They run...so we don't have to. GIVE

Running…in our family? Well, twice I’ve beaten Jesse Owens….once in New York, and once recently in London…I mean…he may have been at the wax museum, but whatever. (Thanks to slow internet here in Bath....NO PHOTOS....booooo!)

If you “pin”…you’ve seen the one that says “I never run with scissors. (Those last two words were unnecessary.)” That’s pretty accurate for me. My brother & sister-in-law however, have turned into runners, and runners with reasons! RWR! (Sounds like ROWR….I like it, as would Hollie Clevenger)

Well, onto my sibling and his awesome wife. They are running their SECOND ½ marathon this April. WHY? Yes, I’d like to know. Seriously though, running for a GREAT CAUSE! Their nephews go to New Hope Academy in Tennessee. The school that they attend is New Hope Academy, just outside of Nashville. New Hope Academy does it’s part to break the cycle of “generational poverty” by reserving 50% of it’s seats for low-income families. They believe that a fantastic, Christ-centered education will launch them into a bright future. This, as you are well aware of, is just TRUE. So give. We all have too much, and we can all go without something for a time, to help. Quite frankly, we’re called to take care of, and love on our fellow man. Curtis & Karen are doing it in many ways, but in one month, they are doing it by running.

So while I’ll be jaunting through London & Paris, (WORKING friends….WORKING) Curtis and Karen will be running the “Country Music ½ Marathon” in Nashville, with...(warning, I’m about to name drop)…TobyMac. That’s right. And if you don’t know the name…come to the cool side….and google. He's kind of a big deal, I mean, not as much as the Fitchett's....but close.

I’m asking you/telling you….help them on their mission to turn racial division, class segregation, and spiritual poverty into community, possibility, and vision. You’ve personally seen the cycle, you are all too aware that it’s out there. So instead of “tsk-ing” at the situation, drop some coins/BILLS into Curtis & Karen's Fund. Click any underlined word for the proper websites! Honestly….a great cause, and really great people. Sure, I’m related, but I’m not big on saying things I don’t mean…to a fault.

It’s easy….and really $20 would go a very long way….I could break it down by latte’s…but that’s been done before….so I’m gonna go with soda pop…because I love it best. On average…you probably eat out 10 days in a month….and a drink…just a soda pop drink….is average of 2.25….and that’s if you are in America, currently I’m in the UK…and I'm cheap, so I’m drinking TAP WATER! Anyway, for the sake of math? Let’s knock that to $2. 10 drinks at $2? That’s $20 friends….so here. Better for your health….better for the FUTURE of our children. Christ-centered education? BETTER FOR THE WORLD!! They said they’d raise 3K….that’s a 150 people on a “soda scheme”….and I’ve got well over 800 fb “friends”....and only about 8 readers….hmmmm….my math might be a little off...

CONSIDER THE ENDEAVOR! CLICK THIS

Or if you need the address to cut and paste....

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/curt-karen-fitchett/powered-by-hope-2012-team-tobymac

(Insert AWESOME mental photo of said "Curtis & Karen Fitchett
here"....silly free wifi!)

Thanks….thanks so much! And...please. Find humor in the fact that I wrote this blog with my picture of Jesse Owens and I, not knowing that "kwf" mentioned it in his donation. This apple...is still ON the tree!

Mmmmmm....the craving for the insides of a peanut butter cup started promptly after my nap this afternoon....I didn't know why....but I knew I MUST have the insides. Sure, I could go buy a Reese Cup, but to be honest, I like them for a brief while, and it's really the chocolate that doesn't hold my interest, but oh the insides. So I google and insides recipe, mind you, my mom makes DA BOMB reese cups, and used to make them every Christmas...along with her famous popcorn cakes, to which my brother and I would DREAD having to deliver on Christmas Eve....anyway, I go downstairs...and I say to mom, I need insides to reese's. She says, I have a recipe, I said I know, butter, confectionery sugar, graham crackers and peanut butter right? Yes, she answers, but I'll do it, I don't want you knowing my secrets....LOL! (Tricky me getting her to make them eh?) Anyway, so she mixes, and then I hear the BLECK....turns out graham crackers can go bad! As the box is from 2006, I pull out another box....from 2008...Hmmm....PROBLEM! Well, I'm too far into it to give up now. SO I put on shoes and grab my keys, she says, get new peanut butter too! (Do you have ANY idea how MANY different types of peanut butter there are!?) I get home, having spent $20 at the store, buying other things I didn't need...I have such a weakness for Snapple too. Anyway, home, and Momma Bear whips up this batch, that has now turned from a tasting to the full blown cup, she's melting chocolate and everything! Which worries me, I JUST WANT INNERDS....and NOW! She hands me a little bowl of it, warm buttery goodness, and BLISS BLISS BLISS! I couldn't even speak! YUMTASTIC!! I'm sure...that home made reese cup innerds will be in my heavens pantry....and is also a way to my heart! :-) Josh Mings....it is NOT just PEANUT BUTTER!!

Momma Bear

So....I just have to say it, if you don't already know, which, really? How could you not, but here goes. My mom? DARN FUNNY!!! On a lot of levels....but this is what happened today....

I'm at work....Bath & Body Works....part time....and FUN! I love it part time....seriously. So...I go in tonight because I'm going to work my "magic" in the back room...which I love....and more importantly...my "Secret Weapon" is coming to help! So...I dress in appropriate "get buried in boxes and sweat" attire...but I put on the wrong shoes. I put on my birks...that are really just comfy shoes....but here's what I forgot....there is NO room in the back...duh, that's why I was there...and really? I'm just not nimble in my birks. So I'm kind of fussy about it. And I'm kind of getting blocked on being productive because of my shoes...I'm neurotic...I get that. So, it's BUSY on the floor....and there were only 2 girls out there....and there are mad people...and then lines at the register...so I hop on....get the line down, and then continue to empty the cart and am just doing things out there because they need me...and because "Secret Weapon" doesn't get there for an hour! So, I can't handle it...I live a mile away...I need better shoes. Now, me going home...involves me making my way to the back desk....crawling over the store manager on the phone....getting my purse...and making her approve my clock-out...and explaining....then driving home....grabbing my shoes, and doing the whole punch in process, WHICH, if you have ever seen a back room at BBW at holiday...you'd get...but a back room in this store? Somehow worse....somehow...my bedroom is bigger! Anyway, so I text mom. I did try and call her first. And so I said...."if you could, and no big deal if you can't, or when, but can you bring me my pink shoes please? (pictured to the left) I think that they are downstairs or they could be in my room....probably in my jeans where I kicked them off....oh...and not my crocs." (I added the "not my crocs" part because I know that they too are "out" somewhere, and are pink, and are something that I would wear in the back room, and they are pictured to the right!) I text her my request....she texts back...okay. And THEN she texts back...."is there a prize involved?" She is so my mother....I am so her daughter....I write back "duh". So...a little while later, she's there....I run out to the car.....she opens the window....and hands me...are you ready? MY LEAST COMFY HEELS I OWN.....MY PINK HEELS!!!! (Pictured to the left.) My face fell. I mean FELL. Two things are happening in my brain....#1. okay...I guess I'll just make do, I mean I can't make her go back for the right ones, I gotta suck it up, it's not that big of a deal, she is the best for bringing them....oh well, and Carrie, don't freak out, she did you a favor, be an adult....say thanks, I mean after all...they were out....and they are pink!..... and #2.!? I'm HOT about it! WHEN WOULD I EVER EVER EVER WEAR HEELS TO WORK!!!! ESPECIALLY WHEN SHE SAW ME IN MY BACK ROOM GRUNGE ATTIRE BEFORE I LEFT!? WAS THIS SOME SORT OF JOKE?! HOW COULD SHE REALLY THINK THOSE WERE THE ONES!!! LOL So...all of this is occuring in my brain in less than 3 seconds....and she cracks the BIGGEST SMILE and says "that was a GOOD one huh!".....and she's laughing....and I'm DYING....but dying! I mean I'm relieved on one hand....and then mushy that she TOTALLY has my number and KNOWS me and what I do/DID for a living! WHAT A HOOT!! SHE TRICKED ME! And I fell hard hard hard for it.....and seriously....roaring with laughter. So funny. So that....THAT is a perfect example of "from whence I came"....what a riot. Oh my goodness. So that's my momma bear for you. Tricking me....in the midst of crabby me.....I love her.

TIO PACO!!

or....UNCLE DOUG...is officially going to Myanmar/Burma whichever you are still calling it. And as you know...is a funny man...and writes HYSTERICAL emails, so he's made a blog...and this is just me...linking to it! Here is a picture of him and Tia at a Thai Restaurant in Cali when Fitzy and I were visiting back in January...of 08....when Thailand was a mere twinkle/tear in his eye!

"From Whence I Came"

I totally MUST go to bed before 1am tonight/day, but I must write this. This morning I came down to a note from my mom written on a paper towel...along with a dead head of lettuce and some stale rolls. The note said this...."After I mow we'll throw these out for your friends, so we can see where they are. Or MAYBE you can tear them into pieces and put it close to the house so you can lure them to be your pet." This of course in regards to my over-obsession with the groundhogs...see blog below. Anyway, this cracked me up....I mean almost fits of giggles. It launched me back to a conversation I had with Annie-with whom you should all be familiar with by now-but we were talking about the Flip-Flop party and how she couldn't come because of a tour, but how she really wanted to because she wanted to see "from whence I came". It was funny, and she said she just really wanted to see where I came from...my peeps/cats/etc. And...so...that note...from my mom...about helping me lure the groundhogs into "petdom" was so TOTALLY from whence I came! I mean this apple hasn't fall far from the tree....if I've fallen at all. So...if you think I'm funny...you haven't met my brother, father, or mother...cuz I have nothing on them. Anyway, I pulled the Hansel and Gretel on the groundhogs...and now I'm waiting......