makes in a row already, but I haven’t.  Yesterday, I got to 25 and 29 on two separate occasions before I missed.

Making and missing free throws isn’t what today’s post is about though.  Making and missing free throws was merely the vehicle for what is coming next on my journey to face Michael Jordan.

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Yesterday morning, I stood at the line, and just before I let another shot go, four people began making their way across the baseline underneath the basket.  As the ball swished through the net and down to the floor one of the gentlemen in the group, wearing a baseball cap, smiled and said, “I’ve got it!”

As I looked up to thank him, I realized it was non other than Coach Kevin Sutton.

Kevin Sutton

In his 24 years of coaching, both at the collegiate and high school level, Kevin Sutton has coached 13 players that were drafted into the NBA, Europe or WNBA.  He has also coached and developed around 100 players that went on to play college basketball.

Most recently he built Montverde Academy into a National powerhouse, with an amazing 158-31 record, including a National Championship in 2007.

This year Sutton was also named the Head Coach for USA Basketball’s 2011 Junior National Select Team, which featured players like Austin Rivers, Brad Beal, Michael Gilchrist, Anthony Davis and James McAdoo.

He also has worked at numerous prestigious basketball camps including, Michael Jordan Flight School!

I’m On A Journey to Play Michael Jordan

I introduced myself to Coach Sutton and the people he was with and began telling them about my journey to play my childhood hero Michael Jordan.  I told them what I’ve done so far with training and who I’ve played.

After I was done giving them a brief mevsMJ.com overview and explaining how amazing the journey has been thus far, Coach Sutton invited me to come train with him and a select group of individuals that include current college, top tier high school and even the occasional NBA player!

Working with Kevin Sutton

So starting next Tuesday I will begin another journey within this wonderful journey that is mevsMJ.com.

Next week I will begin working with Kevin Sutton!!

I called Coach Sutton Wednesday afternoon to confirm the time and location for next week and asked him how many times I could attend.

He responded, “You can come as often as you like!”

Life Is Amazing, If You Allow It To Be (My 2011 Slogan)

Wonderful, amazing, life changing things are happening at a rapid pace these non-ordinary days.

I’m telling you…Life is Amazing, if you allow it to be!!!

As always, thank you for the continued support and love!

**Do me a huge favor and spread the mevsMJ.com word by sharing on Facebook, Twitter, or anything else you like!