Another resolution for me

It's time to clear the clutter. I have too much "stuff" and often can't find what I need in the midst of it so it's time to dejunk, organize and put my house on a diet.

I also need to stand my ground with my temporary boarders. I need order in my house.

Click the post title for an article from WebMD on clearing the clutter - mentally as well as physically.

D & C 88:119 Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God.

A resolution for the new year

I plan to become prepared for possible disasters. We have been informed of required furlough days at work (10 hours every month without pay or compensation). This will cut into my budget significantly. I read this article and recommitted to doing as the prophets have asked (and as Joseph did in Egypt) and will complete my storage this year. It will be challenging, of course, along with the pay cuts. But, as the woman in the story said, obedience brings blessings. Obviously this means more than wheat in the basement. We attend seminars in emergency planning at work and the number one advice for us there is to get our own homes in order. See Be Ready Utah. There is no way to supply the demand for an entire community in a disaster. There is no room to store for all as in ancient Egypt. But, if every home has a supply of food and other needs, we can survive and render assistance to others in need.

There are hundreds of sites to help. Here are a few: The church has an online food storage calculator here. More information on disaster planning and survival can be found here. Some bulk buying tips can be found here. Shelf life is listed here. Red Cross kits are here. Once you get going you will get lost in all the available helps and information from the Red Cross, FEMA, CDC, etc.

Out with the Old

When looking at Debbie Harman’s food storage recipes, consider your own supplies.

Often we are quick to assume that our unperishables are . . . unperishable. But many of those items sitting in your food storage will not last forever. Here are guidelines for when some of the basics need to be thrown out:

Pancake mix: 6-9 months

Crackers: 6 months

Pasta (without egg solids): 1 year

Cereals: 6-12 months (but they can go stale quickly if opened)

Plain white rice, in airtight container: 2 years

Popcorn: 1-2 years

Canned fruit: 12-18 months (unopened)

Baking powder and soda: 6 months (opened)

Flour: 6-8 months

Sugar: 2 years (indefinite if kept free of moisture)

Prepared cake, pudding, and biscuit mixes: 9-12 months

Shortening: 18 months (unopened)

Vanilla extract: 1 year (opened)

(Source: LDS Living)