Stay Positive but Be Prepared - The 72 Hour Kit.

I’ve decided to get my 72 hour kit packed and will then get on with my everyday life in happy mode knowing there is one less thing to worry about!! I thought it was a good idea to share it with everyone as it makes so much sense!

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been counseled to have food storage and be prepared for an emergency which includes having a 72 hour kit. This kit should be put together in a practical manner so that you can carry it with you if you ever need to evacuate your home. It is also important to prepare one for each member of your family who is able to carry one.

Checklist: 72 Hour Kit

Food and Water

(A three day supply of food and water, per person, when no refrigeration or cooking is available)

·         Protein/Granola Bars

·         Trail Mix/Dried Fruit

·         Crackers/Cereals (for munching)

·         Canned Tuna, Beans, Turkey, Beef, Vienna Sausages, etc.

·         Canned Juice

·         Candy/ Chewing gum (not mint flavour as this may taint other foods)

My nephew, Norman, recently told me about this product which sounds wonderful. Easier to carry than canned food too:

·    HOTBOX is ready-to-eat, Hot Instant Food.  The heating source is situated in the  packaging itself and no external heat is required. A knife and fork is included in the packet.

·         Email: sales@hotboxfood.co.uk

Bedding and Clothing

·         Change of Clothing (short and long sleeved shirts, pants, jackets, socks, etc.)

·         Undergarments

·         Rain Coat/Poncho

·         Blankets and Emergency Heat Blanks (that keep in warmth)

·         Cloth Sheet

·         Plastic Sheet

Fuel and Light

·         Battery Lighting (Flashlights, Lamps, etc.) Don't forget batteries!

·         Extra Batteries

·         Flares

·         Candles

·         Lighter

·         Water-Proof Matches

Equipment

·         Can Opener

·         Dishes/Utensils

·         Shovel

·         Radio (with batteries!)

·         Pen and Paper

·         Axe

·         Pocket Knife

·         Rope

·         Duct Tape

Personal Supplies and Medication

·         First Aid Kit and Supplies

·         Toiletries (roll of toilet paper- remove the center tube to easily flatten  into a zip-lock bag, feminine hygiene, folding brush, etc.)

·         Cleaning Supplies (mini hand sanitizer, soap, shampoo, dish soap, etc. Warning: Scented soap might "flavour" food items.)

·         Immunizations Up-to Date

·         Medication (Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, children's medication etc.)

·         Prescription Medication (for 3 days)

Personal Documents and Money

(Place these items in a water-proof container! Photocopy and laminate documents)

·         Scriptures

·         Genealogy Records

·         Patriarchal Blessing

·         Legal Documents - Birth/Marriage Certificates, Wills, Passports, Contracts)

·         Vaccination Papers

·         Insurance Policies

·         Cash

·         Credit Card

·         Pre-Paid Phone Cards

Miscellaneous

• Bag(s) to put 72 Hour Kit items in (such as duffel bags or back packs, which work great) Make sure you can lift/carry it!

• Infant needs (if applicable)

Notes:

Update your 72 Hour Kit every six months (put a note in your calendar/planner) to make sure that: all food, water, and medication is fresh and has not expired; clothing fits; personal documents and credit cards are up to date; and batteries are charged.

Small toys/games are important too as they will provide some comfort and entertainment during a stressful time.

Older children can be responsible for their own pack of items/clothes too.

You can include any other items in your 72 Hour Kit that you feel are necessary for your family's survival.

Some items and/or flavors might leak, melt, "flavour" other items, or break open. Dividing groups of items into individual Ziploc bags might help prevent this.

Love and Kindness? Where are we going wrong?

I'm getting a little confused; if every religion teaches kindness towards our fellow man, why is the world in such a mess?  War against other nations, civil wars, crime and violence, bullying in schools, thoughtlessness and unkindness in our day to day lives!

There's nothing more disappointing for a teacher than to get a low pass rate.  Have all these teachers spoken in vain?

"But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you" ~Jesus Christ (Luke 6: 27,28)
 

"Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared" ~Buddha

"Kindness is the mark of faith; and whoever has not kindness has not faith"  ~Muhammad

"When one performs kindness with this understanding, the act becomes more than pious duty—it becomes a source of the deepest pleasure" ~Dwarakadhisha Devi Dasi (Krishna Consciousness)

Family - Our Treasure

Today, 24th March, two of my 11 grandchildren share a birthday.  Warren turned 27 today and little Elizabeth Jane is 2 years old! Yes, there is a 25 year difference in their ages!

My children and grandchildren are the treasures of my life. As an added bonus I have the most wonderful nieces and nephews and their children as well!   My fortune grows and grows. 

I think back over the years and remember the joy each arrival brought.  The miracle of a new life and the pleasure felt watching each one developing into unique individuals.  Feeling pride in their achievements whether great or small.  Sharing their happiness and their inevitable heartaches as they grew from children into adulthood.

Family history is close to my heart.  To know yourself you should know your ancestors. In the Book of Mormon, Malachi 4:5-6 teaches, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”

This is a lovely true quote: "Family faces are magic mirrors.  Looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present, and future"  ~Gail Lumet Buckley

No matter what drives us, we should realise how blessed we are to have a family.  Some are not so blessed.  I cannot begin to imagine what I would be like without my family; they have made me who I am today!