Weekly Challenge and Assignment (Week of September 12th)

Hi Carson Ward Family,

This week we will finish up our 72 Hour Kits if you have been following along the past several weeks. I heard this quote last Sunday in our Relief Society lesson and love it (thank you Sister Lawson).

Quote:

"To be prepared is one thing, to live prepared is another thing."
Elder James E. Talmage

72 Hour Kit Assignment:

Purchase the following this week. Remember, if you are following the same 3 day menu you will need 3 of each item for each family 72 Hour Kit you are putting together.

Snack--Beef Jerky (one package per kit, this is just an extra snack)
Fruit snacks (like Fruit Roll ups, dried fruits, this is just an extra snack)
Note: I put these items along with the hard candy and gum in a separate plastic zip lock bag.

If you have been following along you should have purchased 3 of each item below for each family 72 Hour Kit:

Granola bars
Juice Box Drink or Fruit Drink mix
Instant hot chocolate drink mix
Small box of raisins
Instant Oatmeal
Fruit Cups or Apple Sauce (or mix)
Trail Mix
Dry Soup Mix
Peanut Butter crackers
Water (either 2 Liter Bottle or 3 regular size drinking bottles, not the small ones)
Gum
Hard candy
Today's
Beef Jerky
Fruit snacks (like fruit roll ups or dried fruits)

A great place to get items for the 72 Hour Food, Hygiene, and Personal Kits is The Dollar Tree, The 99 Cent Store, and Big Lots. (Thank you Myra Albao for reminding me.)

Congratulations! You have just finished putting together your family's 72 Hour Food Kits. Now put everything together in zip lock bags (remember keep the gum and hard candy in a small bag so the food does not take on the taste) and put in your backpack for each family member. Next week we will start the 72 Hour Personal Hygiene Kits.

I learned from one Sister in the Ward she is putting the 72 Hour Kits together as Christmas gifts for her family this year. What a great idea!

I have discovered a great water family pitcher and individual flip top bottle filtration system product. The church is purchasing thousands of these for our missionaries in the field throughout the world. Go to the Water Storage posting and get more information. It is at the end of the posting.

Car Emergency Preparedness Kit:

Add one item on the list on the Car Emergency Preparedness Kit posting that you have not already added.

3 Month Supply:

Purchase extra cans of an item you buy this week while grocery shopping for your storage.

Weekly Challenge:

Part of being prepared is not only being temporally prepared but also being spiritual prepared. The challenge this week, if you are not already doing it, is to read the Book of Mormon each day with your family. It can be just one verse or one chapter a day. The most important thing to do is just start. If you are already doing this, great job! I know it is really hard with small children and you feel they are not listen, but they are. As I witnessed my son doing this with his young family every night, I saw the struggle, but it paid off, now they are older and love reading with the family and some can even read themselves now. What a great blessing for our family!

Remember: Put your comment at the end of this posting and last weeks and your name goes into the monthly FREE GIVEAWAY drawing to held Sunday, October 10th. You will have 4 chances to win if you put a comment in each week's challenge and assignment.

Also, check out the new Recipe posting and all the Carson Ward Emergency Preparedness posting that will help you with your emergency preparedness and maybe give you some new ideas if you already have your years supply. I will be adding recipes and tips all along that will help you use and rotate your food storage.

The best thing you can do regarding Emergency Preparedness is just start, even if it is just one extra can of food, it is a start!

Weekly Challenge and Assignment (Week of September 5th)

Hi Carson Ward Family,

Congratulations! The Romo Family won the first monthly FREE GIVEAWAY drawing. They won a Portable One Burner Butane Fuel Stove and 2 cans of Butane Fuel. They are great for cooking on in an emergency situation. I cooked on one for 3 months while our kitchen was being remodeled. It worked great! The drawing was held during Relief Society today. There werer 7 names in the drawing, ward members who posted a comment on the blog during the month of August. Sister Hurst drew the name.

September is National Preparedness Month!

I cannot express enough regarding the Parable of the 10 Virgins. Do we want to be the 5 Wise Virgins with oil in our lamps (food storage/emergency preparedness items), or do we want to be the 5 Foolish Virgins who thought they could borrow from others (they will need it for themselves and their family)? Many times do we say we do not have the money or time. Time is running out, the time is now! How many of us have money for going to the movies, golf game fees, paint bald, or other types of entertainment or a new outfit or shoes, but seem to never have money for the important things in life, like building up our Food Storage and Emergency Preparedness items. We need to reevaluate our lives and our budgets. The important thing is to just start, add a few items each week and you will be surprised how fast you can build up your Food Storage and Emergency Preparedness items.

Quote:

"We can rest assured that if we have done all in our power to prepare for whatever lies ahead, He will then help us with whatever else we need."
Apostle Bruce R. McConkie

72 Hour Kit Assignment:

If you have been adding the 72 Hour Kit items each week as assigned in the other Weekly Assignment postings you are on the home stretch. Look how easy this has been.

This week (if you are following the same menu for each day) add the follow (remember: you will need 3 of each item for each 72 Hour Kit in your family):

Peanut Butter Crackers (usually come 6 crackers in each package and 6-9 individual packages in each package. I found them at Food 4 Less, Albertson and most grocery stores. Costco and Sam's Club may also have them.)

Water (2 Liter bottle or 3 regular size drinking bottles. You will need this water for drinking and to add to dry mixes in the 72 Hour Kit. This water is not for washing)

Note for Trail Mix on previous posting: I found the individual Trail Mix packages at Target in the snack ailse for $1.29 a each, great deal. Last week they were on sale for $.99. They are from Archer Farmers, called Monster trail mix, weight 2.5 oz. They have different varieties. They also have some that come 5 in a box but I think the packages are to small for what you need.

Next week we add the last 2 food snack items.

Weekly Challenge:

FILL YOUR WATER BARRELS!!! FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS GIVEN WITH THE BARRELS OR CHECK OUT THE WATER STORAGE BLOG POSTING.

It has come to my attention that some of you have not filled your water barrels or changed the water in quite some time. What good are empty water barrels doing to do you or water that is to old? Just a couple of months ago we lost our water for most of the day due to something the city was doing at Harbor Lake near our home. You never know when you may not have water or it may be contaminated.

If you are storing water in the regular small drinking bottles the water only last for a short time. It is important to rotate them. My daughter-in-law found this out when she went to drink the water she had stored some time ago. Of course, you can boil it and use it for washing but not drinking. Caution: Never refill the plastic drinking bottles. The chemicals in the plastic bottles contaminates the water with gases when you do this.

Remember to post a comment below to have your name put in our monthly FREE GIVEAWAY drawing on October 10th. If you do this each week you will have 4 chances to win the end of September.

"If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear."

Weekly Challenge and Assignment (Week of August 29th)

Hi Carson Ward Family,

Here is this week's Assignment and Challenge. Remember to put your name or family name on the comment below to have your name put into a monthly FREE Giveaway drawing. If you do this each week you will have 4 chances to win. The item will be something to help you with your Emergency Preparedness supplies.

Quote:

"The Lord will not translate one's good hopes and desires and intentions into works. Each of us must do that for himself." President Spencer W. Kimball

Weekly Assignment:

72 Hour Kits:

Add the following to your 72 Hour Kit (Remember: If you are doing the same menu for each day, you need to multiply the items by 3 (one for each day) and then by the number of 72 Hour Kits you are putting together):

1) Soup--Chicken Noodle (or any flavor you would like) dry mix (either in a package or Cup of Soup)

2) Hard candy (about 6-8 pieces per day x 3 days) (Important--if you buy mint flavored candy make sure you put it into a separate snap n' seal or zip lock baggie and store away from the food. The food will take on the mint flavor)


Car Emergency Kit:

Purchase or put together a First-aid Kit with a First-aid Manuel and put in your Car Kit.


Weekly Challenge & 3 Months Food Supply:

Take the "month food chart" you started keeping in Weekly Challenge & Assignment for August 1st and review your chart. You should have a whole month's idea of what your family eats in one month.

From the chart figure out what you will need for a month of food supplies for your family and multiply by 3. This will most likely give you what your family eats in a month since most families eat whatever they eat within a month. Now you can take one or two items (watch grocery store sales to save money) on the chart and buy extra towards your 3 Months Food Supply. Keep adding items each week and remember to rotate them. See the 3 Months Food Supply & Rotating blogs. Before you know it you will have a 3 Months Food Supply and then can work towards a Year's Food Supply.

If you have been following along each week you should have added the following items:

72 Hour Kit (Remember if following the same menu for each day that is 3 of each item times the number of kits):

Granola bars
Juice Box drinks
Instant hot chocolate drink
Small box of raisins
Instant Oatmeal
Fruit Cups
Trail Mix
Gum
Today's items:
Dry soup mix
Hard candy
We only have a few more items to add. We should be done by the next 1-2 weeks.

Good luck with all the weekly assignments and challenge. Email me at thearkcarsonward@gmail.com or call me at 310-835-0902 if you have any questions.


Remember to check out the other blog postings that will help you with your Emergency Preparedness.

Weekly Challenge and Assignment (Week of August 22nd)

Hi Carson Ward Members,

Here is this week's Assignment and Challenge. Remember to put your name or family name on the comment below to have your name put into a monthly free Giveaway drawing. If you do this each week you will have 4 chances to win. The item will be something to help you with your Emergency Preparedness supplies.

Quote:

"I believe it is time, and perhaps with some urgency, to review the counsel we have received in dealing with our personal and family preparedness.... Acquire and store a reserve of food and supplies that will sustain life. Obtain clothing and build a savings account on a sensible, well-planned basis that can serve well in times of emergency.... I would guess that the years of plenty have almost universally caused us to set aside this counsel. I believe the time to disregard this counsel is over. With events in the world today, it must be considered with all seriousness." Elder L. Tom Perry

Weekly Assignment:

If you are doing the same menu for each day purchase the following this week:

72 Hour Kits:

1) Trail Mix (For the trail mix either buy 3 small bags or one large bag. If you buy the large bag put in 2 small snap n' seal baggies so once you open the large bag you can divide the other 2/3rds into the two baggies for the next 2 days.)

2) Gum (3-5 sticks for each day)

Remember to multiply this by 3 (for each menu day) and then by the number of 72 Hour Kits you need for your family (household).

Car Emergency Kit:

Purchase a Mylar blanket for each person in your family (household) and put it in your Car Emergency Kit in your car.

Weekly Challenge:

Go to byutv.org/livingessentials/ and check our their great website on Emergency Preparedness. There are great ideas that will help you and your family.

Elder Perry's comment above is so true. Will we be the 5 Virgins that are prepared or the 5 Virgins that are not. We need to fill our lamps with oil now so that we do not fear. Remember, never go into debt for your Emergency Preparedness supplies, add them gradually and the Lord will bless you.

Remember to add your name in the comment section below for the drawing.

Weekly Challenge and Assignment (Week of August 15th)

Hi Carson Ward Members,

Here is this weeks Challenge and Assignment. Do not forget to post a comment at the end with your family name for the montly FREE GIVEAWAY drawing:

Weekly Challenge:

1. Review your home and car First-aid Kits, Medicine Cabinet and Medical Supplies:

• In your First-aid Kits check all expiraton dates and throw away any old medicines and replace as needed.
• Make a list of items missing and add at least one of them
• Check all medicines in your home medicine cabinet to make sure none of them have expired and replace as needed
• Make sure all medicines are out of the reach of children and have children safety caps
• Have extras of your prescribed medications on hand in case of an Emergency
• Buy a First-aid Manuel if you do not have one
• Teach you and your family 1-2 First-aid techniques

Weekly Assignment:

72 Hour Kit:

Purchase the following for each person's 72 Hour Kit in your home, car and work:

Instant Oatmeal and Fruit Cups

Remember: If you are doing the same menu for each day you will need 3 of each item above for each person's 72 Hour Kit.

Car Kit:

Portable Radio with extra batteries or a Portable Solar Radio (store in your car)

3 Month Food Supply:

Purchase 5 cans of canned fruit. Remember to only store what your family will eat!

Good luck with this weeks challenge and assignment. If you have not done the last two challenges then complete them as soon as possible. If you have any questions please email me at theartcarsonward@gmail.com or call me at 310-835-0902 (if not home please leave a message).

Please remember to post a comment with your family name below for our monthly FREE GIVEAWAY drawing! Post it anonymously.

Weekly Challenge and Assignment (Week of August 8th)

Hello Carson Ward Family,

Remember to post a comment below so your family name can be put in the Free Giveaway drawing for this month.

Quote:

"Obedience to the council of our General Authorities brings with it peace of mind and an assurance of well being to face the future calmly." Jocie B. Tenney

This weeks weekly Challenge and Assignment---

Weekly Assignment:

72 Hour Kit:

From the 72 Hour Kit Blog purchase the following 2 items for each person's 72 Hour Kit in your family. Remember, if you are following the same menu for each day you will need 3 hot chocolate and 3 small boxes of raisins per 72 Hour Kit. If you are following one of the other menus then purchase enough for that 3 day menu.

Hot chocolate instant drink
Small box of raisins

Car Emergency Kit:

$20 (or more) in small bills and change in a zip lock bag. (Important: If you use any of it remember to replace what you use.)

3 Month Supply:

Purchase extra rice for you family this week.

Weekly Challenge:

Discuss with and teach your family the information on the "What do to Before, During and After an Earthquake" blog. This would be a great Family Home Evening discussion.

***Remember to post a commet with your family name at the end of this blog for the drawing***

Weekly Challenge and Assignment (Week of August 1st)

Hi Carson Ward Family,

Remember to check out the other blog postings below that will help you with your Emergency Preparedness. Some blogs below are still a work in progress.

Weekly: Each week I will post a weekly challenge for you and your family, plus an assignment to add a couple of items to your 72 Hour Kit, Car Kit and 3 Month Emergency Food Supply. This will make it easier financially to complete these items. If you miss a week, we will repeat this list again once we are through the list, or you can add this weeks items to next weeks items.

Remember: Each week when you put a comment at the end of each week's challenge and assignment your name will be put into a drawing to possibly win something to help you and your family with your Emergency Preparedness. It might be food, non-food items, a water barrel pump or wrench, etc. Click on the comment below, just put in you read this blog and your name and post it anonymously.

Quote:

"The revelation to store food may be as essential to our temporal salvation today as boarding the Ark was to the people in the days of Noah." Ezra Taft Benson

Weekly Challenge:

1. Set up an Emergency Fire Escape Plan for your home with several escape plans. You never know where the fire might be and which escape plan your family may need to follow. This also applies to someone who lives alone. In a panic you may loose your since of direction.

2. Draw out the Escape Plan and put a copy behind each bedroom door and other room doors in your home. Make sure you put it at a level so the younger children can see it.

3. Review and practice these escape plans with your family. Have a Family Home Evening about it.

4. Have Fire Drills monthly if you have young children and quarterly if older family members. The more they practice, the better they will handle a fire situation.

Personal Story: When our children were young we would call out fire, this is a practice drill, at different times and even had fire drills in the middle of the night (we usually picked a weekend night for this). This was just so they would know what to do in case of a fire. We would shout out where the fire was and what was blocked. Sometimes they had to go out their windows. If you have a 2 story house you might want to practice them using the window fire ladder. We taught them if it was a real fire and they cannot get the window open, it was alright to take something to break the window (and not use their hands), put a blanket over it and climb out, and how to take off the screen. We had children of various ages in the same room. The older children were in charge of making sure the younger ones got out if we could not get to them. Penny who was 11 was in charge of Heidi who was 1. If they had to go out the window, Tammy (10) would climb out first, then Penny would hand Heidi to Tammy and then Penny would climb out.

5. Decide on a meeting place outside, either a neighbors yard or a tree, etc. When you have your Fire Drill, meet there.

6. Teach them how to use a Fire Extinguisher and where it is kept. Teach them how to handle an oil fire on the stove. Teach them how to call 911.

7. Teach your family about "Stop, Drop and Roll".

8. If you have a 2 story house and do not have a Fire Escape Ladder, purchase one and make sure everyone in the house knows where it is keep and how to use it. It is a good idea to have one in each bedroom if possible.

9. Gather all your important papers (ID cards, insurance papers, Passports, computer backup discs, etc.) and put them in one place for easy access. Every family member should know where they are in case they are home alone. Also, put all family photos together in one place. Decide ahead of time what is important and you would like to try and save. Assign different family members to gather certain items, if time, so one person does not have to remember and get everything. Even in an evacuation you may only have a few minutes.

Remember: "If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear." Help your family to be prepared for a home fire.

Weekly Assignment:

72 Hour Kit Assignment:

1. Determine how many 72 Hours Kits you will need (one for each family member) and which menu plan you will follow on the blog below "72 Hour Kits". Take the items to buy this week and multiply it by the number you will need.

2. This week purchase Granola Bars and Juice Box drinks as needed. Example:

If you have 4 family members and Granola Bars down for 3 breakfast meals you will need 12 Granola Bars. Same for Juice Boxes.

Note: If you are setting up 72 Hour Kits for home, the car and work, make sure you purchase enough items for those kits too or just work on the home ones first.

3. Get a large zip lock bag, put each family member's name on one bag, put the purchased items inside to better keep track of the purchased items for each 72 Hour Kit.

4. Watch for sales, go to the 99 Cent Store, Costco or Sams Club.

Car Kit Assignment:

1. Check out the Emergency Car Kit blog below. Start one for each car or just work on one at a time if you have more than one car.

2. Purchase a flashlight with extra batteries for each car. Put it in your Car Kit storage container. Place the storage container in your trunk or car. Of course, you can add more items on the list if you would like.

3 Month Emergency Food Supply Assignment:

1. Set up a chart to keep track of the items you purchase in a month for your families meals. See the 3 Month Emergency Food Supply blog below for information about this.

2. Buy 5 extra cans of vegetables or some other canned item you purchase this week while doing your grocery shopping. Last week I found lentils and navy beans on sale for a $1 for a one pound bag. I bought 5 of each.

Great find: Go to TheFoodGuys.com and pull up their Food Storage Calculator. Put in the number of people in your family by ages as mentioned it will calculate how much you will need of those items listed for a year. It does not have everything but items most people use.

Good luck with all the challenges and assignments for this week. Email or call (310-835-0902)me if you need help. The blog email is thearkcarsonward.blogspot.com

"If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear."