I feel like such a Horrible Mother!! Chianna, my 2 year old, fell out of the van on Sunday. She ended up having a concussion, so I had to wake her up every two hours all night Sunday night, so she was grumpy on Monday. Then, on top of the runny nose she already had, her nose is all scraped up (along with the rest of her face) so she doesn't want us to blow her nose anymore, because it hurts. I can't get her to take any Benedryl so her nose WON'T run (Skipp hid some in her juice this morning and she took it, he's sneaky like that). Plus she doesn't want top eat anything, SIGH.
All she wants to do is lay down or be held. Daddy held her most of the day yesterday while I was at work, and this morning, I got called in to work again for a couple of hours, now that I am home, she doesn't want anything to do with me.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
My Food Storage Talk 2-21-09
Brothers and Sisters, I thank you for coming this morning. Several weeks ago, I was called to be the Food Storage Specialist. I have to admit, my first thought was “Have you seen my pantry? I don’t have any food storage.” Over the past few weeks, I have been studying and researching, and beginning my own food storage plan, and I welcome the opportunity to stand here today and talk about this subject. The church has a pamphlet called “All is safely gathered in.” The introduction in this pamphlet says “ We ask that you be wise as you store food and water and build your savings. Do not go into debt to establish your food storage al lat once. With careful planning, you can, over time, establish a home storage supply and a financial reserve.” This is signed by the First Presidency, February 2007.
Even with everything the church has taught, statistics done by the church show that no matter what the church does, no more than 15% of families have adequate storage.
Roger K. Young said, "I can't tell you how many times I have talked with people who are wonderful, faithful members of the Church, some even who are ward and stake leaders, who don't have enough food storage to last more than a week or so. (Even when they have been well blessed in material possessions and income.) In our discussions about how the counsel for food storage has been repeated by every prophet for over 60 years they commonly respond that with all of the other issues they are dealing with, food storage just isn't very high on the priority list.
President Ezra Taft Benson said "Too often we bask in our comfortable complacency and rationalize that the ravages of war, economic disaster, famine, and earthquake cannot happen here. Those who believe this are either not acquainted with the revelations of the Lord, or they do not believe them. Those who smugly think these calamities will not happen, that they somehow will be set aside because of the righteousness of the Saints, are deceived and will rue the day they harbored such a delusion.
It is in our human nature to think that terrible things will never happen to us. However things do happen. In December 2007 Kansas was hit with an Ice storm, which knocked out power for a few hours, to a few days depending on where you were. Some of you were affected by that storm.
President Benson also said, “When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God will endow us with power.”
How do we become obedient to the Lord where food storage is concerned?
Doctrine and Covenant chapter 78, verses 13 and 14 tell us that the church and its members are commanded by the Lord to be self-reliant and Independent.
President Hinckley counseled us to “We can begin ever so modestly. We can begin with a one week’s food supply and gradually build it to a month, and then to three months. I am speaking now of food to cover basic needs. As all of you recognize, this counsel is not new. But I fear that so many feel that a long-term food supply is so far beyond their reach that they make no effort at all. Begin in a small way, my brethren, and gradually build toward a reasonable objective.”
While researching this subject, I found a wonderful article online written by a lady named Melanie Cooper. She wrote, “Years ago I began storing food for our family truly believing I would someday be done. I have since learned that food storage is like laundry. You may catch up from time to time but the task is never truly finished. If left undone for too long the task becomes seemingly insurmountable.”
Now I am not going to sit up here and tell you what you should or should not store. What and how much to store depends on what you will eat and how many are in your family. For instance, most of the food calculators say to store a certain amount for kids up to age 12, but my 11 year old eats more than I do, so obviously I need to store adult sized portions for him.
When planning your food storage, you also need to think of who is in your family. If you have a baby, are you storing baby food? Or a way to make baby food out of what you have? How about pets? Most cats could survive on mice, but a spoiled house pet like Brother Hudson’s dog would not survive. Do you have pet food in your storage?
The most successful families who keep up with food storage are the ones who eat what they store.
If you have no storage at all, like me up until a month ago, it really is easy to get started. Take a look at what you eat now. How many of your recipes have ingredients that can be stored?
For instance, I make a chicken pie that uses a can of chicken, a can of cream of chicken soup and a can of peas and carrots. If I have each of those items, I can make a chicken pie, and create a nutritious meal for my family.
If I have 52 cans of each of those, I have one meal per week for a year. Now I do the same with 6 other meals, and I have a year’s supply of food. I will need basic staples to go with it, like flour (or wheat) and water. Now every time I make one of my storage meals, I use my food storage and replace it.
Obviously, I am not going to go out and purchase 52 cans of chicken all at once. However, if every time I plan to make that meal, I purchase enough to make it two or three times, I will gradually build up my food storage.
Some people use the excuse that they don’t have food storage, but they have money in savings to purchase food in an emergency. Did you know that most grocery stores carry only a two to three day supply of food on their shelves which is replenished by a delivery truck? What happens if the trucks can’t get through? How quickly are the stores going to run out of food if everyone is rushing to the store for supplies?
Being prepared is only as hard as you make it. Start out simple, buy extras of things you will actually use, and do a little bit at a time. Doctrine and Covenants 38:30 tells us that “If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear.” When the ice storm, or the tornado, or the hurricane hits, it is already too late. Today is the time to prepare.
Food storage is an important part of our lives. It should be high on our priority lists. We cannot become complacent. Terrible things can, have, and will happen. If we are obedient, self-reliant, and independent, we will be able to weather the storm.
Start small, store what you eat. Be prepared so you don’t have to fear.
I want to close with an anecdote I found online. The Author is listed as unknown, but the topic is prudent to this talk.
The Parable of Gomer
These are the generations of Gomer, son of Homer, son of Omer. And in the days of Gomer, Noah, the Prophet, went unto the people saying, “Prepare ye for the flood which is to come, yea, build yourselves a boat, that ye may not perish.”
Now, Gomer was a member of the Church, and taught Sunday School and played, yea, even on the ward softball team. And Gomer’s wife said unto him, “Come, let us build unto ourselves a boat as the Prophet commandeth, that we may not perish in the flood.” But behold, Gomer saith unto his wife, “Worry not, dear wife, for if the flood comes the government will provide boats for us.”
And Gomer did not build a boat. And Gomer’s wife went unto Noah and she returned saying, “Behold, Honey, the Prophet saith unto us, “Build a boat, that we may preserve ourselves, for the government pays men not to grow trees, wherefore the government hath not the lumber to build for you a boat.”
And Gomer answered saying, “Fear not, oh wife, for am I not the star pitcher on the ward softball team?Wherefore, the Church will provide for us a boat, that we will perish not.”
And Gomer’s wife went again unto Noah, and she returned unto Gomer, saying, “Behold, mine husband, the Prophet saith that the Church hath not enough lumber to build a boat for everyone, wherefore, mine husband, build for us a boat that we might not perish in the flood.” And Gomer answered her saying, “Behold, if we build a boat, when the flood cometh, will not our neighbors overpower us and take from us our boat; wherefore, what doth it profit a man to build a boat?”
And Gomer’s wife went again unto Noah and she returned, saying, “Behold, the Prophet saith, build unto yourselves a boat, and have faith, for if ye do the Lord’s bidding, He will preserve your boat for you.” But Gomer answered his wife, saying, “Behold, with this inflation, the price of wood has gone sky high, and if we wait awhile, perhaps the price will go down again. And then I will build for us a boat.”
And Gomer’s wife went again unto Noah, and she returned saying, “Thus saith the Prophet, build for yourselves a boat RIGHT NOW, for the price of wood will not go down, but will continue to go up. Wherefore, oh husband, build for ourselves a boat, that we may perish not.” But Gomer answered his wife, saying, “Behold, for 120 years Noah hath told us to build a boat, to preserve us from the flood, but hath the flood come? Yea, I say, nay. Wherefore, perhaps the flood will not come for another hundred and twenty years.
And Gomer’s wife went again unto Noah and returned saying, “The Prophet saith, he knows it has been 120 years, but nevertheless, the flood will come, wherefore, build unto yourselves a boat.”
And Gomer answered her saying, “Wherewith shall we get the money to build ourselves a boat, for are we not now making monthly payments on our snazzy new four horsepower chariot? Wherefore, when our payments end, perhaps we shall build ourselves a boat.”
And Gomer’s wife went again unto Noah and returned saying, “Behold, the Prophet saith that we should cut down on our recreation, and our vacations, and even give each other lumber for Christmas, that we might thereby get enough lumber to build a boat.”
But Gomer saith unto her, “What a drag! Are we to cease enjoying life, just because we must build a boat?”
Wherefore, Gomer built not a boat. But behold, one afternoon Gomer heard thunder in the sky, and he feared exceedingly and he ran, yea, even to the lumber yard to buy lumber. But behold, the lumber store was crowded with great multitudes, all seeking to buy lumber, and there was not enough lumber to be found for the multitudes.
And on the same day were all the fountains of the deep opened, and the windows of heaven were broken up, and the floods came — and behold, Gomer had no boat. And as the water rose above Gomer’s waist, his wife saith unto him, “Behold, Honey, I told thee so!”
Author Unknown
Even with everything the church has taught, statistics done by the church show that no matter what the church does, no more than 15% of families have adequate storage.
Roger K. Young said, "I can't tell you how many times I have talked with people who are wonderful, faithful members of the Church, some even who are ward and stake leaders, who don't have enough food storage to last more than a week or so. (Even when they have been well blessed in material possessions and income.) In our discussions about how the counsel for food storage has been repeated by every prophet for over 60 years they commonly respond that with all of the other issues they are dealing with, food storage just isn't very high on the priority list.
President Ezra Taft Benson said "Too often we bask in our comfortable complacency and rationalize that the ravages of war, economic disaster, famine, and earthquake cannot happen here. Those who believe this are either not acquainted with the revelations of the Lord, or they do not believe them. Those who smugly think these calamities will not happen, that they somehow will be set aside because of the righteousness of the Saints, are deceived and will rue the day they harbored such a delusion.
It is in our human nature to think that terrible things will never happen to us. However things do happen. In December 2007 Kansas was hit with an Ice storm, which knocked out power for a few hours, to a few days depending on where you were. Some of you were affected by that storm.
President Benson also said, “When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God will endow us with power.”
How do we become obedient to the Lord where food storage is concerned?
Doctrine and Covenant chapter 78, verses 13 and 14 tell us that the church and its members are commanded by the Lord to be self-reliant and Independent.
President Hinckley counseled us to “We can begin ever so modestly. We can begin with a one week’s food supply and gradually build it to a month, and then to three months. I am speaking now of food to cover basic needs. As all of you recognize, this counsel is not new. But I fear that so many feel that a long-term food supply is so far beyond their reach that they make no effort at all. Begin in a small way, my brethren, and gradually build toward a reasonable objective.”
While researching this subject, I found a wonderful article online written by a lady named Melanie Cooper. She wrote, “Years ago I began storing food for our family truly believing I would someday be done. I have since learned that food storage is like laundry. You may catch up from time to time but the task is never truly finished. If left undone for too long the task becomes seemingly insurmountable.”
Now I am not going to sit up here and tell you what you should or should not store. What and how much to store depends on what you will eat and how many are in your family. For instance, most of the food calculators say to store a certain amount for kids up to age 12, but my 11 year old eats more than I do, so obviously I need to store adult sized portions for him.
When planning your food storage, you also need to think of who is in your family. If you have a baby, are you storing baby food? Or a way to make baby food out of what you have? How about pets? Most cats could survive on mice, but a spoiled house pet like Brother Hudson’s dog would not survive. Do you have pet food in your storage?
The most successful families who keep up with food storage are the ones who eat what they store.
If you have no storage at all, like me up until a month ago, it really is easy to get started. Take a look at what you eat now. How many of your recipes have ingredients that can be stored?
For instance, I make a chicken pie that uses a can of chicken, a can of cream of chicken soup and a can of peas and carrots. If I have each of those items, I can make a chicken pie, and create a nutritious meal for my family.
If I have 52 cans of each of those, I have one meal per week for a year. Now I do the same with 6 other meals, and I have a year’s supply of food. I will need basic staples to go with it, like flour (or wheat) and water. Now every time I make one of my storage meals, I use my food storage and replace it.
Obviously, I am not going to go out and purchase 52 cans of chicken all at once. However, if every time I plan to make that meal, I purchase enough to make it two or three times, I will gradually build up my food storage.
Some people use the excuse that they don’t have food storage, but they have money in savings to purchase food in an emergency. Did you know that most grocery stores carry only a two to three day supply of food on their shelves which is replenished by a delivery truck? What happens if the trucks can’t get through? How quickly are the stores going to run out of food if everyone is rushing to the store for supplies?
Being prepared is only as hard as you make it. Start out simple, buy extras of things you will actually use, and do a little bit at a time. Doctrine and Covenants 38:30 tells us that “If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear.” When the ice storm, or the tornado, or the hurricane hits, it is already too late. Today is the time to prepare.
Food storage is an important part of our lives. It should be high on our priority lists. We cannot become complacent. Terrible things can, have, and will happen. If we are obedient, self-reliant, and independent, we will be able to weather the storm.
Start small, store what you eat. Be prepared so you don’t have to fear.
I want to close with an anecdote I found online. The Author is listed as unknown, but the topic is prudent to this talk.
The Parable of Gomer
These are the generations of Gomer, son of Homer, son of Omer. And in the days of Gomer, Noah, the Prophet, went unto the people saying, “Prepare ye for the flood which is to come, yea, build yourselves a boat, that ye may not perish.”
Now, Gomer was a member of the Church, and taught Sunday School and played, yea, even on the ward softball team. And Gomer’s wife said unto him, “Come, let us build unto ourselves a boat as the Prophet commandeth, that we may not perish in the flood.” But behold, Gomer saith unto his wife, “Worry not, dear wife, for if the flood comes the government will provide boats for us.”
And Gomer did not build a boat. And Gomer’s wife went unto Noah and she returned saying, “Behold, Honey, the Prophet saith unto us, “Build a boat, that we may preserve ourselves, for the government pays men not to grow trees, wherefore the government hath not the lumber to build for you a boat.”
And Gomer answered saying, “Fear not, oh wife, for am I not the star pitcher on the ward softball team?Wherefore, the Church will provide for us a boat, that we will perish not.”
And Gomer’s wife went again unto Noah, and she returned unto Gomer, saying, “Behold, mine husband, the Prophet saith that the Church hath not enough lumber to build a boat for everyone, wherefore, mine husband, build for us a boat that we might not perish in the flood.” And Gomer answered her saying, “Behold, if we build a boat, when the flood cometh, will not our neighbors overpower us and take from us our boat; wherefore, what doth it profit a man to build a boat?”
And Gomer’s wife went again unto Noah and she returned, saying, “Behold, the Prophet saith, build unto yourselves a boat, and have faith, for if ye do the Lord’s bidding, He will preserve your boat for you.” But Gomer answered his wife, saying, “Behold, with this inflation, the price of wood has gone sky high, and if we wait awhile, perhaps the price will go down again. And then I will build for us a boat.”
And Gomer’s wife went again unto Noah, and she returned saying, “Thus saith the Prophet, build for yourselves a boat RIGHT NOW, for the price of wood will not go down, but will continue to go up. Wherefore, oh husband, build for ourselves a boat, that we may perish not.” But Gomer answered his wife, saying, “Behold, for 120 years Noah hath told us to build a boat, to preserve us from the flood, but hath the flood come? Yea, I say, nay. Wherefore, perhaps the flood will not come for another hundred and twenty years.
And Gomer’s wife went again unto Noah and returned saying, “The Prophet saith, he knows it has been 120 years, but nevertheless, the flood will come, wherefore, build unto yourselves a boat.”
And Gomer answered her saying, “Wherewith shall we get the money to build ourselves a boat, for are we not now making monthly payments on our snazzy new four horsepower chariot? Wherefore, when our payments end, perhaps we shall build ourselves a boat.”
And Gomer’s wife went again unto Noah and returned saying, “Behold, the Prophet saith that we should cut down on our recreation, and our vacations, and even give each other lumber for Christmas, that we might thereby get enough lumber to build a boat.”
But Gomer saith unto her, “What a drag! Are we to cease enjoying life, just because we must build a boat?”
Wherefore, Gomer built not a boat. But behold, one afternoon Gomer heard thunder in the sky, and he feared exceedingly and he ran, yea, even to the lumber yard to buy lumber. But behold, the lumber store was crowded with great multitudes, all seeking to buy lumber, and there was not enough lumber to be found for the multitudes.
And on the same day were all the fountains of the deep opened, and the windows of heaven were broken up, and the floods came — and behold, Gomer had no boat. And as the water rose above Gomer’s waist, his wife saith unto him, “Behold, Honey, I told thee so!”
Author Unknown
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Underground Salt Mine
We went today to the underground Salt Mine in Hutchinson, Kansas. Thanks to Daniel for the tickets... ;-)
First, we got on an elevator that took us 650 feet underground at 6 miles per hour, in total darkness. My four year old though it was great, I didn't.
The mine itself is really cool, with the different layers of silt, and the types of things they used to dig it out, plus the fact that the salt field goes from Nebraska to New Mexico.
I think the best part was the stuff they store down there. The salt mine is 68 degrees and 40% humidity, constantly, so they have miles of stuff in storage, but they only had a few things on display. The had the sunglasses worn by Tommy Lee Jones and the "National Enquirer" that showed him coming out of a coma in the movie Men in Black. They had one of the Dorothy machines from Twister, and they had the costumes worn by George Clooney as batman, Arnold Schwartzenegger as Mr Freeze and Dean Kane as Superman.
All in all, it was a great trip, and I reccomend it to anyone looking for a great two hours. No kids under 4 and no food or drink down in the tunnel, though.
Oh, I almost forgot...I will post the photos as soon as I find the camera cord soI can download them. LOL
First, we got on an elevator that took us 650 feet underground at 6 miles per hour, in total darkness. My four year old though it was great, I didn't.
The mine itself is really cool, with the different layers of silt, and the types of things they used to dig it out, plus the fact that the salt field goes from Nebraska to New Mexico.
I think the best part was the stuff they store down there. The salt mine is 68 degrees and 40% humidity, constantly, so they have miles of stuff in storage, but they only had a few things on display. The had the sunglasses worn by Tommy Lee Jones and the "National Enquirer" that showed him coming out of a coma in the movie Men in Black. They had one of the Dorothy machines from Twister, and they had the costumes worn by George Clooney as batman, Arnold Schwartzenegger as Mr Freeze and Dean Kane as Superman.
All in all, it was a great trip, and I reccomend it to anyone looking for a great two hours. No kids under 4 and no food or drink down in the tunnel, though.
Oh, I almost forgot...I will post the photos as soon as I find the camera cord soI can download them. LOL
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Sounding Off
Well, everyone says I am too opinionated anyway, so I might as well go public and annoy as many people as possible as publicly as possible. After all, misery loves company.
I hope this will be easier than trying to remember to write in my journal all of the time.
I am Ellen. I have a husband whom I love, even if he tends to be rather childish most of the time. We have three children whom I also love, although the oldest one tends to make me want to pull my hair out...I guess it's a boy thing.
I live in central Kansas...in fact I live not toofar from the sign that says we are smack dag in the middle of the continental US. Before we moved here, I lived in Idaho.
I am LDS, which means I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I joined the church 2 1/2 years ago, and I am so glad I did. My current calling is Food Storage Specialist, which I am still trying to figure out...
I have lots of friends in Idaho that I miss dearly, but I have made tons of friends in Kansas as well.
Well, thanks for visiting my blog. Please leave me a comment and let me know who you are, and what you think.
I hope this will be easier than trying to remember to write in my journal all of the time.
I am Ellen. I have a husband whom I love, even if he tends to be rather childish most of the time. We have three children whom I also love, although the oldest one tends to make me want to pull my hair out...I guess it's a boy thing.
I live in central Kansas...in fact I live not toofar from the sign that says we are smack dag in the middle of the continental US. Before we moved here, I lived in Idaho.
I am LDS, which means I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I joined the church 2 1/2 years ago, and I am so glad I did. My current calling is Food Storage Specialist, which I am still trying to figure out...
I have lots of friends in Idaho that I miss dearly, but I have made tons of friends in Kansas as well.
Well, thanks for visiting my blog. Please leave me a comment and let me know who you are, and what you think.
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