My Vision

I am about to admit something that I do not tell many people. After all, I'm not one to let other people's opinions of me dictate my actions, but I have to admit I do care a little of what people think. So, something that I don't usually admit to is being terrible at food storage. For almost 9 years, my mother-in-law has tried very hard to help me "catch the vision" of being prepared. She is one of the most prepared for emergencies women I think I have ever met. She has always had a year of storage built up, is actively involved in community preparedness, and has a home grown garden that she shares with us each harvest. Not only that, she actually rotates and uses her food storage continually. This is where my distaste for it all comes in.

I have a strong testimony of the gospel. I anxiously await conference every 6 months and yearn for the counsel the prophets give. I serve dilligently in my calling, read my scriptures, have daily prayers...I absolutely love the gospel. But, the one area I struggle with (aside from Visiting Teaching) is food storage. I really do not like doing it. I know it's a necessity, and we have needed to rely on it in the past. But, I just hate doing it, rotating it, buying it, storing it, you name it. I can always find something else to do that is more pressing. I proudly admit that my family's 72 hour kits are up to date. But a year's supply? I don't have the time or the money! I know it's important, but seem to always find a way of putting it off. Until now.

Obviously the economy is on the forefront of everyone's mind right now. I am not a nay-sayer. I am really a positive person. But, I have had several experiences this week that have really helped me to "catch the vision" of getting prepared. On Monday I drove Rebecca to Salt Lake and back for some minor surgery on her teeth. She watched a movie on the way there and was asleep almost the whole way back. So, I had plenty of time to listen to talk radio, which I love. I love Glen Beck. I respect his opinion so much. He is a conservative, but is more fair and balanced than many other pundits out there. As he talked about the current financial crisis we are in, it really made me stop and think. I really felt the Spirit as he spoke. I do believe we are headed for another depression. Oh boy!

The next night were the presidential debates between McCain and Obama. I was absolutely sickened by the end. Here we are in one of the worst crises in our lifetime, and all they can both do is play the blame game. I realized that it won't really matter who wins this election -- there will still be so much bickering with parties in Congress, that nothing will get done. We will most likely continue to sink into a depression -- at least for awhile, until the market picks back up again. Which it will, I have no doubt. But, it will take some time.

Then, on Wednesday night we had our Enrichment night, which happened to be on food storage for one year. "Ick", I thought. "Not again". "How boring". Really, the only reason I went was 1)I needed a break from my kids, and 2) the Young Women were involved with it, and since I am working with the youth, I needed to be there. How glad I was that I went. I finally got it. The Spirit has been whispering to me this whole week (well for a long time now, I just finally tuned in this week) to get going on this. What a difference this meeting made. I am on the band wagon, and starting right now.

Yesterday, I spent about an hour on-line trying to figure out how to start. I do have some storage, but it's a big job, and does take some organizing to figure out the needs of your family. I came across a great blog that I wanted to post a link to. How to get a year's supply in one year -- spending an extra few dollars each week for 52 weeks. It has helped me get started, and I thought I would pass it along to those who are feeling the same things I am. Life is great, and can be greater if we are prepared for tougher times ahead. Thanks to those who have helped me finally see the light!

http://http//selfreliantsisters.blogspot.com/2008/06/food-storage-on-500-week.html

http://http//lds.about.com/library/bl/faq/blcalculator.htm

God Bless America

We all celebrated July 4th this last weekend. This holiday is one of my very favorites. I love all that it represents, both past and present. I love all the traditions that go with the 4th...the local parade where half of the town you live in is IN the parade. Yelling thank-you's to the war veterans who so faithfully served our country over the years, hearing the marching band, and watching all the floats go by. The Barbeques, the visiting with family and friends, the flags, the desserts, and of course the fireworks. I love the fireworks -- the power and light generated by them is such a reminder to me of the power of our nation, and of course the God in Heaven who created this great nation, inspiring others to leave all they knew and bring forth something free and independant. As I watched the sky bursting with this power, hearing Neil Diamond's "Coming to America" playing in the background, so many things ran through my mind. I hope I can come up with the right words that convey the incredible emotion and gratitude I feel for this great nation of ours.

It all started about a week ago while singing a song to Rebecca as she was going to bed. It really started before that, as anyone that comes into my house can see our fascination with American History. George Washington, Mount Vernon, and the American flag is right there front and center as you come through our front door. But, of course, as Independence Day drew closer, as I started decorating the house with flags in preparation for the holiday, I noticed I was starting to sing more "American" songs around the house and to the kids as they went to sleep. Something about seeing the flag inspires so many emotions in me, and I hope to instill that same feeling into my children.

One night about a week before July 4th, I started to sing "God Bless America" to Rebecca. I forgot a few of the lines, but did manage to get the gist of it. As I got to the phrase "Stand beside her, and guide her", I had to stop singing. I was too choked up to sing anymore. Rebecca asked me what was wrong, as she saw tears running down my face. I explained that Heavenly Father inspired very fine men and women to create this country, and this song is like a prayer, asking Him to protect and guide us as we live our lives, giving service to it (the country) to Him (Heavenly Father), and to each other. What really struck me, however, was the true sadness that hit me. Our nation is turning our backs on the very Being that created us and it. Slowly, but surely, His Spirit is leaving as we let evil run rampant. As we stand by and let these evils into our home, in the form of raunchy television and movies, pornography and all around disregard for other people and their feelings. It truly saddened me. In the same moment, however, I also felt gladness and pride. This nation is great, and I know that God will not forsake it. He did not let it fail when we gained our independance from England, when we fought against each other in the Civil War, and through every other conflict, both in war and in words, since then. I truly believe He will not let this nation fail, as long as their are people willing to defend it, Him, and its principles. I am willing to be one of those people, and hope I can do whatever is required of me to do so.

Lastly, I want to express my extreme gratitude for all that I love about America. I love the mountains and wildflowers, the smell of a pine forest, and the sound of a mountain stream. I love how most people stop to help when they see someone in need. I love how accepting Americans are of people, even if they don't agree with their ideas and opinions. I love the rolling of the ocean waves on both sides of the continent, and the countless particles of sand. I love that I have the freedom to practice my own beliefs. I love that I am a woman and have an equal share in this country. I love those who have gone before me. Those family members from generations past who sacrificed everything they had in order to move from their homeland to a new one where they could have a better life, both for them and for their future children and grandchildren. I love those who died valiently in wars protecting my freedom and leaving all they held dear, only to die in battle. I love the incredible beauty of this land, from the high mountains, to the low valleys, from the oceans, to the prairies. I love that I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, where a boy in 1820 had the freedom and right to go into a grove of trees to pray to his Heavenly Father and ask which all of the churches he was exposed to was right, and which one to be a part of. I love that when the Lord personally came to him and told him that none were right, he kept himself worthy over the years to gain the right to be the Lord's first prophet in these latter days. I love that I have the right to believe in that, to know that to be true, and have the right to be a part of it. Most of all, I love my Lord and my God for letting me take part in all of this today. Thank you God, and God Bless America.