Inch By Inch Preparedness

To be alive, only to appetite, pleasure, pride, moneymaking, and not to goodness and kindness, purity and love, poetry, music, flowers, stars, God and eternal hopes, is to deprive one’s self of the real joy of living.” David O. McKay

Family Preparation:

Pick two meeting places

1. A place near your home in case of a fire
2. A place outside your neighborhood in case you cannot return home after a disaster

Choose an OUT OF AREA contact friend or family, as a “Check In” person for anyone in your family to call in case of an emergency. That way everyone will be checking with the same person, and that person will know any information to relay to the others.

Emotional Preparedness:

“Sweet hour of prayer! That calls me from a world of care. And bids me at my Father’s throne make all my wants and wishes known. In season of distress and grief, my soul has often found relief, and oft escaped the tempter’s snare, by thy return sweet hour of prayer.”

In our times of distress and grief, in the trials of life, (and we all have them), let’s not forget the sweetness in the power and hour of prayer.

Financial Preparedness:

We can all save a bit of money on our utility bill by being wise in a few things around our home. Unplug electronics that are not being used and save a few dollars each month, and over the year perhaps several hundred dollars. Electronics that are not turned off and unplugged continue to use power without us even knowing it. Make use of natural lighting, especially during the summer months. Use the sun to heat or light your house and use your blinds and curtains to keep your house cooler. Make use of a clothesline to hang dry your clothes during nice weather. Just look around your home and think smart utility saving sense!

Physical Preparedness:

I think too many of us relate this category with being the super sports star or being the super model. Really, it is all about being healthy. And of course with being healthy, we must start with baby steps. We can’t expect to change all our unhealthy habits over night. We all have them, so pick one and start working on it. This week, how about checking out your dental health. Do you and your kids brush morning and night? Have you had a regular checkup within the last six months? Are you flossing daily? Dental health is an important part of our physical health. What would we be without our teeth? Well, I think you get the picture, and it isn’t a pretty one!

Educational Preparedness:

Gardening season is upon us. We should all be thinking of what we can do this year to help put a bit more surplus into our food storage, whether through freezing, canning, dehydrating, or even just eating fresh out of our own gardens to be more healthy and save money. And don’t forget the value of teaching our families to be a bit more self reliant through gardening. There are so many sites out there that have amazing info on this subject, so I won’t repeat, just remind. Learn, plan, and grow!

Happy and Healthy Prepping

Davilyn