ThinMint

Childlike cakes for the message? Yeah, I've been strolling down memory lane and wanted to find a picture online that captures childhood. For twins. For boy/girl twins. (Plus, this one had a dinosaur.) *sigh while tears sting my eyes* Only a Mom's heart can be light and heavy and merry and grievous —at the same time. Maybe I'll poke around to see what 1st birthday photos I can share with you. But, later. After sleep and figuring out how to step graciously into this new season. I dunno. Perhaps I don't need to figure it out. Let's take a deep breath, together, and be still before our Creator, instead of figuring out how to facing the arduous things. Let's enjoy today, shall we?

Happy birthday to all the June babies!

Take a peek inside for some encouragement 🪉

It's 3:55 am. Do you know where your children are? Yes, yes I do. One of them is trying to pull an all-nighter with his two pals that are over for his birthday. His Mom just threw a Monkey Wrench into those plans. While I'm up, I will go ahead and post what I had planned for later today. Now I can sleep in —one of my favorite things to do 😊 Have a blessed and cheery weekend, friends!

I’m not suggesting you need to be that zany, but I am suggesting you maintain an air of merriment as best you are able to do so. Praying God’s wisdom, peace, and blessings upon you!

P.S. - For Fun Fun? Yes, we need levity, even in the middle of a crisis. How you make it happen is up to you, of course, just be sure to plan for it or be receptive to spontaneous fun moments. Fun food, fun music, fun reading, fun crafts, fun games, fun hobbies, fun reminiscing… You get the idea. At some point during the 2020 fiasco I was restless so I chopped off my hair and dyed it a shade of purple. Why? Because why not?

Stress Free Prepping Prepping is a way of life for so many. It’s like filling up the car tank or paying the electric pill in the sense of that’s just what you do. If you reside in an area that receives tropical storms or live in an area that receives hard winters then you are accustomed to prepping. If you have children or lost employment then you know the importance of putting away. Doing what you can, when you can, puts you ahead of the sleepy-headed folk. The above is just a brief overview. It should be a springboard for your own ideas implemented according to your own comfort level. We can’t do it all and God doesn’t expect us to do it all. We need Him, and because of that relationship we have with Him, our needs will be met. Go to Him, first and always, for stress-free prepping help.

Some Considerations Will you have family, friends, or neighbors who may seek your assistance? Will there be small kids in the home? What can you do now to minimize stress later? · For young children and teens who will hunker down with you, have some arts & crafts, stuffed animals, small and easy toys that don’t require batteries, games, puzzles, or mind-challenging activities that they have not seen. It’s a nice surprise and welcome reprieve! Many of these items can be picked up in the discount bins at stores. Or consider ordering a bulk toy/game package online and split the cost with others who may want it, too. · If you know that a dear neighbor, beloved family, or close friends will come to you and the budget allows, have something special just for them. Perhaps you can gift them their favorite candy/treat or author to read. Seasonal gifts may work as well (gloves, hat, sunglasses, lip balm, lotion). · If you will have others in the home who plan to hunker down with you, remember you get to make the rules. · One thing you can institute is a daily time for prayer and devotions. You could have each person be responsible for one area of focus such as praying for the neighborhood; praying for the town officials; praying for state authorities; praying for godly men and women on the national level; and praying for God’s protection over those who love Him. You could also do read out louds with a classic book or favorite family-friendly book. · You can request if anyone will be coming to stay with you (and if feasible) is have them bring their own bedding, hygienic, and medical supplies; extra food and drinks; money; and protective means (if they have it). They’ll need to work with you to make the temporary living arrangement as smooth and reasonable as possible. You don’t have to obsess about it, just do your best to keep the home relatively tidy. Cleaning is not the most ideal thing to do if the power is out and if it’s a true crisis, your focus will be elsewhere. Mostly, it’s about having a clean house to help calm the mind.

The Four B’s of Prepping The four B’s for those who seriously prep are beans, band-aids, bullets, and bullion. It’s a great simple overview on where to focus and is adaptable for different situations. Beans is food (and water) stuffs. Band-aids is medical (and hygiene) supplies. Bullets is about protection. Bullion is about owning junk or precious metals to cover financial needs. It’s a good idea to keep some cash on hand –ideally a variety of smaller bills because not all of us can afford or want to stack precious metals. Having some cash (and extra food) will help if stores are unable to process electronic payments. I would add a 5th “B”: Bible. We cannot do this without God. Preparing our hearts and minds for interruptions and the unexpected must be done with the knowledge and strength the LORD gives us.

Get Water Water is absolutely crucial and I would put that ahead of having extra food stuffs. Research how best to prepare water for storage. Consider what the water will be used for (cooking, hygiene, and cleaning) as that will also determine how you store water. While you do not need to go crazy purchasing drinking water to last for one year, ask God for direction on what and how much to get. Can you use disposable plates, cups, and utensils so you do not have to clean dishes? This saves precious water. Can you fill a bathtub on the bottom floor? Or have a water bladder to place in the tub? This water storage can be used for flushing toilets or cleaning items that will not be used for internal human contact. An example: We have a variety of water sources: water bottles, emergency water packets, 5 gallon water containers, and 2 gallon water containers with a spigot. All of these can be used for cooking, consumption, and hygiene needs. We also filled 5 gallon food grade buckets with filtered water that we can use for cleaning or cooking (once boiled) or drinking (after running it through our Berkey filter). We have a small pool and our neighborhood has creeks and lakes, and we have special filters for that. We also have a water bladder that we can place in a bathtub. With God’s direction, do what you can to secure potable water.

Food Stuffs Using the premise that we have a limited budget and time to prep, what can we do? When grocery shopping, add a few (2-4) extra canned and/or shelf-stable goods every time you go to the store. Every time. Pick out a variety of goods: vegetables, fruits, proteins, juices. Are these depleted nutrients? Yes, but we’re not looking to maintain a 30 year-old Schwarzenegger body type; we’re looking to plug holes in our preps to help us get through the unexpected. You can do your best to get as natural as possible, but you do not need to spend money on items that are either cost or taste prohibitive. The idea is to supplement as best you can now to help ease stressful moments later. Do not pick up 100 cans of artichoke hearts, for example, if you loathe artichoke hearts simply because the grocery chain was giving it away. A deal is not a deal if you will not consume (or barter) those canned goods. Food real estate is important. Stick with what you know, what is reliable, what is reasonable, and perhaps what is recognizable if you plan to help others by donating/bartering some of your stock. Factor in the ability to prepare canned goods. Does it need to be heated or refrigerated afterwards? Assume you will not be able to do either. Stick with foods that you are willing to eat straight out of the can and/or be consumed in one sitting. Spices help! Be sure to inventory your spice supplies and replenish with fresh bottles. Costco has a decent selection that gives you more bang for your buck. An item I highly recommend you have –and plenty of it– is raw, unfiltered honey (locally produced most ideal). It doesn’t spoil, it’s nutritious, it can be used with all sorts of foods and drinks, and it’s medicinal (antifungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral). It’s often applied to cuts, bug bites, and burns in our household. Another item worth having on hand is clarified butter. This shelf-stable butter is great for cooking and adding flavor. “Survival kits” are not necessary to add to your supplies so do not feel pressure to spend big money on it. If you have one or more, that’s great as you are rounding out your preps. If you do not have one, you’ll be just fine. We want to be judicious with God’s money! He can do much for restricted diets, lifestyles, and budgets. Pray!

Some Generalities Let’s try to make this preparation process as stress-free as possible :) The following are some generalities to consider based on your own capabilities. · Go through your pantry, kitchen cabinets, furniture storage, and other places that house your food supplies. Remove rancid/half-used products that you will no longer consume. Check dates, making sure that you arrange according to expiration (first in, first out). · Go through your hygienic and medical supplies. Do you have multiple boxes or bottles opened with the same product? Combine then toss the empty containers. Check dates and replenish with fresher products. · You don’t necessary have to buy in bulk, but be sure to have some extras on hand. · A good rule of thumb is to plan for sustaining yourself/immediate family for 3 months. If you have limited means (or time) plan for 2-4 weeks. Any preparation puts you ahead of the general public! · If you are determined to prep enough for your situation and storage is an issue, pray about decluttering. You might be pleasantly surprised about what you can get rid of in order to make room for what is necessary. Removing the clutter is a whole other topic and an area that can be prickly. Talk to your Creator about it so you move obediently, not impetuously.

Prepping Your Heart Second, if you don’t do so consistently, get in the habit of praying Psalm 91 over yourself, those you love, your property (this includes all your modes of transportation), your neighborhood, and your town. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that part of prepping is getting right with the LORD. Remove the impediments between the two of you. If we’re harboring guilt, shame, bitterness, resentment, unforgiveness… Well, as the Holy Spirit reminds me, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Go to Him, now, as you are, seeking His mercy and grace. He freely gives to those whose hearts are humble and grateful! He also knows your situation and every tiny detail of your life so He is the only One Who can customize your game plan. Go to Him first!