Weekly Wisdom #14

 

Weekly Wisdom #14

Motivational Monday - "As we have been continuously counseled for more than 60 years, let us have some food set aside that would sustain us for a time in case of need. But let us not panic nor go to extremes. Let us be prudent in every respect. And, above all, my brothers and sisters, let us move forward with faith in the Living God and His Beloved Son." (Gordon B Hinckley, Ensign Nov 2001, 73)

Church Guidelines

The church counsel on food storage is simple:

• Build a three-month supply of foods that you normally eat.

• Lay in a supply of drinking water.

• Put aside foods for longer-term storage until you have a year's supply of food.

Since we are looking at a New Year this week, and thinking and planning, and hopefully goal setting....now is a good time to take a good look at what we have achieved over the past year regarding our food storage, and home preparedness, and take an inventory. Once you have taken the time to inventory, then you can use your guidelines as to what your family needs regarding your three month supply, drinking water, and longer-term storage, and set some goals that will help you accomplish these three goals for the coming year.

Here are some of the things that I will be helping you to accomplish this year, (with my many helpers):

January – Ordering Beans and Other Grains / Pandemic Supplies – In Home Care Class

February – Water Filtration / Garden Seeds – Co-op Garden Beginnings

March – A Great Trip to the Dry Pack Cannery in Lethbridge / Powdered Milk Class

AND MUCH MORE!

Timely Tuesday - "Keep your eye on the Prophet, being self-reliant has always been part of the Church. Statistics are that no matter what the church does, no (more) than 15% of the (membership) have (any) storage. Our people are going to need it. For example, what if somebody released a virus? What if the virus caused a pandemic? What if the pandemic led to quarantine? What if the quarantine was enforced? What would you do? The responsibility lies with the head of each family." (Presiding Bishop of Church David Burton Sept. 1,2006)

Keeping our eye on the Prophet and their counsel in the next while will be so important. They have told us to get out of debt, store food, strengthen home and family, and their most recent counsel on the provident living website is on pandemic preparedness. If you want to know what the prophet is telling us today, take time today to visit www.providentliving.com

Workin' Wednesday - Kids Activity Survival Kit

You may have to leave your house during a disaster and may sleep somewhere else for a while. It's smart to put together your own Kid's Activity Survival Kit so you will have things to do and share with other kids. These can all be stored in a backpack or duffel bag. Just make sure you can carry it easily. Some suggested items for your Activity:

A few of your favorite books

Crayons, pencils or marking pens and plenty of paper

Scissors and glue

Two favorite toys such as a doll or action figure

One or two board games

A deck of cards

A puzzle (One with lots of pieces is good -- it takes a long time to do!)

Small people figures and play vehicles that you can use to play out what is happening during your disaster -- such as ambulance, fire truck, helicopter, dump truck, police car, small boats.

Favorite stuffed animal or puppet

Favorite blanket or pillow

Pictures of the family and pet

A "keep safe" box with a few treasures that make you feel special

Thrifty Thursday – Don't feel deprived – Sometimes we feel deprived when we are trying so hard to cut back on expenses. We are trying so hard to put away our food storage, pay down our debt, and be frugal, that we sometimes want to splurge on something just for us. In order to avoid these splurges, and feeling this way, we should treat ourselves on a regular basis. Today, make a list of five things that you like to do that do not cost any money. Tape this to your fridge or to your bathroom mirror and do one of these things each week to treat yourself. Another thing you can do is make a list of your five food storage treats that you would like to have, and once a week or every other week, purchase one thing and stash it away for your food storage. Then if you ever feel like you need to have a treat, you won't have to spend money, you will already have one handy. Make sure you replace it on your next time to purchase.

Food Storage Friday – The Seven Major Mistakes in Food Storage: Today we will cover the first mistake, VARIETY!! Most people don't have enough variety in their storage. They store only the basic survival foods, but statistics show that most people won't survive on this diet unless they are using these items on a regular basis. Many won't be able to digest the wheat.....wheat is too harsh for young children and they can only tolerate it in small amounts......we can get what is called appetite fatigue. WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT......Store a variety of grains, particularly ones your family likes to eat. Store a variety of beans to add color and texture. Store flavorings such as tomato, bouillon, cheese, onions, spices and other things you like to cook with.

RECIPE

Honey Bran Whole Wheat Bread

6 cups all purpose flour

1 cup oat bran

1 cup wheat bran

1 ½ tbsp yeast

2 tbsp oil or melted butter

1/3 cup honey

5 cups lukewarm milk (use pwd and water)

4 cups whole wheat flour

2 tbsp salt

In large bowl mix all purpose flour, brans, and yeast. Make well in the middle of flour mixture and pour in oil, honey, and milk. Mix well, and then slowly add whole wheat flour until 4 cups have been added and you have a soft, slightly sticky dough. Knead for 6 or 7 minutes. Place the mixing bowl over the dough, and let rest for 20 minutes. Flatten dough with hands and sprinkle salt over dough and knead well into it until salt is completely mixed in and dough is soft and smooth. Place dough into well greased large bowl, cover and let rise until doubled. Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface and knead gently. Divide into three equal pieces and shape into loaves. Place in greased loaf pans and let rise until well above the rim of pans. Bake at 375 for 40 minutes until golden brown.

I adjusted slightly this recipe for sake of room on this page, but this original recipe can be found on www.ayearinbread.earthandhearth.com

Weekly Wisdom #13

 

Weekly Wisdom #13

This is an easy week. I only have two assignments this week for you.

1. Enjoy your family. Spend time with them and savor each moment. Make memories by remembering the simple things in life. Serve one another. Love one another.

2. Enjoy the Christmas Season. Remember the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. Spend some time this week to reflect on what that actually means in your life. Spend some time to reflect on what it means for your future. Serve others around you. Love others as He would.

Weekly Wisdom #12

 

Weekly Wisdom #12

Motivational Monday - When Disaster Strikes, the Time to Prepare Has Passed - The degree of our preparation will be equal to the extent of our obedience. This will in turn determine our peace of mind and the degree of normal life we will be able to enjoy during the difficult times ahead.

Some food for thought – It really is all about the obedience!

Brigham Young warned," If you are without food, how much wisdom can you boast!"

Timely Tuesday – Well winter hit us with a vengance in so many places this weekend. This is the time of year that we need to remember to dress in layers when we go anywhere. Layering clothes helps to prepare us for any conditions or activities, disasters, or storms. Use three layers when thinking of how to dress for the weather.

Underwear – this provides a basic insulation and will move the moisture away from the skin, preventing chill when your activity stops. Choose long underwear, or thin, snug fitting pants and a long sleeved t-shirt

Insulation – use one or more layers depending on the severity of the weather, including layers of pants to keep your legs warm, sweaters, and other types of sweatshirts are good insulators as well.

Outer clothing – wear clothing that is windproof and waterproof is possible. A good fit is very important. If it is too big, heat loss can happen quickly, and too small and you may not have enough room for other layers.

Workin' Wednesday – Today is the day to gather a few of the non food type items that we need to have especially for winter / flu season. Here is a small list of items, but adjust it according to what you think your family would need in case of.....

cough / cold medications, cough drops, various versions of pain relief, cotton balls, herbal or natural medications, antibacterial soaps and wipes, and hand sanitizer. These basic items should be included in your 72 hour kits / first aid kits / and flu kits. Of course add any other items that you think your family would need.

Thrifty Thursday - "Wherever possible, produce your non food necessities of

life." Improve your sewing skills; sew and mend clothing for your family. Develop handicraft skills as the sisters have told us, and make or build needed items."

(Spencer W. Kimball, "Family Preparedness," Ensign, May 1976, pp 124-25

EMERGENCY SEWING KIT

• Suitable container with lid

• Small scissors

• Straight pins and safety pins

• Sewing needles and a variety of thread colors

• A few buttons

• Tape measure or ruler

Food Storage Friday – I have found this in several newsletters and a couple of emails from various people, and so the original source I am unsure of, but it is some great information.

Where Do I Store My Family's Food Storage ?

The coolest parts of your home are the best locations. Under beds, inside closets, inside cabinets and consider building an insulated shed outside your home.

A one-year supply for one person requires approximately 100, number 10 cans.

Under bed storage: How many number 10 cans can I fit under my bed ?

(Packed in cardboard cases – 6 cans to a case)

Double: 96 Queen: 108 King: 120

Inside a closet:

Use the number 10 can cardboard cases as a shoe shelf.

6 cans fit into one case, the case size is 13 inches wide x 19 inches long x 7 inches tall.

Water Storage:

The best location is on the north side of your home or garage, where the water containers receive the least amount of sunlight. For added protection, after you have added bleach and sealed the containers cover them (including the sides and top) with black plastic sheeting.

Non-perishables:

Other storage items that are non-perishable can be stored in warmer areas like your garage.

Recipe – Here is a great soup recipe for a hot day. Make this and eat with some fresh home made hot bread. Yummmm!

Crockpot Navy Bean Bacon Chowder

1 ½ cups dried navy beans, rinsed and drained ( or one can )

2 cups cold water

6 slices bacon

1 medium carrot sliced

1 stalk celery chopped

1 med onion chopped

1 tsp dried italian seasoning

1/8 tsp black pepper

1 large can chicken broth (46 oz) or water and chicken bouillon

1 cup milk

Soak beans overnight in the water. Cook bacon in medium pan over medium heat. Drain and crumble. Combine carrot, celery, onion, seasonings, beans and bacon in crockpot. Mix and pour in broth. Cover and cook on low for 7 – 9 hours or until beans are cooked tender. Ladle 2 cups of soup into blender and process until smooth. Return to crockpot. Add milk, cover and heat on high for 10 more minutes until heated through. Serves 6.

Weekly Wisdom #11

 

Weekly Wisdom #11

Motivational Monday – President Kimball said: "How often do Church members arise early in the morning to do the will of the Lord?... How often do we say, "Yes, I will obey the commandment to store food and to help others, but just now I have neither the time nor the money to spare; I will obey later"? Oh, foolish people! While we procrastinate, the harvest will be over and we will not be saved. Now is the time to follow Abraham's example; now is the time to repent; now is the time for prompt obedience to God's will."

"We must do more to get our people prepared for the difficult days we face in the future. Our major concern should be their spiritual preparation so they will respond with faith and not fear. "If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear" (D&C 38:21). Our next concern should be for their temporal preparation. When the economies of nations fail, when famine and other disasters prevent people from buying food in stores, the Saints must be prepared to handle these emergencies. This is a matter of concern for area, region, and stake councils." President Benson

These days are upon us. We see daily the economies of nations failing, famines throughout the world, and talk of more shortages of food. I believe the day to procrastinate the counsel to get temporally prepared has come and gone. We must give our temporal and spiritual preparation our top priority.

Timely Tuesday – Take a quick preparedness test today. If you can, do it with your family. And find what areas you perhaps need to focus on.

Preparedness Test

1. Has your family rehearsed the fire escape routes from your home?

2. Do you know what to do before, during, after an earthquake or tornado?

3. Do you have access to an operational flashlight in every bedroom? You could have light sticks instead.

4. Do you keep shoes near your bed to protect your feet if you have to evacuate during the night?

5. If a water line was ruptured, do you know how to shut off the main line to your house?

6. Can this line be turned off with hands or do you need a tool? Is the tool close by?

7. Do you know where the main gas shut off is to your house?

8. Do you know how and would you be able to shut off this valve if you smelled gas?

9. Do you know how to safely restart your furnace when gas is safely back on again?

10. Do you have working smoke alarms in place?

11. Do you have a fire extinguisher handy in case of small fires?

12. Do you have duplicate keys and copies of important papers stored outside your home?

13. Do you have an emergency radio and batteries?

14. Do you have a meeting place if your family has to evacuate your home?

15. If an emergency lasted for three days or longer:

    1. Would you have sufficient food for your family?

    2. Would you have the means to cook without electricity?

    3. Would you have sufficient water?

    4. Do you have your 72 hour kits easily accessible?

    5. Have y ou established an out of area contact for your family?

    6. Do you have first aid kits in your home and each car?

    7. Do you have emergency cash on hand in small bills or coins?

    8. Do you have ways to heat at least part of your house without electricity?

    9. Do you have at least a month's supply of medications on hand?

    10. Do you have sanitation plans for alternate toilet facilities?

    11. Where are you in your food storage supply? 3 months? 6 months? 1 year?

This should give you a basic overview of how prepared you are for basic survival. If you have answered no to any of these, then work in that area. If you answered yes to them all....good for you, and think in those areas of how you can improve and make it even better.

Workin' Wednesday – Pick one of the areas above that you answered no to, and do something today to help change the answer to a yes.

Thrifty Thursday – I got this idea off of a thrifty tips website. I thought it was a good one, and I do this alot, because I find that if I grab a cart when I go into the store, it inevitably gets full. So if I only have a basket or my hands, I am more likely to come out with what I actually went in for.

SHOP WITHOUT A CART

"Have you noticed how big shopping carts are getting? They are designed to keep you shopping! Avoid the spending trap by only taking a cart when you know you have alot to buy, or are buying something big. Use a basket to carry your items, or go for one of the smaller carts available. You will be less tempted to impulse buy when you don't have the space to carry everything.

Then before you get to the counter, quickly look over your items and make sure that they are something you really need. There are likely things you could put back until another time. Impulse buying is one of the worst money wasters of all! Take a list, take a basket, and think thrifty!

Food Storage Friday – Today lets quickly review the minimum requirements for long term storage.

This is for 1 adult male for 1 year and = approximately 2300 calories per day.

Grains – 400 lbs – white flour should be a part of this as well as rice, pasta, and other grains your family uses, learn to sprout grains, this greatly increases their vitamin content, and wheat grass is one of the best vitamin supplements you can use.

Beans & Legumes – 60 lbs – Black beans cook quickly, soy beans can be used to make soy milk and tofu, most beans are good for sprouting,

Dairy –minimum 16 lbs – milk powder can be used to make cottage cheese, cream cheese, and hard cheese, sour cream, whipped topping, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and of course drinkable milk

Oils – 10 quarts – This will help boost the calories and supply your essential fatty acids, as well as making cooking so much easier

Sugars – 60 lbs – This includes honey, syrups, white and brown sugars, candy and other sweets that will help keep appetite fatigue away

Salt – 8 lbs

Water – minimum 14 gallons

Two five gallon buckets will hold about 75 lbs of wheat, rice or other grains. So you will need 11 buckets of grain for each person in your family. Beans – a 25 lb bag of beans will fit in a 5 gallon bucket with a bit of space left over, so 2 buckets would hold about a one person supply for one year.

If you divide 400 lbs of grain by 365 days, it equals to just over 1 lb of grain per person per day. That is approximately 2 cups of unground grain to cover your three meals for the day.

If you divide 60 lbs of beans by 365, this works out to 0.16 lbs of beans per day or 2.6 oz, or about ¾ cup.

This isn't much food to live off. It would keep you alive, but wouldn't be wonderful or pleasant. Get these basics for each person, and then work hard to add other kinds of food such as canned or dried fruits and vegetables. If all you have are the basics, then you are going to live off the minimal survival diet, but at least you will be alive. One example of this would be this minimum diet would provide about 6 small biscuts per person, per day, or one plateful of pancakes.

Recipe

Lentil Soup – Serves 8 – 10

2 cups lentil

1 ½ quarts water and 6 chicken or beef bouillon cubes, or broth equivalent

1 large can or bottle stewed tomatoes

1 bay leaf

3 carrots sliced

1 onion diced

salt and pepper to taste

1 lb cooked hamburger or tvp substitute (optional)

other vegetables sliced or diced (optional)

Put all ingredients in kettle and bring to boil (except hamb or tvp) let cook until tender. Add hamburger and heat. Serve with corn chips or biscuts.

Weekly Wisdom #10

Weekly Wisdom #10

Motivational Monday - Practice drills for your family are a good way to remind your family what to do in case of emergencies. Today for your family time, take a bit of time to review what your family would do if there were a fire in the house. Go through each room in the house and point our two exits for each room. Then have the kids go and act as if they are doing something they would do each day, when all of a sudden someone yells fire! Have them go through the mock emergency, and their escape routes. You might also want to pair up your kids so that they have a buddy system to ensure that the younger ones have an older one responsible to help them. Or one adult to one or two children as a buddy system. This way you know who you are each responsible for and then the parent is responsible to check in with each of the older ones. Practicing for emergencies will help us to keep calmer in emergencies. It is a well known fact that when in emergencies we all tend to not think clearly, so if we have practiced, then we won't have to think too hard, it will be a natural reaction of what we should do. Preparedness is not living in fear. Preparedness is being aware of things that could happen, so we know how to act responsibly, and confidently, with clear minds. Preparedness is peace of mind!

Timely Tuesday – Ever thought of how much toilet paper your family would go through in one year? Here are a couple of ways you can figure it out. Start today, and either have a small paper and pen beside your toilet, checking off a mark every time you change the roll, or have a bag somewhere in your bathroom where you can place all of the empty rolls for one month. Count them up and multiply by 12, then you will know how many rolls your family will need for one year. I personally would rather use toilet paper, than newsprint, or old magazines. Start storing your toilet paper, every time you buy one package for your house, buy one to tuck away for storage purposes, and don't touch it. Soon you will have a nice little stash! Your family will thank you.

Workin' Wednesday – In an emergency, there are three things vital to your survival. Water, Food, and Shelter. If you have these three things, you can deal with most other problems. In your 72 hour kits, you have your food for a minimum of 3 days, your water and water purification options, and now you should make sure today that you have some sort of shelter ready for your family. The types of shelter you will want for your family will depend on the size of your family and any special needs they may have. If you are on your own and love being in the outdoors, you may get away with a tarp, ropes, and a few stakes as your shelter. However if you have to evacuate and you have a spouse and a few children of various ages, you should think a bit differently. Do you have a comfortable tent that would be easy to grab and go? Do you have enough tarps in case of severe weather, so you can shelter your tent? Think of this third most important survival need and prepare for it today. If you need to purchase some things you don't have, then at least make a list of what you need so you can start working on it. Water, Food and Shelter will keep us alive! Take away any one of these and ..... well you get the picture!

Thrifty Thursday – Today think about saving money by using your clothesline. Don't have one? You can pick up all of the basic supplies to build a clothesline from your local hardware store for fairly inexpensive, compared to even one month worth of using your clothes dryer. I have heard many people complain about the high prices of utilities, but don't think of simple ways like this to decrease their expenses. Plus using a clothesline gives your clothes a great fresh smell that they can only get by being dried outdoors. Even in the winter you can dry your clothes outside. They may be a little stiff, but if you pop them into the dryer for 10 minutes they will fluff up nicely. 10 minutes.....compared to one hour to dry a load. Significant savings, and another important way of being prepared.

Food Storage Friday - I read this quote the other day, "Food in the basement is better than money in the bank." Not sure where it came from, but I my thoughts are, "Ya think!" Take a good long look at the news today, most of us would agree that food in our basement / our own "grocery store", will be to us, as Noah's Ark was to those that boarded it. In fact President Ezra Taft Benson said "The Revelation to produce and store food may be as essential to our temporal welfare today as boarding the ark was to the people in the days of Noah." I suggest we do it NOW! Start investing in what is important! I am not saying that you shouldn't invest in other things too, but we have been counseled for many years to do this, as was Noah counseled to build the ark, and the time to disregard this counsel, is past. "FOOD IN THE BASEMENT IS BETTER THAN MONEY IN THE BANK!" Think about it!

Honey Carrot Cake

2 eggs (can use substitute)

½ cup oil

¼ tsp salt

1 cup honey

½ cup butter milk (use powdered)

1 cup shredded carrots (could use dried ones and reconstitute)

1 tsp baking soda

1 ½ tsp cinnamon

2 cups flour

Beat eggs. Add all other liquid ingredients and mix well. Add dry ingredients. Beat until smooth. Add carrots and mix well. Pour into greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

Weekly Wisdom #9

WEEKLY WISDOM #9

Motivational Mondy – Be thankful and grateful for your freedom of religion. Be thankful we have a living prophet to guide us through these days. Be thankful that our prophets have warned us and guided us to be prepared. "Be prepared in all things against the day when tribulation and desolation are sent forth upon the wicked." D&C 29:8

Timely Tuesday – How can I prepare for a blackout? Have some of these basic supplies on hand: candles, matches, lighters, lanterns, fuel for lanterns, batteries, and alternate cooking source, like full propane tank for your barbecue.

What do I do during a blackout? Turn off any appliances or electronics you were using, to avoid spikes or surges damaging equipment when the power comes back on. Leave one light turned on so you will know when the power comes back on. Leave your fridge and freezer closed as much as possible to keep things cold. Use the phone for emergency only. Eliminate unnecessary travel because signal lights will not be working traffic congestion will happen. Remember to provide for your pets in blackouts. Put on layers of clothing. Never burn charcoal indoors. Have your supplies all ready, easily accessible.

Workin' Wednesday – Add today to your 72 hour kit a list. This list is a "DON'T FORGET" list. Include all items that you need to remember to take with you but are using each day so they can't be put into your kits. Tape it to the side of your kit securely so that it doesn't peel off. The list should include things like keys, wallet, medications, special needs, recipe book, tent, sleeping bags, etc. Write down beside each item where you can find it. In an emergency it is easy to forget even the simplest things. Also if there is someone else helping you evacuate, they can easily find what they need by looking on your kit. Since your kits will already be by your door, ready to go, you should have a few minutes to quickly gather these items, especially if you have your list ready.

Thrifty Thursday – "There is an old wise saying: Eat it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without. Thrift is a practice of not wasting anything. Some people are able to get by because of the absence of expense. They have their shoes resoled, they patch, they mend, they sew, and they save money. They avoid installment buying, and make purchases only after saving enough to pay cash, thus avoiding interst charges. Furgality means to practice careful economy." James E. Faust

As we are thinking of Christmas this year, let's not be wasteful on our purchases. Let us have a new way of helping those we love. How many times do we waste money on things that are just that, "things" that have no real value. Give gifts this year that will make a difference in the lives of those you know. Here are a few small ideas.

• A small lantern and fuel for it
• Wind up flashlight / radio
• Grain mill and a few bags of wheat
• 72 hour kit
• Emergency Car Kit
• Good sleeping bag
• Warm outdoor clothing
• Cookbooks for food storage

Food Storage Friday – Price recognition is important in food storage. Before you can take advantage of good deals, you need to be able to recognize them. Create a worksheet or list of items you are looking for, or commonly use. Begin to watch the flyers and check around to various places and start to track the prices and soon you will be able to pick out the good ones. And then when you learn to pick out the good deals, learn to buy them in bulk to stock up on items regularly used in your food storage. Soon you will find that you "FOOD STORAGE SHOP" not "grocery shop". Then you start to see some real results in your home preparedness and it gets exciting.

Sopapillas (These will keep for weeks without refrigeration, and can also be frozen for longer term.)

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 tablespoon sugar

1/3 cup dry milk

3 tablespoons shortening

3/4 cup cool water

Optional cinnamon-sugar coating:

1/3 cup sugar

1 tablespoon cinnamon

Directions:

1. Mix together the dry ingredients. Cut in the shortening. At this point, you have a mix. Store the mix for no longer than thirty days in the pantry, six months in the refrigerator, or two years in the freezer.

2. To use the mix, place the ingredients in a medium bowl. Form a depression in the middle and pour in the water.

3. Cut the water into the mix. The dough will be crumbly and dry. Remove to a clean surface and knead for two minutes. You will have a stiff dough.

4. Form the dough into balls the size of golf balls. Smash the balls flat with the heel of your hand until they are no more than 1/4-inch thick.

5. Heat cooking oil in a heavy fry pan or Dutch oven. The oil should be 3/8- inch deep and hot enough that there is a slight sizzle when the dough is placed in the oil.

6. Fry each side until brown. You can then slit open one side and fill with taco meat, chili, tuna salad, or whatever your family likes. Or you can dip in cinnamon and sugar.

These will turn into a family favorite and are so easy to make.

Makes about 36

Weekly Wisdom #8

Weekly Wisdom #8

Motivational Monday - "The greatest events that have been spoken of by all of the Holy Prophets will come along so naturally as the consequences of certain causes, that unless our eyes are enlightened by the Spirit of God, and the Spirit of Revelation rests upon us, we will fail to see that these are the events predicted by the Holy Prophets." George Q. Canon

Elder L Tom Perry, 1995 "I believe it is time, and perhaps with some urgency, to review the counsel we have received in dealing with our personal and family preparedness….We have been instructed to follow at least four requirements in preparing for that which is to come. Gain an adequate education. Live within your income. Avoid unnecessary debt, and store a reserve of food and supplies…..As long as I can remember, we have been taught to prepare for the future and to obtain a year supply of necessities. I would guess that the years of plenty have almost universally caused us to set aside this counsel. I believe the time to disregard this counsel is over. With events in the world today, it must be considered with all seriousness."

Timely Tuesday – Today is a day to think and make a list. What I am going to do today is write a list of all of the skills I believe my children will need in the future. And then attempt to check off that list as I teach them. I believe that our days of "normal" education are no longer adequate for the lives our children will live. They need to have real life skills, survival skills, back to basic type skills, as well as education, high tech skills, and low tech skills. Skills to deal with economic trials, and leadership skills. I do not like to knock the public school systems, but the reality is, they don't teach all of these kinds of things to our children, and we as parents have that responsibility to do so. So today make that list, think into the future of your kids / grandchildren and try to imagine what they may need to know, (I know that is a tough one) and then get to work teaching. Make use of those family home evenings, and any teaching moment. Teaching something is also the best way to really learn it.

Workin' Wednesday – Today check your 72 hour kits for comfort foods and entertainment. Comfort foods are not life saving items, but in an emergency they may very well be. It is so important that we have familiar items in our kits, not only for our children but ourselves. Something that will help to take our mind off of the emergency situation and relieve stress. Comfort foods and entertainment will help to do this. Your comfort foods may include some form of chocolate, salty snacks, gum, hard candy, something that has a decent shelf life to sit in your kit and not spoil. Entertainment could include coloring books and crayons, card games, puzzle books, magazines, or anything that the person using the kit really likes. Remember to keep the foods and entertainment light weight, but remember to get them in there!

Thrifty Thursday – Learning how to make food from scratch, or from your food storage has several benefits:

1. It is definitely healthier for you, no preservatives

2. It will save you lots of money, you can make something for pennies, or buy it for dollars!

3. It will cause you to rotate your food storage

4. You and your family will learn before a crisis hits, how to use your storage and actually enjoy it. Then when the time comes to use it, your bodies won't suffer from the switch over.

Today make something from scratch, like flour tortillas. The biggest thrifty, money saver for most people is learning to cook at home, rather than eating out. So look through those thrifty recipes and make something from food storage items today. And then come to the Wonderful Wheat class tonight!

Food Storage Friday – President Kimball has said, "Preparedness, when properly pursued, is a way of life, not a sudden spectacular program."

Did you know that included in our food storage should be bedding, clothing, medical supplies, garden seeds, lighting sources, and fuel sources, to name a few.

Today is the day to check your alternate fuel sources. Your utilities could easily be interrupted during a natural disaster, but food must still be cooked, dishes must be washed, people must be bathed and kept warm. The families that have sources of fuel in their "food storage" will be much better prepared than those who ignore this counsel. Today would be a good day to check your fuel sources and see what needs updating. How about making sure your propane tanks are all full for the winter, that way you could use your barbecues. Think of ways you could cook, clean and stay warm if electricity was unavailable, and get them organized today. Winter is here! Don't be caught off guard.

Some ideas, candles, matches, lighters, light sticks, small cook / heat stoves, kerosene and lanterns, flashlights, hand/feet/body warmers, propane, generators (stored fuel), fuel for any alternate sources you have,

WEEKLY WISDOM #7

Motivational Monday

– Benjamin Franklin said "Failing to prepare is simply preparing to fail."

Can we afford to be wrong?

Is it better have, what you don't need – or – need what you don't have?

Is it better to have a little too much – than to have a little too little?

Is it better to be prepared a little too soon – than one day late?

The United States grain inventories are at their lowest level, in history, according to record keeping by the U.S.D.A. In 1960 they had a 1095 day, or 3 year supply of grain reserves. In 2005 they had a 1 day reserve! 70% of the One-Day reserve consisted of unprocessed wheat and the remaining 30% was fresh milk, cheese, peanuts and lentils.

Can we afford to be wrong?

Timely Tuesday

– The WHO (World Health Organization) predicts that the world is now closer to a pandemic than in the past 50 years. The influenza season is about to begin according to Dr. Paul Schnee, who visited us last Thursday evening. Today put together a "flu kit". Think of the things that you would need to take care of your family when the nasty flu season hits. Start adding to your kit. Have it ready with any medical supplies that you will anticipate that you may need. Dr. Schnee made it very clear that these items will likely not be available at the greatest time we will need them so we should gather them now! Have food stored, savings (cash), alternate communication methods, and skill knowledge available. Look forward to after the New Year when we have an evening to learn basic nursing skills and hygiene skills to be able to care for our loved ones in our home!

Start today and prepare for this. Now is the time! It is only a matter of time, so plan for the worst, and pray for the least!

Workin' Wednesday

– Today add to your 72 hr kits some things for general sanitation. You can create a portable toilet out of a five gallon bucket with a tight fitting lid. Fill it with a plastic bags for liners, toilet paper, twist ties, disinfectant, powdered chlorinated lime, deodorant and insecticides, ziploc bags, wipes, toothpaste and toothbrush, shampoo, soap, feminine supplies, kleenex, chapstick, bug spray, hair brush, mirror, hand towel, face cloths, and anything else you think your family will need for sanitation.

After you have it filled, snap the lid on and put it with your 72 hour kits and you have ready made, transportable, washroom.

Thrifty Thursday – How about going through some of your old clothes and shoes today. Some of your old winter clothes may prove useful in your 72 hour kits, or in your car travel kits for the winter. Some old but sturdy shoes could be used instead of thrown out. Think of how you could reuse items, instead of throwing them out. I believe there will come a day when we will wish we had learned this principle of thrift. So start today with this one small task of sorting and finding other uses for the clothes or shoes we would normally toss. I remember a time when instead of throwing something out, my mother and grandmother would cut off all of the buttons, zippers, pockets, or anything else reusable, so that they could use it on something else. It is a forgotten art!

Food Storage Friday

– Here is a great way to use your food storage and save a little bit of money. It is called Cream of Whatever Soup Mix - From your storage you use:

2 cups powdered non fat dry milk

¾ cup cornstarch

¼ cup instant chicken or vegetable bouillon

2 tbsp dried onnion flakes

1 tsp basil leaves,

1 tsp thyme leaves

dash of pepper

Combine ingredients and stir until evenly mixed. To substitute for 1 can of condensed cream of whatever soup, combine 1/3 cup dry mix with 1 ¼ cups cold water. Heat and stir until it thickens. Use as you would canned soup. Makes the equivalent of 9 cans of soup at the cost of pennies per recipe.

Mushroom soup: add ½ cup finely chopped mushrooms

Celery: add ¼ cup minced celery

Potato: add 1 cup cooked diced potatoes

Chicken: add any amount of cooked chicken

Vegetable: add ¾ cup cooked vegetables

Broccoli: add 1 cup cooked chopped broccoli

Weekly Wisdom #6

Motivational Monday – Tonight for home evening – Try your "Lights out" home evening. Do everything as if there were no power. Make a whole evening of it. Then when done, take some time to talk with your kids about it, and what you need to have extra in your home to prepare for it. Scripture you could relate to this.....

"Wherefore," the Savior tells us, "be faithful, praying always, having your lamps trimmed and burning, and oil with you, that you may be ready at the coming of the Bridegroom – For behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, that I come quickly." D&C 33:17 - 18

Timely Tuesday – A disaster may, and likely will, disrupt power. Stash some Cash!!! Find all your toonies and loonies and add a couple of $5 bills to your 72 hr kits today. Remember when life falls apart, and you need cash, small bills are what you need. So make it a habit to stash these away and start today by adding some to each 72 hr kit. You will also need small change to make phone calls, or a prepaid calling card.

Workin' Wednesday – Find all of your empty two-liter pop bottles. Wash them out and then fill them with water. Put them out of the way in a closet, or in the back of a cupboard, or on a shelf somewhere. Or if you don't have any empty pop bottles, go to somewhere and buy a case of water bottles, or Costco for example, and buy a large bottle of water for $5, and tuck it away. Now you have added to your water storage a bit more.

Thrifty Thursday – Today is the day to get educated!!! Become prepared!!!! Have peace of mind!!!! Go to the Pandemic Preparedness Evening at the church! It is not a matter of IF it will come, IT IS A MATTER OF WHEN! We should be prepared to isolate ourselves in our homes for 3 months or longer – and we need to start preparing NOW!

Food Storage Friday – Research has shown that the average American household has less than a week's supply of food on hand. This is also shown to be the case with the average supermarket. Food storage becomes more than good insurance if you practice storing what you use and using what you store. It is a wise investment! Learn how to use the recommended long term storage foods in with your daily diet. It will not only have some great health benefits, but will save you money and give you a feeling of great security.

Wheat Hamburger Casserole

1 cup cooked wheat

1 can corn, drained

1 finely chopped onion (substitute dehydrated)

1 finely chopped green pepper (substitute dehydrated)

1 lb hamburger (substitute TVP)

2 cans tomato sauce (substitute bottled tomatoes)

¾ cup water

grated cheese

Put wheat on the bottom of a casserole pan. Layer half of corn, onion, pepper, beef and sauce. Repeat layers. Pour water over top. Cover and bake at 350 for 1 hour. Top with grated cheese. Serves 8.

Weekly wisdom

WEEKLY WISDOM

#5

Motivational Monday – Harold B. Lee said, "During the last eleven years, there have been occasional "dress rehearsals" in the Welfare Program with floods and disasters, wars and overwhelming destructions, all no doubt, looking to a day when greater problems confronting this people may demand greater abilities and facilities to meet them." December 20, Church News 1947. Even back then the Lord gave them "mini- classes" to teach them.

"The Lord and his prophets over many generations have focused considerable attention on the events leading up to the Millennium. They have described in detail the great turmoil and tribulation that will occur during that time. Realizing that only a prepared people will be able to safely survive the events that will unfold, we have been given instructions, preparatory experiences, opportunity and – with some sacrifice – the financial means necessary to become a prepared people." Neil H. Leash Author of Prophetic Statements on Food Storage for Latter Day Saints.

Timely Tuesday – Winter preparedness - Winter weather too often catches people unprepared. Researchers say that 70 percent of the fatalities related to ice and snow occur in automobiles, and about 25 percent of all winter related fatalities are people that are caught off guard, out in the storm. What winter weather preparations are you making? Do you have an emergency kit in each of your vehicles. As well as this kit in your vehicles you should have a shovel, scraper, flashlight, wind up radio or battery, water, extra warm clothes, blankets, sand, booster cables, emergency flares, and fluorescent distress triangle.

Workin' Wednesday - If you have to evacuate your house, you may have as little as 10 minutes. Under these circumstances, trying to think of what to save is very difficult. Take some time now to think about what items you would try to take with you. Write down a list of the high priority items you would take if you only had 10 minutes to evacuate your house. Remember, you may have to carry everything. If you have time during an evacuation, you may want to take steps to secure your house. Give some thought to what things you need to do to secure your house. Write down your plans and keep the paper in a safe and accessible location. Practise a drill for your Family Home Evening.

Thrifty Thursday - Flu pandemics occur three or four times each century. There were three flu pandemics in the last century (1918, 1957 and 1968). It is certain that another influenza pandemic will occur, but there is no way of predicting when that might be, nor the level of illness that may result. If it isn't the bird flu, it will be another strain of influenza virus. Historically, pandemics have occurred about three times every century; there is no reason to believe that our century will be any different. Do you have enough medications in your home if you had to shelter in? Make a list of what you would need and start gathering.

Food Storage Friday – Tomatoes are a great source of calcium and iron. They are also a great source of vitamin C, some B's, and A. The vitamin C content increases as the vegetable ripens. The nutritional value of the tomato is good for weight loss, eye disorders, liver disorders, diabetes, and many other health problems. They are just an all around great fruit / vegetable. And we can get them for soooo cheap. At least here where we live. Tomatoes could be that major source to prevent "scurvey" in our food storage. Have some home canned or store bought canned tomatoes in your food storage and learn how to use them!

SAUSAGE LENTIL STEW

2 quarts water

2-1/4 cups (about 1 pound) lentils, picked over and rinsed

9 to 12 ounces summer sausage, sliced and quartered

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons dried onion

1 can diced tomatoes or 1 quart

1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste

4 beef bouillon cubes

Combine ingredients in a 4 quart Dutch oven or soup pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover. Simmer 1 hour. Serves 6 to 8.

WEEKLY WISDOM

#4

For all of you reading this that are not in our ward or stake, we have had a "Trucker's Strike" (mock) this week and we are to refrain from doing any shopping for food or supplies this week, if at all possible, and see if we can live off of our food storage. Thus I am refering to this in my thoughts this week.

Motivational Monday - We never know what emergency may befall us during which we may not be able to obtain food (such as a "trucker's strike"). Natural catastrophe such as flood, earthquake or storms may result in temporary inability to distribute food to supermarkets. Under these conditions even having money to purchase food does not mean it can be obtained.

A food storage program is essential to provide for ourselves and our family members in an emergency. The biggest motivator most adults have is to avoid hearing a hungry child cry. Even the most "macho" man is distraught if he cannot provide food to prevent a child from suffering.

Ouote from Harold B. Lee, "There is no person who knows the real purpose for which this welfare program is being instituted but hardly before sufficient preparation has been made the real purpose will be revealed and when that time comes it will challenge every resource of the church to meet it." The responsibility lies with each family to do what we can.

Timely Tuesday – This is a great time to sit down with your family – remember it should always include the family – and decide what you could do with the money you saved from not shopping at the store this week. There should be a bit extra, what about that extra movie we really don't need, or that extra game we might rent, or the magazine at the check out stand. I think you get the picture. There are ways to find extra money. And what do you do with this extra money. GET PREPARED! Perhaps you can plan to invest a little in the wheat order coming up, or plan for your 3 month supply. " The time will come that gold will hold no comparison in value to a bushel of wheat." President Brigham Young

Workin' Wednesday – In the back of your brain you know about 72 hour kits and 3 month food storage. We can't add to our kits today, so get planning and thinking, what if you had to "shelter in" because of a pandemic, it could be alot longer than one week, it could be 3 months. Are you ready? If you are great! If not, what are you doing about it? This is all about prayerfully inspired priorities and choices.

Thrifty Thursday – Take time today to show your family where your emergency shut off's are in your house. Where do you turn off your electrical if you need to? Where is your gas valve, and your water intake? If the water is contaminated, you can quickly shut off the main valve coming into your house and use up the good stuff that is in your tanks and lines. If you have a gas leak, you need to know how to shut off the main valve, remembering that you need to contact the city to have them help you turn it back on. If you have a generator make sure your family knows how to use it.

Food Storage Friday – My kids absolutely love these. You can buy them at Safeway and other locations for quite expensive for what it really costs to make them....pennies! My kids have taken them to school as snacks and all of the other kids can't keep their hands off them. They are Talia's favorite! Also watch for our class in November on cooking with Wheat! I will let you know when.

Roasted Wheat Kernals1/4 cup wheat berries (whole kernels of wheat)
1/2 tablespoon oil
1/8 teaspoon salt
Method One: Soak kernels for 6 – 8 hours, drain well, and deep fry in oil until crispie snack. Sprinkle with salt while hot, or popcorn seasoning. Note, you may want to do more than the above amount, your family will like them.

Method Two: Heat a small amount of oil in a skillet. Add wheat berries and pop like popcorn. They won't puff quite as much as popcorn, but they will pop. Swirl around in the pan they will burn easy. Sprinkle with salt while hot.
Makes 1/3 cup.

weekly wisdom #3

WEEKLY WISDOM

#3

Motivational Monday – President Harold B. Lee said in 1966, regarding food storage, "Perhaps if we think not in terms of a year's supply of what we ordinarily would use, and think more in terms of what it would take to keep us alive in case we didn't have anything to eat, that last would be very easy to put in storage for a year....just enough to keep us alive if we didn't have anything else to eat. We wouldn't get fat on it, but we would live; and if you think in terms of that kind of annual storage rather than a whole year's supply of everything that you are accustomed to eat which, in most cases, is utterly impossible for the average family, I think we will come nearer to what President J. Reuben Clark advised us way back in 1937."

Timely Tuesday- We should ask ourselves today (and everyday), "What would the Lord have me do today?" Or even better yet, in the book written by Neal H. Leash, titled Prophetic Statements on Food Storage for the Latter Days, he says "Perhaps we could ask more specifically, 'Today, or during this week's activities, what would the Lord have me do about obtaining essential foods for storage?' How we answer these questions will ultimately determine our response to the Lord's counsel to be prepared." So throughout this week and each week following, ask yourself what it is that the Lord would have you do to get prepared, and you will find amazing opportunities and blessings.

Workin' Wednesday – Add a little bit of cash to your emergency kit this week. After a disaster, the power is often out and our debit machines are down and we won't be able to use debit or credit cards. This means that most cash registers will be down also and stores will only accept cash. Most of these stores will not be able to make change easily, so you need to have small bills, like $1, $2, and $5 amounts. Keeping coins on hand are also important, for if your cell phones or home phones are not working, pay phones might be up and running sooner than these other services.

Thrifty Thursday – How is your car emergency kit? Are you ready for the winter cold months? Do you have extra blankets that you carry in your car? Do you have a 72 hour kit in your car? Think about what you might need for you family, to carry in you car in case of a winter storm, and prepare accordingly. Plan first and then we don't have to be caught unprepared.

Food Storage Friday – We have been working on planning a 3 month supply of our favorite foods our families like. Following is one idea to help figure out your list, if You choose your families 7 favorite meals, (which you should have already done), and then make a list of ingredients to make each meal, then take each ingredient on your list and multiply it by 12 to give you 3 months worth of supplies. Make sure you have added your families two week supply of water, and purification ideas, and personal items such as medication, femine hygiene, laundry soaps, dish soaps, and so forth. Keep working on it on a regular basis until you have completely gathered in your 3 month supply. Next week we will start working on some long term storage and recipe ideas.

Weekly Wisdom

#2

Motivational Monday – President Benson said, "For over 100 years we have been admonished to store up grain. 'Remember the counsel that is given,' said Elder Orson Hyde, 'Store up all your grain, and take care of it!...And I tell you it is almost as necessary to have bread to sustain the body as it is to have food for the spirit.' (Journal of Discourses, Vol 5, p.17) And he also said: "There is more to salvation and security in wheat, than in all the political schemes of the world....." "From the standpoint of food production, storage, handling, and the Lord's counsel, wheat should have high priority. Water, of course, is essential. Other basics could include honey or sugar, legumes, milk products or substitutes, and salt or its equivalent. The revelation to store food may be as essential to our temporal salvation today as boarding the ark was to the people in the days of Noah." (October Conference, 1973).

Timely Tuesday – Go over your families medical coverage and insurances (medical, home, and car). Make sure you have what you need. Make sure you have all of your information in a place where you can find it easily if you need to. Make any changes or adjustments to fit the needs of your family and situation.

Workin' Wednesday – Today, check you sources of alternate lighting. Winter is fast approaching, and power outages could happen with winter storms. Make sure you have matches or a full lighter in the same place as your candles. Make sure you have them easily accessible if the power goes out. Also check your lanterns, for whatever kinds you may have, and make sure you have fuel stored properly and close by. There is nothing more frustrating than going to grab a candle in the dark, only to find that you don't have a match anywhere in the house. Buy a box of wooden ones and have them close.

Thrifty Thursday – Make a detailed list of everything that is in your 72 hour kits, and another list of everything you want to add to your kits. This way when things are on sale, it will be fresh on your mind because you have that list, and you will save money by being prepared. Find some small item that you could add to your kits, such as an emergency blanket. They are inexpensive, but a huge blessing in time of need.

Food Storage Friday – Hopefully you took time to choose some of your favorite meals last week with your family. This week, make a list of all of the items you would need to prepare each meal. This may take some time, but worth it when you are compiling a food storage list of your 3 month supply of familiar meals. Watch for the sales in the stores and if you find anything that is on your list, get more than one item, buy a few and put the extras on your storage shelf. Keep this mental list in your mind at all times, so you can watch for items on sale.