The Garden "...land, people, food = Happy Days."

I came across the following trailer for a documentary, The Garden:

"The film centers around a community garden that was started after the Los Angeles Riots in 1992. It was 14 acres of farmland on the outskirts of Downtown Los Angeles maintained by the South Central Farmers. It also happens to be the largest urban garden in America."  I think this is pretty messed up.  I understand the motive for politicians behind it, but it just still doesn't seem fair to those who have grown accustomed to some small pleasure.  Garden plots are getting more "popular" these days, but if your community even have plots, you have to be on a waiting list forever and there's not guarantee that you'll even get a spot.  Which is my little apartment patio will, for now, double as a place to put my pots (mostly succulents..haha, I'm not really good with anything else...but a tomato plant is in the works, just have to buy a pot)...anyways, if you're interested in viewing for this movie, you can check it out here. Via...

Happy MLK, Jr. Day!

You do know we share the same birthday right? He would have been 80 this year! Anyways, just sending a shot out to Mr. Martin Luther King, Jr., nobel peace prize winner, civil rights activist, and Baptist Minister...

"He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it." -MLK

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

-MLK

WALK FOR LUPUS NOW TOMORROW!

So, as previously mention, the Walk For Lupus Now is set to tomorrow morning 9am in Exposition Park in LA: Christmas Tree Lane Entrance at West 39th Street and South Figueroa Street 90037. I've currently raised $905 and am close on achieving my fund raising goal of $1000. I have some last minute cash donations that should put me over my limit. I'd like to take this time to publicly thank all of my donors (listed in alphabetical order). Thank you for all you do:

Andrea Hales

Annette Packer

Brenda Ramirez

Cathy Duffy

Clare Steedman

X P

Douglas Dumont

Elesa Hagberg

Elizabeth Decola

Emma Lynn

Gavin Abercrombie

Jun Wang

Lane Stilson

Maleina Paxman

Nacolynn Begay

Nila Bair

Ryan Booth

Sarah-Dawn Smith

Sharon Wallin

Shirley Begay

Spencer Melvin

Tanni Tronsen

Vanezza Chunmuang

Wesley Varghese

Yvonne Louis

Ziba Farzaneh

Well, guys...thank you so much for your love and support! I can't say how much it means to me and all those who suffer/have suffered from this disease. Donations are still being accept, so follow the link to my personal donation page here. Thank you once again for all your support! We're gonna have a blast tomorrow. I'm excited to walk and make a difference :) I'll be sure to post pics!

Ahe'hee,

Nacolynn :)

This is What I've Been Up To Lately...

VOTE YES ON PROP 8!


Marriage between a man and a woman is sacred. I believe in procreation, and a traditional form of family. I also believe the most ideal setting for raising a child (which can also be backed statistically) is with both roles in the home (male and female), aka mother and father. Oh, and we participated in a fundraiser this past Sat. which raised $2600+ for YES on Prop 8! Go us!


AND,

Walk For Lupus LA is THIS SATURDAY. I'm only $130 from reaching my donation goal. You're donation of $1 or $5 would be greatly appreciated! We're walking in Memory of our friend, sister, cousin, and daughter, Emeline Te'o. Lets do what we can to help aid in research to understand this life threatening disease.

AND IF YOU'RE NOT YET REGISTERED TO VOTE, DO SO HERE! YOU HAVE TILL MONDAY! LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD.

AHHH!!! Thank you for your Donations!!!

I am soooo happy to announce that Troop ET's made the ranks! We're ranked 5th for team donations. I'm sending a HUGE shot out to all who have donated! I can't express my excitement and gratitude for all your donations. You can check our ranking here.

Also, help us stay in on top by making a donation today if you haven't: My donation page.

Once again, we thank you all so much for your donations! I, and my team, appreciate it so much. We're making a difference together!

Love,

Nacolynn

Walk For Lupus Now, 2007

So last year was Troop ET's (ET for Eme Te'o) first year participating in the Lupus Walk.  It was held in Long Beach last year and we walk from the Queen Mary to the Aquarium. They had booths set up and a little "exercise warm up" prior to the walk. Here is a video of the warm up:

Support your local walker here.

The Lupus Research Institute

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYFylYvalz0
Its real and its strong. Please join it the fight against Lupus, help us continue the research for finding a cure. Donations are being accepted here: Personal Donation Page

GRATITUDE!!!

"TROOP ET"

So, many of you know that we lost someone very dear to us earlier this year.  What I didn't mention, was that it was the Lupus that called her home. I'm probably like many of you who had little exposure to the disease.  All I knew is that an Elder in my mission had it. He had to tract with a hat on and ultimately had to stay and help out in the mission office due to his sensitivity to light.  Now I can that I know more about the disease, only because I've been able to see it in action.  But for those of you who don't know much, here are some of the facts:

• Over 1.5 million Americans have lupus
• More than 90% of people with lupus are women
• In the United States, lupus is more common in African Americans, Latinos, Asians, and Native Americans than Caucasians
• Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can affect various parts of the body, including the skin, joints, heart, lungs, blood, kidneys and brain
• For some people, lupus is a mild disease affection only a few organs. For others, it may cause serious and even life-threatening problems.
• Studies suggest that more than 16,000 American develop lupus each year.

I finally signed up today on-line for the Lupus Walk. This will be Troop ET's 2nd year doing the walk. Anyways, last year one of the Aunties collected $400? last minute.  She asked co-workers and friends for whatever amount they could contribute...people donated $5, $10...etc. which all amounted to larger sum (aka "by small and simples things shall great things come to pass").  Anyways, I took time out from billable work to set up my page on the Lupus web-site.  And began sending out e-mails (you may have been one of the lovely recipients) for donations to our team.  I slacked on raising money last year, and was determined to be more proactive...unfortunately, I have a more personal reason for being proactive this year. But if anything this should be a sign of awareness of how quickly and devastating this disease can be. Last year Eme was walking with us, and this year we're walking in her memory. Anyways, this year's walk will be Sat. October 18th at Exposition Park in LA. I would like to invite you to join me, or donate in support of the cause as we Walk for Lupus Now!

I was prompted to write this blog as already I've received donations. I'm happy and overjoyed at the support (no matter how big or small).  We really can make a difference and I thank you all for whatever support you can give! It started off at $25...but can collectively amount to much more.  

You can support the cause by donating to the Lupus foundation as I walk not only in memory of a cherished friend, but for those who are currently suffering and hoping for a cure. Click here to go to my donation page. Ahe'ee :)

We love and miss you Eme!

PROPOSITION 8

"Hi, I am with 'Yes on Proposition 8' and I'm in your neighborhood today. Are you familiar with Proposition 8? Well, basically, its to be an amendment to the Constitution that says:

"Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid and recognized in California."

This was basically my "opening" when going around a couple Sat.'s ago as many of us Californians walked for Proposition 8. We we door to door asking people how they would vote, if they were to vote today. I knocked probably 120 doors for ~3 hours. Sadly enough, only 3 households whose doors I knocked said that they'd vote, "YES." It was an overwhelming response of, "I could never support that. I would have to say NO."

Now I don't consider myself to be very politically minded. I am a registered voter, but I have never been one to join campaign or even watch presidential debates, ect. So me going door to door with a campaign for a Proposition is out of the ordinary. I debated on staying home that Sat. morning (thank you Allison for encouraging me to go). I had to think about why I believe in this enough to go door-to-door (besides being strongly encouraged by my church officials). I believe strongly in the family unit, as defined by mother, father and children. In thinking of what it would be like for my future children to grow up in a world where that was the norm or having to explain why "Jimmy" had 2 daddy's...I don't want that. And then there's the issue of adoption...wow. The following are other consequences that would result if the amendment didn't pass:

"The Supreme Court’s decision to legalize same-sex marriage did not just overturn the will of California voters; it also redefined marriage for the rest of society, without ever asking the people themselves to accept this decision. This decision has far-reaching consequences. For example, because public schools are already required to teach the role of marriage in society as part of the curriculum, schools will now be required to teach students that gay marriage is the same as traditional marriage, starting with kindergartners. By saying that a marriage is between “any two persons” rather than between a man and a woman, the Court decision has opened the door to any kind of “marriage.” This undermines the value of marriage altogether at a time when we should be restoring marriage, not undermining it." (taken from http://www.protectmarriage.com/).

I'm still doing my research. I encourage you all to do the same. I've already had conversation/confrontations about my stance on this issue. There is possibility to burn many bridges, but I feel strongly about this.
 
There are also other good articles that you can check out in the LDS newsroom.

Donations are also being accepted at http://www.protectmarriage.com/ 

OR you can also sign up there to volunteer. We're already been seeing media spots for the opposing side (tv commercials, radio spots). Any small amount would help. Anyways, check out the website and let me know if any of you have any enlightment on the subject. Thanks.