Some people have asked me, "After so many years, why do you keep doing this? Is this all you ever think about?"
I laughingly say, "Yes!"
Amongst other things, preparedness and continuing to learn to be self-reliant, is always on my mind.
At this time of the year, I stand in awe as I remember our nation's early settlers. I am also mindful of the pioneers who first came to Utah. I can't imagine what they all went through, one hardship after another. We are all the beneficiaries of their hopes, dreams, struggles and perseverance.
Before settling here, many had been driven from their homes. Ofttimes lucky to escape with their very lives, let alone with a change of clothes, a pair of shoes, and/or a pot to cook in. Somehow, they who had nothing were able to struggle their way through and start again.
I worry about us, and our abundant, plentiful times. It is one thing to not have much to begin with and having to start over, but how will we fare? We who have almost everything available to us 24/7?
Should our circumstances change, could we start from scratch, or make do as well as they did?
With fires in the West, floods in the East, and tornadoes, hurricanes and earthquakes everywhere in between, we need to take stock of temporal and financial preparedness.
We raised our two daughters in a humble American Fork home. We are now enjoying our new Spanish Fork locale. Being honest, my husband and I are coming to the point in our lives that I no longer have to do all of the things I used to do to help make ends meet, but I choose to continue doing so. Why? Should times get rough, I never want to lose sight of how to make do, or how to be creative enough to make something out of nothing.
It has been an interesting challenge for me to learn the art and skills of preparedness. It has become my hobby, passion and my lot in life. Rewards have come, especially as I overhear my daughters say, "I wonder what Mom would use this for?" Then they came up with their own "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or go without" ideas.
It has also been rewarding to hear people say "because of you, I now have the confidence to start preparing my family, or to try tackling it again. I have begun to use some of your practical, affordable, "do-able" approach ideas. I am building food storage and emergency preparedness shelves. I am saving 2-liter bottles to store water and dry, basic commodities in. It is also nice to know that I don't have to spend a small fortune to better prepare myself and/or my family."
I love to share, plant seeds, and watch them grow . . . as others have done for me. I didn't reach this level of preparedness over night, or all by myself!
Keeping abreast of the daily news, we are reminded that one never knows what lies ahead. I choose to follow the suggestions of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the American Red Cross, the Department of Homeland Security, local and state agencies, and the admonitions of my faith-based leaders, who encourage us to plan ahead.
Former LDS President Brigham Young said, "If we are to be saved in an ark like Noah was, it will be because we have built it."
To me the modern-day analogy of this is, "If we are to be saved like Noah was, it will be because we have planned, prepared and stored for it."
I didn't grow up with this emphasis on self-reliance. The need to be prepared was something I learned in my mid-30s as a mother of two young daughters. Now it is part of my natural mind-set. I can sleep when the wind blows, because I am continually working on "our ark."
We are all a work in progress. The point is: keep trying! Investigate. Ask for help. Set goals. Conceive a plan. Begin to implement it. Keep adding.
You can do it! It's a matter of priorities. Work today for tomorrow's needs.
Jolene Parker, the "Food Storage Lady," is the author of "A Practical, Affordable, Do-able Approach to Emergency Preparedness." You can send questions or ideas to her at: the foodstoragelady@sfcn.org. Call 801-756-9223 to order her book.