Cinnamon and Honey

Some interesting facts about cinnamon and honey.  I am not sure where this information originated, but was handed to me from someone, who got it from someone,.....well you all know how that goes.  But I figured that I totally understand the healing properties of honey and cinnamon on their own, but never realized how effective they could be when combined together.  It is worth the try, because they certainly won't do any harm.  And so my recommendation............store lots of honey and cinnamon in your food storage!

The article.........

CINNAMON AND HONEY

Honey is the only food on the planet that will not spoil or rot.  It will do what some call turning to sugar.  In reality honey is always honey.  However, when left in a cool dark place for a long time it will do what I rather call "crystallizing".  when this happens you loosen the lid, boil some water, and sit the honey container in the hot water, turn off the heat and let it liquefy.  It is then as good as it ever was.  Never boil honey or put it in a microwave.  To do so will kill the enzymes in the honey.  Bet the drug companies won't like this one getting around:  It is found that a mixture of honey and cinnamon cures most diseases.  Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world.  Scientists of today also accept honey as a "ram ban" (very effective) medicine for all kinds of diseases. 

Honey can be used without any side effects for any kind of diseases.  Science says that even though honey is sweet, if taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm diabetic patients.  Weekly World News, in its issue dated 17 January, 1995 has given the following list of diseases that can be cured by honey and cinnamon as researched by western scientists:

ARTHRITIS:  Arthritis patients may take daily, morning and night, one cup of hot water with two spoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder.  If taken regularly even chronic arthritis can be cured.  In a recent research conducted at the Copenhagen University, it was found that when the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon of Honey and half teaspoon Cinnamon powder before breakfast, they found that within a week, out of the 200 people so treated, practically 73 patients were totally relieved of pain, and within a month, mostly all the patients who could not walk or move around because of arthritis started walking without pain.

BAD BREATH:  People of South America, first thing in the morning, gargle with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water, so their breath stays fresh throughout the day.

BLADDER INFECTIONS:  Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink it.  It destroys the germs in the bladder.

CANCER:  Recent research in Japan and Australia has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully.  Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder for one month three times a day.

CHOLESTEROL:  Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder mixed in 16 ounces of tea water, given to a cholesterol patient has been found to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10 percent within two hours.  As mentioned for arthritic patients, if taken three times a day, any chronic cholesterol is cured.  According to information received in the said Journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complaints of cholesterol.

COLDS:  Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon lukewarm honey with 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon powder daily for three days.  This process will cure most chronic cough, cold, and clear the sinuses.

DIABETES:  Cinnamon has been shown to reduce blood sugar and stabilize A1C in diabetics.  Blood sugar can go from 'pre-diabetic' to normal in six months of adding cinnamon to your morning oatmeal.

FATIGUE:  Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful rather than being detrimental to the strength of the body.  Senior citizens, who take honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts, are more alert and flexible.  Dr. Milton, who has done research, says that a half tablespoon of honey taken in a glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamon powder, taken daily after brushing your teeth and in the afternoon at about 3:00 pm when the vitality of the body starts to decrease, increases the vitality of the body within a week.

GAS:  According to the studies done in India and Japan, it is revealed that if honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.

HEARING LOSS:  Daily morning and night honey and cinnamon powder, taken in equal parts restores hearing. 

HEART DISEASES:  Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, apply on bread, instead of jelly and jam, and eat it regularly for breakfast.  It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and saves the patient from heart attack.  Do this process daily and you will be kept miles away from the next heart attack.  Regular use of the above process relieves loss of breath and strengthens the heart beat.  In America and Canada, various nursing homes have treated patients sucessfully and have found that as you age, the arteries and veins lose their flexibility and get clogged;  honey and cinnamon revitalize the arteries and veins.

IMMUNE SYSTEM:  Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks.  Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts.  Constant use of honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles to fight bacterial and viral diseases.

Safe Multipurpose Cleaning Recipe

A great recipe for cleaning.  Thanks Judy.  Save money, your health, and your environment too! 
Safe Cleanser Recipe

Mix together 1 tbsp of Borax powder (find it in the laundry aisle of your supermarket)
3 tbsp of white vinegar
2 cups of water
1 tablespoon of dish soap
1 drop of essential oil such as peppermint for fragrance (optional)
Pour it into a spray bottle you bought at the hardware store, give it a shake, and you are ready to clean. For windows, use white vinegar wiped down with newspapers, and to disinfect toys and other kids' products fill a spray bottle with non-chlorine bleach (3% hydrogen peroxide) and wipe with a paper towel.
Bonus: Cleaning out harsh chemicals is not only better for your health, it's good for the environment, because you drastically cut back on your plastic use by eliminating all those bottles of mildew cleaner, window washer, bathtub scrub, and more.

Laundry Soap Recipe

I have had a few requests for this recipe, so here it is.

Home made laundry soap

Here is what you need:

• 1 bar of soap - Whatever kind you like; I used Sunlight bar soap and it is found in the laundry aisle.
• 1 box of washing soda - Look for it in the laundry detergent aisle at your local department store - it comes in an Arm & Hammer box and will contain enough for six batches of this stuff.
• 1 box of Borax - This is not necessary, but I've found it really kicks the cleaning up a notch - one box of borax will contain more than enough for tons of batches of this homemade detergent.

• A five gallon bucket with a lid or a bucket that will hold more than 15 liters - ask around - these aren't too tough to acquire.
• Three gallons of hot tap water.
• A big spoon to stir the mixture with.
• A measuring cup.
• A knife.

Put about four cups of water into a pan on your stove and turn the heat up on high until it's almost boiling. While you're waiting, whip out a knife and start shaving strips off of the bar of soap into the water, or grate it with a grater. Keep the heat below a boil and keep shaving the soap. Eventually, you'll shave up the whole bar, then stir the hot water until the soap is dissolved and you have some highly soapy water.

Put three gallons of hot tap water into the five gallon bucket - the easiest way is to fill up three 1-gallon milk jugs. Then mix in the hot soapy water from step one, stir it for a while, then add a cup of the washing soda. Keep stirring it for another minute or two, then add a half cup of borax if you are using borax. Stir for another couple of minutes, then let the stuff sit overnight to cool.  You could also add some essential oils at this time if you want to have a nice scent - like lemon, orange, peppermint, or your favorite

You're done! It will go kind of slimy, or gel a bit, that is normal and good.  You just scoop out about 1 cup of the gel and use it in your wash.   I figured that you will get about 48 loads out of three gallons, and if you do up six batches of this, you will do about 288 loads of laundry and you will save about $60+ dollars from buying other laundry soap.  It just makes sense $$$. 

Have fun!

10 MORE THINGS

 10 Things to Know About Food Storage

Learn from others mistakes and others wisdom. That is always the best possible way. Why do we always think we know better? This article comes from www.preparednesspro.wordpress.com I am summarizing the article and also adding my own wisdom and learning curves. Don't make our mistakes, do better!!

1. Yeast does last indefinitely if stored in the freezer. On the shelf, it doesn't have much longer than a one year life, but in the freezer........forever!

2. Food storage is out there to get for really cheap or free even if you look around. Don't be afraid to ask people for those apples falling off the tree, or for excess produce in their garden. Most are more than willing to share. Be willing to work for food. I have had many opportunities to work for food. Offer to weed for a day at a market garden in exchange for produce. Offer to barter whatever services you have for food. You will be surprised how well this can work for you. Look for opportunities to glean food, they are out there always.

3. Learn to can with a pressure canner. I am always surprised how many people are afraid to use them. But once you get the knack of it, you will find that it is your best friend. Ask someone to show you how. You will love it. You can can meats, beans, and absolutely anything if you just cross this bridge and learn how. You can put up all of those free foods that you have worked so hard to gather. One of my favorite things that I have canned it potatoes and carrots together. They are so nice to just dump into a batch of cooked hamburger, or beans, or chicken or whatever, and you have an instant very tasty meal. And the potatoes and carrots can be free!

4. Learn to make your own things like cheese! There are so many things that can be made from your own basic food storage items, you just need to learn how. Food storage doesn't have to be yucky stuff, it can and should be delicious.

5. Learn how to use your food saver! If you don't have one, you might want to get one. It is a great investment. You can preserve all of the short term storage items, like chocolate, for many years, if you ahve them sealed in a jar or in a sealed bag. I have many ready made meals in jars and sealed bags, as well as spices, and things sealed in jars, that will have an 8 – 10 year shelf life instead of a one year life, simply because they are vaccum packed and sealed. Awesome invention!

6. I know they say – ONLY store what you eat – but my theory is this – definitely store what you eat – and learn to eat and use what you should be storing. Learn how to use the survival foods. Just learn it and do it – practise it and make it a way of life for you. Then when time comes to live off of it for survival – you will already be doing it. There is a real thing called appetite fatigue and it can kill people who are not used to eating certain foods and then are forced to eat them. JUST LEARN IT AND USE IT!  You may think that you would never eat wheat anyways, but reality is.....if that is all there is to eat, you will eat it, and you will get sick off it, because you didn't learn to eat it when you should have.

7. Make your preparations now for your easy meals, your easy recipes, and make things readily accessible so that you can rotate and use what you store.  Get a binder or  notebook and put your favorite food storage recipes in it, and make it readily accessible.  Also add to it, possible food storage substitutions, and other information.  The use it!!

8. Food storage tools like, solar ovens, wheat grinders, food savers, pressure canners and the like are worth every penny we invest in them. And in these situations, for these tools, cheaper is not always better. Buy quality, and you will never disappointed. Buy cheap things, thinking you are getting a great deal, and you will likely be frustrated and disappointed.

9. Your food storage containers are so important. If you can't keep out the bugs, rodents, and moisture, you will lose alot of your food. These are your worst enemies. Keep your food dry. Keep is sealed. Don't spend thousands of dollars on food storage and then not take the proper measures to store it. You can find free or cheap buckets at restaurants or ice cream shops or other places like this. People are often more than willing to give them away. Just do a little foot work and you can be assured your storage is safe.

10. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Ask friends and neighbors. Ask people who have knowledge. And most importantly ask Heavenly Father to help you. I have a firm testimony that if you ask HIM, you will see miracles happen that you would never have dreamed of. Are you brave enough to ask..........and then act?

10 Areas of Preparedness

 

Ten Areas of Emergency Preparedness

There are 10 basic areas of being prepared. It is much more than "food storage", so here is a list of some of the other ways we can be prepared. Take these ideas and see how you can implement them in the life of your family.

1. Spiritual – The very first area of preparedness that we should all focus on is our Spiritual Self Preparedness. We simply cannot ignore this area, thinking that if we have our food, then we will be okay. There is no chance of us making it through the tough times, unless we have a spiritual foundation to draw from. It is our spiritual strength that will help us, and others, have an understanding and strength to get through anything, whether it be natural disaster, famine, war, financial colapse, or what have you.

2. Mental / Emotional – This area carries with it a few different dimensions. We can actively be gaining education to strengthen our knowledge of emergency preparedness, survival skills, and whatever else is needed to prepare ourselves. This will help to give us a peace of mind that we have knowledge and skills for survival. It will emotionally strengthen us and others that depend on us. Read books, watch movies, take classes, involve yourself in study / prep groups, do whatever you need to do, to get the valuable information you need.

3. Physical – How is your physical ability to survive if you had to? Could you push or pull wagons, hike long distances, carry a pack on your back, camp out in the wilderness, and do whatever is necessary to keep you and your family alive? Do you know something about nutrition and diet, so that you can keep healthy now and then? Exercise is important for your physical preparedness. You just never know what will be required of you. Take the steps now, to be prepared for when you need.

4. Medical – First aid supplies and sanitation supplies are so vital to survival. Study up on alternative medicine options and procedures as well as the modern day ones. There are lots of options available. If you are actively working on your physical health as well, you might want to work on getting rid of any prescription meds that you have and could possibly do with out. Many of these meds, can be eliminated with healthy eating, physical exercise, and alternate herbs, vitamins, minerals, and others such things. For sanitation, think this one through and how you would help your family through a crisis situation with no sanitation facilities. There are alot of "what if's" to consider in this, so go through the scenarios and decide what will work best, and put the plan into action. Get prepared!

5. Shelter – clothing also goes along with this area. Shelter and proper clothing are what will keep you alive. You can have all the food you want, but if you freeze or cook, you will still die. There are many possible reasons as to why you may have to evacuate your home. Could you do it quickly? Do you have shelter that will be quick and easy to transport and put up? Will your clothing and shelter keep you alive if the weather is really cold? Make sure you have clothing for all ages that are in your family. Have them ready in your go bags, so you don't have to hunt for the survival clothing. Hats, gloves, for both warm and cold weather, sturdy shoes, or boots, all necessary for survival in different temperatures. Think of what you will need to reinforce your shelter, even if it is in your own home, things like: duct tape, nails, plastic sheeting, and so on.

6. Water – I want to stress the fact that I feel very strongly that a two week supply of water, is bare minimum, survival amount, and it is not enough! You will have no cleaning, washing, bathing, or any other water than just to drink and survive, if you only store your minimum two weeks amount. Water is the ONLY thing that will keep your organs functioning properly. You will need it whether it is cold or hot out. You just NEED water. I can't stress this one enough. You need water, NOT juice or milk or other fluids, it really needs to be WATER. And in addition to storing water, store a few really good quality water filters. Store paper eating products, because then you don't have to waste your water with washing dishes. Store Chlorox Bleach, unscented for water purification. Even stale water is better than no water, but stale water can be aerated by a simple process of pouring it back and forth in containers.

7. Food – Know how to use the food you store. Know how to cook it without power. Make sure the food you store has high nutritional value, because under stress you will need all of the strength and energy you can maintain. 90 days of food storage, is short term and is for emergency disaster survival. This has a totally different purpose than the one year supply of long term survival foods. That one year supply is a minimum, and don't stop there. Keep on going, the more you have the longer you and your loved ones around you will live. But I stress, know how to live off the food you have and the tools you have to cook it or use it. Don't wait until the crisis hits and then try to figure it out. You won't have the patience or energy to even care to figure it out at that point.

8. Fuel – Collect as much fuel for as many as the tools you have as possible. Make sure that every family member knows how to use these tools and their proper maintenance. Know the proper methods of storing the various fuels you will need. Also charcoal and wood are always a good thing to have on hand because they are so versatile with cooking and heating. Think of cooking, lighting, and heating. Make a plan and act on that plan of how you will do these three things for an extended period of time.

9. Financial – Being out of debt is important, but not always feasible for all of us. We should all be working as hard as possible for this, but there is even more to it. Pay your bills and taxes on time. Be honest in your dealings. Also have some goods that you would be willing to trade / barter, such as wheat, sugar and other staples of food. Have small amounts of cash on hand, but large amounts aren't going to be a lot of good, because soon money will have no value in certain long term situations. You will not be able to buy things because there will be nothing to buy.

10. Communication – Comminicating to others serves a couple of purposes. You should have a communication plan for your family in case you are ever seperated in a disaster. There should be a specific gathering point that all of your family knows. And they should all have the emergency contact numbers in our emergency kits. How will you communicate to make sure that your friends and family out of area are safe? Do you have an out of area contact that you will all call or reach as a home base? Think through the different scenarios and decide what will work for your family, and then make it happen.

Another 10 Things

10 Ways to Stretch Your Grocery Dollars

1. Buy produce in season and can or freeze your own for the year. Or even better yet, grow your own garden and put away your vegetables and fruits for the coming year. Local farmer's markets, and local growers are a great source to purchase fresh produce, if you don't have the space to grow your own.

2. Shop the sales. I can't stress this one enough. This is the best way to build up your food supply and actually save a whole lot of money. Look through your fliers each week, and when you find something that is a great deal, buy several of them. Don't just buy one or two cans, especially if you know that it is something that you use often, because two weeks from now you will just have to buy another one at full price. Buy a case of them or two, then you know you will make it without buying that item again until it is on sale again. After you do this for a few months, you will amazed at how quickly your shelves will fill at home, and then pretty soon you will find you only shop for things when they are on sale.

3. Buy and cook in bulk. Take advantage of bulk shopping. If you participate in bulk buying clubs, it can save you money. Buy items by the case lots. For example, don't spend $6 on a small bag of rice, when you can purchase a 25lb box for $8. It just makes sense to purchase food this way. Cooking in bulk and freezing or dehydrating meals, can also save money and make life easier as well.

4. Save on protein foods. There are a lot of meat substitutes that are way less expensive than always eating meat. Beans and legumes are the most common ones and are readily available almost anywhere. There are also things like eggs, tofu, textured vegetable protein, wheat meat, and grains. If you will substitute any of these for meat at least a few times a week, you will find that you will save money on your meat bill.

5. Go generic. Most often buying generic brand products will save you money too. Yes, there are certain things that the "brand" might make a difference in the taste, however for most things, a generic or store specific brand is just as good and over the long run, they will save you a ton of money. Often companies will purchase brand name products and simply put their own labels on it.

6. Make things from scratch. If an item is on a great sale, then by all means by a whole whack of them, but if you are buying a package of "Hamburger Helper" for example, when you could make it at home for 1/8 of the price, then it just makes sense to make it yourself. Another example is cake mixes or ready made cookies and things like this. They all cost far more to purchase them ready made than to make from scratch. Find your favorite scratch recipes and keep them in a binder where it is easy to find the recipes and then you will save both time and money, and nutrition – to avoid the preservatives and chemicals.

7. Waste Not. Before you are filling up your shopping cart with perishables, go through the process of knowing how you will use these things. Americans / Canadians generate approximately 30 million tons of food waste each year. Food wasted, is money wasted. Take note on these things and how you can stop the waste of money and food in your home. Also as you are making meals, learn how to be creative with leftovers. Make sandwiches, soups, casseroles, etc.

8. Plant a Garden. I mentioned this briefly in #1. There are so many benefits that go far beyond the fact of saving money, when you plant your own garden. There is nothing better than fresh produce from you own garden. There is nothing better than getting your hands and feet dirty and communicating with the Earth. I always feel this is my best therapy. If you don't have space for a garden, try growing things in containers. There is a whole lot of information you can find on this, out there on the internet. Plus don't forget the fact that you can freeze, can, or dehydrate your own preservative free, healthy foods.

9. Make a menu plan. Make a menu plan for the week or month, then go through your recipes and write out a grocery list. Stick to the list! Too often we go shopping and the biggest problem is our impulse buying. We walk down an isle and something looks good so in the cart it goes. We don't have a list or any idea of what we really need, so we just fill up the cart. This is the worst thing that we could do. We waste so much money this way, and often end up spending more than we had planned. And to top it off we have no idea why we have purchased half of the stuff in our cart.

10. Don't go shopping hungry. Never go grocery shopping when you are hungry or craving something. This is shopping suicide. You will impulse shop, spend way too much money, and get home to find that you have nothing of any nutritional value in your cart and nothing that will last for any length of time. You will then have to go shopping again too soon to get the things that you never got the first time around.

10 Things

 

Okay, so i got sidetracked temporarily from the water storage...........but only for a moment, because I have decided to write a few lists of 10 things each! A great friend of mine is good at lists, and so am I, but I tend to lose my lists, because I am not organized.......so if I share them with you, I won't loose them!! :)

So here goes..........

10 Food Storage Staples

1. Rice is the most versatile staple in your pantry! Rice can be used for hot or cold dishes, all flavors and varieties of ethnic dishes, and combined with another protein, it will make a complete protein. It will sustain life for a long time compared with a variety of other proteins or vegetables.

2. Pasta is definitely one of the cheapest meals you can make. Much like rice, the the options for mix and match are almost endless. It also offers the carbohydrates that we all need and crave to keep us going!

3. Beans are really a powerhouse of nutrition. And when combined with another protein such as rice or grains, they form a complete protein needed by the body. They are relatively inexpensive to purchase, and really easy to use, once one practises just a bit. They are a great substitute for meat if you have issues with eating meat. And they are really nutritious, especially if you learn to sprout them.

4. Rolled Oats is another grain that is so versatile. It can be used as cooked or cold cereal, mixed into cooking like meatloaf and hamburger, or used greatly in baking. It can be ground into flour and replace wheat flour in any recipe. It is very inexpensive and very nutritious, and has a long shelf life.

5. Canned meats are fairly inexpensive, especially if you buy them in bulk when they are on sale. The are a cheap source of protein and can be used in sandwiches, casseroles, salads, and a variety of other foods. They have a fairly good shelf life and a great variety, such as tuna, ham, chicken, turkey, salmon, and others. You can can your own meats, dehydrate meats, or use other meat substitutes as well.

6. Sugar is a must. I know some of us think we can get by without much sugar, however it is necessary in our diets, especially if we are doing our own baking and cooking from scratch. We need the calories, and we need the SWEET! It is an essential food for cooking and for comfort. Don't underestimate the power that a variety of sugars could have. White, browns, powdered, syrups, honeys, among others are the options available out there for sugars

7. Seasonings are important, because let's face it, rice and beans with no flavor are going to get pretty boring after awhile. They will keep you alive, but you won't be enjoying the journey. Dried or powdered garlic is probably one of the best and most versatile flavorings to have. Then remember some dried onions, oregano, salts, and peppers, and whatever your family's favorites are, have a supply of them so your family can stay happy!

8. Oil is another staple. We are always told to have this in our food storage supply. And until you do alot of baking and cooking yourself, and you all of a sudden run out, you don't realize the value of it. It doesn't have a really long shelf life, but is so important.  It also carries the valuable fats that your body will need when in survival mode.

9. Powdered Milk is another essential that will offer important viatmins and nutrition, especially if you have small children. It is something that can be used as a drink, but also in so much of your baking and cooking. It is easy to hide in recipes, because when combined with other foods, people can't "taste" it. But speaking from experience, when you use it often enough, you will get used to the taste, even the kids will drink it.

10. Wheat is my final, but not least important item. Wheat is vital to sustaining life for a long period of time if you are actually in that type of situation. It can be used in so many ways. We think that we can only grind it into flour, but it can be used as a great meat substitute in so many ways. Wheat when sprouted is a powerhouse full of nutrition and contains all of the essential vitamins and minerals needed to survive, including being packed with vitamin C! Wheat is definitely a grain that will sustain life for a long period of time.

Water

 WATER!  WATER!  DO YOU HAVE WATER?

"You are the generation that must be prepared! You live in the midst of economic, political, and spiritual instability. When you see these signs, unmistakable evidences that His coming is nigh, be not troubled, but Stand in Holy Places and be not moved until the day of the Lord comes." - President Ezra Taft Benson

Without water, life would cease to exist.  Yet today, nearly one billion people, approximately 1 in 8, lack access to clean water.  More than twice that many don't have access to a toilet. 

Hopefully, (wishful thinking) we will never find ourselves in a similar situation to some that I will talk about this week.  I have decided to put together some information this week on the water crisis facing our world, in hopes to spur those of us who can prepare, to prepare......so that hopefully we will not find ourselves in a water crisis situation.  Keep checking back for more updates as I find more info throughout the week or so.  The updates will be here at www.todaywhilethesunshines.blogspot.com .  I have also found some great school curriculum to help teach us about water and the water crisis in our world, at http://water.org/learn-about-the-water-crisis/lessonplan/ Check it out if you are looking for ideas to teach your kids, yourself, or great Family Home Evening lessons on the importance of water.

Then take the time to ACT in whatever ways you can.....whether preparing your family......or helping someone else.  There are many charitable organizations out there that help to build wells in underdeveloping countries, and lots of opportunities like that, but even if we look around us, we will find that we have ample opportunities right in our own communities to help out.

A few water statistics (taken from water.org) 

1. Without food a person can live for weeks, but without water you expect to live only a few days. 

2. The daily requirement for sanitation, bathing, and cooking needs, as well as for assuring survival, is about 13.2 gallons per person.

3. More than 3.5 million people die each year from water-related disease; 85 percent are children, ages 0-14.  43% of the water related deaths in all ages, are due to diarrhea, which 90% of these are children under 5 years of age, mostly in developing countries .  Nearly all deaths, 98 percent, occur in the developing world.  Children in poor environments often carry 1000 parasitic worms in their bodies at any time.  1.4 million children die as a result of diarrhea each year.

4. 884 million people, lack access to safe water supplies.  Approximately one in eight people.  Lack of access to clean water and sanitation kills children at a rate equivalent of a jumbo jet crashing ever four hours.  The water and sanitation crisis claims more lives through disease than any war claims through guns.

5. Lack of sanitation is the world's biggest cause of infection.  At any given time, half of the world's hospital beds are occupied by patients suffering from a water related disease.

6. Millions of women and children spend several hours each day collecting water from distant, often polluted sources.  This is time not spent working at an income-generating job, caring for family members, or attending school. 

5. An American/Canadian taking a five-minute shower uses more water than the typical person living in a developing country slum uses in a whole day.

5. 443 million school days are lost each year due to water related illness.

 

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1953379_1953494_1954584,00.html  Post earthquake water crisis in Haiti.  A good article that talks a small bit about the crisis that Haiti faces with water right now.

 

Water Storage And Purification Author Unknown

In Honduras 9,000 people died in the hurricane. In the 5 weeks following, 35,000 people died from bad water. A good water filter or chlorine to purify water can mean the difference in life or death. Without this, you only have a couple of days. Drinking "bad" water can be fatal and usually is fatal if the Medical system is down. Lack of water will kill in three days... and after 36 hours, your judgment is seriously impaired.

The Church has set guidelines to store one gallon/per person/per day for two weeks. This means you need to store 14 gallons for each member of your family. Folks, this is not enough water to meet the needs of most families in crisis. We use more water than that. The average person uses 72 gallons per day for all their needs including cooking, drinking, and cleaning.

You must also have the ability to purify water after your initial supply has been exhausted. This can be as simple as chlorine and a simple pool testing kit. This is inexpensive and very effective. Be sure to store your water supply in a cool dark area on pieces of wood (not directly on concrete or dirt) [see Issue #13]. Be sure to use the correct storage container. A good water container is airtight, breakage resistant (no glass), and is made of material that won't rust or affect flavor. Bacteria growth will be discouraged if the container is both airtight and opaque, as bacteria needs both air and light to grow. Algae is green, but isn't harmful, just unsightly.

Remember that water weighs approximately 8 lbs. per gallon. Do not store more than 15 gallons of water (about 125 lbs) in any container that is meant to be portable. Rotate water storage every year. The water does not go bad; it just gets flat and tastes bad. It can get green algae, and makes the water a "hard sell" to children and even some husbands. Green Kool-Aid will disguise it.

This storage is of course a band-aid on the big problem. After your storage is used up, you will need to replenish the supply. A good filter or chlorine to purify water can mean the difference in life or death.

Storage methods: 55 gallon plastic barrels are a great way to store water because they store the most water in the least space and require the least effort for rotation. You need a hose or siphon pump to get the water out, and these barrels are great to collect new water such as rainwater from your roof downspout. Use only brand new barrels. Used barrels will continue to leak out the product that was first put into those barrels.

Water purification methods: Clorox Bleach - Please do not use; unless you have nothing else! At best - it will cause diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, and on the worst side, bleeding ulcers. Your great, great grandmother might have had to use this product because it was all they had to make water pure, but this is not true today. The part of Clorox Bleach they sought was Chlorine. That is the part we want. But there are so many other ingredients in this product that hurt and do not heal.

Boiling - minimum of 10 minutes, and up to 20 minutes; so you must have stored a lot of fuel. It requires 20 minutes or more to kill giardia. Water tastes very flat after this kind of boiling. Very effective if done long enough. Needs a huge storage of fuel. Store flavoring for your water: tang, powder drink,etc.

Iodine - bad side effects such as thyroid storm in some women. It has a peculiar odor and taste that some people cannot tolerate. Never use for more than 72 hours at any one time. During a nuclear crisis, iodine may provide the added benefit of preventing the thyroid gland from radioactive disruption.

Purifiers - cost lots of money and are very slow. The filter should be a maximum size of .02 microns or it will be no good for giardia. A Porcelain type is used by the Red Cross to the Green Berets. This will take out types of Radiation (Alpha and Beta).

Chlorine - this is the way almost all cities do it - very cheap and it works - available at any spa & pool store. In the "Joint Chief of Staff Anti-Terrorism report of October 2002", put out at the start of the war, February 2003; this is what they report works and is what they recommend. You must buy a measuring kit as well. It is very slow acting, so time is needed to allow it to work. It needs about 24 hours to work and repeated if there is no measurable free-floating chlorine. To remove the chlorine taste, cover loosely, and let stand for another 24 hours and the chlorine evaporates. Be sure to measure the chlorine before you allow it to evaporate. If there is no measurable chlorine, there may still be bacteria in the water. Store flavoring for your water: tang, powdered drink, powdered milk, Kool-Aid --- Something!

Colloidal Silver - The Micro Silver Bullet of the past AND the future. History: In the milking industry they often use a silver milk pail on a warm day; the milk will not spoil quickly. Plagues in Europe: Wealthy families gave their children silver spoons to eat with and they did not catch the "Black Death". Pioneers used to put silver dollars in canteens and water containers. Pioneers used to suck on silver dollars when they felt ill. Proven that it works with water purification, as well and against many diseases.

52 Weeks, Week 52

Our ward preparedness blogs:

www.todaywhilethesunshines.blogspot.com

www.1stpreparedness.blogspot.com

We are finished our 52 weeks to preparedness.  I hope that it has been helpful for at least some of you to help build your storage through this last year of 2009.  During 2010 I will continue on with a weekly bulletin insert and a monthly newsletter.  It won't be quite the same thing, but will still give suggestions on preparation weekly and monthly.  Keep up the great work, preparedness never ends, it is an ongoing process!

Remember my motto for 2010 is D&C 88:118,119 - Prepare Every Needful Thing - Establishing a House of Order!

 

52 Weeks to Family Preparedness for Two

Week 52

President Brigham Young "My faith does not lead me, to think the Lord will provide us with roast pigs, bread already buttered, etc.; He will give us the ability to raise the grain, to obtain the fruits of the earth, to make habitations, to procure a few boards to make a box, and when harvest comes, giving us the grain, it is for us to preserve it-to save the wheat until we have one, two, five, or seven years' provisions on hand, until there is enough of the staff of life saved by the people to bread themselves and those who will come here seeking for safety. Ye Latter-day Saints, learn to sustain yourselves."

Food Storage and Preparedness Challenge Of The Week:

Food Storage Purchase 5 Quarts of cooking oil in small containers

Extra Item Purchase 2 Quarts of Peanut Butter also in small containers

Family Prep: Have you thought about what your children might need in case of an emergency when your not around? If it's beginning to get dark, are the flashlights in an accessible location? Are fresh batteries with them? Did you check the light bulb and store a spare? Do you have snacks ready to grab for them? Do you have bedding in a location that can be used if the house is locked up? Have you discussed with the older children where emergency supplies: phone numbers, money (phone), and shut offs are in case they are home alone with the younger kids are? Do you have meeting place pre-picked to go to? If not, now is the time to get these things done. Don't put it off, knowledge now could save lives and heartache. It also helps eliminate fear, and give you peace of mind knowing that the kids are taken care of.

Spiritual Preparedness: Put your lives in order and all else seems to take it's proper order....D&C 88:118,119

A Houston Member's Experience With Hurricane Ike

....Just to let you know that we are doing well. We have a 6'x6' hole in our roof, no electricity, or running water, Trees down everywhere. However, because we listened to the counsel of our Prophet, we were prepared. In fact, it seems to me that it's only the members of the church who seem to be calm, prepared, and helping one another with trees on roofs, flooding, etc.

There is a Point of Distribution in Tomball, TX where we live (slightly northwest of Houston). There, you get water and ice IF you have enough fuel to wait in the 3-hour lines. We don't have to do that because we have 3 full water barrels, 75 juice bottles filled with water, and our pool, which is dirty but we use it to flush.

I am grateful that we have a generator. We run it 4 hours a day to keep our fridge running and to give us light. I am grateful that we have had fuel for it. You can't even buy gas containers as they are rationed. We can only buy bread once a week and are limited to 2 loaves at a time. Water is rationed by the case at the grocery store; 3 cases per family.

The ATM machines do not have power. For the past 6 months I had stashed small bills away because I have had such a feeling of foreboding. We have cash because of that. LISTEN TO THE SPIRIT! Get cash in small bills because the stores can't make change, and credit and debit cards often don't work. I had to pay 5 dollars more for an item because they couldn't make change for me, and . . . PHONES ONLY WORK OCCASIONALLY.

Believe it or not...I have not had a bath in 4 days. Today was the first day I got to wash my hair with pool water. I haven't fixed my hair in a week!!! It just doesn't matter anymore. We

can not do laundry because we don't have water. So, we wear our clothes until they are literally disgusting. When we do finally get water, we will have to boil it since it is contaminated.

Please get your generators, 5 gas cans full of gas, canned goods, baby items, baby wipes to bathe, and all the water you can store...even if you have to trip on it in your home. Have your lanterns, crank flashlights, tarps, rope, etc., ready to go because you never know when it will be your turn to endure the test.

52 Weeks, Week 51

 www.1stpreparedness.blogspot.com

www.todaywhilethesunshines.blogspot.com

 

52 Weeks to Family Preparedness for Two

Week 51

"Economic and social conditions appear most ominous worldwide today. With revelation and prophecy as our guide, I think it is not extreme for me to say that when all is written about our present generation, it may truly be said that we had hardly enough time to prepare to meet the impending crisis. I venture to say that all our spiritual and  emporal resources will be taxed to the very limit. The Lord has declared: If ye are prepared ye shall not fear." Ezra Taft Benson, "Ministering to Needs through the Lord's Storehouse System"

Food Storage and Preparedness Challenge Of The Week:

Food Storage Purchase     8 Cans of Tomato Sauce

Extra Item Purchase         8 Rolls of Toilet Paper

Family Prep: It is important for every member of the family to know where important utility valves and shut-offs are located in the house. It is also important to know where important papers, emergency supplies and other important resources are stored. A simple floor plan of each floor of your home drawn on graph paper will be of great assistance. Include in the plan primary and alternate routes of evacuation from all locations in the house.

Spiritual Preparedness: Read - Helaman 5:12, Check your foundation and see where there may be cracks, and do what is necessary to repair and strengthen them.

Rice should be part of your family's long term storage. It falls in the grain category.

Store Times: White Long-Grain (20 yrs +) Parboiled (10 yrs) Brown Rice (3 yrs)

If your family are big rice eaters you will probably want to increase the amount you store. If you don't want to store pasta or barley you will double the amount you would store. Rice is cheap right now so store lots and get it soon.

Rice Facts:

- Rice is the staple that nourishes two-thirds of the world's population

- Rice is a complex carbohydrate source that is low in fat and calories

- Rice contributes over 15 essential nutrients to the diet, rich in B-vitamins, potassium, magnesium and iron

- Most white rice has been enriched – do not rinse it before cooking

- At 103-108 calories per ½ cup serving, rice is a low-calorie food

- Over 85% of rice's calories come from energy-providing complex carbohydrates

- Less than one percent of rice's calories come from fat

- Rice is naturally sodium and cholesterol free

- A ½ cup of brown rice counts as one serving of whole grains

- Research reveals that in Asia 132 pounds of rice is consumed per person each year (23 % of daily calories)

- Americans obtain only 1 percent of their daily calories from rice

- Approximately 90% of the rice consumed in the United States is grown in the United States

- Nearly half of the U.S. rice crop is exported to over 100 countries

- When paired with beans, can provide all essential amino-acids for a complete source of protein

• One cup rice yields about 3-4 cups cooked rice

A House of Order - January 2010 Newsletter

Happy New Year!!

Can you believe it is 2010??? As I have pondered what to do for the year 2010 - I have felt the Spirit of the Lord guiding me. This scripture - D&C 88:119 - is one of my favorite scriptures. I use it as my home motto - even though some things I am great at and others…..I have a long way to go. The time for each of us to establish "A House of Order" is long overdue, and is needed so desperately in our lives today. I am making it my goal, to work really hard to make my house A House of Order this year.

D&C 88:119 Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God.

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

 

72 Hour and Emergency Evacuation Kits

Once again we will be working on building up our various kits. We are going to focus first on our Emergency Evac Kits - as we will be having a great adventure later this year, in which we will get a chance to test them out. So let's work on getting them up to the task.

For this month, make sure you have:

Emergency blankets for everyone

Water purification tablets and canteens

Several plastic tarps, enough to cover your tents, and / or make shelters if needed

Gather all your medical / immunization records for the family and put them into your evacuation binder.

Stock up by the Week

Throughout the month, purchase the following items to help build your supplies. Buy the largest amount possible within your budget and store it. Date it, and rotate it. If you miss something, keep going.

Medicines, and first aid supplies

Laundry detergent, bleach, and cleaning supplies

Personal supplies like feminine products, and toothpaste

Family Home Evening Ideas

Water Storage

Songs: The Wise and the Foolish Man

Give Said the Little Stream

The Iron Rod

Book of Mormon Story: Lehi and Nephi's visions of the Tree of Life

Read 1 Nephi 8: 5-38 and 1 Nephi 12:16-18

Discussion: What ran along next to the rod of iron and the strait and narrow path? What body of water did the strait and narrow path go past, where many were drowned? What was the water like in the fountain?

Objectives: Lehi and Nephi saw filthy water as a symbol of the filthiness in the world that can drown our spirits and keep us from following the path to eternal life with our families. Just as clean water is essential to the healthy life of our bodies, clean living is essential to the healthy life of our spirits.

We should prepare for emergencies by storing clean water and equipment to purify water. We can also learn how to purify water.

Activity Ideas:

Choose purification methods your family will use. Purify some root beer and see what happens.

Fill or refill your water storage containers

Find the water intake for your house and learn how to turn it off. Find other sources for water within your home.

Store water in your 72 hour kits, for two weeks, and for longer term, if possible.

Treat ideas:

Root beer floats

Smoothies

Things We Can Learn From Noah's Ark

Speed isn't always an advantage. The turtles, were on board with the cheetahs. Just do what you can do, and be consistent and persistent. J

A Thought:

"Reading habits vary widely. There are rapid readers and slow readers, some who read only small snatches at a time and others who persist without stopping until the book is finished. Those who delve into the scriptural library, however, find that to understand requires more than casual reading or perusal - there must be concentrated study. It is certain that one who studies the scriptures every day accomplishes far more than one who devotes considerable time one day and then lets days go by before continuing. Not only should we study each day, but there should be a regular time set aside when we can concentrate without interference…..Perhaps what is more important than the hour of the day is that a regular time be set aside for study. It would be ideal if an hour could be spent each day; but if that much cannot be had, a half hour on a regular basis would result in substantial accomplishment. A quarter of an hour is little time, but it is surprising how much enlightenment and knowledge can be acquired in a subject so meaningful. The important thing is to allow nothing else to ever interfere with our study." President Howard W. Hunter

 

52 Weeks, Week 50

 

52 Weeks to Family Preparedness for Two

Week 50

"For the righteous the gospel provides a warning before a calamity, a program for the crises, a refuge for each disaster," said Elder Ezra Taft Benson . "The Lord has warned us of famines, but the righteous will have listened to prophets and stored at least a year's supply of survival food." ("Prepare Ye," Ensign, Jan. 1974, 69)

Food Storage and Preparedness Challenge Of The Week:

Food Storage Purchase 2 lbs. Bouillon Cubes

Extra Item Purchase 30 lbs. of Beans

Family Prep: To start the new year right it is probably time to recheck our BOB's (Bug Out Bags). If you use a backpack are the straps frayed? Seams tight and sealed against water infiltration? Are grommets tight and not frayed? If these items are not up to snuff maybe it's time to fix it or get something new if the pack can't be fixed. If you use a bucket, is the handle free of cracks, is the bucket sound and not fragile? If left in the sun buckets do break down and need to be replaced. What about the weight you are carrying? What is missing? What condition is your BOB in?

Spiritual Preparedness: Have personal prayer and scripture study each day for three weeks. It takes three weeks to start a new habit.

Milk Carton 72 Hour Kits

Large milk or juice cartons are cleverly used to store enough food that one could live on for 3 days. Each carton is washed with soapy water and dried. If you are making one for each person in your family you may want to save the cartons up and prepare them all at once. For every kit you make you will also need a 2 litre pop bottle filled with water to be used to prepare the food. Each carton once prepared has a shelf life of 2 years. For each kit you will need:

2 packages of gum, 14 pieces of hard candy, 2 fruit rolls, 3 packages of crackers, 1 can of nutritious soup, 2 instant soup packages, 2 packages of hot chocolate mix, 1 1/2 cups of trail mix, 2 sticks of beef jerky, 2 packages of apple cider mix, 1 small can of apple juice, 4 granola bars

Pack these items in the milk carton. Place large items in first and tuck smaller items in empty spaces. The fit is very tight. Once everything has been put into the kit, staple it shut. Tape the top with duck tape and tape the pop bottle filled with water to the kit. Label the kit with the date that you made it and the best before date. Also attach a list of the contents and a menu to each carton. Cover any label that needs to last with clear packing tape so the information is there when you need it even if the kit were to get wet. Replace the kit every 2 years so that the food stays flavorful and nutritious.

MENU: Day 1

Breakfast: 2 granola bars, one can of juice

Lunch: 1 package soup mix, 1 package soda crackers

Dinner: 1 stick beef jerky, 1 fruit roll

Snacks: 4 pieces candy, 3 sticks gum

MENU: Day 2

Breakfast: 1/2 the trail mix, hot chocolate

Lunch: 1 stick beef jerky, 1 apple cider mix

Dinner: canned soup, 1 package of soda crackers

Snacks: 5 pieces of candy, 4 sticks of gum

MENU: Day 3

Breakfast: 1/2 the trail mix, 1 apple cider mix

Lunch: 1 package soup mix, 1 package of soda crackers

Dinner: 2 granola bars, 1 fruit roll, 1 hot chocolate mix

Snacks: 4 pieces of candy, 3 sticks of gum

52 Weeks, Week 49

 

52 Weeks to Family Preparedness for Two

Week 49

"When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God will endow us with power." ~ Ezra Ezra Taft Benson ~

Food Storage and Preparedness Challenge Of The Week:

Food Storage Purchase Fruit Drink Mix to make 30 qts.

Extra Item Purchase 20 lbs. of Oats

Family Prep: Do you have your evacuation plan ready for your family? Have you reviewed it lately? Do you have your lists ready? What would you grab in 3 minutes? 10 minutes? 30 minutes? If you knew you would be back in a few days? If you knew it would be several weeks? If you didn't know if you would ever come back? Get a notebook and start doing some planning! Then put the plans into action.

Spiritual Preparedness: Read and study Mosiah 5:15, Ask yourself these questions:

• What does it mean to be steadfast and immovable?

• How can I become steadfast and immovable?

• What blessings are associated with being steadfast and immovable?

Hold a family home evening and discuss this as a family and what you can do, what goals you can make to be more steadfast and immovable as disciples of Christ.

Storage Notes for a Rainy Day

Phyllis Hooker, Ensign June 1977

My children woke the other morn "Dad! Mom! There's something wrong! There's no heat in the heaters and the TV won't go on. The bathroom light won't function. Is it just the bulb that's old? Nothing in this whole house works. It's drafty and it's cold!" I rose in semi-stupor. Stubbed my toe against a chair. "I ought to have a candle. I know there's one somewhere." "Fear not," I told my children. "We'll weather out the storm. Because we have a fireplace to keep us somewhat warm." "We're hungry, Mom. Where's breakfast? Could you make something hot?" We piled logs in the fireplace, and then...a sudden thought: When cooking in a fireplace, what things should I aquire? Just how long would my frypans last atop an open fire? Within the house a fired glowed, outside was cold and bleak. Our meager wood and coal supplies would last about a week. "Hooray! Hooray!" the children cried. "Oh, this is really neat!" I thought, "It's good we have our food. For a year, at least, we'll eat" The baby needed to be changed, and then the thought did strike: However would I launder clothes, to keep them clean and bright? Assuming I had water, a fire and a pan..... I'd hate to have to wash and wring those diapers out by hand. We've always stored some water in an emptied-out bleach jug. We opened up a gallon, poured it out to drink and....ugh!! I'd also filled some fruit jars with the water from the sink. It was processed in my canner and was easier to drink. "My mittens need repairing." "There's a button off this dress." I've stored buttons, thread, and needles, extra fabric, and I guess I could darn most things quite handily, from socks right up to suits. But suppose the broken item, was a pair of leather boots? I have lots of baking soda, for all its many uses. From toothpaste and a cleaner, to the cookies it produces. I've string and twine and medicines, and ammonia to help me cope With cleaning up the dirt and germs. But how did pioneers make soap? I must save my old newspapers. Might there be a paper ration? They're used for wrapping garbage and making good insulation. Soak the papers in detergent, roll them into logs, then dry. They will give a bright, warm fire, and almost free supply. I must have thought of everything. Oh, no. One thing can spoil it. I have the toilet paper, but what about the toilet? That night we piled into our beds. "It's cold! The wind! It blows! How nice hot water bottles would feel against our frozen toes." Next day I woke up early, and the crisis was long gone. Everything was back to normal – even the TV set was on. Water dripped into the sinks, the downstairs lights all burned. It was nice to have them on again after the lessons we'd learned. Though yesterday was trying, it's troubles had been shared. Our family had decided that we'd better get prepared .Some folks might think we're silly, like whistling in the dark. Still, we know it wasn't raining when Noah built his ark.