Faith Farm

Earthquakes strike suddenly, violently and without warning. Identifying potential hazards ahead of time and advance planning can reduce the dangers of serious injury or loss of life from an earthquake. Repairing deep plaster cracks in ceilings and foundations, anchoring overhead lighting fixtures to the ceiling, and following local seismic building standards, will help reduce the impact of earthquakes.

Stay as safe as possible during an earthquake. Be aware that some earthquakes are actually foreshocks and a larger earthquake might occur. Minimize your movements to a few steps to a nearby safe place and stay indoors until the shaking has stopped and you are sure exiting is safe.

Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can locate you. Use a whistle if one is available. Shout only as a last resort. Shouting can cause you to inhale dangerous amounts of dust.

Food Rationing

If you missed reading this article on Food Rationing in America check out The Cole Homestead Blog

More on wheat

Wheat prices & your grocery cost

We have all heard the arguments about how the price of corn and fuel are affecting the cost of the foods we eat and they are right it does-just look at the price of a gallon of milk. But under the shadow of the big corn and fuel debates there is yet another real concern to our food prices....shortage of world wheat supplies. If you ask me (which few do-LOL) this is the one thing that we should watch the most. The shortage of wheat has been an issue for many years due to drought, weather and desease related crop destruction, alternative crop planting, and shortage of quality seed. It now has caused the price of wheat and wheat futures to sky rocket. Basic Economics states that if you increase the price of a good the demand will slow.....well that isn't working in this case. We continue to increase the price and the demand is still there and growing. The shortage of wheat in other countries as well as the strong economy of many other nations has made this general rule of thumb useless. We continue to export at alarming levels. Read more about it here http://news.tradingcharts.com/futures/1/0/104501701.html

The demand for wheat is high all across the globe-our production in the US is good but as you can see it is not keeping with the demand or growth and reserves are low. This translates into higher costs for flour and wheat products....we probably wont see this immediately but we will see it. It is very hard for many of us as we walk down the supermarket isle to see that the world currently has a wheat shortage...unfortunately for many countries it is already painfully clear. The nature of crops is uncertain and therefore should have our attention. Just thought I would share this information. Blessings>faithfarm

72 hour kit

Good Morning friends! Yesterday I read a preparedness manual that covered it all and had real life examples and commentary from Katrina survivors. I must say-it was a very difficult read. It did however change my point of view about the 72 hour emergency kits. I have always thought they were a good idea to have. I just thought that there is very little likelyhood that I would have to leave my place. I have or am working on having everything I need here, so why would I need a BOB (bug-out-bag)? Like with everything else around here-its a learning process-you live, you learn, you grow (and pray alot). For some reason I never considered the events that having a 72 hour kit would make so much easier. Take for example a short term evacuation ( I live a mile away from a busy train track), Natural weather events-(in my area tornadoes), Grass fire evacuation, and the list goes on. I guess I always thought that if I needed to leave, I would see it coming and have plenty of time to gather the emergency essentials. Thats not a good plan. I can't help but think of the terrible tragedy that is happening in the South now with the tornadoes. (God help them-we are praying for you) Did they have enough time to gather? No. So today I plan on actually pysically putting together an emergency kit for my family. I am putting a list of suggested items for the kit below. There is alot of good help on the web to assist you in putting together your own kit. I personally like the 5-6 gallon bucket kits. They are easily portable and can be used for a variety of things. One more thing I would like to say....if you have a chance to read some personal accounts of the Hurricane Katrina Survivors....you should. I was incredibly surprised at some of the treatment that "prepared" homesteaders recieved from officials. In the town I live near, we hosted several Katrina Victims so I had heard the evacuation horror stories (and they were bad), but I never heard about the difficulties of those who were prepared and lived close to the flooded areas...its well worth reading.

1) Your 72 hour kit should be in a portable container located near an exit of your house or better, sheltered in your backyard.

2) Each family member should have their own 72 hour kit with food, clothing and water. Distribute heavy items between kits.

3) Enclose the extra clothing, matches, personal documents, and other items damageable by smoke or water in plastic to protect them.

4) Keep a light source in the top of your 72 hour kit, so you can find it quickly in the dark.

5) Personalize your 72 hour kit. Make sure you fill the needs of each family member.

6) Inspect your 72 hour kit at least twice a year. Rotate food and water every six months. Don’t forget to check your medications. Check children’s clothing for proper fit. Adjust clothing for winter or summer needs. Check expiration dates on batteries, light sticks, warm packs, food and water.

7) Consider the needs of elderly people as well as those with handicaps or other special needs when building your 72 hour kit. For example: for babies, store diapers,

Interesting article on world food supply

Here is an article released in Dec. 2007 that was not highly published in the US. I heard a small news report on this on CNN. Just something to know....

ROME: In an "unforeseen and unprecedented" shift, the world food supply is dwindling rapidly and food prices are soaring to historic levels, the top food and agriculture official of the United Nations warned Monday.

The changes created "a very serious risk that fewer people will be able to get food," particularly in the developing world, said Jacques Diouf, head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

The agency's food price index rose by more than 40 percent this year, compared with 9 percent the year before - a rate that was already unacceptable, he said. New figures show that the total cost of foodstuffs imported by the neediest countries rose 25 percent, to $107 million, in the last year.

At the same time, reserves of cereals are severely depleted, FAO records show. World wheat stores declined 11 percent this year, to the lowest level since 1980. That corresponds to 12 weeks of the world's total consumption - much less than the average of 18 weeks consumption in storage during the period 2000-2005. There are only 8 weeks of corn left, down from 11 weeks in the earlier period.

Prices of wheat and oilseeds are at record highs, Diouf said Monday. Wheat prices have risen by $130 per ton, or 52 percent, since a year ago. U.S. wheat futures broke $10 a bushel for the first time Monday, the agricultural equivalent of $100 a barrel oil. (Page 16)

Diouf blamed a confluence of recent supply and demand factors for the crisis, and he predicted that those factors were here to stay. On the supply side, these include the early effects of global warming, which has decreased crop yields in some crucial places, and a shift away from farming for human consumption toward crops for biofuels and cattle feed. Demand for grain is increasing with the world population, and more is diverted to feed cattle as the population of upwardly mobile meat-eaters grows.

"We're concerned that we are facing the perfect storm for the world's hungry," said Josette Sheeran, executive director of the World Food Program, in a telephone interview. She said that her agency's food procurement costs had gone up 50 percent in the past 5 years and that some poor people are being "priced out of the food market."

To make matters worse, high oil prices have doubled shipping costs in the past year, putting enormous stress on poor nations that need to import food as well as the humanitarian agencies that provide it.

"You can debate why this is all happening, but what's most important to us is that it's a long-term trend, reversing decades of decreasing food prices," Sheeran said.

Climate specialists say that the vulnerability will only increase as further effects of climate change are felt. "If there's a significant change in climate in one of our high production areas, if there is a disease that effects a major crop, we are in a very risky situation," said Mark Howden of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization in Canberra.

Already "unusual weather events," linked to climate change - such as droughts, floods and storms - have decreased production in important exporting countries like Australia and Ukraine, Diouf said.

In Southern Australia, a significant reduction in rainfall in the past few years led some farmers to sell their land and move to Tasmania, where water is more reliable, said Howden, one of the authors of a recent series of papers in the Procedings of the National Academy of Sciences on climate change and the world food supply.

"In the U.S., Australia, and Europe, there's a very substantial capacity to adapt to the effects on food - with money, technology, research and development," Howden said. "In the developing world, there isn't."

Sheeran said, that on a recent trip to Mali, she was told that food stocks were at an all time low. The World Food Program feeds millions of children in schools and people with HIV/AIDS. Poor nutrition in these groups increased the risk serious disease and death.

Diouf suggested that all countries and international agencies would have to "revisit" agricultural and aid policies they had adopted "in a different economic environment." For example, with food and oil prices approaching record, it may not make sense to send food aid to poorer countries, but instead to focus on helping farmers grow food locally.

FAO plans to start a new initiative that will offer farmers in poor countries vouchers that can be redeemed for seeds and fertilizer, and will try to help them adapt to climate change.

The recent scientific papers concluded that farmers could adjust to 1 degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) to 3 degrees Celsius (5.4 degrees) of warming by switching to more resilient species, changing planting times, or storing water for irrigation, for example.

But that after that, "all bets are off," said Francesco Tubiello, of Columbia University Earth Institute. "Many people assume that we will never have a problem with food production on a global scale, but there is a strong potential for negative surprises."

In Europe, officials said they were already adjusting policies to the reality of higher prices. The European Union recently suspended a "set-aside" of land for next year - a longstanding program that essentially paid farmers to leave 10 percent of their land untilled as a way to increase farm prices and reduce surpluses. Also, starting in January, import tariffs on all cereal will be eliminated for six months, to make it easier for European countries to buy grain from elsewhere. But that may make it even harder for poor countries to obtain the grain they need.

In an effort to promote free markets, the European Union has been in the process of reducing farm subsidies and this has accelerated the process.

"It's much easier to do with the new economics," said Michael Mann a spokesman for the EU agriculture commission. "We saw this coming to a certain extent, but we are surprised at how quickly it is happening."

But he noted that farm prices the last few decades have been lower than at any time in history, so the change seems extremely dramatic.

Diouf noted that there had been "tension and political unrest related to food markets" in a number of poor countries this year, including Morocco, Senegal and Mauritania. "We need to play a catalytic role to quickly boost crop production in the most affected countries," he said.

Part of the current problem is an outgrowth of prosperity. More people in the world now eat meat, diverting grain from humans to livestock. A more complicated issue is the use of crops to make biofuels, which are often heavily subsidized. A major factor in rising corn prices globally is that many farmers in the United States are now selling their corn to make subsidized ethanol.

Mann said the European Union had intentionally set low targets for biofuel use - 10 per cent by 2020 - to limit food price rises and that it plans to import some biofuel. "We don't want all our farmers switching from food to biofuel," he said.

3 theories of preparedness

Water, food and clean air are important things to have if an emergency happens. Each family or individual’s kit should be customized to meet specific needs, such as medications and infant formula. It should also be customized to include important family documents.

Battery-powered radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert, and exztra batteries for both

If you live in a cold weather climate, you must think about warmth. It is possible that the power will be out and you will not have heat. Rethink your clothing and bedding supplies to account for growing children and other family changes. One complete change of warm clothing and shoes per person including:

Here is two handy forms from www.storesonlinepro.com that can be printed out and used for contact information.

Economic Recession?

Good Morning! We woke to a sheet of ice on everything....that makes things a bit interesting! I think I'll wait a bit and see if it stops before I try to thaw out the gates. The sun is starting to rise (behind the clouds) so it really is an amazing sight. Everything looks like glass. The children are slow to rise this morning and I think I'll just let them sleep in a while. DH has already gone to scrap ice....I've got chili started in the crock and the laundry mostly done. The cast iron kettle on the wood stove is sizzling with steam.....I made a good pot of coffee this morning....I think I'll just enjoy the peace. I wanted to share a bit of economic news with you this morning-First the world markets (yep-all of them) took a heavy loss on Mondays trade (our was closed for holiday)....due to worries of US Recession and economy, some markets took losses equal to the loss of 9/11/01---Tuesdays trade in Asian Markets took another heavy loss-European Market is down but not sinking like yesterday-their still trading. Ok why am I telling you this........Because this is going to have an affect on us today. Our stock market is expected to open down 500pts. There is alot of talk about US recession causing a global recession---the definition of a recession is: a period of two quarters of negative GDP growth. Some would argue we have already been in a recession. The definition of a depression is: as a recession that lasts longer and has a larger decline in business activity. So how can you tell the difference between the two? In general by looking at the changes in GNP. A depression is any economic downturn where real GDP declines by more than 10 percent. A recession is an economic downturn that is less severe. Now Congress is claiming they will be passing the stimulas package today--The urgency should tell us something---Maybe I'm just being mean-but when does Congress move fast on anything? I am not telling any of this to cause fear or worry-I am just making note of this because I feel it is important to pay attention to whats going on around us--I know God has us in His hands--but for many a time of economic hardship will be very difficult. We have become accustom to an easy life compared to many in this world and I think that there are so many people who will not know what to do. It is a time to be prepared and be a blessing to those in need. Please pray with me today regarding these matters. Blessings> faithfarm

current events and preparedness thoughts

Good morning! Today is a beautiful day here on Faith Farm. I thought I would share my thoughts about some current events going on. I have been following events to do with the US markets and economy. As of Friday there was alot of talk about an immediate economic stimulas package...now I know there are many points of view on this topic.... I am at a point that I believe that there is not much short of a serious market correction that will make this any better, however, our goverment officials are trying some different tactics to help the situation..even if its only a temporary boost....the one thing that everyone seems to be agreeing on is that it needs to happen now. One of the main ideas coming out is an immediate "tax rebate check".....Putting a significant dollar amount into the hands of taxpayers to spend as they deem fit. Now-regardless of this being a good or bad idea-this could put an unexpected sum of money into your hands. My question to you is--Wouldn't this be a perfect time to get prepared for those unexpected events that our govenment seems to keep reminding us of? They want us to spend it--thats the whole concept behind this...put money in their hands and they will spend it. The question then is what do you spend it on? What could we do to make the most difference in our lives? Lets just say that every family recieves $1600.00-----For some of us that could be a years supply of food storage---or feed---a much needed well pump--many, many possibilities that would assist us in a more self sufficient lifestyle. I think this is an opportunity for us to be good stewards with our money. Take time to pray about how this can be a blessing to your family.

Here are some government preparedness websites that I thought might be helpful for information.

Did anyone see this?

DHS Encourages Americans to Resolve to be Ready in 2008

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reminds Americans that the New Year is a perfect time to Resolve to be Ready. The department’s Ready Campaign has outlined the top 10 items for a basic emergency supply kit so that every American can keep their preparedness resolutions next year.

“We cannot stress enough the importance of being prepared for all types of emergencies, from natural disasters to terrorist attacks,” said Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. “Having a plan can make all the difference, as the recent flooding and ice storms across the country have shown. The time for individuals, families and businesses to plan is now, and to resolve to make readiness a priority for 2008.”

Keeping New Year’s resolutions is challenging, but making resolutions that are simple and realistic is the key to success. Americans can successfully prepare for emergencies by following the Ready Campaign’s three easy steps:

To help get started, the Ready Campaign is issuing a checklist of the leading items needed in a basic emergency supply kit for the home or business. These items include: water, food, radio, flashlight, first-aid kit, whistle, moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties, wrench or pliers, local maps, and personal items.

For the complete list of items the Ready Campaign recommends including in your emergency kit, visit theReady Campaign Web site at www.ready.gov or call 1-800-BE-READY. Ready also suggests creating a smaller, portable kit for your home or office in case you need to evacuate immediately. The Web site includes free information, checklists and guidelines about the two other key components of preparedness – developing a family emergency plan and being informed.

DHS reminds Americans to get involved in neighborhood and community preparedness efforts once their families are prepared. A good way to start is by reaching out to a local Citizen Corps Council to learn about hands-on training and opportunities to get involved with a local organization. For more information, visit www.citizencorps.gov.

DHS promotes individual emergency preparedness through the Ready Campaign and Citizen Corps as part of a broader national effort conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Ready is a national public service advertising campaign produced by The Advertising Council in partnership with DHS. The Ready Campaign is designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies, including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks. Individuals interested in more information about family and business preparedness can visit www.ready.gov or call 1-800-BE-READY to receive free materials. Citizen Corps, DHS’ grassroots effort, localizes preparedness messages and provides opportunities for citizens to get emergency response training; participate in community exercises; and volunteer to support local first responders. To learn more and to get involved, contact your nearest Citizen Corps Council by visiting www.citizencorps.gov.

Be Prepared

Here is another good article from www.beprepared.com. I hope you enjoy it. Blessings>faithfarm

Be Prepared. We have been told to do so time and again. Government officials continue to warn us of their inability to respond to everyone's needs in an emergency situation, church leaders of many different faiths teach emergency preparedness, and even the Boy Scouts of America have adopted this simple statement as their motto.

Modern conveniences and luxuries may be the reason for the complacency of many of our attitudes towards emergency preparedness. We flip a switch, turn a dial, insert a key, or pull a lever to obtain virtually any necessity of life we desire. Food, water, heat and light are all available with almost no effort. For the most part, many of us live a life of luxury, yet continually search for bigger, better and more convenient items.

These modern conveniences are also accompanied by the age of information. Information from around the world reaches our homes as fast as you can tune a radio, turn on a television, open a newspaper or turn on the computer. This desire for information, the speed and ease at which it can be processed, provide us with the ability to assess potential hazards far better than we could in years past.

Headlines and news casts are filled with stories regarding natural and man made disasters, civil unrest, and unemployment from all parts of the world. These headlines provide us with several very good reasons to become prepared for emergencies.

For example, on June 7-10 of 1993 the state of Utah was the site of the largest simulated earthquake drill ever sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Over the course of the 4-day drill over 5,000 participants were involved. These participants came from various areas of emergency planning. Government agencies and volunteer organizations like the American Red Cross did the actual role playing, while business entities involved with emergency preparedness, such as Emergency Essentials® worked to educate the public. The drill was designed to test the coordination and communication abilities of the emergency response agencies, and their effectiveness in providing relief in the event of an emergency. The simulation was to mimic an earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale affecting the greater Salt Lake area. The statistics that came about as a result of this drill are based in a large part on actual data from other earthquakes, computer simulation, and statistical data regarding population base, structural analysis, soil composition and resources available.

By taking all of this information, FEMA has been able to paint a graphic picture that is very pertinent to the State of Utah, and specifically to the Wasatch Front. They estimate that with this type of scenario Utah would suffer 3,500 fatalities with 14,000 injured. In addition 645,000 people would be without water with as many as 45,000 people completely homeless. Over 50% of Emergency Response Capabilities would be non-functional, as well as over half of the hospitals and other medical facilities.

The need to be prepared is evident all around us, and we can do much the same as FEMA has done by gathering information that is pertinent to our own situation, and then use it in assessing the potential hazards and problems we might experience. Information can be obtained from various sources, and much of it is free or of very little expense. Check with your public library, American Red Cross or other emergency response organizations. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration publishes or makes available a number of excellent brochures regarding various weather related hazards. While FEMA and the National Safety Council have publications for virtually any emergency or hazard related topic imaginable. There are also companies that specialize in emergency preparedness and provide valuable resources for information.

Once information has been collected, you can begin to start preparing yourself and your family. As you make emergency preparedness a priority, you will be surprised at how quickly you become prepared and how much comfort the peace of preparedness can bring.

My sister and preparedness

Good Morning! I thought I share a bit about a telephone call I had with my sister. She called me to tell me about this crazy dream she had where she had to evecuate her town. She lives in a city over three hours away and her emergency plan in the event that if anything and I do mean any-thing happens is simple to come home--lol. (It works.) So when she called me and said she had this dream it wasn't surprising but the rest of the dream was kinda funny. She said an emergency management person came to her door and told her everyone had to leave immediately...the entire area...so to make a long story short she decided it was necessary to go to Wallyworld for supplies and to get fuel before she was able to leave town. It was at this point that we both got tickled. But it did get me to thinking and on a more serious note- I remember what it was like the morning of 9/11/01....I was one of those people who went to work that morning with an almost empty tank of gas (I thought-I'll get it after work-no big deal)....I had to wait for over an hour to just get fuel to go home. Our local Marts were packed with panicked people...it was an awful sight. That is a mistake that I don't want to repeat. In this case we weren't dealing with shortage or even a local disaster we were dealing with panic (myself included). It was an awful tragic day and one that I don't take forgranted. How often do we still put ourselves in this same position---empty or almost empty gas tanks---being in a position that we are not able to do what needs to be done. I don't know about you but I have a hard enough time keeping fuel in my tanks for immediate needs much less fuel stored back for generators or emergency trips! Still it should be a priority. Taking that extra 5 min. to fill up our tank before we come home from town--it could really make a difference. Most States in the US only allow a 25 gallon (5-5gal. approved storage containers) reserve for personal use. There are alot of regulations regarding any type of personal fuel storage so it would be wise to look into your area laws. A little preventitive planning incorperated into our everyday lives can make a huge difference when it counts. Thank you for reading my blog today. I hope you all have a very Blessed day! FaithFarm

The Natural Sweetness of Honey

The Natural Sweetness of Honey

When considering what types of sweeteners to add to your food storage there are several reasons why honey should be at the top of your list. Not only is honey healthy, but it also has great flavor and will store almost indefinitely.

Honey doesn’t undergo the processing that sugar does, therefore it contains more nutrients. Mineral content is higher in darker honey. Digestion of honey is also easier than digestion of refined sugars. Honey provides a boost to your immune system that refined sugars won’t. The boost comes from the antioxidants that are found naturally in honey. Other health benefits of using honey include fatigue prevention and increased energy, and enhanced physical performance.

Note: Do not feed honey to babies under 1 year of age--it may cause infant botulism.

Honey can be used whenever you have a recipe that calls for sugar. Since honey is more concentrated than sugar use approximately 3/4 cup honey for every cup of sugar called for in any recipe. You may substitute up to half of the sugar called for without needing to make any other adjustments to the recipe. If substituting more than half of the sugar with honey, reduce the amount of liquid called for by one-quarter. Using honey also gives a sweeter taste to the foods you are eating.

Storing honey is simple. It can be stored in almost any container from glass and plastic jars to larger 5 gallon food grade buckets. Around 75° F is the ideal storage temperature, but any crystallization that occurs at cooler temperatures can be reversed. Simply place your container of honey in a pan of warm water (approx. 130° F) or in a sunny spot in your home. This will liquefy your honey. Be sure not to boil the honey as this can ruin the taste. Rotating honey is simple when substituting it for sugar but it can still be stored for a lengthy amount of time.

Making honey a part of your food storage can provide all these benefits and more.

Sleep when the wind blows

A farmer needed an extra hand to help on his farm. One young man came to interview for the job. "What are your qualifications?" the farmer asked. "I can sleep when the wind blows," the young man said. This simple reply confused the farmer, but he was desperate for help and the young man was hired.

The young man was a diligent worker through the harvest season, but the farmer still questioned his answer.

Autumn ended and the first cold storm of winter came late one night. The farmer panicked as the winds began to blow. Calling the young man for help, the farmer grabbed his coat and pulled heavy boots on his feet. He was disappointed to find the young man asleep in bed at a time like this. Grudgingly he ventured out alone planning to shuffle all of the animals in the barn and then fix that last hole in the roof. He mumbled about the young man sleeping and was sure all the farm equipment was left standing in the field, collecting rust from the snow.

However, when the farmer reached the barn all the animals were tucked safely inside. In fact, clean hay had already been set out for the new day. Not a single hole could be found in the roof, and the tractor was parked perfectly in the shed.

"Who could have done it?" the farmer wondered. And then, he realized what the young man's answer meant, "I can sleep when the wind blows."

By preparing yourself and your family for an emergency, you can feel confident that you are better able to handle the unexpected. Just like this young farmhand, you too can sleep when the wind blows.

I would like to thank www.beprepared.com for the wonderful articles they provide to help us all be prepared. Blessings>faithfarm

Find Out About Emergency Preparedness in Your State

Priorities and preparedness

Some years ago I purchased my first home computer. After countless days of comparing prices, hard drive speeds, software packages, and more, I decided which computer was right for me. I had worked out pricing and was ready to make my purchase!

It was then that the sales associate asked if I wanted to buy a surge protector for my computer. Immediately I thought to myself, "No, I don't have enough money for that. I could use the money for software or for a better keyboard or something else." Then suddenly it occurred to me that if there were a surge of electricity, I would lose a $2500 computer. It was absolutely foolish not to purchase a $30 item that would, in essence, save my $2500 investment. The principle of protecting something I valued seemed like common sense to me. In fact, it was so appealing that I chose the most expensive surge protector with a lifetime guarantee. It was when I got home that I realized what I had done and decided to begin making some pretty interesting parallels about what my priorities were or what they should be.

Why did I do all these things? The reason was clear to me: I wanted to protect the valuables that were important to me. Then, it occurred to me, what kind of precautions am I taking when it comes to emergency preparedness? If a major emergency occurred today, would all my efforts protect the ones I truly love? Unfortunately the answer was no; I would not be prepared and all of my precautions for my belongings would not be of any use. Just like my computer-buying experience, I chose to be more concerned about a luxury instead of insuring what's most important: my family's well-being.

When it came right down to it, I realized that my priorities were not in order. I was protecting material things above my own safety and the safety of those I dearly love. In fact, for the very same price I paid for my expensive surge protector, I could have bought emergency equipment for my family.

I realized that I needed to make some changes. I set new priorities and began to purchase emergency supplies.

The first thing I did was to buy an emergency kit for my family. For a small sum I was able to insure my family with shelter, food , water, light, heat, and more in case of an emergency.

The next step in my preparation investment was my food storage. It seems almost impossible to store one year's worth of food for my family. I've decided to start small with one month's supply at a time. This has worked well because buying a months supply of food at a time is not going to drain my bank account. As my supply of food grows we will rotate the food and we will save money on our grocery bills.

It is always wise to take time to evaluate our priorities. For me this experience of purchasing a computer was a real eye opener.