All because two people fell in love...

We met in February 1989, started dating in May, and got married in September. And Josh came *almost* 11 months later, just in case y'all were wondering. And then no more came. We waited, and waited, and then Lauren decided to make her debut in May 1995 (5 weeks early), and then Kayley 1997, Jacob 1998, Krissy 2001, Lindsey 2004 & Joey 2006. We lived in Texas until 2005, and then we moved to Arkansas, just about 25 miles north of Texarkana, Texas. Fortunately all my children are Texans (and my handsome husband) because Texans are just cool. Wish I was a Texan... but husband had to settle with a California gal, which I think is pretty cool too.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Was it raining when Noah built the ark?

Ever since I was a kid, I have known about food storage. I know it is important. I know the Lord has been telling us via his prophets "if ye are prepared, ye shall not fear." (D&C 38:30) But yet it has taken Shawn and I many many years to get food storage. I tell my kids that the key word to the Lord's gospel is "obedience." The Lord has told us to gather food (storage) but I wasn't quick to obey. Kinda reminds me of the parable of the Ten Virgins... 5 were wise and had their lamps full of oil, while 5 were foolish and waited until the Lord came to fill theirs. I think for a long time we didn't think anything was going to happen serious in the world, as in raising food prices, raising gas prices, etc... and so Shawn and I waited. It's only been since this president of the United States that we started getting scared some, because we weren't being obedient in preparing our food storage. We decided that we needed to start now. Not sure when I went to get some food storage from the Dallas' Bishop's Storehouse, but it was after Josh left on his mission (Aug 2009). We got our years supply of oatmeal, years supply of pinto beans, and 6 months of wheat for now, along with some other stuff. But that's all I did with it. Didn't PREPARE it like I should have. So it sat in our storage room, which is located in our house in the south, which is quite warm all the time and weevils like to live in this kind of conditions especially if there is dry oatmeal in 50# bags not sealed correctly. Therefore, we lost all our oatmeal, and 2 bags of white flour. I was sick about it!! So now I am having to buy more oatmeal, but this time I am preparing it correctly. But now as I am looking at prices of the food either through the Bishop's Storehouse, or any other site, prices are rising, and have rose 11-49% since January 2011!! Morning Moo Milk will kill us, as it's $122 per 50# bag.

I have found a few sites that are good, and comparable with each other: http://www.augasonfarms.com and http://store.honeyvillegrain.com, and then of course there is http://providentliving.org

I also found this website: http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/20-signs-that-a-horrific-global-food-crisis-is-coming

We also plant a huge garden each year, well the kids and Shawn do, and I home-can a lot of it. I also freeze some, and we also eat a lot of it while fresh.

But yet, even though I am trying to do what the prophet's say, there is opposition. Remember scripture mastery 2 Nephi 2:11 "There needs to be opposition in all things." I don't get harassment and heckling from non-family about this as much as I do from some of my own siblings. Things like "you watch to much TV" or "if something happens, we will come to you since you are prepared." Really? Was it raining when Noah built the ark? So because I watch to much TV does that also include watching General Conference on TV and listening to what the prophets are telling us? And if for some reason something happens and you loose your job and have no money how are you going to get here? The closest any of my family is is 5 hrs. Will you have money for gas? And why should I help you when all you have done is harass me? I mean, you can come here if you want and live in a tent on the land, but if you want food you will have to work at it. I have plently of land for you to start digging and planting. Oh, that's right... you need seeds. Did you bring your seeds? I only have enough seeds to plant for my own family... not people who harassed me. You need to start saving seeds too!! Buy some and put them in a plastic bag and leave them in the freezer. They can be used year after year until they are gone. They also can be placed in a mylar bag and sealed for coming years.

All of this reminds of the children's story "The Little Red Hen." No one wanted to help her plant, till, harvest, make/bake but they all wanted to eat her bread.

2 Read What I Wrote:

Dana Fallentine said...

Thank you for all the fabulous information! I know I need to keep my food storage up to date & fully stocked!

Love your blog!

Searls Stuff said...

"Not I" said the cat! Great post!