by Kellene Bishop

Independence photo c/o www.textually.org

There were two news pieces this week that reiterated the need for independence from the vulnerabilities that we willingly attach ourselves to.  Keep in mind that to me, preparedness has a great deal to do with independence. Independence from what Wall Street does. Independence from the mistakes of the food manufacturers. Independence from being subjected to a “trend” in medicine that’s short-lived.  I firmly believe that the more independent I am, exclusive of influences that I have no power to check and double check, the healthier, safer, and more peaceful I will be.

For example, article one.

Rulings Restrict Clean Water Act, Foiling E.P.A.

This article demonstrates to me that in spite of laws which are supposed to protect our drinking water supply, the EPA is finding that they are unable to enforce The Clean Water Act in over 50% of their current load of violations.  Fifty percent! And this is just one of the violations that have reached their attention.  And yet they are powerless with all of their money and political connections to ensure that our water sources are not polluted.  To make matters worse, I read recently of a report card of 100 city sewer treatment systems.  70% of those inspected had a problem that needed to be rectified.  What this says to me folks is that we don’t need a war, a severe act of nature, or a financial collapse to give us pause to take preparedness actions now.  We rely on water too heavily for it to be solely in the hands of others.  Again, I beat the drum of independence.

The next article was just posted yesterday.

Ingredient used in many processed foods recalled

Your Preparedness Pantry--a safe bet during food recalls

It revealed that a key manufacturer of a particular flavoring for processed foods was found to have salmonella in their factory. This flavoring, hydrolized vegetable protein, is found in nearly every processed food in our nation.  As a result, millions of pieces of food will have to be recalled. When I read this article, I couldn’t help but think “thank goodness that I have so many food supplies in my household that aren’t reliant upon the honesty and good work ethic of a factory in Las Vegas.” (When you put it that way, it’s kind of ironic, don’t you think?) For example, the freeze-dried foods which I have and use everyday, they are free from such flavorings.  The rice, wheat, grains, sprouts, and canned meats are free from exposure to such foods. Even my Shirley J products which I specifically use instead of mainstream processed foods are free from this particular manufactures dereliction of duties. It’s kind of a coincidence that just last night I taught a class on making bread, sprouting, and wheat meat. I have to say, once again, that the wheat meat was AWESOME. (In fact, I think it turned out better than ever—it’s about time after trying over 60 different recipes, methods, etc.) Anyway, so I thought it was interesting that the same day that this big deal piece of news breaks, I find myself consuming superior quality nutrition–effortlessly–and enjoying it too.  Once again, preparedness sure has a heck of lot to do with independence, folks.

I’m concerned that it seems like so many people feel like the admonition for preparedness is strictly about being prepared for an Armageddon-like scenario. In fact, if we aren’t better prepared for an interruption in our food supplies, the decline of the value of our currency, or how to easily make some of our own food, we  simply won’t be around to worry about “the big one” anyway.

I think that we will all agree that peace of mind is necessary every day of our lives. Preparedness is what ushers that peace in. Independence over factors that most people feel they have no control over is one of the best prescriptions I can think of for the peace.  I’ll beat that drum as long as I’m able. I hope that soon more of you, as well as my friends and loved ones, can “get jiggy” with that particular beat. *grin*.

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Copyright Protected 2010, Preparedness Pro and Kellene Bishop. All Rights Reserved. No portion of any content on this site may be duplicated, transferred, copied, or published without written permission from the author. However, you are welcome to provide a link to the content on your site or in your written works.

by Kellene Bishop

What elephant? photo c/o genistra.com

You worry and fret over your loved ones who have taken no efforts to properly prepare and be self-sufficient. I have seen that kind of stress and even heartache far too often in preparedness. It almost feels like a 900 pound elephant in the middle of the room when one spouse is committed to preparedness but the other is adamantly against it.  I have a couple of dear friends who actually “sneak” money out of their monthly budget to purchase preparedness goods.  I have to giggle a bit when I hear that, but on the other hand I’m not sure financial infidelity is the right way to go either.  I’ve also heard of parents purchasing all of their kid’s preparedness supplies for Christmas only to be faced with disappointed faces on Christmas morning. Yup. That’s not creating any friends either, is it? On the other hand, you don’t want to feel ostracized because you’re trying to be more independent, right?  So, how can we create a better environment that’s more accepting of preparedness? 

Nagging won't inspire people to prepare photo c/o www.outofbodies.com

Well, I hate to tell you this, but a lot of the resistance from the people you love is actually caused by you. No, it’s not all your fault. There are too many reasons why people ignore preparedness for you to take on that kind of responsibility.    In spite of your absolute best of intentions, and having a genuine concern for the well-being of others, your message is likely getting skewed because of how you approach preparedness with others.  So, in the name of independence, self-reliance and accountability, let’s see what we can do differently so that we help entice others around us towards preparedness instead of scaring them off.  Don’t worry. There’s no need to be defensive about this. I’m just going to share with you some ways that you can have much more success in getting others on board. During this process, whether you’re a seasoned preparedness person or a beginner, I’m confident that you will benefit by internalizing these more effective messages of preparedness as well.

Before I go over the five suggestions I have for you, allow me to share with you some of my professional background. I do this so that you can have some semblance of confidence that what I’m sharing with you is not just pulled out of a surprise goody bag. It comes as a result of experience and success. To be blunt, I’m a master marketer. Three years ago I received an award as one of the top 3 marketers in the world.   Since I was 23, I’ve earned my living not by a specialization in a particular niche, offering the lowest prices, or coming up with some groundbreaking concept. Instead I was successful as a result of my ability to effectively market my goods in a way that got people’s attention, communicated with them clearly, and engaged them into action. So, let’s see how these strategies can help all of us to accomplish our goal of successfully educating and motivating the people we love to be better prepared.

Your words create a picture in other people's minds photo c/o karamcghee.com

First of all, the use of your words is a serious factor in successfully marketing and educating.  As such, we must be selective in the words we use because every word paints a picture.  If we’re using words that paint a negative picture, then we will never get through our own psyche let alone others who are more resistant.  As such, I beg you to cease using the terms “emergency preparedness” and “food storage.” For those who are resistant to any kind of preparedness, I assure you that these two phrases have as much appeal to them as attending church appeals to an Atheist.  These words are simply no longer applicable to the world of preparedness and they certainly are not enticing. These phrases have been used for over a hundred years and they have lacked the “oomph” necessary to convert anyone towards a more prepared home.  Both of these phrases have very negative stigmas that go with them. They promote pictures of crazy, unkempt, violent people who stand on street corners with signs that say “the end is here.” In addition to these stigmas, these two phrases are simply not an accurate way of educating in the world of preparedness.  Preparedness should never be accompanied by fear, panic, vulnerability, etc. In fact, preparedness is the exact opposite of such connotations. Alternative approaches to be better prepared can easily be addressed by reason of the peace, independence, safety, and comfort it promotes.

Anytime you attempt to influence someone towards a more prepared state simply because “so and so said so” then you’re going to get some resistance.  It doesn’t really matter who “so and so” is either. Even if “so and so” is a well-respected religious or political leader, it’s usually not enough to get someone to change their thought process or their actions. People take actions in response to an authoritative dictate for only two reasons. 1) They fear the consequences of ignoring it or 2) They also understand the “why” and believe in it enough to take action. Think about it. How often has “because I said so” really worked for you in the past? Chances are compliance is only realized as the result of a fear of losing a job, dinner, freedom, or a relationship.  Additionally, “because so and so said so” is a flimsy foundation to stand on.  Having to resort to it essentially shows a lack of respect or understanding of any other sound reasoning for preparedness.  Thus attempting to use it as a motivator isn’t effective and can even create an antagonistic relationship.  Instead, use authoritative directives as supplemental information for them to consider. A sound comprehension of the “whys” are much more influential.

This one may be a bit tougher for me to explain. So be sure that you read the full explanation before you think I’m bonkers. Introducing the concept of self-reliance embedded in religious belief is a mistake for beginners. Trying to educate this way is like trying to get someone to take a sip from a fire hose. Yet many make the mistake of associating preparedness primarily as influenced by a particular religion.  In other words, their basis of proactive preparedness is rooted in a study and a belief of the scriptures or statements by religious authorities. This is not to say that I believe the two should not be intertwined.  In fact, personally, I believe that I shouldn’t teach anything unless I have spiritual assistance.  But I sure didn’t start out that way. It’s been my experience that folks need to initially grasp preparedness on a much more simple level than what a religious connection will require. I think it’s ideal that your preparedness efforts are influenced by your religious beliefs. I believe that if such is the case that your efforts will be more strongly rooted.  However, attempting to educate someone who’s new to preparedness from this perspective is simply too much, too soon.  Such a perspective requires a spiritual maturity. 

Teaching preparedenss solely from a religous standpoint doesn't give the full picture of preparedness photo c/o bbs.backstage.com/

 This maturity is not obtained overnight or as the result of a single epiphany.  It requires constant nourishment that is constantly evolving. Combining religion and preparedness isn’t a bad thing, but it is very personal. As such it is an ineffective approach when trying to influence and educate someone new to preparedness. Suppose you wanted someone to assist you in building a bridge.  Would you sit down and discuss with them the history of architectural designs of successful bridges? Of course not. Instead you would educate them on how much concrete and wood the project would require and move forward from there. Then you wait until the maturity within the person propels them to have a deeper understanding of what they are helping to create.  Granted, accompanying your daily preparedness with a religious conviction will provide a more solid, long-lasting commitment. But such a conviction needs to be fostered over time and be initiated by the “newbie” at their own pace and in accordance to their own beliefs.  This is comparable to the parable of the 10 virgins. The 5 wise virgins simply could not share their oil with the others because the oil represents faith, conviction, hope, testimony, etc. You simply cannot just hand over to another person.

The fourth recommendation I offer is that you be sure to separate yourself from the negative, stereotypical idea of one who prepares.  A reinforcement of such negative misconceptions will not assist you in convincing others to prepare.  Preparedness really is about comfort, peace, safety, happiness, love, competence, honor, etc.  But the negative stigmas of those who prepare on any level are so counter to this reality.  Ask yourself, do you reinforce any of those negative perceptions?  Let’s face it. I’m going to buy into preparedness advice from a well kempt, real, intelligent, relatable, and gregarious person much more than I would a schleppy, socially inept, sloppy, or flaky person.  The first type of person would definitely be more credible to me on such an important topic.  

Recently I read an interview in Newsweek which focused on the “movement” of preparedness. While I objected to preparedness being described as a new trend, I did enjoy the article otherwise. Why? Because they interviewed a gal who is the epitome of preparedness. As such, she could have come across as your stereotypical nut case/survivalist/food hoarder/flake-a-roonie looney/ prepper.  When I first saw what the article was about, I inwardly cringed—afraid that it was going to be yet one more interview in which someone who is preparedness minded is painted as a nut job.  But I was SO relieved and impressed to see this gal handle herself so well. She came across as educated, classy, competent, logical, intelligent, REAL, and just plain wonderful! (You go, girl!)  I believe that we are responsible for how we come across to other people. Thus we should make every effort to come across properly so that we can reinforce our message with credibility.

Last, but definitely not least, be a good example. You’ll be able to convey aspects of your message that are otherwise unspeakable.  Most people learn best via a visual presentation. Being a good example of preparedness maximizes the impact of a visual education. Additionally, being a good example of preparedness can’t help but bring about questions from observers.  When a person asks a question, they are usually in the BEST position to be taught.  If you back up your message with visual practice, your credibility increases in a way that cannot be accomplished any other way.

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Copyright Protected 2010, Preparedness Pro and Kellene Bishop. All Rights Reserved. No portion of any content on this site may be duplicated, transferred, copied, or published without written permission from the author. However, you are welcome to provide a link to the content on your site or in your written works.

by Kellene Bishop

First of all, I should provide a disclaimer to everyone reading this article.  I feel like a bit of a hypocrite using this analogy because I really am NOT a morning person.  After reading, researching, or writing until 2:00 a.m. most nights, there is very little that gets me up before 8:30 in the morning—serious.  So, please overlook that weakness of mine and get as much as you can from the article otherwise. *grin*

***************

This is your wakeup call photo c/o traumwerk.stanford.edu:

Ah. The snooze button. I’ll admit I’m not much of a morning person.  I am usually up late writing, researching, or just plain reading.  When I set the alarm for the next day, I usually do so with the utmost of optimism.  “Yeah, I can get up at 6:45.  I’ll just DO it.”  But then 6:45 a.m. hits and my body says “Are you crazy? Isn’t against your religion or something to get up this early?!” I then engage the snooze button.  I’ve been known to make use of that snooze button for as long as an hour! Yup. I’m a snooze button junkie. It’s mind over mattress during these occasions, and my mattress is the reigning chance during such battles.

So my question for you today is: are we snooze button junkies in response to the circumstances around us, or are we more committed to self-reliance, peace of mind, and safety? Being committed as such means that we pay attention to what’s occurring around us and plan accordingly.

The other day my husband and I were coming out of the grocery store late at night. A woman was hunched over her shopping cart balancing her check book. Her trunk was open from her having put her groceries in it. She had the driver’s side door ajar. And yet here she was standing at the rear of her car, balancing her checkbook. Her purse was out and very, very accessible to any passersby. She was wearing a ponytail—which makes her that much more of a target for an attacker. Clearly, this gal was not aware of her surroundings. She was so focused and absorbed in her activity. I’m not sure what possess a person like that to just stop what they are doing and reconcile their checkbook (although I can relate to some hyper-organized activities which posses some of us—ahem….). But if this type of scenario is indicative of what else happens in her life, then she could easily be putting herself in constant danger. If it had been any earlier in the night and if I hadn’t been in such a hurry, I might have stopped to share with her an understanding of her present vulnerable state.  Being AWARE is critical not only towards our safety and peace of mind, but it’s also critical in guiding us towards appropriate preparedness efforts. Whether those efforts are on a daily basis or a prologue to a disaster, they only get put into motion by a state of awareness. Basically, this gal was pushing the snooze button the whole time she was distracted (aka asleep and unaware).

When I teach my Women of Caliber classes, before I even mention the word “firearm,” I spend a great deal at the beginning of the training talking about the change that needs to take place in our level of awareness. This awareness is critical in order to be capable of defending ourselves in any manner.  This same premise holds true in being prepared—on any level.  Unfortunately, the people we worry about are snooze button junkies. Even we get a bit burned being the “be prepared” Boy Scout.  But I believe that if we are given an opportunity to learn, then it’s important that we take that opportunity.

Speaking of which—WOW! Was this past weekend full of wake up calls (learning experiences) or what?

First you have the 7^th largest earthquake in the world which hits Chile. (8.8+ magnitude) Then you have the tsunami warnings affecting over a third of the world’s nations. Then you have the mudslide that hit the Los Angeles freeway—still undetermined as to why. Add to that the “national catastrophe” of France as declared by the French Prime Minister. Several deaths occurred as a violent late winter storm pummels Western Europe—particularly in France. At least a half a million persons are without power just in France—not to mention other surrounding countries. And then you have yet another, completely separate earthquake, hit Argentina (6.0 magnitude). And just for good measure we still have hundreds of thousands of individuals without power along the eastern seaboard due to record snowfall.

So, what do you do with all of this input? Well, first of all, you don’t panic. I don’t recap these events so that we trade in a snooze button for a panic button, I assure you. You panicking will do nothing to help your own state of preparedness and it certainly will NOT convert anyone else to accepting any preparedness activities of their own.  But what we should do is sincerely ask ourselves what we can learn from these circumstances.  I think that it’s even more important to ask these questions in light of the fact that so much occurred worldwide in such a short span of time as well (this weekend definitely shot the “rule of threes” out the window, don’t you think?).

Major snowstorms blanket the Eastern coast photo c/o www.abc.net

One thing that I really want to emphasize with all of this is that it does not alter my stance on “peaceful preparedness. There is not a scenario that I can think of that won’t be improved with deliberate actions conducted with a sense of calm. The earthquake, the power outages, the snow storm, etc. are perfect case studies for that point. I do hope though that these scenarios will better eliminate the excuses which are employed by the people I care for—you know—the excuses which they come up with, believing that “preparedness” is all a bunch of needless, panic-induced hype. The differences between a prepared household and a snooze-button household will be as drastically different as the Haiti earthquake vs. the Chile earthquake.  The consequences of Chile’s earthquake preparedness efforts as opposed to Haiti are like night and day. Chile will quickly bounce back in spite of a much more severe earthquake. This is the result of their long-time awareness and subsequent preparedness efforts—the fruits of which we can see in their present mental resolve, rescue efforts, government organization, etc. 

So—about those snooze buttons…

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Copyright Protected 2010, Preparedness Pro and Kellene Bishop. All Rights Reserved. No portion of any content on this site may be duplicated, transferred, copied, or published without written permission from the author. However, you are welcome to provide a link to the content on your site or in your written works.

by Kellene Bishop

What? The Preparedness Pro is wrong? photo c/o www.smh.com.

“Oh my. What was she wrong about?  Was it how she preserves eggs with mineral oil and without refrigeration?  Was it how she dares to store water on the concrete in her basement? Ooh. Maybe it’s that she uses Diatomaceous Earth in her whole grains.”  Nope. I’m 100% confident that I’m correct in all of those teachings.  However, I have been wrong about a critical aspect of preparedness in the past, and I’d like to correct it today.

I’ve been teaching preparedness classes for a little over 10 years. But I’ve been teaching it WRONG for most of that time. As I look back on what I used to teach and compare it to what I know now, I cringe at the dramatic difference.  I wish I had known this one important lesson back when I first started teaching so that I could have taught it properly all this time.  Instead, I too have had to learn the lesson over time. But doing so has made my world of preparedness much more realistic, applicable, simple, and peaceful. And so today I hope that I can effectively share with you this one lesson as well, in hopes that you too can have the same results.

I’m convinced we would all do significantly better in our preparedness results if we stopped looking at is a “emergency” preparedness and instead looked at it as having greater independence and freedom everyday. We would also do more to help others embrace any level of preparedness if we stopped referring to our preparedness efforts as “emergency preparedness.”

Panic and fear could be replaced by peace due to preparation photo c/o healthcare.zdnet.com

Reason #1:

Preparing for an “emergency” is simply too far-fetched for most people to comprehend. There’s a reason for that. It’s the natural defense systems that our brain automatically provides us.  The first stage of the mental process in the midst of a disaster is “denial.” That’s why so many persons stayed put in the WTC towers on 9/11—some did so even though they had already endured the bombing attack in 1993! Their brain simply refused to admit that a terrorist attack could happen twice!  What I’m saying is that you will always encounter a rational person’s brain denying the possibility that a “disaster” could even occur.  And unless you get them to embrace the possibility for a disaster, then they will NEVER embrace any actions designed to prepare against an “emergency.”  It’s not the delivery mechanism of the information that hinders preparedness efforts. It’s the brain’s natural responses.

Reason #2:

Preparing for an “emergency” is pre-planned panic. Everyone knows that where there’s an emergency, there’s great suffering, stress, and devastation. Who in their right mind wants to plan on encountering that? If you personally do not suffer in this manner, you still will be a witness to other’s suffering. Such a sight will then cause stress and panic in even the most well prepared person.  Trying to talk your mind into pre-planning for a disaster is simply not realistic.  Yes, there are a great number of folks who are better mentally prepared for a disaster than others. But I assure you; they did not open up some overhyped emergency preparedness catalog in the mail and simply decide to be prepared for World War III. Disaster preparedness is a compartmentalized part of preparedness.  It comes with mental conditioning one step at a time.  You are no more likely to be prepared for a disaster overnight than you are able to go from 100 pounds overweight to having a six-pack of abs the next day. 

Reason #3:

Mental Preparedness is imperative in handling emergency situations photo c/o www.katrinahelp.com

Preparedness occurs one day at a time. We have to learn to be prepared for TODAY before we can hope to be prepared for something more serious.  The good news is that being prepared to encounter the changes and challenges that come into your life daily is EXACTLY what you need to be prepared for the potential catastrophic events. Anything less than this would be in violation of natural and eternal laws.  We simply cannot violate them. Trying to do so will only manifest ignorance and stupidity in the midst of a true disaster. Its people who don’t understand this natural process who grow up to be an EMT and tell someone that “an EMP is not life threatening.” In my opinion, this is why FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security are so messed up and ineffective. These entities are run by people who have absolutely NO idea or belief in being prepared on an everyday basis, and yet they are attempting to prevent suffering on a catastrophic level.  Now that’s what I call a disaster and I believe it’s EXACTLY why these entities have been inept in aiding victims of disaster time and time again. Hurricane Katrina is a perfect example. It wasn’t’ FEMA that helped people or government officials.  In fact, New Orleans Mayor Nagin delayed issuing evacuation orders sooner because he was too busy checking on the legal liability that such orders would expose him to. His brain wasn’t trained to handle disasters. His brain was only prepared to administer and manage.  Instead, it was the better mentally prepared individuals, The National Guard, who began rescuing hundreds of people from Hurricane Katrina before a single order was given to them. Kind of an obvious contrast, eh? Their minds are actually trained to think in terms of disasters and catastrophes. No one had to tell them what to do. They knew what to do thanks to years of everyday mental preparation.

You simply cannot prepare for a disaster without having the foundation for daily preparedness. While some of us may quickly progress mentally from one aspect to the other, in order for us to be sane, effective, and credible in our large scale preparedness efforts, we must be successful in our everyday ones. What we are and who we are everyday will only be magnified under the fire of a serious disaster. If we fall apart mentally because we get caught in traffic on our way to an important job interview, we will be even more useless to those around us in the midst of a serious, life or death event. We won’t be able to fool anyone as to our “hoped-for strengths.” They will crumble in light of the Refiner’s Fire. We will not be able to suddenly overcome our weaknesses or infirmities simply because our heart intends to help others.  Our intentions will only be a mask to our true mental fortitude, and an unconvincing one at that.  All of our weaknesses—spiritual, mental, temporal– will be blatantly obvious when held up to the demands of a large-scale crisis.

Reason #4:

Preparedness Pantry

Preparedness simply isn’t about disaster management at its heart. It’s about independence, self-reliance, and freedom–everyday. That’s how we have to learn it, and that’s how it should be taught.  This is why I hate the phrase “food storage” for example. The term food storage is attached to the days of the Depression disaster, the days of famine during Joseph’s reign in Egypt, and other unpleasant thoughts. Whereas a pantry which can sustain myself and my loved ones for several decades—that’s not about doom and gloom. It’s about peace of mind knowing that I control my grocery bill, not Wall Street or any Administration. It’s about convenience. It’s about comfort. This is how all of our daily preparedness efforts should be perceived. It’s healthy. It’s realistic. It’s TRUTH.  Our brain is much more accepting of truth than it is of disasters. I firmly believe that there are no victims in life. There are only volunteers. The day I’m inconvenienced in my pursuit of freedom, peace, and self-reliance is the day in which I choose to be a victim, at the mercy of whatever life throws at me, bowing in submission and futility. I don’t know about you, but futility, submission, victim…none of those words describe me very accurately. If we choose to ignore the countless cases in support of independence from vulnerabilities in our food, nutrition, quality of life, water, medical care, our finances, and so much else, then we choose to be victims.  On the other hand, we are completely free now, every day, to counteract those vulnerabilities and stand independent and free from the manipulations of nature and mankind which are rampant around us. Acting on those freedoms now will ensure that we are fully prepared for more serious events in the future. And that, my friends, is what preparedness is really about.

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Copyright 2010 Preparedness Pro & Kellene Bishop.  All rights reserved.  You are welcome to repost this information so long as it is credited to www.PreparednessPro.com & Kellene Bishop

by Kellene Bishop

The fact of the matter is, no law enforcement, government, or rescuer group can prepare a community. It all starts with you—the true first responders.

Just in the last 5 years alone, nearly a billion dollars has been spent throughout our nation upgrading and retrofitting buildings and structures so that previous disasters are not repeated.  And yet not a single dime is being spent on preparing the people in order to avoid defeating responses to disasters.

Case in point: Many of you may not know, or may have forgotten that the World Trade Center was attacked in 1993. All kinds of studies were done afterwards as to how to make the buildings and the perimeter safer—ten thousand pound planters placed strategically around the outside, pictures of truck drivers taken for all deliveries and bomb-sniffing dogs were employed—yet NOTHING was done to make the people safer. In spite of many fire marshals expressing grave concerns about their lack of training after the 1993 WTC attack, nothing changed in training the people. Two-thirds of the on site fire marshals didn’t even know where the stairwells were at the WTC in 1993. That statistic did not change prior to 9/11 either. In fact 45 percent of the workers at the WTC did not even know the buildings had stairwells! Many of the critical human decisions that cost lives as a result of the 1993 attack were repeated verbatim during the 9/11 attacks. Hundreds more people would have survived 9/11 had they been trained WHERE the stairwells were, how to use the connecting hallways, and to actually take an immediate response in evacuating the building instead of doing nothing.  Yes, I realize in hindsight that the thought of someone doing nothing after the first plane hit is unthinkable; but indeed, hundreds of individuals did absolutely that–nothing. Equipment and structures have been altered all over the U.S. as a result of 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and the I-35W bridge collapsing, but there have been absolutely NO concerted efforts to educate people.

So, what can you do about this? Get yourself educated on the 10 Areas of Preparedness—particularly the first three areas, Spiritual, Mental, and Physical. I have been studying human responses to natural disasters nearly at a PhD level lately. Just in the last two weeks alone I’ve feasted on three hefty books on the subject. If I could summarize the most significant reoccurring theme in everything I’ve read, it is that human beings need to better mentally prepare for these kinds of events. (Of course there aren’t a lot of lay mans books that discuss spiritual preparedness, but that’s simply an indicator of a whole ‘nother issue.)

If the community won’t open their doors to educate you, don’t just sit there and complain—invite the community to come to you! Hold parties in your home in which you discuss what needs to be done as a group in the event of major disasters. I have frequently held “Preparedness Parties” in which I prepared yummy meals made right out of the pantry, handed out recipes, and we discuss specific preparedness topics. And yes, I’ve even created some games that help hit a point home that are entertaining, funny, and memorable.  They are evenings of fun and socializing, not gloom and doom. As such, the things discussed are more memorable and more likely to be acted upon. I once even had a Ladies Night Pampered Preparedness Party in which we played games, got paraffin wax treatments on our hands and lots of yummy food to eat.  (The house was full of women who wanted the hand treatments. Hee hee. Don’t you just love how bribery works?)

Here’s an idea for a game. Do you remember ever playing the game Pit? Well, I created a similar game. I created a bunch of cards with various supplies on them, including spiritual strength and physical strength. I also included some luxury items such as a generator, heated shower, etc.; then as the guests arrive, I had them select 10 cards blindly.  During the course of the first hour of the party they traded what they had in excess in order to try and get what they needed to be perfectly prepared.  It’s a real eye opener. So many people actually gota tad bit stressed out because they aren’t able to trade enough for food or water. And they found the generator or shower was useless without some of the more critical items. They also discovered that they’d rather not have to trade for items because they have no way of knowing what items others will have. So they’d just assume be proactive in having the item on hand initially for peace of mind.

I also did another game in which they are given a recipe which they have no doubt ever made before. And they are given only a few short minutes in which they have to create the recipe and make it edible. They are also given a pressure cooker in which they have to make the meal.  (Most folks have never used a pressure cooker before)  And lastly, they are only given a few other tools to use such as only a quarter cup measuring cup, one spoon, one fork, and a pitcher. So here they have a foreign recipe, foreign ingredients, and alien tools.   Once the timer starts, chaos ensues. Food is flying. Folks are even panicking.  It’d be quite funny if it wasn’t such a real representation of what can happen if people don’t better prepare with their tools and what they intend to eat in a survival scenario. Oh, yeah. And they learn a lot about “panicked communication.”

Push your community to offer realistic training for all community members and especially push your community leaders to TRAIN the so-called “rescuers” for major disasters. I was appalled to hear of a fireman in my community who completely dismissed a question raised by one of his students during CERT training. The student asked the question “What about during an EMP?”  The cocky fireman quipped back “That’s not a life threatening event.”  Can I just tell you that when I heard that my blood boiled?  An EMP is NOT a life-threatening event–REALLY?  Exactly how is the elimination of life lines, refrigeration, oxygen machines, surgical machines, automobiles (including emergency vehicles) classified, then??  A carnival??

Another way you can better prepare is to watch movies and read books that actively engage your mind in which you play a part in–such “what-if” scenarios. All of the successful Olympians will tell you that they run the race mentally before they run it physically.  That’s important for all of us to do in being suitable prepared. I recommend “Red Dawn”, the “Jericho” television series (you’ll have to rent it), “2012” (it gives great perspective, but very little “story”), “Twister” (in surround sound is awesome!) and “The Day After Tomorrow” for some movies to learn from.

When it comes to better preparing your community, it’s important that you understand that you can’t ride out a disaster alone. There are all kinds of logistical problems with that. Even the most brutal gangs of today know that lesson. Whether you like it or not, the community you end up in during a disaster is going to be the community you fully rely on.  Thus it does you no good to isolate yourself from them.  You’re better off trying to improve the people around you through education and interaction one step at a time.  You don’t need to start with the whole community at first. Start with your neighbors; then a larger block, etc. etc. until you’ve created a nice, strong nucleus of educated, like-minded people.  You don’t need to be the brains behind the education either. You can call on expert resources. And you don’t need to spend any money or meeting rooms and supplies.  Libraries usually offer their facilities for free and your community center sure as heck should be able to handle that as well. What you CAN do though is be the fuel behind the push for the community to get educated. So, no more excuses. Do it. And do it now.

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If you would like to host a preparedness party for your business, community, or church group, please contact Vicky at vicky@preparednesspro.com

For any questions or comments on this article, please leave a comment on the blog site so that everyone can benefit!

Copyright 2010 Preparedness Pro & Kellene Bishop.  All rights reserved.  You are welcome to repost this information so long as it is credited to www.PreparednessPro.com & Kellene Bishop

Here it is folks!  The Webinar Schedule I promised you!  Please visit the “Event Schedule” area of our website to view the Preparedness Pro Webinar Schedule.  The following training events are now available:

Thursday, February 4^th: 6:00 p.m. Mountain Water Wisdom©

Saturday, February 6^th 2:00 p.m. Mountain  10 Areas of Preparedness©

Thursday, February 25^th 6:00 p.m. Mountain  UNDERwhelmed in Food Storage©

Wednesday, March 10^th 7:00 p.m. Mountain Survival Sanitation©

Friday, March 12^th 10:00 a.m. Mountain  Fabulous Freeze Dried Fare©

Tuesday March 16^th 6:00 p.m. Mountain  Lights Out, Now What? ©

Saturday March 20^th 10:00 a.m. Mountain Solar Oven Success©

Monday March 22^nd 7:00 p.m. Mountain The Wonderful World of Wheat©

Each of these events will be conducted live. There will not be any encore presentations in a recorded format. Feel free to ask questions during the event! You will have access to a live audio training event as well as visual content. And when appropriate, we may even use the webcam.

The price of each course is $7. A Google Pay link will be sent to you via e-mail within the body of your confirmation e-mail. Upon receipt of your payment, you will be provided with the unique pin number for this class so be sure to pay promptly so that you don’t miss anything.

Each of the actual attendees (and we can see who you are, folks) will be provided with a handout.  If you aren’t able to attend the event, we regret we will be unable to provide you with a resource guide.

Also note that all classes will start on time. These classes will NOT be made available for replay.

We have scheduled this first batch of classes in every possible time formula we could think of so that all of you could attend at least one event.

by Kellene Bishop

A great deal of my articles attempt to be a conversation between myself and those who haven’t quite got on the preparedness bandwagon.  However, today I’d like to address those of you who have begun your preparedness efforts in earnest in hopes that I might add just a bit of redirection for you (If it’s necessary, of course).

Consider your picky eaters, allergies, and recipes when filling your preparedness pantry photo c/o digitallydelicious.files.wordpress.com

I hope that those of you who are actually going through the time, effort, and expense to be more independent are not doing so only to find yourself miserable when the time comes to rely on your efforts. What I mean by that is that many of you, by your own choice—more so than by financial circumstances—have set aside items that are intended to assist you during a crisis that you already know you’re going to despise when the time comes where you’ll have to use them.  As an over-the-top example, I actually had a woman come up to me and tell me she has a year’s supply of wheat, but that she is severely allergic to wheat.  I asked her, “how long have you had your wheat?  How long have you had these allergies?”  She informed me that the wheat was about 8 years old and her allergies are about 10 years old.  I will spare you the details of the rest of that conversation. Yes, this is a bit in the extreme offense against common sense, but I use this example because for some of you it’s more appropriate than you think.

Let’s say that you have a great varied supply of food, fuel, and other essentials on hand.  Let’s look closer at them.  So, you’ve got 3 cases of Ramen noodles.  Does the thought of eating Ramen noodles make you happy?  I mean really, happy?  Or does the anticipation of having to live off of what you’ve got stored in your basement make you cringe?  How about that solar oven you have stored away that you’ve never used yet?  Does the anticipation of having to use that thing make your cringe?

Are you cringing at the thought of actually having to USE your food storage? photo c/o blog.jdubrecords.org/

Here’s my point, if you aren’t emotionally satisfied with the tools and supplies that you are intending to use when things get tough, then you are certainly not going to be your same-old competent self in the midst of turmoil.  Your mental strength is too powerful and too important to be at the mercy of some prelude shortsightedness.  If doing “just enough” to cross something off of your list doesn’t work for your emotional peace of mind today, it’s NOT going to provide you with some much needed emotional strength when things are tough.

Here’s an alternative example. Power’s out. Pipes are frozen. Eight feet of snow on the ground. No problem.  Grab the remote controlled long-life battery lamps, pull out the butane stove, make a scrumptious Thai Coconut Curry chicken in your pressure cooker with rice, have everyone settle down in front of the Lil Buddy Heater which doesn’t require any ventilation, and play a rallying game of “Shoots and Ladders.” Afterwards pull out the graham crackers and peanut butter, with a little bit of milk that your family enjoys, read a

Have an enjoyable evening with your family--even during an emergency scenario. photo c/o wonderfuloldgames.com/

bedtime story by lamplight. Make sure everyone goes to the bathroom using your biodegradable Chemsan bags rigged on your toilet, and tuck everyone in to their beds which have comfortably been made on cots and blow up mattresses. Diffuse a little bit of lavender oil to help everyone rest peacefully. Then you go and enjoy a hot eucalyptus shower with your propane heated shower in your portable “privacy hut”—positioned just outside the back door. Afterwards, you snuggle down in your flannel PJ’s and read that fictional book you’ve been hoping to get to all of this time. Enjoy the comfortable family respite.

No, I haven’t been sniffing the fairy dust.  Sure not every moment can be this great amidst a serious challenge. But it would sure stink if you didn’t even have the capability of making it that way simply because you prepared to be miserable. You need to PLAN for great moments. You need to plan for comfort food. You need to plan for happiness.  If the thought of using your preparedness supplies makes you more stressed and strung out with worry, then you are going about it all wrong. I’m telling you, the opposite is very real. You can actually look forward to such a time of challenge knowing that all will be well. Such knowledge will bring peace and comfort and sanity to you and your loved ones. You literally have a choice. Prepare to be miserable or prepare to be comfortable.

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To see our upcoming event schedule, click here

Subscribe to Preparedness Pro today and never miss a thing!

If you would like to host a preparedness party for your business, community, or church group, please contact Vicky at vicky@preparednesspro.com

For any questions or comments on this article, please leave a comment on the blog site so that everyone can benefit!

Copyright 2010 Preparedness Pro & Kellene Bishop.  All rights reserved.  You are welcome to repost this information so long as it is credited to www.PreparednessPro.com & Kellene Bishop.

by Kellene Bishop

Warning.

Surprise! We have the webinars you want! photo c/o ideachampions.com

You have now been robbed of all of your excuses for not getting better prepared for life’s everyday and future challenges. Your claim  of “death by boredom” isn’t valid anymore. You can’t claim that  preparedness is irrelevant or simply not necessary. And you can’t blame your lack of preparedness on time, enjoyment, comfort, or attractive aesthetics. And sorry, you simply can no longer exclaim, like they do in Maine, “You can’t get there from here.” How did all of your excuses just get sucked down a cavernous black hole? Preparedness Pro is FINALLY offering the training events to you via webinar! And if you haven’t heard, these classes are actually fun, practical, realistic, flavorful, and simple. These excuses will no longer work, I’m afraid…

1) I’ve been crushed by my year’s supply of wheat and can’t get to the phone

2) I used Diatomaceous earth instead of flour in my pancakes and am now currently indisposed in the bathroom without internet access.

3) I have narcolepsy and Alzheimer’s…I have narcolepsy and Alzheimer’s…

4) My contractions are now 1 minute apart

5) “Oh, Vitamin D3? I thought you suggested Tylenol 3.”

6) I work for FEMA and don’t want to get caught listening to your common sense.

7) I’ve already bailed out of society and thus have no internet or telephone coverage…in fact, I no longer exist.

I’m actually just plain stubborn and bullheaded when it comes to preparedness.

We’ve been trying to meet your requests for training outside of our immediate demographic for some time now. And finally it’s close enough that I can actually announce it. I have been busting at the seams to tell everyone and their psychologist, but I promised myself I would do it the last day of this month. After writing and more writing, coordinating, and…well, never mind all of that…—I finally am able to announce to you that Preparedness Pro will be holding LIVE webinars for you about every other week for the next several months. (More likely to be more frequent as opposed to less.) Each week will be a new topic, so you won’t get any “reruns.”

Preparedness Pro webinars--coming soon to all locations! photo c/o mymangosteen.com

Through webinar technology, you’ll be able to listen to the live class via the speakers on your computer and you’ll also get to see the visuals that go along with it on your computer screen. (For those of you who don’t know, webinars are kind of like a tele-conference, but with pictures and sometimes a videocam.) All you’ll have to do is sign up for the particular webinar you’re interested in when it’s announced to you via e-mail—just follow the directions therein—and then you’ll be sent the access code, URL, and even a phone number too in case you want to listen over the phone instead of through your computer. In my opinion though, the best part will be that you’ll be able to “raise your hand” and ask a question just like you would in one of my classroom environments. The technology that’s available today is pretty darn cool.

The classes offered will be just like the ones that I’ve been offering live—except that I haven’t yet figured out a way to actually feed you my freshly cooked samples in the virtual world. Sorry about that. But hey, perhaps I can finally at least make use of this webcam that’s on my computer. (Dang, now I’ll have to actually shower and put makeup on.) Regardless, I’m confident that all of the participants will enjoy these classes just as much as the others have over the last year—meaning some will love them and keep bringing more friends to the next one, some will feel like they need to take a Xanax, and some will never come back. *grin*

When you attend the webinar, you will also receive the extensive resource guide that we provide to our participants as well. This provides you with additional information that may not have been covered, vendor resources, recipes, and additional helpful URLs. However, keep in mind that the only way you can obtain these resource guides is if you are able to attend the training event.

So, here’s the upcoming schedule of eight different classes for now. I selected the 8 best ones that are the most packed with info and which can still be effectively taught using the webinar forum. We’ll be holding these webinars over the next 10 weeks. Of course, it is subject to change based on the interference of real life, adding additional classes, or the occasional occurrence of a seismic earthquake.

10 Areas of Preparedness©

UNDERwhelmed in Food Storage©

Water Wisdom©

Lights Out, Now What? ©

The Wonderful World of Wheat©

Fabulous Freeze-Dried Fare©

Survival Sanitation©

Solar Oven Success©

You just found your greatest preparedness asset--right in the comfort of your own home! photo c/o nzccintheknow.org

I know that one of the first questions that you folks will be asking is whether or not we’ll be offering a recording of these webinars. At this juncture, no, we won’t. We have other plans for that in the future. You may also want to know whether or not there will be a charge for the webinar. Why yes, yes there will. It will be a whomping $7 for two hours of training with me. And of course, you can have more than one person gathered around your computer for the training. Surely learning this kind of information, live, from a professional consultant (who can even be funny occasionally) is worth at least that–considering that minimum wage is more than twice that amount. I figure that since I’m saving you money on a babysitter, charging less than the cost of going to a movie (which has very little potential to improve your preparedness efforts), as well as saving you a substantial amount of fuel by not having to drive all the way to Utah just to come to one of our events, then it’s well worth it. And besides, you can attend in your PJs! What I wouldn’t pay some days to be able to attend a conference while curled up in my PJs with a bowl of buttered popcorn and Junior Mints. Someone ought to start marketing those kinds of conferences. *grin* Oh, and you won’t have to listen to anybody coughing or screaming, nor will you have to deal with over-sugared kids, sitting by someone who has a difference of opinion about personal hygiene than you do, or even have to endure those uncomfortable folding chairs. Woohoo! Rain, sleet, snow or traffic jams need not deter you in your quest for quality preparedness information

All of the technical gobblety gook of registering for each class and paying your shipping and handling fee (just kidding) will be placed on our website over the weekend so that you can begin registering for the classes of your choice. The first class, “10 Areas of Preparedness” will be held within the week of us finally getting the HTML code loaded, so you won’t have to wait long. I have to say, after all of the e-mails from you folks beating up on me—with love of course—I’m really excited to finally make this a reality!

Become a fan of Preparedness Pro on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter here

To see our upcoming event schedule, click here

Subscribe to Preparedness Pro today and never miss a thing!

If you would like to host a preparedness party for your business, community, or church group, please contact Vicky at vicky@preparednesspro.com

For any questions or comments on this article, please leave a comment on the blog site so that everyone can benefit!

Copyright 2010 Preparedness Pro & Kellene Bishop.  All rights reserved.  You are welcome to repost this information so long as it is credited to www.PreparednessPro.com & Kellene Bishop.

Over 46 million American adults are presently caring for an elderly relative or friend photo c/o www.elderlycare365.com

Over 46 million American adults are presently caring for an elderly relative or friend.  The majority of these instances actually involve the elderly living in their home with them, while the rest represent adults taking care of “Aunt Ruthie” in her own residence.  In the event of a long-term survival scenario, the elderly are typically the most vulnerable, even with all of the advances in technology, and in some instances, because of modern-day technology. Given these vulnerabilities, considering their needs now, in a time of comfort, can provide a great deal of relief and care—even in a time of chaos. Here are some general supplies I recommend to have on hand in order to make the elderly persons in your life more comfortable. Fortunately, most of these items can be used in a myriad of other scenarios, so you don’t have to feel like you’re exhausting precious money and space for a narrow segment of preparedness.

Crutches or a walker, as well as tips and padding- I recently saw some walkers on sale at a national pharmacy for $70.  Not bad, perhaps. But then I came home and found both crutches and walkers on Craigslist for less than $10 each.  Having some duct tape and foam padding on hand will also be helpful in making these tools fit the needs of most body types.

Reading glasses photo c/o brasilmagic.files.wordpress.com

Reading Glasses- Given the wide availability of reading glasses- even at the gas stations—it may be easy to take this valuable asset for granted. Having your vision impaired is not only dehumanizing, it can also present a compromised security. This is yet another item that you should be on the look-out for on E-bay, garage sales, and Craigslist.

Denture Care Items- I get teased a bit whenever I teach my coupon classes because I have a section in my coupon notebook specifically for denture care. Not only is the denture adhesive good for the obvious, but it is also helpful with a broken or loose tooth.

Baby Wipes- Staying clean and feeling “human” is critical for all of us. But it’s a bit more challenging for those who aren’t physically mobile. Baby wipes will come in handy instead of having to provide a full bathtub of precious water.

Wheelchair- While there are countless electronic wheelchairs in use presently, the likelihood of them remaining operable after any type of a crisis is rare. As such, I’ve keep my eyes peeled for the good old fashioned wheel chairs that folks are getting rid of for the newer models.  This way I don’t have to worry about batteries and I have a minimal amount of moving pieces to repair.

Good old fashioned wheelchair photo c/o microeyes.blog

Warm Clothing/Blankets- Generally the elderly have poor blood circulation which causes them to be cold easily.  So be sure you have on hand some easy, warm throw blankets. Also consider having some sweaters or shawls available, too.

Bed Pan and Shower Curtains- I confess. I have one of the most squeamish stomachs.  My heart may desire to be a doctor or a nurse, but my stomach simply won’t let me. (Which is why I try to focus more on essential oils and herb uses so that I don’t have to deal with the “blood” aspect of health care.) Having said that though, not having a bed pan grosses me out a heck of a lot more than having to use one.  Along those same lines, I would recommend lining your bedding that’s used for the ailing with a plastic shower curtain. They are a heck of a lot cheaper than the plastic bed sheets and yet they are just as effective. They will also come in handy in maintaining privacy in other areas of your home, or can even be used in an outdoor shower setting.

Gloves- Whether they be latex or non, be sure that you have plenty of disposable gloves to protect you and the rest of your family from illness and bacteria spreading.  One thing that there’s plenty of in caring for the elderly is body fluids.  So be prepared to protect yourself and your patient from spreading deadly germs.

Liquid Nutrition and Straws- When folks are ill, taking food in is a definite challenge. I cared for a cancer patient in her home for about six months and she didn’t even have the strength to lift up a spoon for soup.  She also found that having to chew her food was much too arduous. So I had to resort to creating liquid nutrition concoctions for her,  holding the glass to her mouth so she could use a straw.  The liquid nutrition can be something as simple as stocking up on Ensure or making your own electrolyte drinks. You can also blend sprouts with milk or water and a little bit of extract for taste and have them consume that.  I also stock up on a whole food powdered greens drink. Just a teaspoon of that in 8 ounces of water can provide a great deal of necessary nutrition and is easy on the stomach. I like the Vitamineral Green brand which is sold by GreenSmoothieGirl for the best price I can find on it. It tastes like a fresh salad in my mouth. I rely on this solution not only to provide patients with access to nutrition, but also to supplement my own eating habits as well. By the way, you’ll want to make sure that your straws are flexible (as opposed to straight) for the ease of your patient.

While you won’t be able to store months and months of the typical medications needed by the elderly i.e. heart, blood pressure, diabetes, and pain medications, you will be able to care for them and offer them comfort in a times of great stress and chaos.  That means peace to me. I couldn’t think of a better medicine.

Copyright 2010 Preparedness Pro & Kellene Bishop.  All rights reserved.  You are welcome to repost this information so long as it is credited to www.PreparednessPro.com & Kellene Bishop.

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Do you have enough for 7 years in your backyard? photo c/o socialmediaguerilla.com

It’s common in the world of real estate sales for a realtor to show their prospective buyers homes that are WAY out of their price range in order to soften them up enough to buy a home that is a bit above their intended price range. By viewing all of the larger homes, the buyers are usually more willing to accept a home that may be a bit more than what they were willing to pay, but still be manageable in contrast to the enormous homes they have already viewed.  This strategy works well in a myriad of sales fields and is a strategy called “the law of contrasts.” Today, I’m going to use that same strategy on you. *grin*

“You want me to do WHAT? Let me see if I got this straight. I’m supposed to oversee the grain storage for millions of people over the next seven years, and do so in such a way that they don’t starve during a famine of seven years? You realize, of course, that I’ve never been a VP of a small company, let alone second in command to a Pharaoh, right?” –Conversation between Joseph, son of Jacob, and the Lord prior to him overseeing the survival of Egypt prior to the seven year famine.

How many of us would be just a wee bit intimidated and overwhelmed with such a task?  Oh, let’s do one better, shall we?

“Let me see if I’ve got this straight. 4.2 million people, including women and children. I’m supposed to just waltz right into the Pharaoh and convince him to just let them go? You realize that he won’t get any of his construction plans done without them?  His wealth will disappear overnight?

“Wait a minute? I’m also supposed to convince him to send the Israelites off with gold and silver?  They are just going to give it to these “slaves?” What, as a friendly parting gift? 

Modern exodus--what might we face in the future? photo c/o thinktheology.org

“Huh? You say there’s more to the job?  I see. I’m also supposed to physically lead the exodus of this massive amount of people into the wilderness, ensure that they have sufficient food, water, flocks, clothing, etc. for decades of survival AND be their spiritual leader as well? 

“How long are we supposed to be able to survive?… Decades?!!” –Conversation between Moses and the Lord as he understands his assignment to oversee the entire exodus of over 4 million Israelites.

I don’t care who you are. Being responsible for the sustenance of 100 people, let alone millions of people would be overwhelming. Think of the travel involved. I know plenty of couples who won’t do a lengthy road trip simply because they don’t want to “ruin” their relationship. If you’ve ever been in a car with 7 kids under the age of 14, you may better appreciate the unattractive nature of Moses’ assignment. Imagine 4.2 million dusty, grumpy, Israelites saying “Are we there yet?” every single day for over 40 years. *grin*

Well, you know me. I’ve got to try and really hit the point home. Let’s do one more scenario.

“Ok. Be a full-time prophet and cry repentance to save as many people before the flood wipes them all out. Check. Excuse me. How are they supposed to survive the flood when they do repent?  Uh…with all due respect, I’m not a ship builder.

Cruise Liner "Survival of the Fittest" c/o freekick.files.wordpress.com

“You want the ark HOW big?  Um… Ok. If you say you’ll help me, then I’ll do it.  I would like to share with you though that I feel a bit overwhelmed at the prospect of saving so many souls and having enough time to build the ark as well. Oh. You weren’t finished? My apologies.

“Ok. Two of every seed and grain. Got it… Two of every what?! What if my pet dander allergies acts up?

“Keep the lions and the hyenas separate. Got it.

“I have to store enough food, water and light fuel for all of the animals AND my family AND all of the people who repent too?  For how long?  Um, but don’t you think the duration of the cruise is an important bit of information for me to know? Well, do I at least get to take Dramamine with me for all of the people and the animals? After all, I really only want to have to clean up one kind of mess, if you get my meaning.”

Yup, I’m sure that after these three examples that there’s not one of us who really has room to complain about the effort, time, or resources it takes to put together at least a year’s supply of preparedness materials. God is no less absent from our own preparedness efforts than he was with Joseph, Moses, or Noah. Can any of us truly doubt that He has no interest in our own well being, safety and survival today than He did in days past?  At least our “ark making activities” today are aided by YouTube, Google, e-mail, blogs, and enormous libraries everywhere. We don’t exactly have to hike 100 miles to obtain “seed of every kind.” We certainly have a lot more conveniences in taking care of our stewardships today than any man or woman before us. So, let’s stop making excuses of ANY kind, and just get it done. Time, food prices, world conditions, weather, reality, etc. are definitely NOT on our side folks. But we can still be victorious over the Pharaohs and floods in our life if we’ll just kick it in gear and get it done. Of this I am certain.

Copyright 2010 Preparedness Pro & Kellene Bishop.  All rights reserved.  You are welcome to repost this information so long as it is credited to www.PreparednessPro.com & Kellene Bishop.

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