Ark Prep 101 - Part 3: Where Do I Store All This Food, Water & Preparedness Stuff?

Did you know that you can store a

1 Year Supply of the Basics for 1 Person

underneath a twin bed?

Can you believe there is food stored in this room?

A YEAR'S WORTH!?!

Sometimes finding space for storing food storage takes a little creativity . . . but

IT'S WORTH IT!

We will be sharing some of YOUR IDEAS for

storing FOOD STORAGE as well as some of

OUR Favorite Shelving Options and Storage Solutions.

This is one of my favorite options for food storage.

They come individually or in a package of three.

I found mine at Walmart.

They have a smaller size too!

They are great for seasoning packets, toothpaste, and toothbrushes,

dental floss, gum, medicine and first aid supplies . . . etc.

Food can be stored in categories like:

Breakfast foods

Lunch Box

(This includes fruit snacks, granola bars, cookies, chips and crackers.)

Laundry Supplies, Personal Hygiene, and Baby Care.

This section also includes hair color, make-up, and femanine hygiene supplies.

Rolling Can Shelves are Wonderful!

This one holds soups and sauces.

A second shelf holds fruits, and a third holds vegetables.

The Shelf-Reliance Shelves don't come with a top shelf.

We had wood cut to fit the top to add more storage space.

(Note the dust . . . we just did more sheet rock, love construction!)

Powdered Drink Mixes, Gossner Milk, and Juice.

Bottled Fruit on Adjustable Shelves.

The boards can be adjusted to fit the size of the jar.

Not fancy . . . but I love them!

Boxes with #10 cans can be stacked against a wall.

This is just a cement wall . . . but with a couple pieces of wood

and some hooks, it becomes a great place

to store miscellaneous items.

Plastic Shelving is another great alternative.

Plastic Shelving can be divided into short and tall shelves.

This is an easy way to make the shelves fit the space.

The 3 Month Supply is stored on the shelves.

While long-term food storage items are easily

stored in #10 cans and boxed.

Watch for more of your food storage spaces and ideas.

Coming Up Next Week!

Safety & Preparedness Family Home Evening - Are YOU Ready?

Safety & Emergency Preparedness

Family Home Evening

Are YOU ready for the CHALLENGE?

If you had to prove that your children belong to YOU,

-OR-

Provide information in an emergency situation to

help find or care for YOUR CHILDREN . . .

Would you be able to do it?

The Family Home Evening Activity Tonight Is:

To fill out the information for your Child Identification Cards,

Authorization for Treatment of a Minor,

and Emergency Information Cards.

Family Emergency Information PDF

Don't worry . . . It won't be a boring night for the kids!

They get to be weighed, measured, finger-printed,

and have their picture taken.

Make sure the picture you use is an everyday snapshot.

(Professional pictures can be a little deceiving!)

Something to keep in mind:

This summer we will provide the opportunity for you

to get wallet-sized Child Identification Cards.

Just one more thing to make the night even better . . .

Family Home Evening Treats!

Tonight's Favorite:

Crispy Rocky Road Bites

Family Home Evening Treat Recipe: Rocky Road Bites PDF

Remember: To start and end with PRAYER!

Vital Records - Health Insurance

Your Vital Records Homework for this week is:

To add a copy of your Health Insurance Policy

and Insurance Card(s).

Add Insurance Cards for Dental & Vision - if you have them through a seperate insurance.

Print the PDF file below to use as your

Health Insurance Main Page:

Vital Records Health Insurance Page PDF

Place each of the items into a sheet protector.

Add Dental Records and X-rays as well.

I use paper-pockets to hold my cards.

Here's an Example:

Stick with white cardstock, it will keep the colors from

bleeding onto your cards.

Cut white cardstock into a 5" x 6" piece paper.

Fold paper, leaving the back side a little taller.

Use double sided tape on the inside (right and left sides) to make pocket.

Flip the pocket and add double sided tape to the back on all four sides.

Attach paper pocket to the main page.

2 paper pockets can fit on one page.

Add insurance cards and put whole page into a page protector.

A second set of insurance cards can be requested from your insurance company.

(You can also add an extra copy from the copy machine.)

This is a really important part of your binder . . . so work hard to get it done!

Food Storage Meals & Menu Planning - Breakfast: Pumpkin Apple Streusel Muffins!

Today's Breakfast Menu Item Is:

Pumpkin Apple Streusel Muffins

Here's the Recipe:

Pumpkin Apple Streusel Muffins Recipe PDF

Mixes can be made ahead of time and set aside for later.

Just add the wet ingredients when

you're ready to prepare the muffins.

Note:

You can replace fresh apples with dehydrated apples.

Just crunch them up and add them to the dry mix.

Add 1/4 cup water to the wet ingredients.

These are sooooo good!

Preserve It . . . Canning Corner: Dry Soup Mix Recipe #2

Dry Soup Mix #2:

This is a great soup recipe. 

Put a few mixes together. . . one for now, and some for later!

Dry Soup Mix Recipe #2

Split Pea Cheese-Tortellini Soup PDF

By the end of the year you will have

12 different Dry Soup Mix Recipes.

Our Challenge to YOU:

Give them a try!

You will be pleasantly surprised, especially when you serve

them with some hot homemade bread.

Vital Records Binder Tabs - Including the Table of Contents!

So here they are, and I even remembered the

Table of Contents!

They are included in the last 3 pages of the PDF File.

Print them on cardstock and use your

Table of Contents tab on the first of the three page.

Vital Records Binder Tabs PDF

(The file above includes the black and white tabs and

table of contents pages.)

Vital Records Cover and Index Tabs PDF

(This file includes the colored cover page and index tabs.)

Print each PDF File on cardstock.  Put each of the pages into a seperate sheet protector and attach

the index tabs with double sticky tape to the edges,

staggering them as you go.

The information pages are also put into page protectors.  I purchased mine at Sam's or Costco.

Remember:  Each Sunday we will be adding the pages that go inbetween the tabs.

Family Activity - A Night with DAD!

Dad's you're on your own tonight . . . The ladies are working hard on Preparedness Projects

at their Relief Society Meeting!

Don't worry, we have a few ideas that just might make tonight a little bit easier.

It's a great time to make SECRET VALENTINE'S FOR MOM!

Grab some paper, crayons, glue and whatever else you can find to help your little one's make Valentine's for Mom.  She'll love the thought and because it's a secret . . . the craft area will be squeaky clean, as to leave no evidence of the nights activities!  Oh, how happy she will be!

Mom's love heart-felt letters from husband's too . . . so don't let the surprise stop with the kids!

Brownie Points are GUARENTEED!

Have a great time with the kids.

We'll be thinking of you!

Moms,

We know you will probably be the ones reading this post, and you may be wondering how you can

"ever-so-gently" hint to your husbands that you would really love some Valentines from your kids.

We have a plan!

Just leave a little Valentine Craft Packet on the table,

(you may want to tape off a craft-safe area)

then . . .tell your kids,

"Dad has a fun project to do with you tonight!"

Refer your husbands to the blog and head out the door to

Relief Society.

Mission Accomplished!

See YOU there!

Preparedness Project - Family Activity Bag!

Today's Preparedness Project Is:

The Family Activity Bag!

There's actually not a lot to it . . . just find a bag that will fit several toys, games, and activities for your children to use in an Emergency Situation and keep the bag with your 72 Hour Kits. 

Often times in an emergency situation parents are just trying to take care of the basic human needs:  food, water, shelter . . . etc.  Trying to keep your children entertained and happy is usually the last thing on your list, but helping them get their minds off of the scary situations can make all the difference.

Throughout the year we will be sharing games, activities and ideas for your Family Activity Bag.

The activities are innexpensive and easy to do, but will entertain your children for hours so that you can take care of other things.

We will be making a Prophet's Memory Game on Thursday.

For those of you who won't be able to attend we have included the PDF File for YOU!

Prophet's Memory Game PDF

To make the Prophet's Memory Game you will need to:

Print the PDF File. 

(This file includes all of the Latter-day Prophets.)

Cut out each of the cards.

Cut out 32 - 3"x4" pieces of chipboard or cardstock

to make the cards.

Attach 1 Prophet's Match Cover to each of the cards.

(Front Side)

Attach the pictures of the Prophet's on the opposite side.

(Back Side)

Laminate the cards and you're done!

The Prophet's Match Memory Game can be played 2 different ways:

1st:  As the regular memory game where you try to find two matches.

2nd: Divide into two teams and race to see who can put the Prophet's in the right order first!

I found a cute bag to hold the game when it was done at

Hobby Lobby.

(It was only .50 cents!)

Ark Prep 101 - How Much Water Do I Store?

How Much Water Do I Need To Store?

Part 2

Water is more important than food.  After 3-4 days without water, the kidneys stop functioning and the damage is irreversible, even with present day technology.  You should plan how you would purify water for your family if disaster struck.  Boiling water works for about 90% of contaminates, but you would need to boil the water for approximately 16 minutes. 

For a 2-week supply, you should store 2 gallons per person, per day. 

Note:  This is for drinking and cooking,

not for bathing or washing.

We have read several Food Storage and Emergency Preparedness Books in an effort to find out how much you should store for your family's needs.

Some of the books recommended 1-gallon per person per day, while others recommended you store

180-gallons per person . . . That's ALOT OF WATER!

We recommend you store: One 55-gallon drum for each person in your family.

Depending on your storage space, the large drums may not work for you.  There are other options for storing water.  The best option is to store as much as you can!

Water can be stored in clean plastic 2-liter pop bottles, 5-gallon jugs all the way up to 250-gallon drums.

It's always nice to have bottled water on hand. 

It's portable and easy to rotate!

Water For Cleaning and Washing:

Can be stored in old laundry soap containers.  I use the ones with the spiket.  It makes washing hands so easy.  Make sure to label the jug as cleaning water only - NOT FOR DRINKING!

Your Challenge This Week:

Is to find out how much water you have stored and how much more you need for your family.

Next Tuesday:

"Where Do I Store All This Water and Stuff?" 

Part 3

Will give you storage suggestions for food, emergency supplies and options for storing your family's water.

Primary Theme & Scripture FHE - Jesus Christ is My Savior and Redeemer!

The Primary Theme & Scripture Family Home Evening Lesson this week, gives you the opportunity to talk about the Plan of Salvation.

We have included pictures and a lesson that will get your family involved

and help you to explain the plan more easily.

February Primary Theme and Scripture FHE PDF

February 4th Relief Society Activity

SEE YOU THERE!

February Journal Pages

So, it's a new month and if you didn't take the chance to fill out your January Journal Pages

IT'S NOT TOO LATE!

Write down as many things as you can remember, add a few pictures and you're on your way.

This is a fun way to keep track of Family Home Evening Memories as well.

Let your kids take turns writing down some of their favorite memories for the month.  If they are too small to write, let them draw a picture or you can write what they say.

Your family journal will become one of your GREATEST TREASURES!

(You can find the PDF for these Jounal Pages at the bottom of the page.)

February Journal Pages PDF

Vital Records - Business Cards!

The next section in your Vital Records Binder is:

Our Neighborhood Block Plan and a List of Block Captains, BUT

this will be part of an activity we are saving for later.

We are now into the Medical Section of the Binder and this Week's Assignment is:

To gather your business cards for Doctor's, Orthadontists, Specialists, Vetenarian . . . etc.

Purchase:

8 1/2" x 11" Business Card Page Protectors

to organize and store cards.

You will use these in several places throughout your binder. 

They are fairly inexpensive and usually come in quantities of 25.

Just a reminder:

We will be putting the tabs together during the

Feb. 4th Relief Society Meeting.

Remember to bring your 8 1/2" x 11" page protectors!