It’s also that time of year when folks get thinking (or should be, at least) about how thankful they are for all of the many wonderful people in their lives and how favorable their circumstances are (even if not very favorable, someone always has it worse, right?). One thing that I am thankful for is my parents. I’m glad that they had enough sway and influence in my life to help me understand the good, the bad, and the ugly. I was helped to appreciate the good things in life and to steer clear of the bad. Sometimes things do get ugly, but I was taught, “This too shall pass.”

So when we pause to appreciate what we are thankful for, we often realize that it’s people, pets, places and experiences. Not so much things. Okay, you might have a favorite blankie, or you may just be glad in your heart for the cocoa bean that eventually makes its way into the chocolate Kisses that you stow away for special indulgences. But, you do realize that life is more precious than these “things”, and you are grateful for your life with all of its intricacies, even its ups and downs and downright bungee-cord-free-falls.

Whenever you lose something or someone, then you realize that you wish to keep what you’ve got, and you start to hold on a little bit tighter to life as you know it. You realize what little control you have over some parts of your life, and you try to exert as much influence over the remaining portion. Knowing that there are some things that you can do, in fact some things that you may be neglecting to do, you are well-advised to make some course corrections so that you can live more responsibly and fulfill your life’s mission.

I could be mistaken, but I think it is part of mine and everybody else’s mission to help fellow travelers on the road of life. A couple of nights ago, I came out of the grocery store with my family and heard a familiar click, click, click. I knew someone had a dead battery. Someone else had a dead battery a few days ago (namely, me), and I was graciously helped to know where to connect the jumper cables even though my car’s battery is situated in the storage space in the tail end of the car. I was glad to offer a hand to this stranger. A pair of jumper cables I had at the ready and I was glad to be able to use them. I thought how that experience was better than the ice cream cone I had just eaten with my kids in the store. And my daughter said, “Dad, that was really nice!” She’s almost 6 and I want her to do these types of things as a habit (of course, she may choose other types of things, to be on the safe side).

At this time of year, I can unabashedly and without reservation say that even though things are not the most important, when the things in question are tools to help preserve the lives and health of us and those around us, they are indeed worthwhile, especially to give as gifts at Christmastime. Sure this is a sales pitch, but as far as Christmas gifts go, would you rather give something that would be trendy and useful to your loved ones for a short time only, or something that could have a much more far-reaching effect? As unexciting as it sounds, what if you gave them a water barrel? They could store the elixir of life! What about an Amber Alert GPS? They could track their precious children and not go through the heartache that the parents you’ve heard of go through when their child is abducted! How about a 72 Hour Kit? A car emergency kit? They could potentially avoid needless suffering in the event of a disaster or an unfortunate breaking down of their car. Food Storage? Boring! Well it wouldn’t be so boring if they lost their job, or needed it to sustain them in a time of clear and present danger. How about non- genetically modified seeds that could be collected from produce and replanted each and every year? And what about a book, an all time bestseller to teach them about all of these things to get their family prepared? By now, the light should be beaming!

Have you changed a life today? Will you for Christmas?

Exit stage North, where all of these things will be waiting for your perusal at the top of the website (across buttons), and on the right, under Food Storage and Preparedness.

Related Posts:

Emergency Food Storage: Giving the Gift of Life
Emergency Preparedness for the Safety and Protection of Our Elders
The Safekeeping of Our Children Part of Emergency Preparedness
Beyond Food Storage: How to Maintain Cherished Conveniences Even in Survival Mode

So bring him on out, how ’bout this James!?

I’m going to Keep It Super Simple!

At almost any level of preparedness you will need to establish your survival priorities.

In almost every instance, they are shelter, water, fire, and food––in that order.

1. The most important survival priority is shelter. You need to be protected from the elements–– sun, wind, cold, rain, and in some cases, animals and even insects. All of us are particularly susceptible to the effects of cold, wind, and rain. We could die in a matter of minutes to hours depending on the temperature. Once hypothermia sets in the vital organs begin to shut down. The brain is first––and is most critical to staying alive. When shelter is resolved––and sometimes it may not be a critical situation––you can then begin to resolve the next issues.

2. Water is your second survival priority. Water makes up 75% of the human body and needs to be constantly replenished. Once you have fulfilled your needs for shelter, all effort is concentrated on finding, gathering, and treating water. Having some stored water on hand in case of an emergency situation makes good sense.

3. Fire is your next priority. It provides warmth and light, the ability to cook your food and a way to treat your water. But fire also warms the human heart and goes a long way to making you feel more secure.

4. Food is the last of your four basic needs. You won’t starve to death if you don’t get three square meals every day––you probably don’t now! Food encompasses everything from plants, animals, traps, weapons, learning to hunt and gather, cooking and storage. In preparing for an emergency situation, I do advocate storing food. It is only prudent that you have food on hand. Everybody eats!

It’s as simple as that!

Til next time…

James Talmage Stevens

Author:  Making the Best of Basics–Family Preparedness Handbook

Blogger: FamilyPreparednessGuide.com

Internet Radio: BlogTalkRadio.com/family (Saturdays, 1:00 PM CST)

Coaching website: beprepared101.com

Related Posts:

It’s a Fact: Everybody Eats!
Emergency Preparedness: Vital Emergency Supplies
The Water Storage Part of an Effective Food Storage and Emergency Preparedness Program
Outdoor Survival: Fire Starting With a Flashlight!

Fold your arms and try to be ever so quiet that you can hear a pin drop, because I am about to introduce you to my down-to-earth friend, James Talmage Stevens, infamous author of Making the Best of Basics: Family Preparedness Handbook.  He has sold over 760,000 copies of this Bad Boy (you know how good means bad and bad means good sometimes?), and he is going to school us in food storage preparedness.  Why?  Because I asked him to, because he is the real deal, because he is cool!

So everybody please give it up for James (clapping and more clapping)!

JAMES:

I’m going to Keep It Super Simple!

Food is life––no food, eventually, no life! Perhaps that’s the main reason all disaster and emergency preparedness has at its core the emphasis on foodstuff: food, food storage, food preparation, and food processing and utilization equipment.

Though food is important, the need for shelter from the elements is primordial, and water is a close 2^nd priority, leaving food a distant 4th priority after fire. This prioritization is based on immediacy of action necessary to preserve life, since you could die quickly of exposure to extreme cold or hot weather without appropriate shelter. Once protected from the elements––which problem may be obviated by existing mild climatic conditions where the disaster/emergency occurs––clean water then becomes your next immediate need, because the body needs water for its processes to operate effectively.

Then you’ll need fire––to cook your food, boil your water, wash your body, and clean your clothing.

And fourth, food, on the other hand, though ultimately necessary, has a longer downward slope on its death causative curve. People have gone for extremely long periods of time without food, and can subsist for many weeks—if not months––with occasional snacks.

Let me correct a statement made in a previous blog post: “A lot of folks may end up storing food in their garage.” If you currently store any food or potable water in your garage––or even thinking about it–– save your time, take your money, flush it down  your toilet––it’s going to save you the time to shop, carry, stack, and worry––it’s the same result! Food is life––store it where you live. If you live in air-conditioned comfort, then so should your stored food! Make no compromises on the protection of your food reserves.

There is a cardinal rule (Trekkies would call it the Prime Directive) that states:

Store what you eat;

Eat what you store.

Use it or lose it!

Following that little bit of wisdom will make your food storage more valuable than money—or gold! Sit down with the family, work together to determine:

1. What foods are essential to the family’s diet and survival; and
2. What foods would be nice to have that you like–but can’t normally afford.

Then, budget for category 1 items. Determine what you need to eliminate in your current budget so you can acquire an amount of provisions for your immediate plan of safety and security. This is where you face the reality of wants over needs.

These are the marks of true family leadership: the end goal justifies the means required to achieve it.

It’s as simple as that!

James Talmage Stevens

Pat here again: James’s book is THE master plan when it comes to being prepared.  Prepared with everything and anything.  It will not dissapoint.  You can get your copy by going to the top of my blog and clicking on “Emergency Preparedness All-Time Bestseller”.   Best preparedness book ever!

 Thanks, James, for adding value and spreading good will wherever ye be.  Give it up one more time for James (Honor System because I can’t hear anything you do)!:

Author:  Making the Best of Basics–Family Preparedness Handbook

Blogger: FamilyPreparednessGuide.com

Internet Radio: blogtalkradio.com/James-Talmage-Steven  (Saturdays, 1:00 PM CDST)

Coaching website: beprepared101.com

Preparedness Provider listings: PreparednessYellowPages.com and

                                                            PreparednessMarketPlace.com

Related Posts:

What Are Your Survival Priorities?
Emergency Preparedness: Vital Emergency Supplies
Fire Starting for Survival
The Water Storage Part of an Effective Food Storage and Emergency Preparedness Program