Great Strides for CF

Raccoon Holler...Dr. Horvath Office...Hardees...
Words can't describe the incredible memories and all the lessons I learned as a YL leader during my college years. I got to learn from an incredible team, and I got to walk with amazing girls. In particular, the Dorman girls of 2001 really shaped my life. (See Day #4)
Two of my favorite girls from that class were together in an email this morning, as Laura shared her interest in the CF walk and the story of her incredible fiend Jenny. I am so excited to be on her "team"!
Love you!

Jenny and I met our Freshman year of high school. We were both new to the area and looking to meet new friends. Since then, we have become very close...so close that I was the maid of honor in her wedding, and she was the matron of honor in my wedding. Jenny has a heart of gold, and a positive attitude that is very contagious to those around her. In August of 2008, Jenny gave birth to Maddie. Maddie is one of the cutest and sweetest 1.5 year olds ever. One can tell that she has amazing parents who love her and teach her the good in life. Unfortunately, Maddie's Mom suffers from Cystic Fibrosis. This year, I'm walking in the GREAT STRIDES walk at the 2010 Richmond - Innsbrook walk on 05/15/2010. Please help me meet my fundraising goal of $3,000.00 by sponsoring me. Your generous gift will be used efficiently and effectively, as nearly 90 cents of every dollar of revenue raised is available for investment in vital CF programs to support research, care and education. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a devastating genetic disease that affects tens of thousands of children and young adults in the United States. Research and care supported by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is making a huge difference in extending the quality of life for those with CF. However, we continue to lose precious lives to CF every day. That's why your help is needed now more than ever to ensure that a cure is found sooner - rather than later. To learn more about CF and the CF Foundation, visit www.cff.org.

Join Laura's Team->

Day 149: Read with Me

1 hour a week + Kindergarteners - Third Graders + Adult Volunteers + about 50 elementary schools = A very cool program serving kids across Knox County.
Read with me is as simple as it sounds and a very popular county-wide volunteer program. Learn more about it here->

Day 148: The Beck House

Today I have a meeting at the Beck Cultural Exchange Center. As part of the Introduction Knoxville series, I'll be visiting this place where I have never been before and looking forward to hearing about Knoxville as a caring, compassionate community. So far, I've already learned a little something about our city's history this morning. Meet the Becks, influential leaders from Knoxville's history. Learn more at www.discoveret.org/beckcec.

The Becks
"James Garfield Beck and Ethel Benson Beck were two of the most glamorous and influential members of Knoxville's black community during the period of the 1920s-I960s. They were in the forefront of most civic, church, and social activities. The Becks were involved in the establishment of the Knoxville Colored Orphanage in 1919 and Mr. Beck was the first black postal clerk in the state of Tennessee. The Beck House itself has a long history. In the early 1800s two Englishmen bought several parcels of property from Joseph Mabry whose neighboring home (The Mabry Hazen House), remains one of the great historical sites in Knoxville. In the late 1800s James Cowan had the house built at 1927 Dandridge Ave. as a wedding gift for his new bride. The house was purchased in the 1940s by Dr. E.F. Lennan a prominent black physician and a cross was burned on their front lawn. The Becks later purchased the home and after the death of Mrs. Beck the trustees of her estate provided $20,000 to purchase the Beck house from KCDC. Thus the Beck Cultural Exchange Center, Inc. was established in 1975 to serve as a forum of artistic expression and historical perspective for African Americans in Knoxville and East Tennessee."

Photo and Quote Credit

Day 146: kaarmls.com

This might as well be my homepage. Sometimes, I look for our dream house. Sometime, I look everyday for a week. Sometimes, I look to see what is new. Sometimes, I just like to play with the interactive map. I have become a real estate junkie.

Day 147: A new journal

It's been a week of bridesmaid-dress-ordering, church-meeting, dinner-party-planning, volunteering, serious-bonding, kaarmls.com-viewing, and even ceremonial-burning. (The details of the final item will remain confidential to protect the innocent.) The details of life have created such a feeling "in between" right now. I am loving the ride...must of the time. All that thinking and praying for peace leads me to a lot of writing. Writing that is prayerful, quiet, and personal.
I finished a journal Wednesday. The one I started the day after Brad and I got engaged. I love the thought of fresh pages. Praying where this next set of pages will lead me.

Day 145: Gel Nails

Obsessed.
I just got my first "gel" manicure. Actually, I got it 5 days ago. And they still look perfectly, freshly painted.
Obcessed. Everyone said they were so great. Abigail, Shana, and the girls at Mary had told me all about them. I had no idea how right they were. And the gel is as thin as regular nail polish.
Obsessed.
Plus, it wasn't expensive at all.
Obsessed.
Apparently, other cities have had gel nails at salons for years. But they are brand new to Knoxville. So, if you are here, make a trip to Odyssey Pedispa.
Obsessed.

Afternoon Quote

"February. It's not even a month. Why do we even have it?" - Brooke