52 Weeks, Week 48

 

52 Weeks to Family Preparedness for Two

Week 48

"Every father and mother are the family's storekeepers. They should store whatever their own family would like to have in the case of an emergency." (James E. Faust, Ensign May 1986)

Food Storage and Preparedness Challenge Of The Week:

Food Storage Purchase 8 Cans of Vegetables

Extra Item Purchase 30 lbs. Rice

Family Prep: Do you know where your 72-hour evacuation kit is? Can you get to it or are there things in the way. If you have it in a shed or garage can you get to it without tripping over something else? Maybe move the kits to a new location. If they are in the coat closet are coats and other items such as vacuums in the way. If you were in a hurry to get away these items may keep you or your family from retrieving them. This could cause much harm and fear. Move the kits to a better location. Items like sleeping bags and pads, water containers, cooking supplies, and lighting supplies should be kept in a central location. This should be in an easily accessible location away from the main house.

Spiritual Preparedness: My sincere counsel to you today is to recommit yourselves to these two basic practices that have been the source of so many blessings.... Never let a day go by without holding family prayer and family scripture study. Put this, the Lord's program, to the test and see if it does not bless your home with greater peace, hope, love, and faith. I promise you that daily family prayer and scripture study will build within the walls of your home a security and bonding that will enrich your lives and prepare your families to meet the challenges of today and the eternities to come. L. Tom Perry

"I Would if I Could, But..." by Jim Brinkerhoff

Dry Packing

I would if I could, but I don't like it.

I would if I could, but I haven't the time.

I would if I could, but my storage is limited.

Emergency Preparedness

I would if I could, but I will get ready next week.

I would if I could, but it's all in my attic.

I would if I could, but I am tired of preparing–this is the nineties.

Food Storage

I would if I could, but I have had it over the years, and it is all spoiled now.

I would if I could, but I have no room to store things as it is now.

I would if I could, but nothing will happen–this is modern days.

72-hour Preparations

I would if I could, but I already memorized the Holiday Inn's 800 number.

I would if I could, but I will just call my home teacher.

I would if I could, but nothing will happen that I can't handle.

Are you saying these same things?

I could add more that I have heard over the years..... it is time we re-evaluate our priorities.

This coming year many opportunities will arise to help ourselves and our families become better prepared. Lets make the effort to do so.

Then, when hard times fall upon us, as they most assuredly will, we shall not fear.

52 Weeks, Week 47

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52 Weeks to Family Preparedness for Two

Week 47

Elder Richard L. Evans, 1988 Church News – We must have faith in the future, regardless of the ultimate eventualities. There could be no greater calamity in this world than the calamity of sitting down and waiting for calamity. We must not let the things which we can't do keep us from doing the things that we can do! The future will always be better for those who are best prepared!

Food Storage and Preparedness Challenge Of The Week:

Food Storage Purchase 8 Cans of Fruit

Extra Item Purchase 8 rolls of Toilet Paper

Family Prep: Putting together a library of helpful books is very important. These may be things like survival manuals, gardening, first aid, food storage, cookbooks, and others that you may find helpful for in any emergency or alternate living situations. Start to put together your list of books, then start to gather them into one location.

Spiritual Preparedness: Captain Moroni did much to fortify the Nephites against their enemies. Read Alma 49 and discuss with your family the ways you can fortify yourselves, your family, and our brothers and sisters in the Gospel against the enemies who try to lead us away from living gospel principles.

Area's of Preparedness for any reason or season

1-One room living: Find one room that you have a heat source

in. Block off all hallways and exits with blankets. Set up camp

in this area.

2-Heating: Use whatever heat source you may have. Be sure

and ventilate if needed.

3-Cooking: You can make a buddy burner with a tuna can. Fold

newspaper into a fan. Roll and put into tuna can. Add wick.

Pour wax over it and let dry. You can also cook over an open

fire outside. Make sure and use heavy pans as your kitchen

pans will not handle the heat of open flame.

4-Showers: You can take spit baths with a bowl of warm water.

Poke a hole in a white storage bucket and put it on a ladder in

your bathtub. Put a container under it to catch any water that

falls. Stand in this container and have someone pour warm

water into the bucket. If you have a spigot and can drill a hole in the bottom part of the bucket you can turn it off and on.

5-Sanitation: Put a small bucket in your toilet. Put a grocery

plastic bag inside. Use this and then bury it outside away from

water lines.

6-Lighting: Flashlights will work different hours depending on

your brand of battery. Be very wise with your light. Make sure

your floors are picked up before it gets dark. Many accidents

happen after it gets dark and things are left on the floor.

7-Refrigeration: Freeze a block of ice in a plastic container

(outside) – do two if you have it. Put them in the freezer of your

fridge. This will act as an ice chest. Be careful not to have

many left overs, as we don't want food poisoning! You can

store your miracle whip and things like this in it.

8-Food: Use whatever food is in your freezer first. Make do with

whatever food you have in your home – get creative – If you

have a hand wheat grinder – start grinding wheat before you get

hungry! It is hard work!

9-Water: If water has things in it, strain. Boil all water 10 mins.

You can also add bleach to it if you have it @ 3 drops per liter

10-Washing Clothes. You need a white bucket with a lid. Poke

holes in the lid about the size of a pencil. Drill a hole in top and

put a plunger through it into the bucket. Close lid and lift the

plunger up and down.

52 Weeks, Week 46

 

52 Weeks to Family Preparedness for Two

Week 46

"We are living in a very dangerous time. There has never been a time when it has been more important to listen to the counsel of the Leaders of the Church. It is all about Staying Out of Debt and Getting your Year Supply! I encourage your serious attention to this subject!" Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Richardson Texas Stake Conference, March 9, 2008

Food Storage and Preparedness Challenge Of The Week:

Food Storage Purchase 30 lbs. Wheat or Flour

Extra Item Purchase 11 lbs. Macaroni or Spaghetti

Family Prep: Preparation items for Christmas.

Spiritual Preparedness: Read 2 Nephi 4: 15-16 and ponder the ways you can expand your learning and knowledge of the scriptures and things of the world which will benefit you and your family

Often because of the hustle and bustle of the season we lose sight of the important things. It's time to take the time to bring the important things back. Following are a few ideas. As you ponder the real meaning and our busy lives you will come up with many more.

1. Find what brings peace and focus on it. I love to just watch the lights twinkle on my tree while the rest of the house is dark. It is a kind of peaceful time for me to ponder what is important to me.

2. Try to Simplify – what is really important to you. Get rid of all the fluff and stuff, we often forget the real meaning of Christmas because we hide it well in all the stuff.

3. Enlist the help of your family. This is a time of year when family members help more willingly. Many of the things are fun to do, like decorating and baking and delivering.

4. Build some fun family memories. We need to make these memories so that our families will have wonderful and special things to remember.

Following are some ideas of things to do together as a family.

- Make and frost sugar cookies together

- Deliver Christmas treats and goodies to friends and neighbors together

- Drive around and look at light displays

- Go caroling

- Share treats when you go caroling

- Draw names and do special things for the person's name that you draw

- Make Christmas decorations, popcorn and cranberry strings, popcorn balls, paper snowflakes, painted ceramic ornaments, Etc.

- Read Christmas stories

Bring the spirit of peace and love into your home as you enjoy the Christmas season and remember that Jesus Christ is the real reason that we celebrate.

52 Weeks, Week 45

 

52 Weeks to Family Preparedness for Two

Week 45

President Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign November 1980, Prepare for the days of Tribulation"Those families will be fortunate who, in the last days, have an adequate supply of food because of their foresight and ability to produce their own.

Food Storage and Preparedness Challenge Of The Week:

Food Storage Purchase 10 lbs. Non-Fat Dry Milk

Extra Item Purchase 1 lbs. Each of yeast, Baking Powder, Baking Soda

Family Prep: In light of the turmoil in our world maybe it is time to gift a family member with knitting, sewing, or quilting lessons. For some it maybe the best time to purchase the family some water barrels or portable water purifiers. Still others may want to buy sleeping bags, tents, camp stoves or lanterns or camping sleeping pads. Being prepared is all about knowledge and forethought. Keep these ideas in mind as the time to get prepared is running short.

Spiritual Preparedness: Jesus said: "Learn of me. … For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matt. 11:29-30.) I should like to suggest that we follow that injunction given by the Son of God. With all of our learning, let us also learn of him. With all of our study, we need to seek knowledge of

the Master. That knowledge will give us character and a fullness to life that can come in no other way.

Stocking Stuffer & Gift Ideas

. travel size shampoo, conditioner

. stick lights

. new toothbrushes, paste and dental floss

. compass, whistle with neck tie, reflector

. soap and holder

. hard candy and gum

. crayons, colored pencils

. small sewing kit (you can make these yourselves)

. small first aid kits

. travel size camping utensils

. flashlight and batteries, extra light bulbs

. rain poncho

. hand lotion

. folding scissors

. fingernail clippers and other nail supplies

. knife and sharpener

. flint and steel for fire starting

. warm blankets - wool blankets are cheap at second hand stores

. sleeping bags and pads

. wool socks and cotton socks to wear next to the skin

. wool hat and scarf. Make them yourself for a great gift

. warm coat

. gloves and mittens

. warm boots big enough to wear heavy socks with

. snow shoes or make some skies for cross country treks

. slippers

. paper products for the family i.e. toilet, paper towels

. propane for use with the campstove or lantern

. water storage container

. folding camp shovel, ax, or hatchet