Please Help

Hi everyone,

I'm pasting an email a friend from California sent me. Being LDS is awesome for many reasons but one of the best is the network. An opportunity for service has arisen and through our great network we can help this the Sannar Family. Please do all you can, if nothing else please keep the Sannar family in your prayers. I cannot even fathom what Sister Sannar is going through but I know I can help ease that burden a little bit.
Below is the email I received from my friend as well as a link to a news page about the story. The story is legit and the pledge site seems to be legit as well. Please send the pledge link to anyone and everyone. Please help.

Today a man walked into a Mormon church in Visalia, California, and asked to see the bishop. Reports then indicate that he shot him in the face and chest - possibly in front of young children - and then fled the building. No one recognized him. He drove a ways, called the police to say he was the shooter, they arrived, he shot at them, and they shot back. Last word is that the shooter was taken to the hospital.

The bishop (congregational lay leader) was Clay Sannar, 42, a father of six children, the youngest just a few months old. He was a volunteer who happened to be serving when this disturbed man killed him. I do not know the bishop. I do know that he was a husband and a father and that he was serving God. That's pretty much all I need to know.

I now know that this family needs help. I cannot imagine what his wife is feeling right now as she looks at her six young ones who are now fatherless. I do know that I can help.

I figure that they are going to need LOTS of help from everyone. They will, of course, need our prayers. But I want to do more than that. I called my son, Connor, who answered, unsurprisingly, "I'm on it, Mom."

So - Connor has set up a paypal fundraiser. You can contribute if you would like. I figure if we all chip in $20, we can make a difference for this family. We can send them an immediate message that they are loved. That much we can do.

You can use either paypal or credit card. Here's the link:

http://pledgie.com/campaigns/12975

ALL of the money will be sent directly to the family. They can decide how to use it best.

Sometimes, we can DO something. Today is that day.

PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW WHO MAY WANT TO HELP.

Thanks. And don't forget to include the Sannar family in your prayers today. And hold your family close. Life is precious.

http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=7636951

Lazy Montreal

I've been so lazy about blogging recently because I'm having a hard time with original thoughts. I think it's all the 3o Rock. I probably should cut down. Also, I've been wanting to go back to my blogging roots and blog more about food. I certainly cook enough, I'm just too lazy to upload pictures. Luckily for all of us we just got back from Montreal and that is going to have to take up space in the blogosphere. Before the pictures here's a survey of Montreal:

Sucky things Quebec got from the French:
1. Snootiness: There were some people at a table next to us that saw that we were American and were being snooty to our faces, not knowing the whole time that Brandon speaks french. I wouldn't have minded so much if we weren't being snootied during a really terrible meal, I was already in a bad mood.
2. Smoking: It felt like Vegas. I hate smoking with my whole soul. It's disgusting and horrible for you and others and is just the worst. Ugh.
3.Striking: I usually support people's right to strike but it just sucked that it interfered with our tourism plans and thus we couldn't go to the Biodome or the Insectorium. No Insectorium!

Cool Things Quebec got from the French:
1. French Food: Our last night there we got killer French food. Again, drool...
2.Delicious Pastries: I could eat Pain au Chocolate all day long.
3.Marches: Great cheese, flour, meats, produce - could you ask for more?

I put lipstick on Ellie on the drive up. It was really funny, she looks like a baby dinosaur.

Blame Canada!

Eating a delicious lunch of bagel sandwiches and jus d'orange at the Canadian Center of Architecture. Sorry New York, but Montreal bagels win.

I think because I see Brandon every day I forget how tall he is, but he really is.

A chapel at the Notre Dame

Killer stained-glass window

Celine Dion got married at this Notre Dame so get excited. It's actually amazing in here, every square in is decorated, just insane.

Ellie and Brandon at Olive et Gourmand's. Best trout sandwich ever. Drool....

Trying to hustle to the metro.

Canada's past at the Archeology Museum, these are the foundations from three different time periods.

At the top of the Tour.

Ellie getting ready in the morning.

Ellie not so sure about the poutine. I liked it.

Our driving snack on our way home - fresh from Marche Atwater.
A rare occurrence that bought us a few extra hours outside.
A blurry view of the Thousand Island area. Holy crap, that place is amazing. That's our next vacation spot.

I sheared Maggie just because it was time and now when she's super quiet she startles me because she looks like a giant rat.

All in all Montreal was really fun. We had to be in the hotel room twice a day for Ellie's nap but it was kind of nice, we were all rested and relaxed and were really able to enjoy our time outside. Brandon was excited because he got to practice his French and someone even thought he was Canadian. I even got to throw in my two French cents.

Frailty thy Name is Balance

I hate doing the dishes. I hate sweeping. I hate mopping. I hate having to clean the table 5 times a day just to do it all over again tomorrow. I hate getting beet stains off the wall. I hate cleaning the mirrors. I hate vacuuming. I hate that the house can't stay clean for more than 5 minutes. I hate that Ellie can't stay clean for more than 5 minutes. I hate that I have taken on every single responsibility of the household. I hate that I'm not in the pottery studio more. I hate that Brandon barely has time for us. I hate that I feel this way.

I hate that I have no answers.

Usually I would write a blog post once I have figured out my little crisis and had come around a new woman, better for having gone through a little crisis. But not today. I'm sure there are answers out there somewhere. My conscience is telling me that if I were less selfish I would probably stop hating all these things and could go on with my life full of love and charity for my family. My memory is telling me that it's not all bad and I actually enjoy the little victories in life that include getting rid of every type of stain known to man. My gut is telling me that when I get down, I should eat something.

And so I shall. We just bought some raw-milk cheddar and fig spread I think I'm going to break into. Also, I think there are raspberries in the fridge.

My father-in-law one day said that there is no real balance in life. Sometimes you have to do stuff you hate all the time and sometimes you get to do a lot of the stuff you love, but rarely is life 50-50. And so it is. Sometimes the mere fact that there is an end in sight, a light at the end of the tunnel has to suffice to get us through the times when we have to do a mountain of dishes for the third time that day. And let's be honest, my tunnels aren't that long.

So. I love my husband and how he makes me laugh. I love the way Ellie claps and waves to herself. I love when Brandon helps Ellie brush her teeth. I love that I'm healthy enough to take care of my family. I love when we sit down for a meal together. I love when we all read together. I love to cook. I love when Ellie goes to bed and Brandon and I can talk or watch a movie in peace. I love having a clean house. I love that Brandon is so grateful for the stuff I do. I love when we all go on hikes or swims. I love spending time in the pottery studio. I love singing in the car with Brandon and Ellie. I love to write. I love my family.

Wordpress.

More often than not I say really awesome things such as:
"It's not that they suck, it's that I'm better."

"Why can't everyone be just like me?"

"Greeting, husband" (my sister-in-law's favorite)

To my boss: "Argh, you poopie head!"

And sometimes during arguments I quote 30 Rock to disastrous results. Observe:
B: Nat! You suck!

N:No you suck! And so do all New York based sport teams!

B: What? Argh!!!

I forget what we were arguing about but I had some explaining to do after that, for the original offense and then the 30 Rock quote.

Oh and let's not forget that "Blerg" is now a part of my vocabulary. I love you Liz Lemon.
Brandon - I promise I'll keep the 30 Rock under control.

Anyway here are some recent pictures of Ellie who is at the forefront of keeping me humble. And who doesn't understand 30 Rock. Yet.

When Ellie sees a camera this is what she does. I blame my father in law. She's trying to avoid the flash by shutting her eyes.

Swimming good times.

Bath time hat.

Caught in the act.

Ithaca Rising

Ithaca is the best. This place is like my city soulmate. Here is why:

1. Boobies! This place is a teenage boys dream. There are boobs and babies everywhere. People aren't shy about breastfeeding and the only nursing covers I've seen have been in church. I'm kind of sad Ellie isn't nursing anymore, now I have no good excuse to whip my boobs out.

2. So green! Ithaca really is an outdoor lover haven. I haven't loved the outdoors my whole life but I do now and especially in such a beautiful place. So green, so many waterfalls, so many places to hike. So fun.

3. Locavore nation. We've joined an organic vegetable co-op which means we pay a flat fee to get a share of vegetables grown here in Ithaca. Every Wednesday Ellie and I go out to the farm and pick up our fruits and vegetables and then we go out to the fields to pick flowers and herbs. The crops have just started to really kick in so we've been inundated with all sorts of yummy veggies. We've always been healthy eaters but our quality of eating has improved so much since we've joined the CSA. We recently ate at Arby's and felt like we were going to die. We went to the Farmer's Market the next day dying for fresh, just-picked veggies. We're so lucky to live in a city that values a short commute from farm to table.

4. Macro Mamas. These girls are a revelation. They sell macrobiotic dishes at the Farmer's Market and I have to say I'm addicted. It's like eating happiness. I'm seriously considering switching our diet. As soon as we eat all the meat that's in the freezer.

5. Pottery. The Pot Shop at Cornell (hehehe) has helped me discover my inner potter. I've always thought myself artistically inclined and pottery has really helped me get back in touch with that part of myself. I wish I had more time to go work in the studio but with Ellie and Brandon's schedule it's just not as feasible. Some people bring in their tiny babies but Ellie is just too big, I would fear for other people's pieces. Anyhoo, it really is my new favorite thing. Bowls for everyone!

These are just some of the reasons off the top of my head why I truly love living here. Don't be surprised to see me wearing a peasant skirt and dreadlocks next time you see me. I was just asking Brandon the other day how he thought I could get the hippie look down.

Brandon coming to Cornell was one of the best things to have happened to us. Yes, we are sad that our friends and families are far away and there aren't any In 'N' Outs (don't tell the Macro Mamas) but Ithaca has been such a great and inviting place to live that those burdens are lightened. I know the winter is going to be difficult but I look forward to all the new things we're going to discover as the seasons change.

Come visit!

Harold B. Lee Spice

I spent much of my college years in the Harold B. Lee. Or just the "Library" to those of us who went to BYU. I studied there, worked there, and napped there. In fact my job at the Harold B. Lee was probably one of the best of my life. I also stared down people who talked too loud on their cell phones and discovered Brian Regan in the snack area while linked to someone else's iTunes.

So I am happy to present this fitting tribute to the Harold B. Lee.

It has been spoken

B: mumble, mumble, mumble...

N: I'm sorry, what? I didn't get any of that.

B: It has been spoken!