Are you temporally fit?

Dear Sisters,

Summer is fast approaching, and we have some fun preparedness activities planned!  We hope you will join us for these upcoming events through the summer and fall.  With schedule changes in many of our lives, and weather changes as well, summer can be a wonderful time to focus on some of our temporal goals. 

1.  Physical Fitness--You can work on cross-training and exercising some of those muscles that don't get used much during other seasons of the year.  Or, start a regular exercise program if you are not currently keeping one.

2.  Mental Fitness--Take time to read great books.  Get some recommendations from a spiritually faithful and well-read friend and read "out of the best books." (D&C 88:118)

3.  Financial Fitness--If you don't have one already, build a savings of $1000 that can be used as an emergency fund.  Pay off all credit card debt so that you never pay interest on your credit card spending.  If you have all that under control, work on getting three to six months' worth of your expenses into savings. 

4.  Food Storage Fitness--(You're making awesome progress in this department!)  If you haven't already, start with three days' worth of emergency food and water supplies.  Next, procure two weeks' worth of water and food (that you normally eat, say, from the grocery store).  If you have accomplished that, then expand your resources to one month, then three months...six months...and on as best you can. 

You know all of this requires a sacrifice of time, effort and money, but it will be worthwhile, and that is a promise!

Water Finale!

Well Sisters, we are coming to the end of our big push to "get our acts together" with water storage. You have done a wonderful job, and I have enjoyed working with you.

THIS TUESDAY, APRIL 24th at 7:00 p.m., we will meet at my home for the "final act." We will cut wood 2x4's for you to take home and set your 55 gallon water drums on. We can cut smaller wood for the 5 gallon containers, also. We'll have the wood available that night, just bring a little money ($1-$5) to cover the cost of wood that you may need. Feel free to come and go as you please. If you can't make it, but would like to have wood cut for you, just me know what you need.

You'll be able to pick up the rest of your water-related items that have arrived at my home. I will also be answering any other questions related to water, and how to get your containers all set up/filled up. Feel free to bring husbands if you like. We'll have a fantastic time as usual!

SEE YOU THERE!

Water Barrels Everywhere!

We are so pleased to let you know that our ward is now 40 water barrels richer than we were just a few days ago. That's 2200 gallons of potential stored water! We are so happy about your enthusiasm for being prepared, and we daresay, you feel better, too. We want everyone to feel a greater measure of peace, and so we say, "CARRY ON!"

We will soon be offering five-gallon blue plastic water containers for those whose circumstances do not allow for large barrels. Even if you do have barrels, the five-gallon container option is a great one for being easy to pick up and take with you, and for ease of rotation. More information to follow on that.

Also, as a follow up "finale" for the water barrels, we will have an activity on Tuesday, April 24th, to help you to cut wooden 2x4 boards to put underneath your water barrels. We will have the wood and saw available, just bring a few coins to cover the small cost of what you need. We should have all other supplies that have been ordered in by then, too, and you can ask all the questions you may still have about storing/rotating water in barrels. Then you can go home and fill them right up! Mark your calendars--We hope to see you there!

Drinking Water Safe Hoses

To follow up with our water barrel class, we would like you to know that we have found drinking water safe hoses for filling up water barrels at Wal-Mart. Different colors and lengths are available. Prices start at around $10 plus tax for a 25 foot hose. (This is the best deal we've found.) You can also purchase fifty foot hoses there. Look in either the sporting goods section or the gardening isle for different options to suit your needs. You will want one or more of these hoses to fill your barrels from your outside spigot. Make sure you have enough length to go from the spigot to the final resting place of your barrel. You can not move the barrel after it's filled! After use, keep your hose in a place where it will be protected from the elements. I keep all of my water barrel "tools" in a plastic box.

Please let me know if you are interested in purchasing water barrels or other smaller containers for water storage. We will be making orders for these in the very near future.

Provident Living--Group Orders

Here is some more information on the products we are ordering as a group:

1. Freeze -Dried Seasoned White Chicken. This comes from the Emergency Essentials catalog. Described as real cubed, cooked white chicken for your home storage. Regular price is $42.95. Our group price is $28 each. Here is a great opportunity to try even one can, to see if you like it. Shelf life is many years, but once opened, the product must be used up pretty quickly. There is no shipping cost on this one so if you need anything else from Emergency Essentials, now would be a prime time to get it. Also, if you are ordering water barrels, (info below) now would be a good time to order barrel supplies i.e. barrel opener, siphon hose (to empty barrels), siphon hose adapter (attaches from siphon to your garden hose), drinking water safe hose (for filling water barrels), etc. Look it over online, or if you have this month's catalog, water supplies are on pg. 42, and the chicken is on pg. 50.

2. 55-gallon water drums. The price will be affected by how many our group orders. We're looking at around $50 plus tax. We'll purchase them from a local company called Pennco Containers. We will likely need help from people with large vehicles on pick-up day. Details to follow.

3. The Aqua Rain gravity water filter. This is a wonderful product which can be for daily use and/or emergency use. It needs no water pressure, can produce up to 24 gallons a day, and can turn water from any source into safe drinking water. You fill the container from the top, and the water filters into the bottom section where you can then use the spigot to access the water. Ceramic filters contain carbon and silver, and can be cleaned multiple times for longer use. (Radioactive material is not filtered--sorry.) This product can be used to filter water from chlorine pools, ponds, hot water heaters, you name it. This is a more expensive item on the outset, but pays you back over time. I keep a container in my fridge that I fill with this filtered water, and I always have cold water. The filter does need counter space with no cupboard above (it's too tall to fit under an upper cabinet), or you can simply store it for emergency use. You can let me know if you have any other questions about this item. Price will be somewhere around $300, and I don't know yet if that will include shipping or not. You also have the option to buy replacement filters now, so you will always have them available in case of need. More information can be found on http://www.aquarain.com/. Ask for one for Christmas!

Some sisters have been telling their friends/family (members and non-members) about our items available for ordering. Feel free to let others know if you think they may be interested, and I will be happy to help them too. Just have them contact me via phone/email, or combine their order with yours.

PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH YOUR ORDERS BY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20th. THANKS!

Upcoming Preparedness Class!

We have heard a great deal about preparedness this past weekend at stake conference. Truly, our leaders care for our welfare enough to encourage us to prepare for difficult times.

This Tuesday, October 18th @ 7:00 p.m. (Kim Adair's Home) we will have our emergency preparedness class on fuel sources for cooking and heating.

1. You will be able to make quart size cans of fuel. Instructions/supplies will be available. (Cost is about $6.00, depending on what you want.) If you have not signed up yet, you can contact me to give me an idea of how many you'd like. You're not committed to buy until you see that night what is offered. Then you can decide for sure.

2. We will show and tell about Alco-Brite--another heating/cooking source in a pint-size can. I will take orders for this item Tuesday night. (Discount/wholesale price about $3.50 per can.)

3. Cooking stoves and fire starters to accompany both options above will also be discussed, with the option to order. Cost TBA.

4. We'll briefly talk about other larger cooking/heating sources that are available out there for emergency use.

5. Also...if you'd like to bring your important documents (birth certificates, driver's license, other i.d., etc.), Laurie Johnson will have her document scanner for you to scan them and they can be saved onto a small portable memory device that YOU bring. You can then keep that in a safe/72-hour kit. (No cost...bring your own stuff--up to 8 1/2 x 11 size.)

Tons of great information will be discussed, so come and learn and enjoy!
Money will be due that night (Tuesday).

If you can't make it, but want to order any of the above, please contact Kim Adair.

Working Together--Providently

Here's an experience we had lately, illustrating how we can work together for the good of all. We recently did some major construction at our house and in the process, emptied our 55-gallon water storage barrels in order to move them out of the way. Now that the construction is basically done, we had the project of getting those barrels filled back up and put in place, looming over our heads for a long time -- too long for my comfort.

Meanwhile, Neil and Mary Reid also moved from one home to another and had to empty and fill their barrels, too. (Yes, this project can be a pain...and that's the cold, hard, truth...) Brother Reid was inspired to fill his barrels (before we got around to doing ours), and then offered to bring his family over and help us get ours filled. They came over for family home evening a few weeks ago, and together, our two families made great progress cleaning, filling, and organizing the barrels at our home. Now, it is finished, and their family was just what we needed to get ourselves going on this project!!

We can find so many opportunities to help each other in valuable ways. When it comes to provident living, we can give valuable service and encouragement to others. We can often see what people need, and we can simply offer to help. Our family was blessed with what we needed, and they experienced/taught their children service. How much better than that can it get?

On another note, on October 18th, we will be having a class on emergency fuel sources. You will have the opportunity to learn about, make, and/or order these fuel sources. I will provide more information for you in the very near future! Be on the lookout this Sunday for sign-up sheets and samples of what we're doing!

Rotate Your Rolled Oats With This Granola Recipe!

I met Bonnie Muir at the grocery store just before our last "Fun With Food Storage" meeting. We were swapping stories and comparing notes on granola recipes. She has one she loves that I would like to try. The recipe from our meeting was more like a granola "bar", and hers is more like a crunchy cereal, made in a larger quantity that will keep longer. Very practical! What a great way to go through those rolled oats. It costs a little more to make in the beginning, but it lasts: therefore, it saves you money over time in not having to buy several boxes of cereal. Can we all say...ROTATE???!!!

Here's the Recipe.....

PERFECT GRANOLA

13 cups rolled oats

1 cup white flour or whole wheat flour

1 cup honey

1 cup vegetable or coconut oil

2 tablespoons salt

2 tablespoons vanilla

2 cups wheat germ

2 cups brown sugar

16 oz. coconut

2 cups sunflower seeds

1 1/2 cups water

Mix together and place on two large cookie sheets. Bake at 200 degrees for 1-2 hours stirring every 20 minutes or until golden brown. Store in cans or plastic containers.

Makes 40 1/2 servings.

Come One, Come All!

Come on over to Kim Adair's house this Tuesday, August 30th at 7:00 p.m. for a mini class on making "FUN TREATS WITH FOOD STORAGE". It's still HOT outside, so we'll make and enjoy some cool treats that will help you rotate your food storage, too. Can't wait to see YOU!

BE WATER SMART!!!

As I observe the brown patches on the ground around town, I truly realize that we are in a drought situation. For us, this gives us basically two things to think about. One, do we have the water we need for our family in case of a short-term, or even a longer-term emergency? And two, are we doing our part in water conservation efforts?

For the water we need, let me remind you that the minimum amount to store is one gallon per person per day. Please make sure you have at least a three day supply for your family. Larger water bottles are easy to purchase and store, or you can refill your #1-type recyclable plastic two liter bottles or juice containers. Do not reuse milk jug containers. If you have more questions on how to refill containers, let me know.

As far as water conservation is concerned, for now this means a sensible approach to being careful about our water consumption. I have to work hard to teach my family members (i.e. children) to be careful about how much water they use when showering/bathing, doing dishes, washing hands and brushing teeth. This means not letting the water run excessively. Concerning the outdoors, the City of Dallas is asking that we voluntarily conserve by watering landscapes no more that twice a week. Also, current ordinance prohibits watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

The Lord would want us to be careful and provident with the resources He has given us. Let's all do our part!

Can I Help You Save Some Time?

I know we're all busy, so here's a little tip I'll share with you that might save you some time. I know what it's like to be raising little ones and to have those small people (or big people, phone calls, work or ANYTHING) needing your attention while you're trying to get dinner on the table. This was a little tip I learned while working in the food prep areas of various cafeterias at BYU. This is free advice for you, and you won't even have to pay four years' worth of college tuition for it!

One day I was helping the head cook make huge pans of lasagna (I think), and she dipped into a giant 6 gallon pail with her large measuring cup and scooped out the seasoning for her dish. I asked, "What's in there???" and she answered by telling me it was a seasoning mix with all the basic seasonings in one place. HERE'S THE RECIPE:

All-Purpose Seasoning

Basically this contains mostly salt, then equal portions of the other three (less pepper if you don't like that much). The amount of salt is also more or less, according to your taste. You could add other things if you like.

1 1/2 cups salt

1/4 cup garlic powder (not salt)

1/4 cup onion powder

1/4 cup pepper

Combine all ingredients in a bowl/container and mix/shake until evenly distributed. Fill a pinch bowl by your stove or a shaker-type container (new/clean used) and keep handy. Extra mix can be used to refill. Seasoning can be used for meat, fish, grilling, pasta salads, casseroles...you name it. The sky's the limit.

I hope this helps!

Going on a Spending Diet

The real title of the article I read in the paper was, "Could you shut your wallet for a month?", and it was written last February by Amy Dunn from North Carolina. I enjoyed the article a great deal. We can all improve our provident living by improving our spending habbits. Consider her challenge--attempting to live our lives without spending money.

What does this mean? Well, that would be "YES" to paying mortgage, regular monthly bills, and auto fuel for minimum travel. Otherwise, it's a "NO" to dinner out, new cloths, gifts, entertainment, and weekly trips to stock up on groceries. That means eating all meals from what's in the pantry/freezer, amusing ourselves without spending a dime, and getting creative with gift-giving. Necessary doctor visits are OK. Also, set aside a certain minimum dollar amount per week (according to the size of your family) for some fresh groceries. That's basically it...if it's discresionary, it's off limits.

AND NOW FOR THE BLESSINGS/LESSONS. After trying this exercise, the author explains the benefits she experienced. Money was spent more consciously and living was more simple. There was more time when there was less shopping. This meant freedom--more time with family, more time to read and work on projects. Buying less meant less clutter to manage, less to clean/dust/maintain. Money was saved by shopping sales and using coupons. The home was purged of bargain-priced clutter and new purchases were considered more carefully. If it wasn't needed, it wasn't a deal, no matter the price.

Now, if this sounds too hard, then how about simply writing down all of your discressionary spending for a month? Then, take a long, hard look at that and see how you can modify your spending habits so you can more quickly get out of debt and build your savings for the rainy days ahead.

President Hinckly urged us to "Look to the condition of our finances." He said, "I urge you to be modest in your expenditures; discipline yourself in your purchases to avoid debt to the extent possible. Pay off debt as quickly as possible, and free yourselves from bondage."

I can only say that I believe the words of the prophet are true! LET US KEEP TRYING TO IMPROVE!

More About 72-Hour Kits...

Whenever we have a 72-hour kit class, I enjoy the opportunity to rotate our kits. We have reworked our home space and now I have our kits in a more ideal and accessible place. As I have rotated them this time around (Remember to rotate kits/check contents at General Conference time each spring/fall.) a few things have made an impression on me.

1. FOCUS ON THE BASICS. Resist the urge to get overwhelmed by all the "possibilities". Get a container (such as a backpack) and put the BASIC NEEDS into it. Start with water, food and clothing. Next think of shelter/warmth/hygiene with an emergency reflective-type blanket, poncho and a few hygiene items (washcloth/soap). Now, there's a start. Once you've got all that down, then you can move on.

At one point in my own 72-hour kit repacking, I filled the pack with all my "junk" and then I realized, "Hmm, no room for my food!" That experience helped to inspire this blog entry! I said to myself then, "Simplify, simplify, simplify!"

2. THINK MULTI-LEVEL. Once you have a backpack full of the above, you can fill the rest of the space with the next level of essentials. Maximize the size and weight of your pack to what you know you can carry and do the same for other members of your family. After that is done, you can pack extra packs with even more helpful items. If you are loading your car, then you will have the things you need in one place.

If you are just getting started, then pay attention to #1 above and don't worry about the rest yet. GOOD LUCK!

Hello Sisters, (Sorry this is all squashed together in one paragraph...for some reason I can't get it to format correctly...) I would like to remind everybody that the Wheat Montana grain, etc. order is due soon. Your money needs to be in the hands of Julie Anschutz in Allen by Monday, April 18th. That means your check should be in the mail ASAP!!! I hope many of you take this opportunity to build your food storage. I've had several people ask me about empty 6 gallon buckets/pails and lids. This company also sells these and Gamma Seals too, so this would be a chance to order some at the same time. Shipping costs for empty buckets/lids and gamma seals will be $2.00 per item and $1.00 per item for bucket openers and oxygen absorber packages. If you're interested in a whole lot of buckets, then I have a more local source where you might could save some money ordering in bulk. If you have any question about the best thing to do, then please get in touch with me. If you are interested in a canning event after ordering wheat/grain in large bags, let me or Cathy Meyer know so we can try to coordinate this. Good Luck! Kim Adair.

Thinking About Your 72 Hour Kits...

I hope you are enjoying conference weekend as much as I am. I love to hear the words of our prophet and apostles and leaders! I challenge you to listen for the encouragement we receive on how we can be better prepared physically and how the church welfare system works. If the church was not prepared in advance, how would it be able to send so much assistance to those who are right now desperately in need? Is this not an example, a teaching, and a warning to us that we should be individually prepared for whatever may come our way? I was once given a suggestion that I would like to pass on to you. General Conference weekend is a great time to think about rotating your 72 hour kits. You can use this time to do a couple of different things. First, you can check for expired or near expired contents of you kit and put these items on your shopping list for replacement. What kinds of things will need rotating? Food and water, clothing, medicine, batteries, light sticks, lotions/sunscreens and anything else with an expiration date. Second, you can familiarize yourself with what is in your kit so that you know where things are when you need them. Some of you may have larger scouting-type backpacks that hold quite a bit of stuff. You may want to think about where things are placed in your backpacks. If you're out and about with your 72-hour kit and it suddenly starts raining, it would be nice if your poncho was in a place that was easy to reach. The same thing goes for your light source. You would want to have that easily accessible in case you're caught needing light when it's dark. We will be having our 72-hour kit class soon (April 19th) and I would like you to think about what you would prioritize as the MOST IMPORTANT things to have in your emergency kit. When you come to our class, we will talk this over and see what what we come up with!!!

April Wheat Order

Hello Sisters,

How are you doing on your provident living pursuits? Do you have self-sufficiency on your mind? I know so many of you are thinking about how to better protect yourself and your family and you have a great interest in following the warnings the Lord has given us. Self-sufficiency is not just a one-time event, it is a lifestyle, and when we plan our lives in this manner we learn to think and plan ahead, work harder, and choose more wisely in all aspects of our lives. I can attest to the comfortable and content feelings we enjoy when we embrace this eternal principle.

With this in mind, here is a bit of forewarning so you can plan ahead and save up for a wheat order from Wheat Montana Farms. Some of you are familiar already with this drill. A very nice lady from Allen (not a member of the church but a very nice Christian lady who spends an enormous amount of time and effort doing this so be sure to be grateful and polite...) will put together a group wheat order in April. This is the person I've worked with getting my own wheat over the years so if you need help in the process, I can answer questions. Other than that, it will be up to you to get your order form and money to her in a timely fashion. All information on how-to's and deadlines will be provided in early April.

More Soon,
Kim Adair

STAKE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FAIR Coming Up SOON!!!

I hope you are all planning to attend our Stake Emergency Preparedness Fair.

Saturday, February 26th
9 a.m. to Noon
Stake Center (on Bowser Rd.)

The stake is putting forth a great effort in order to empower it's members to improve their self-sufficiency. This will be an inspiring event! Make an effort to come and get ideas and information. If you have not done so, I suggest getting a BINDER to orgainize all of your Food Storage/Preparedness information. Then, when you get information on a certain topic, you simply stick it right in your binder. Purchase some binder tabs and also pockets/sheet protectors to put items in in your binder that can't be hole punched. (Like the CD they will give to each family who comes to the fair!!!)

Just a word to those who may be feeling a bit overwhelmed: COME!--and after you have seen all the possibilities, pick ONE thing to start working on. No one can do it all at once, so keep it simple and start small. (...you know you should!)

See you there!

MORE FREEZING WEATHER!!!

With MORE freezing weather, here are MORE ways to be prepared:

1. Don't forget your food/water/fuel supply! (That was just a reminder!)

From the City of Dallas (Utilities and Water) we have the following important information:

Before a Freeze:

1. Wrap all exposed pipes located outside or in unheated areas of your home, including the attic.
2. Remove garden hoses from outside faucets. Insulate those faucets with hard foam covers or wrap with cloth or paper.
3. Cover vents around the foundation of your home.
4. Learn where your private water cut-off valves are and how to operate them.

In Sub-Freezing Weather:

1. Let hot and cold water drip slowly from inside faucets during a freeze.
2. Open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls.

If you need help or emergency assistance in turning your vater off or on, you can reach the City of Dallas 24 hours a day by calling 311.

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If you find yourself stuck at home on a freezy day, pull out your powdered chocolate milk that you have stored up and make a cup of "hot chocolate".

Here's an easy recipe from cooks.com (with a few modifications of my own) for those cold days when you're stuck inside with your canned vegetables...

Easy Homemade Vegetable Beef Soup

1 lb. stew meat (or ground beef)
2 (14-16 oz) cans vegetables of your choice (green beans, corn, etc.)
2 (8 oz.) cans tomato sauce
2 sm. potatoes (cook fresh ones or rehydrate potato dices)
rice
spaghetti noodles

Season/cook meat as desired. Add tomato sauce, juice from vegetables, and water to desired consistency. Cut up potatoes or dehydrated dices to mixture with 1/8 to 1/4 cup raw rice. Break up a small amount of raw spaghetti noodles and put in soup. After rice and spaghetti are cooked, add mixed vegetables and continue cooking until thoroughly heated. Add water if necessary during cooking. Season as desired to taste. (Salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, beef boulion...whatever you have on hand that you enjoy.) You can easily double for large families.

STAY WARM!!!

PREPARING FOR WINTER WEATHER

I don't know about you, but I prefer the warmer weather. Perhaps that's one reason I'm settled in the south. Lucky for me, we have more warm weather than cold and I'm certainly grateful for that! However, we all realize that Dallas can get PLENTY cold as you have likely experienced and will continue to experience (i.e. "arctic" weather is on the way and due to arrive THIS Sunday night...) Around here, the weather can do just about anything so if you're like me, you'll feel a happy sense of relief if you have thought ahead about cold weather preparedness.
Last winter, we had some neighbors whose heater broke during a cold snap...and it was several days before it was repaired. Can you say, "EXTRA BLANKETS, PLEASE!!!"

Let me share with you a few ideas for things to have on hand (and in surplus) if you're stuck "OUT in the cold" or "IN in the cold"! Obviously, you have to think of both and plan accordingly. If you have to leave the house quickly, you have to make sure you have quick access to your winter gear. You can pack what you can in your emergency kit and have other supplies handy as well.

First, look to your 72-hour kits. Do you have sufficient warm clothing? Long pants and long-sleeve clothing for you and your family? How about your minimum three-day water and food reserve? Okay, how about we make a little list...

A FEW WINTER WEATHER EMERGENCY SUPPLIES FOR YOU TO THINK ABOUT--

1. Minimum three-day WATER and FOOD supply in case you are unable to stir from home for a time.
2. Emergency blankets/wool-type blankets. Sleeping bags, too.
3. A full (or mostly full) tank of gasoline in your car. Blankets in your trunk? An emergency kit for your car.
4. Hand warmers
5. Matches (waterproof) and firestarters/lighters
5 Indoor-safe heaters using alternate power sources such as propane. "Canned" fuel for warming or cooking.
6. Emergency light sources--flashlights, lanterns, candles.

Take some time to gather some necessities and feel peacefully prepared!

As always, feel free to contact me if I can be of service to you or answer any questions you may have.

Kim Adair

How May I Serve You?

I love how I feel every time I further my own efforts to be prepared for what may come down my path. The efforts we all make to prepare physically and spiritually will bless our families and give them a feeling of security and peace. We have a responsibility to care for our ourselves and our own. I encourage you all to take this seriously and ponder the ways you can strenghten your own desire for self-reliance. We should not live thoughtlessley or recklessly, believeing that we can just tap into other people's resources any old time, or that no large-scale crisis will ever happen to us. This is not the way the Lord would have us think. Instead, we have been receiving warnings about self-reliance for EVER SO LONG! Don't wait another minute to get started or to continue your efforts!

I LOVE this provident living calling and I want to serve you as best I can. Please tell me what we can do to best help you progress in the area of provident living. What types of group orders are you particularly interested in? What would you like to know or what do you need help with? Reply to this post or talk to me in person/phone/email and I will see what we can do to help you out!