Vital Records Binder (We all need one of these:)!!

The 'Emergency Preparedness Coordinator' in my ward(CHURCH) is absolutely AMAZING. Every week she comes to church with a new recipe to hand out that you can make from items in your food storage. NOT only does she bring a copy of the recipe for EVERYONE, she makes it and brings it for everyone to try. Like I said, she is AMAZING!! A few years ago I had the opportunity to work with her in Activity Days (a fun group for girls ages 8-11), I have never met someone so dedicated to MAGNIFYING her calling. ('Callings' in our church are various jobs that we do on a volunteer basis, we are not paid to do these jobs- including our Bishops, Stake Presidents, etc... we do these to help do our part to make the church run smoothly and through our service we grow closer to our Savior).

A few weeks ago Sister McDavitt (the emergency preparedness coordinator) started a 'Vital Records Binder' challenge. Each week she sends out a reminder of what we are to be putting in our binder. I wanted to share this because I think it is such a good idea and it is something we would all need in an emergency. I have purchased my binders and will hopefully be getting all caught up on each of the weeks goals today. I decided to do 2 binders, one for our family, and one to give to my sister & Brother-in-law that will be responsible for caring for our kids in the event something were to happen to both my husband and I.

*If you have any other ideas of things that could be put in the binder please share those with us!

(I copied this information from an email that she sent out, we haven't completed this project yet, so remember to check back next week to see what you should be adding to your binder next)

If you had to suddenly leave your home due to impending natural disaster, and had only a few minutes to gather everything you would need, including important papers, family history, and treasured pictures, how long would it take you?
Vital financial records should be kept in a safe place. Copies of these documents should be available for taking with you if you have to leave your home in an emergency. As an alternative, you could scan these documents into your computer and take a disc or flash drive instead of paper copies. This year, we are going to assemble a Vital Records Binder that will contain the important information you would need and want to take with you. We will do it week by week through a small task each week—“…by small and simple things are great things brought to pass.”

*WEEK ONE- Locate or purchase a 2” binder with 50 - 100 plastic page protectors. Purchase tabbed dividers, if desired, to divide the book into sections. Store the Ward Emergency Plan in the binder. (Note: we will be distributing the 2009 plan soon. For now, put in the 2007 plan if you have a copy)

*WEEK TWO- Locate birth certificates for all family members. Make copies and put in binder.

*WEEK THREE- Locate Social Security cards for all family members. Make copies and put in binder.

*WEEK FOUR- Make copies of driver’s licenses and put in binder

*WEEK FIVE- Make copies of passports and put in binder.

*WEEK SIX- Make copies of important phone numbers and addresses and put in binder. Include family, friends, doctors, dentist, business and other important numbers.

Recently my husband and I have felt very strongly that it is time we take getting our families year supply of food storage very seriously. We have been building up our food storage over the years, but as you rotate food out it is sometimes hard to remember to replace it. I would say that we have about 2-3 months worth of food storage right now. Our goal is to have our entire years supply of food storage by December 31st, 2009. I can only imagine the peace of mind that will come from KNOWING that no matter what may happen we can feed our family for an entire year. With all that is going on in the world you just never know when disaster might strike. I am looking forward to fulfilling the council from our Prophets to 'prepare every needful thing'.

Love,

Brittany

Family Home Storage

"Our Heavenly Father created this beautiful earth, with all its abundance, for our benefit and use. His purpose is to provide for our needs as we walk in faith and obedience. He has lovingly commanded us to “prepare every needful thing” (see D&C 109:8) so that, should adversity come, we can care for ourselves and our neighbors and support bishops as they care for others.
"We encourage members world-wide to prepare for adversity in life by having a basic supply of food and water and some money in savings.
"We ask that you be wise as you store food and water and build your savings. Do not go to extremes; it is not prudent, for example, to go into debt to establish your food storage all at once. With careful planning, you can, over time, establish a home storage supply and a financial reserve."—The First Presidency, All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage, Feb. 2007, 1

Visit www.providentliving.org to find out more information about Family Preparedness, also if you would like to learn more about our faith, you can visit, www.mormon.org (The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints 'Mormons')

HBO "Big Love" controversy...

I have received TONS of emails in regards to HBO's upcoming episode that is going to depict Temple ceremonies of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I wanted to share the article written by the leaders of our Church in regards to this situation. I believe that our Church leaders are handling this in the most Christ like and appropriate way possible.

This is so upsetting to members of the LDS Church because our Temples are so sacred to us. Temples are places we go to to feel closer to our Father in Heaven and to make sacred covenants with him. We believe that Temples are some of the holiest places on earth. It is very upsetting to think that a TV station is going to air on national television ceremonies that we consider to be so special and personal. I think what is equally upsetting is that HBO does not have their facts straight. HBO's show 'Big Love', is NOT a show about the LDS(Mormon) Faith and the ceremonies that they are wanting to show will not be accurate. I encourage everyone, LDS or not to please send a response to HBO asking them to NOT air this show. It is incredibly disrespectful to our Faith. I am so sad that HBO is planning to air this episode, I feel that it is so inappropriate and unprofessional on their part. I hope that through our responses we can help them to change their minds.

Please click HERE to contact HBO and share your opinion with them on why this episode should not be aired!

With Love,
Brittany

Response From The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints...
SALT LAKE CITY 9 March 2009

Like other large faith groups, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sometimes finds itself on the receiving end of attention from Hollywood or Broadway, television series or books, and the news media. Sometimes depictions of the Church and its people are quite accurate. Sometimes the images are false or play to stereotypes. Occasionally, they are in appallingly bad taste.

As Catholics, Jews and Muslims have known for centuries, such attention is inevitable once an institution or faith group reaches a size or prominence sufficient to attract notice. Yet Latter-day Saints – sometimes known as Mormons - still wonder whether and how they should respond when news or entertainment media insensitively trivialize or misrepresent sacred beliefs or practices.

Church members are about to face that question again. Before the first season of the HBO series Big Love aired more than two years ago, the show’s creators and HBO executives assured the Church that the series wouldn’t be about Mormons. However, Internet references to Big Love indicate that more and more Mormon themes are now being woven into the show and that the characters are often unsympathetic figures who come across as narrow and self-righteous. And according to TV Guide, it now seems the show’s writers are to depict what they understand to be sacred temple ceremonies.

Certainly Church members are offended when their most sacred practices are misrepresented or presented without context or understanding. Last week some Church members began e-mail chains calling for cancellations of subscriptions to AOL, which, like HBO, is owned by Time Warner. Certainly such a boycott by hundreds of thousands of computer-savvy Latter-day Saints could have an economic impact on the company. Individual Latter-day Saints have the right to take such actions if they choose.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as an institution does not call for boycotts. Such a step would simply generate the kind of controversy that the media loves and in the end would increase audiences for the series. As Elder M. Russell Ballard and Elder Robert D. Hales of the Council of the Twelve Apostles have both said recently, when expressing themselves in the public arena, Latter-day Saints should conduct themselves with dignity and thoughtfulness.
Not only is this the model that Jesus Christ taught and demonstrated in his own life, but it also reflects the reality of the strength and maturity of Church members today. As someone recently said, “This isn’t 1830, and there aren’t just six of us anymore.” In other words, with a global membership of thirteen and a half million there is no need to feel defensive when the Church is moving forward so rapidly. The Church’s strength is in its faithful members in 170-plus countries, and there is no evidence that extreme misrepresentations in the media that appeal only to a narrow audience have any long-term negative effect on the Church.

Examples:
During the Mitt Romney election campaign for the presidency of the United States, commentator Lawrence O’Donnell hurled abuse at the Church in a television moment that became known among many Church members as “the O’Donnell rant.” Today, his statements are remembered only as a testament to intolerance and ignorance. They had no effect on the Church that can be measured.
When the comedy writers for South Park produced a gross portrayal of Church history, individual Church members no doubt felt uncomfortable. But once again it inflicted no perceptible or lasting damage to a church that is growing by at least a quarter of a million new members every year.

When an independent film company produced a grossly distorted version of the Mountain Meadows Massacre two years ago, the Church ignored it. Perhaps partly as a result of that refusal to engender the controversy that the producers hoped for, the movie flopped at the box office and lost millions.

In recent months, some gay activists have barraged the media with accusations about “hateful” attitudes of Latter-day Saints in supporting Proposition 8 in California, which maintained the traditional definition of marriage. They even organized a protest march around the Salt Lake Temple. Again, the Church has refused to be goaded into a Mormons versus gays battle and has simply stated its position in tones that are reasonable and respectful. Meanwhile, missionary work and Church members in California remain as robust and vibrant as ever, and support for the Church has come from many unexpected quarters — including some former critics and other churches.

Now comes another series of Big Love, and despite earlier assurances from HBO it once again blurs the distinctions between The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the show’s fictional non-Mormon characters and their practices. Such things say much more about the insensitivities of writers, producers and TV executives than they say about Latter-day Saints.
If the Church allowed critics and opponents to choose the ground on which its battles are fought, it would risk being distracted from the focus and mission it has pursued successfully for nearly 180 years. Instead, the Church itself will determine its own course as it continues to preach the restored gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world.

Please Pray for Gracie - she needs a miracle!!

*** You can find the link to Gracie's blog on the side bar, Gracie and her family are in desperate need of our prayers tonight, baby Gracie had heart transplant surgery today, in the beginning things were looking very good, but tonight things have taken a turn for the worst and they are now unsure of her future.***

Please keep Baby Gracie and her family in your PRAYERS, if we all come together in PRAYER I know that MIRACLES can happen!!

Lift Where You Stand

Today at Church it was as if each talk and lesson was specifically for me. We have had some things happen the past week that have been really difficult to deal with and this morning I was struggling with even wanting to be at Church. I really can't ever remember a time other than today that I seriously DID NOT want to be at Church. It was such an awful feeling. I KNOW that is where I was suppose to be and I am so glad that I went despite of the feelings that I was having.

In Sacrament meeting today the subject was, 'Controlling Your Thoughts'. It is so easy for each of us to have thoughts of all different kinds pop into our head with out even really meaning for them to be there. Until today I guess I had never really thought about WHY different thoughts pop in our head. One of the speakers mentioned that often times it isn't us putting those thoughts there at all, it is Satan. He wants us to be unhappy, so it would make since that he would try to place thoughts in our minds that would cause us to feel sadness. She gave some great examples of what some of these thoughts might be. Honestly how many of us have ever had a thought like, 'Wow (so in so) is such a good mom, I am not as good of a mom as she is' or 'She is so pretty, why am I not that pretty'. I know that I have had similar thoughts to those and really I always just thought those types of thoughts were coming from my own insecurities when in actuality Satan is placing those types of thoughts in our minds. The speakers also touched on how important it is that we control our thoughts because ultimately our thoughts control our actions. When we have a bad thought we need to immediately replace it with a good thought. One speaker suggested singing your favorite hymn to your self whenever a bad thought comes to your mind. I am very grateful that this was the subject in Sacrament today, I really need to work on controlling some of my thoughts that are causing me to feel unhappy, I may not be able to control the trials I will face in my life, but I can control how I let them effect me.

Normally I don't get the opportunity to go to Relief Society, but I was able to go today and we had such a great lesson. The lesson was 'Lift Where You Stand'. I was actually on my way to my car right before Relief Society started, my little man was so tired so I was going to drive him around the parking lot a few times until he fell asleep, well as I was headed to my car I realized that it was a friend of mine giving the lesson so I thought, 'ok well I will just go in for a few minutes and see how he does.' The sweet little guy must of some how known how much his mama needed to hear that lesson because he made it through 3/4 of the lesson before we had to leave. It is so important that we work hard to 'Lift Wear We Stand' in whatever it is, wither it be our marriages, motherhood/parenthood, magnifying our callings, etc... We need to ALWAYS try to do our very best in all that we do in life. I know for my self that it is very easy for me to get discouraged and think that I can't do certain things, but if we put our trust in the Lord ALL things are possible. The Lord will help us to fulfill the challenges he has given us, he will help strengthen us, and we can 'Lift Where We Stand' when we have him as a companion in all that we do.

I am so grateful that I made the choice to go to Church today, it wasn't easy for me and it truly made me so sad that I was feeling the way I did. I know that my Father in Heaven wanted me to be there today, there were messages given that I NEEDED to hear. I feel so incredibly blessed to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, my faith in the gospel is the foundation of who I am and without it I would be so lost.

With love-
Brittany

Please Pray for Gracie

My husbands cousin has a BEAUTIFUL baby girl, Gracie that NEEDS our prayers. If you go to the side bar and click on "Gracie" it will take you to her blog where you can read all about this amazing baby girl and the trials her and her family have been facing. Gracie was born with a sever heart defect and has over come ALL odds, she is absolutely a MIRACLE.

Gracie and her family NEED our prayers at this time!! I have a very strong testimony of the power of prayer and I know that if WE pray with FAITH, that our prayers can help this family to cope during this difficult time.

Humbled

{Two posts in one day, look at me go!!}


Recently my husband signed up to receive a daily inspirational email from our Church. I thought that I would share a few that I have read recently and have really left an impression on me. Our family is going through a difficult time right now, as I know MANY other families are. The economy has taken a toll on so many and it is easy to get discouraged when things don't seem to be going your way. We live in scary times, not only are people loosing their jobs, but all throughout the world there is turmoil of all kinds. I truly believe that we are living in the last days. With all that is going on I can't help but think about what the future will be like for my children. What kind of world will they live in? What trials will they face? Will I be able to protect them? The more I have thought about what is to come I have realized that this is all part of our Heavenly Fathers plan and that gives me peace in these troubled times. Of course he does not want these terrible things to be happening all over the world to HIS CHILDREN, but these things that are happening are SIGNS that the SECOND COMING of our SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST is NEAR. When will the Savior return, I don't know. But what I DO KNOW is that I AM GOING TO BE READY! I want to be worthy to kneel at the Saviors feet and show my love and gratitude to him for the precious gift of the ATONEMENT that he freely gave the world. I believe that Satan is DOUBLING his efforts, we wants us to fail. He is doing all he can to tear apart families because families are the core of our existence. If he can tear apart families, he can tear apart Nations. Satan has declared war on ALL that is good in this world. He does not want us to be happy, he does not want us to follow our Heavenly Fathers plan so that we can return to our Father in Heavens presence. He wants us to fail. I will NOT let him win. I am willing to do all that I possibly can to do what is RIGHT and live a Christ-like life because I WANT more than ANYTHING to be with my FAMILY FOREVER. I KNOW that families are ETERNAL, that this life is but a moment in our existence, but that it is in this life that we make the choices that will determine our future in the next life!

If you are going through a difficult time in your life I hope that you can find peace in knowing that if you do all that you are capable of to live a life that is pleasing unto the Lord and are willing to completely put your Faith in him that the Lord WILL provide a way. Often times we don't recieve blessings until after the TRIAL of our FAITH. The road may not always be easy, but when we turn our lives over to the Lord, He WILL BLESS US!

I am HUMBLED by the things I do not know, I don't know exactly what the Lord has in store for me, but I know that I am willing to do all that he asks of me because I have FAITH in HIM!

May these stories touch you as they have touched me...


Rich in Things That Matter

"Like so many young people do, when I was young I occasionally dreamed of being rich and famous. I am now grateful that that dream was not realized. My understanding of what success really is has changed over the years of my life. It began to change on my first mission to Brazil over 45 years ago."One day, my companion and I went out to visit a poor sister who was widowed. In those days there were no stakes or wards in Brazil, only mission districts and branches. Sometimes missionaries looked after the members."Finally, we arrived at a humble home in a very isolated area. This home had a dirt floor and open windows without any glass. The wind and the flies could come right through. Never before in my life had I been in a home where people live with open windows and a dirt floor. Despite this, the house was clean and neat, curtains were hung, and the boards on the inside of the house were whitewashed. Despite being primitive, the home had a cozy feeling about it. We asked after this poor widow's health and well-being. She seemed quite happy and contented. We then began to have something of a gospel lesson. She participated freely. We thought that we were the teachers, but it soon became apparent that she knew more than we did. Her faith was deep, and her knowledge of the great eternal truths of where we came from, who we are, and where we are going was very profound."I had my eyes opened. It was astonishing to hear this sister in these humble circumstances explain the great purposes of God in the grand scheme of the earth and its creation. I was reminded about what James said in his great epistle: 'Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?' (James 2:5). . . ."This poor widow on the outskirts of São Paulo made the most of her straitened circumstances—circumstances that could not easily be changed. She realized that she should not make her life miserable by wishing it were otherwise. We ought always to try to improve on the things that can be improved, but there are some circumstances that cannot be changed. This impoverished woman enjoyed her independence, and she owed no one any money. She was industrious and thrifty. She crocheted beautiful cloths which were sold in the city to satisfy her simple wants, but she was not poor in spirit. She was rich in the things that really matter."From that experience many years ago, I learned much. I am persuaded that this humble widow who lived in a house with a dirt floor and no panes in the window is an heir to the exaltation of God."


Understanding the Character and Designs of God

"In a discourse given before thousands in Nauvoo in April 1844, the Prophet Joseph Smith spoke about the importance of starting out with a correct understanding of the character and designs of God. He stated, 'If we start right, it is easy to go right all the time; but if we start wrong we may go wrong, and it will be a hard matter to get right' (History of the Church, 6:303). As we consider what is ahead for ourselves, our families, and for the kingdom of God, do we fully comprehend the designs of God for our lives?"In 1920, Brother Marion G. Romney attended a Fremont Stake conference in the Rexburg Tabernacle. My grandfather, Elder Melvin J. Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, was the presiding authority. Because Brother Romney was twenty-three years of age and the financial circumstances of his family were very difficult, he had not contemplated serving a full-time mission. Years later, on 15 October 1963, Elder Romney explained his experience:" 'At the time I graduated, I planned to go in the fall to the University of Idaho. It was my intention to play basketball and football and prepare to be a coach. In late August, I attended a stake conference [and] sat on the front row at the east end of the choir seats directly north of the pulpit. As I listened intently with my eyes fixed on [Elder Melvin J. Ballard's] profile, there came to me by the power of the Spirit an irresistible urgency to go on a mission. There and then I abandoned my plans for a coaching career. In November I left for a mission to Australia' (address given at a Ricks College devotional, 15 Oct. 1963)."Elder Romney, en route to Australia, came to Salt Lake City, where my grandfather set him apart as a missionary. Grandfather gave Elder Romney counsel and said, among other things, 'One never gives a crust to the Lord without receiving a loaf in return' (quoted in F. Burton Howard, Marion G. Romney: His Life and Faith, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1988, p. 66). Marion G. Romney never forgot that phrase."
M. Russell Ballard, "Anchored by Faith and Commitment," Ensign, July 1995, 12, 14

Check out this COOL product

We love to eat all kinds of fruits and veggies at our house, but it drives me crazy how fast they spoil. I saw these great storage containers that help to keep your produce fresh on one of my very favorite money saving blogs

click here to check it out...

http://jane4girls800dollarannualbudget.blogspot.com/2009/02/osofresh-review-and-giveaway.html

I can't wait to get a set for myself:)