Provident Living: December

But no man is truly free who is in financial bondage. "Think what you do when you run into debt," said Benjamin Franklin, "you give another man power over your liberty."

Ezra Taft Benson

Prepare Ye

October 1973

Spiritual Goal: Decide as a family how you can better remember and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.

Provident Living Goal: Review your insurance coverage - life, household, and vehicle. Do you have enough? Could you replace your vehicle or household goods with a the coverage you have?

Storage Goal:

• 40 lbs dried beans/person
• Matches
• Batteries
• Powdered eggs
• Candles

72 Hour Kit:

• Garbage Bags
• Matches 
• Candels
• Can Opener

Provident Living: November

"The time will come that gold will hold no comparison to a bushel of wheat" 

Brigham Young

Use and Abuse of Blessings

Journal of Discourses

An Address by President B. Young, 

Delivered in the Tabernacle, Great Salt Lake City, June 5, 1853.

Reported by G. D. Watt

My side note on the above quote: 
The entire talk should be read to understand this quote in context.

Spiritual Goal: Have personal prayers and scripture study

Provident Living Goal: Make a goal to reduce your family garbage by recycling.

Storage Goal:

• 100 pound wheat/person
• 1 #10 can juice mix with vitamin C/person
• Hand/Shower soap
• Light Bulbs
• AT LEAST one month prescription ahead for all prescription medicine

72 Hour Kit:

• soap
• aluminum foil
• infant needs
• disinfectant
• toothbrushes
• shaving supplies
• feminine needs

Provident Living: October

When people are able but unwilling to take care of themselves, we are responsible to employ the dictum of the Lord that the idler shall not eat the bread of the laborer.

Boyd K. Packer 

BYU Speeches  

Self Reliance March 2, 1975

Spiritual Goal: Attend one more session of General Conference than you normally do, take notes, or find a way to make it more meaningful to you.

Provident Living Goal: Make a goal to read 30 minutes/day to your children or grandchildren. If you have no children to read to, make a goal to read at least 30 minutes/day for pleasure.

Storage Goal:

• 50 cans soup, stew or chili/person
• 10 pounds cheese - dried or bottle/person (parmesan)
• Shaving supplies
• Dish soap

72 Hour Kit:

• 4 granola bars/person
• 1 package chewing gum/person
• Hard candies or lollipops at least 12/person
• Check batteries for light and radio. Replace if needed.

NOTE: rotate every 6 month - see April

Provident Living: September

"There is no individual in the Church that knows the real purpose for which the program then launched had been intended, but hardly before the Church has made sufficient preparation, that reason will be made manifest, and when it comes it will challenge every resource of the Church to meet it."

Harold B. Lee (Conference Report, Apr. 1941, 120–22)

Spiritual Goal: Have family scripture study together every day.

Provident Living Goal: Review your will if you have one. Make necessary changes, if you do not have a will, make arrangements to draft one, "EVERY" adult should have a will. Plan and carry out a Family Home Evening on the importance of preparedness.

Storage Goal: 

• 10 #10 cans powdered milk/person (35 lbs)
• 25 pounds canned or dried potatoes/person
• 50 quarts fruit or tomato juice/person

72 Hour Kit:

Each person needs:

• 1 lb. dried fruit or trail mix
• 1pkg. graham crackers
• 1 pkg. crackers
• 2 liters juice

NOTE: rotate these items every six months - see March

Snapshot: March 25

 Packing the dirt into the shells in preparation for the seeds.

 Planting seeds in eggshells.

 Watering with a squirt gun. Gardening indoors needs to have an added element of fun.

I took this outside. Hurricane took the above mentioned "watering" gun and  sprayed soaked the front window watching for Daddy to come home. He laughed and laughed when I took the pictures.

My college roommate's children with my children. We've come a long way's from Ricks.

Three of 4 of us in a mall. I made a funny face in all the pictures. It was first time we'd been together since my wedding day.

This coming weekend we are going to listen to a prophet. We invite you to join us.

Dirty Work

We have been preparing our fall garden (which we planted last night). All of us have moved dirt, poop, and more dirt. A lot of dirt. Nothing like a huge farm just a few cubic yards of dirt with a double tire wheelbarrow. The following are pictures on a break.

Hurricane got dirt/manure in his eyes, ears, nose, and other unmentionable parts.

Proud of a job well done!

He doesn't tend to get as dirty as the rest of us.

If anyone ever tells you chickens are vegetarians, you need to watch them eat bugs. Lots of protein there.

Our Muscle!

Hopefully....

I've been quite busy with just stuff (new ward meaning a new unit number for our new BSA Scouting unit and transferring all those boys, canning 50 pounds tomatoes, swimming lessons, spider bites to name a few). I'll be back soon. Like hopefully tomorrow......

Here is what has kept me the MOST busy..... They're worth it!

Provident Living: August

 This quote was given in 1979. Very close to the time I was born. In 2011, the prophesies from the scriptures about the last days (like Paul describes to Timothy) are in the news, media, and in all lands. As I read the article that the quote is from the message struck me to the important of having temporal welfare taken care of so that spiritually needs may be met and thrive. If the basic needs of life are not met, other desires and/or wants cannot be met.

For the moment we live in a day of peace and prosperity but it shall not ever be thus. Great trials lie ahead. All of the sorrows and perils of the past are but a foretaste of what is yet to be. And we must prepare ourselves temporally and spiritually.     - Bruce R. McConkie April 1979

 Provident Living Goal: Learn to preserve food in a way you haven't tired before. (The link has a list of all different kinds of ideas.)

Image Source

 

Storage Goal (3 month supply):

• 25 quarts fruit and or vegetables per person
• 6 pints of jam or jelly per person (not everyone is a jam or jelly type replace with dried fruit, nuts, or snacks)
• Feminine hygiene needs (tampons, pads, wipes, yeast infection treatment, or any other items used during the month)
• School Supplies
• Pet Supplies

Image Source

72 Hour Kit:

• 1 can tuna per person
• 1 can pork and beans per person
• 1/2 pound dried milk per person
• 2 packets hot cocoa mix per person
• 2 instant soup packets per person (ROTATE)
• Disposable plate, cups, bowls, silverware
• Pet supplies - dish, leash, extra water

Spiritual Goal: Have Family Home Evening with your family. Make sure at least one Monday is set aside for doing something fun for the whole family. One Monday can be for service.

Provident Living - July

The quote that is on the calendar has a quote that I can't find the reference. I don't want to quote someone and then have it be wrong or taken out of context. So there is no motivational quote this month. Just for reference, I started type out a calendar that my Mom gave me for Christmas. I continue to do it month by month. This month I'm late. Really late. Like July is almost over.

Provident Living Goal: Make a goal to eat healthier. For example: Less sugar and more fresh vegetables and fruits, less meat....

Join a food co-op like Bountiful Baskets

Storage Goal:

• 50 pounds of sugar or honey per person
• Ten #10 cans powdered milk per person (Powder Milk ideas - a friend's blog)
• 2 toothbrushes per person, toothpaste, and mouthwash (if you use mouthwash)
• Infant Needs - formula, baby food, Tylenol, diapers, wipes, and anything else your heart desires

72 Hour Kit Goal:

• Prepare blankets or sleeping bags to be accessible at a moment's notice
• Emergency blankets (silver foil)
• Gather items to entertain your family and include in kit
• Paper and pencils
• Mosquito repellent
• Camp stove or portable BBQ and fuel
• $25 cash

Spiritual Goal:

Share what you have learned about your family with someone. Or take the family names you prepared last month to the temple.

Birthday Giveaway

Hilary had a birthday this week! Shout hooray! She wants to do a giveaway for her birthday! Now isn't that generous or what?

Hilary is a consultant for Shelf Reliance. She writes the blog THRIVE Hive about her adventures in the different products and what she likes best. She also wants to help people get the most bang for their buck! Now that is the generous part.

She has lots of ways to enter to win. Just thought I'd pass the word along.....

Provident Living - June

"I do not want to be a calamity howler. I don't know in detail what's going to happen in the future. I know what the prophets have predicted. But I tell you that the welfare program, organized to enable us to take care of our own needs, has not yet performed the function that it was set up to perform. We will see the day when we will live on what we produce."

President Marion G. Romney

I searched for this quote in many areas. The source is from a welfare session of General Conference in April 1975. I have seen it quoted but have not found the entire talk. It is referenced in this article and this welfare quote.

Provident Living Goal:

 Make a goal to have 6 months wages in savings for emergencies. Write a realistic plan to make it happen.

Storage Goal:

First Aid Kit (with current medications and supplies)

72 Hour Kit:

Container for holding a kit. Large garbage can with wheels or a back pack for each family member is recommended. Find a place in your home that is easily accessible for storing the kit. You will need to be able to grab it at a moments notice.

I really prefer the back packs to let each person carry their own load and to let them be responsible for themselves. Here are some ideas that different people have done from How Does She? and Jocelyn. They can also be purchased through various people. A purchased kit will not have the clothing for you or your children or the underwear/diapers you might want.

Spiritual Goal: 

Learn about one family member from your family tree or prepare at least one family name for temple work.

Finally Grown Ups

Ever since we married, we had a bed without a bed frame. We were kind of like graduate students (at least one of us was). We moved and no furniture. (We still don't have furniture in our front room besides 1 couch.)

We like to buy from yard sales or friends' garages that are storing great treasures. (My favorite name for a yard sale/garage sale is Tag Sale. It is something we saw when we visited Connecticut. I love it!)

So when I went on an adventure in February, I saw this great bed frame. I thought about it and thought about it and thought....(you get the picture). I finally called and bought the bed frame!

My Sweetheart was on an over night camp out with the Boy Scouts. The seller brought it to my house so I could set it up and surprise my Sweetheart. I attempted to make the change by myself but didn't have the balance to hold both sides while putting the frame together. In the morning, C came and helped me put it together! I was very appreciative! We cleaned our room and dejunked. It is now super clean.

My Sweetheart's reaction, "We are finally grown ups." So that is how you know you are a grown up.

Provident Living - May

The revelation to produce and store food may be as essential to our temporal welfare today as boarding the ark was to the people in the days of Noah.

Ezra Taft Benson - January 1974

 (Source)

Provident Living Goal:
Make a goal and plan to exercise regularly.

Storage Goal for 3 months:

Source

• 25 lbs cereal, grain-rice, oatmeal, cornmeal, et cetera per person
• 6 rolls toilet paper per person
• 1 roll paper towel per person
• Garden Seeds
• At least one month prescription a head for all prescribed medicine

72 Hour Kit Goal:

• Battery powered radio
• Batteries
• Batter powered light

Spiritual Goal:

Share a scripture with a member of another faith that has influenced your life. If you like you may share a Bible, Book of Mormon, or your faith's Holy Book with another.

Provident Living - April

If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear. 

Doctrine and Covenants 38:30

Provident Living Goal: If you normally do not grow a garden, plan to grow at least one vegetable this year. If you already have a garden, either 1) grow a vegetable you haven't tried before OR 2) Try a new method or technique this year.

If you look close, there are bees pollinating the flowers!

Storage Goal:

Source

 For a year:

• 2 pounds of yeast per person
• 2 pounds baking powder per person
• 1 pound baking soda per person
• 1 gallon vinegar per person
• 10 cans evaporated milk per person
• 20 pounds peanut butter per person
• Spices, condiments, and vanilla

Source

OR for 3 months:

• 1/2 pound of yeast per person
• 1/2 pound baking powder per person
• 1/4 pound baking soda per person
• 1quart vinegar per person
• 3 cans evaporated milk per person
• 8 pounds peanut butter per person
• Spices, condiments, and vanilla

Source

 72 Hour Kit:

• 4 granola bars per person
• 1 package chewing gum person
• 2 sticks jerky (It says beef. There are so many kinds of jerky. You pick your favorite.)
• Hard candies/lollipops 12 per person

Source

Spiritual Goal:
Attend the temple one more session than you normally do this month or attend church services.

Source

Provident Living - March Goals

"The Lord has warned us of famines, but the righteous will have listened to the prophet and stored at least a year's supply of survival food." 

Ezra Taft Benson (Ensign January 1974)

Image Source

Provident Living Goal: Learn a new skill or read a book pertaining to your career.

Storage Goal: 

• 50 cans soup, stew or chili per person
• 5 pounds salt per person
• 20 pounds fat - oil or shortening per person
• Aluminum foil, plastic wrap, storage bags, etc.

Image Source

72 Hour Goal:

• 1 pound dried fruit or trail mix per person (can use fruit leather)
• 1 package soda crackers per person
• 1 package graham crackers per person
• 2 liters tomato or fruit juice per person
• Rotate item every six months (Make a weekend of it. Have a practice 72 to hour party.)
• * Half of tank of fuel in all vehicles

Spiritual Goal:

Have family prayer at least once a day. Twice is better.

Image Source

Little by little....

The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout a little at a time. He (I assuming it was a he) got to the top one step at a time. He didn't just jump to the top of the spout. He also kept trying even with getting washed down.

(Image Source)

I was think about the provident living lists that I gave in January and February. As I read through it, I thought, "Oh my goodness, I have only 20 cans meat currently and need 96 cans of meat by the end of the month. OH MY!" That is 76 cans. (It recommends that there are 24 cans on hand for each person in the home.)

As I continued through my thought process, I was glad there were sales on canned meat and that I had a few cans already. So as I thought through it, I can buy to have at least a 1 month supply. For my family of 4, that would only 8 cans. Check! Then I could go and get enough for 3 months. That would be 24 cans. I hope you see where I am going. So I have enough cans for about 6 months. That's not too bad. I can continue to collect! I've bought the laundry detergent and a can opener (a one time purchase).  I keep forgetting to buy the bleach at the store. I keep forgetting. Crazy.....uh? So what's my point.

Gather a little at a time. It doesn't need to an all or nothing for the month. So don't get discouraged. You can do it!

A little story to share: This past week it was cold. Really cold. So much so that an entire neighborhood was without water or heating gas for at a minimum of 24 hours to 3 days. To have even a little on hand is better than nothing. Just to even wash hands or add water the toilet back to flush.

February is not a huge buying month for us. Because we have bought a little a long the way. As I have thought of different grains, there are white rice, hard red wheat, oatmeal, barley, and quinoa. Then there are pastas that go on sale all the time. We store our grains in 5 gallon buckets in a cool place.

The bigger purchase would be a hand wheat grinder. If you know of a good one, I'd love a recommendation.

Provident Living - February Goals

There is a wise old saying: “Eat it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.” Thrift is a practice of not wasting anything. Some people are able to get by because of the absence of expense. They have their shoes resoled, they patch, they mend, they sew, and they save money. They avoid installment buying, and make purchases  only after saving enough to pay cash, thus avoiding interest charges. Frugality means to practice careful economy. (See Webster’s New World Dictionary, 2d. college edition.)
 James E. Faust

Source: A Modernized Piggy Bank

 

Provident Living Goal: Plan and carryout a family home evening on home fires. Include planning an escape route and practicing it.

 

Storage Goal:

• 100 pounds (total) pasta & flour per person
• Hand-grinding  grain mill
• Thread, needles, buttons & zippers 

72 Hour Kit:

• 1 gallon water per person
• $25 in cash
• Scriptures
• Personal documents, genealogy records, wills, insurance, contracts, birth certificates, passport, patriarchal  blessings, etc. 

Spiritual Goal: Schedule time each day to read with your family from the scriptures.

Provident Living

My Mom gave us a flip calendar for 2011. It isn't the traditional calendar you would think of. It is a provident living calendar. Provident living is being prepared for unseen future events. Being provident can be as simple as having water if the city turns the water off for repairs for a few hours or in an unfortunate time of being unemployed and having food to eat until a new job is secured.

Source

The calendar has broken down a month to month preparation to build a rotating food storage, a goal to skill build, a 72 hour kit goal in case of emergency, and a spiritual goal. The front of the calendar says: "Be Prepared! It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark!" I never know what will come for our family. An important part is that what you choose to prepare with are things that you know how to use and like.

Source

I thought I'd share what is written to help me meet the challenge given by my parents. My Dad always says to accomplish a goal you need to share it with others so they can support you and ask you if you are meeting your goals.

January

"Let every household see to it that he has on hand enough food and clothing 

and, where possible, fuel for a year ahead." 

J. Reuben Clark, April 1937

Provident Living Goal: Review your retirement goals. Are you putting enough aside to be able to support yourselves to do the things you want to do when you retire? Also change the batteries in smoke alarms.

Storage Goal:

• 24 cans of meat or fish per person
• 1 gallon bleach per person
• Can opener
• Laundry detergent

72 Hour Kit:

• Gather a change of clothing including underwear and shoes for each family member (include warm coats and boots or have them immediately accessible).
• Ax, shovel and bucket
• $25 in cash
• Wet Stone
• Utility Knife

Spiritual Goal: Hold a family home evening every Monday for a month or a family night.