"The Atonement: All for All"

This is the quote that made it's way to my inbox last year on the day that my daughter passed away. Every time I read this...I feel a confirmation of importance and reality of our eternal bonds. Danielle

"We can have eternal life if we want it, but only if there is nothing else we want more."

Bruce C. Hafen, "The Atonement: All for All," Ensign, May 2004, 98

Neighborhood Yard Sale

I spoke with the City of Saratoga Springs today, and the spring clean up dumpsters were just approved for this year. We do not have an exact date, but they are thinking ours will be in front of the park in May.

Start cleaning now...
WE WILL HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD YARD SALE ON SATURDAY, APRIL 25th from 8 a.m to 1 p.m.

"Faith, Service, Constancy"

In our everyday quest to fortify ourselves and our families against the storms of life, we must not forget to nourish our spirit and do everything in our power to strengthen our faith.

I hope to add a few inspirational thoughts now and then; to lift our spirits and inspire our hearts. If you come across any profound thoughts or quotes that have touched your life, please share them by emailing them to sunrisemeadows1@live.com.

Thank you, Danielle

"At . . . moments of crisis and challenge, some choose to abandon faith just at the time when it most needs to be embraced. Prayer is ignored at the very hour when it needs to be intensified. Virtue is carelessly tossed aside when it needs to be cherished. God is forsaken in the all-too-human yet mistaken fear that He has forsaken us.

"The truth is that our only safety, our only security, our only hope is to hold fast to that which is good. As the mists of darkness gather around us, we are only lost if we choose to let go of the iron rod, which is the word of God."

David S. Baxter, "Faith, Service, Constancy," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 14

March Madness

This is the month to really start working on your 3 month supply. There is a case lot sale at not only Maceys, but also Kohls going on right now.
I know you've already made up your 2 week menu, and your shopping list, so now is the time to really start stocking those shelves you built. You will be so excited to see your shelves getting filled up, and knowing you don't have to go back to buy any of the items that are there until the next case lot sale, when those items are at a really good price.
Good luck, have fun and HAPPY SHOPPING!

Great Chicken Deals

Some people have mentioned about good prices on meat. I get the Macey's ad in the mail (you can too by signing up at the store, they'll send one right to your mail box every week. Just remember that even though it comes early, that their sale goes Wed. - Wed. now) and they have some great chicken deals if you're looking to stock up. I'll list the prices, but of course you can go to their site, which is listed to your left. I actually like to do both. By the way, did you know that you can make a print out of your shopping list for Maceys, Smiths and Albertson's? It's great.
Okay, here are the prices.
10# box-breaded chicken breast $9.99 That's a dollar a pound, in case you don't do math. ( I like to use these sliced to make a chicken potato bowl like at KFC, but way cheaper)
20# box-frozen boneless, skinless chicken-breasts or tenders $29.99 this is only $1.25 per lb. Cheap!(I'll take these boxes home and divide into meal size freezer bags, you could also cook and then freeze for ease. Of course you could can it, too.)
Super Saver Pack-fresh boneless, skinless chicken breasts $1.49lb. If you don't, or can't buy a 20 lb. box, this is the next best thing. Stock up on as much as you can.
Happy shopping!
Michelle

Freebies

I got this email from Lisa Gibby. Call her quickly if you're interested in anything listed so she can get them out of her house. We all know how the DI stuff goes. Michelle

*I was just cleaning out kid closets and was wondering if you would post on the provident living blog that I have a bunch of girls sizes 6x-8 stuff and boys sizes 12-14 clothes. I thought I 'd see if anyone in the ward wants to go through them before I take them to DI. Thanks. Lisa

February's assignment

I got to thinking that maybe some of you don't know (because you don't live in my ward and or haven't read the Feb. ward newsletter) that water storage is your assignment for February. If you have read the blog I posted earlier in the month, you will know a lot of details for storing water. I'm working on finding a great deal on water barrels. If anyone has any tips, let me know.
Be sure to have water stored in as many different ways as you feel would be helpful to you. Personally, I have a lot of water bottles as well as a 10 gallon water container for drinking/cooking. I also have 2 55 gal. barrels for storing cleaning and sanitation. We also, are going to be making some rain water barrels to get roof runoff.
If you're interested in an efficient way to store your water barrels, look on www.theideadoor.com for a pdf with diagram, instructions and a picture. It's very cool.
Keep up the great work
Michelle

What am I preparing for?

I was at an extended family dinner on Sunday, and was talking to my cousin and her son about what my "new obsession" (preparedness) is. My cousin proceeded to tell me that she is confused about what she's preparing for. Is she preparing for a "get out of the house fast" emergency, or is she preparing for a "stay at home" emergency. My response was, of course, "yes". In other words, we need to be preparing for any kind of emergency that may be coming our way. In D&C 88:119 it says to "Organize yourselves and prepare every needful thing". I take that as a call to not do either or, but to do all you can do. We don't need to work out of fear, but out of obedience and foresight.
In this day and age, there are many things out there we might consider preparing for, from weather related to biological. However, to clarify a bit, and make things not sound quite so overwhelming, keep in mind that if you're prepared for a pandemic, you're probably prepared for a biological emergency. You'll probably have masks, gloves, plastic to cover windows and doorways, etc. If you're prepared for a fire, you're probably prepared for an earthquake. You'll probably have what you would need for each of your family members to be away from home for at least 3 days. If you're prepared for a financial collapse, you're prepared for a long term job loss.
I hope this maybe clarifies things for someone. I also hope I didn't make things harder on others. For me, and I think for many others, if I know what to do, somehow I can make it happen, of course with the Lords help. Sometimes it can get hard or overwhelming to think of what we need to do, but if we pray to be inspired and directed, we will be. I've seen it happen over and over. Maybe you'll become like me and have it be an obsession. Of course I have to admit I have a bit of an obsessive personally, so maybe you won't get as bad as me. Good luck, and have FUN for heavens sake!!!
Michelle

Water Storage Info.

I found this great blog today with a lot of good info. on water storage. The blog is run by the Pleasant Grove 1st ward. I would really suggest you check it out, not just for water storage info. but for other things also. Here's the link http://pgward.org/ep/archives/category/water.
TIP: When you're looking at blogs like these, look at the other sites they suggest, I've found a lot of great sites that way.
Michelle

Food For Thought...a quarter cup

I was looking at one of my favorite sites www.utahpreppers.com, and found a new post that I thought was really interesting. It's about how a 1/4 measuring cup can make a difference. It is also linked to another site that looks promising, with the original thought posted. I hope you check them both out. I thought they were very eye opening. Have a great day.
Michelle