Creative Provident Living Gift Ideas

If you are looking for creative ways to encourage provident living with your friends and family you might want to check out this list of ideas.... just click here at Patty's Pantry.

Ward Preparedness Dinner

Odessa 1st ward held their ward preparedness dinner earlier this month. There were talks on food storage and 72 hour kits. It was a fun evening! If you are looking for a book on the subject Sis. Howell recommended the book Not Your Mother's Food Storage.

Article on Mormon Times

There is an article food storage on Mormon Times that you might want to read- I just scanned over it. The link is here.

Blood Drive Tomorrow

Sis. Hudnall is organizing a blood drive at the Tarelton Building. She says: As a last plea for help I am emailing everyone again to ask for your help with signups for the blood drive. We only have 6 people signed up to donate so far. Please help to fill the spots and make a good showing for this drive. Thursday October 14 4-9pm.

Job Fair In Carrollton, TX

If you are looking for employment check this out: Every Thursday night from 7-9 p.m. Brother Glenn is available to help you with any employment needs. He will be in the primary room of the gateway building. He can help you with resumes, interview skills, etc. Just drop by.

Also: Brother Keate sent out the following email to stake members:

If you are actively seeking a job and have the ability to travel to Dallas there is a Career Fair, see information below. This is a wonderful opportunity and very beneficial to all those that attend.

*
6th Annual Career Fair
* 19 Oct '10
* 06:30 PM - 09:00 PM
* Carrollton Stake Center
* 4000 Nazarene
Carrollton, TX 75010
UNITED STATES
*

Career Fair for professionals. From recent college graduates to senior management, you are invited to network with others in your industry or profession, to explore recent employment trends in our area, to learn about skills for upgrading your career, to participate in a LinkedIn demonstrations, learn how to find and review thousands of jobs using the new LDSjobs.org website, or simply to have your resume reviewed by an expert. This is a no charge event. Some employers will be present. Keynote address will begin at 6:30 pm Career Group Sessions will begin at 7:00 pm Small group networking sessions based on industry or profession Led by experienced executives and professionals Hear the latest trends in our area Select two from more than a dozen sessions Professional attire expected Bring business cards and resumes

Interesting blog

I came across this blog today and thought some of you might enjoy it. It's called iprepared This is not an official church website just some ideas from a sister that is working on provident living. She has developed a free worksheet to help people determine what they might need for their 3 month supply. Enjoy!

Some Tips for Storing Powdered Milk

Mormon Times ran an article with some helpful tips for storing powdered milk- check it out here- remember that new studies have shown that powdered milk can be stored for up to 20 years and it is one of the basics that the our church leaders suggest that we have.

Order Food Storage Items from Bishop's storehouse

Sis. Wren is helping to put together order for the Bishop's storehouse in El Paso. If you would like to order something her number can be found on the Midland 3rd ward roster. Go to lds.org and look under home and family, provident living,in the right hand column their is a link for home storage form download- click and that and you can print your own order form.

Emergency Essential Order

Sister Norma Wren is putting together an emergency essential order- if you'd like something please let her know soon- here are some of the specials.

We have MRE Dessert Combo (15) bars of 3 different flavors. Apple cinnamon, Chocolate banana and Peanut butter. Five of each flavor for only 12.oo. We only have to buy 6 of those.

F-D Cheddar Cheese Shredded #10 can only 30.oo each and we only have to get 6 of those all together.

F-D Banana slices #10 can only 14.00 with a minimum of 6 cans @ 14.00

Toilet seat lid works with most any 5 or 6 gal bucket. 6.00 each with a purchase of 12.

Please let me know what you'd like to purchase.

Fret Not

In today's world there are many that are worried about the future. I love this article from Elder Wirthlin that is taken from a BYU devotional in 2003 and published in the Ensign. I especially loved this quote:

Patterns of Prayer: “Fret not” is the first step (see Ps. 37:1). To fret means to worry or to brood about something. The first thing we must do is stop worrying. When we worry about the future, we create unhappiness in the present. Righteous concern may lead us to take appropriate action, but worrying about things we cannot control can paralyze and demoralize us.

Instead of worrying, focus on doing all that you can, and then leave the worrying to your Heavenly Father. If your heart is right with Him, He will take care of the worry and the fear. We must learn to “fret not.”

On praying with faith: With faith, our prayers connect with the powers of heaven and can bring upon us increased understanding, hope, and power. If by faith the worlds were created, then by faith we can create and receive the righteous desires of our heart.

Don't Forget to Store Water

At lds.org, provident living, we are instructed to:

Store drinking water for circumstances in which the water supply may be polluted or disrupted.

If water comes directly from a good, pretreated source, then no additional purification is needed; otherwise, pretreat water before use. Store water in sturdy, leak-proof, breakage-resistant containers. Consider using plastic bottles commonly used for juices and soft drinks.

Keep water containers away from heat sources and direct sunlight.

Midland Blood Drive

Sister Audra Hudnall is organizing a blood drive here are her directions:

The 3rd Ward Relief Society is once again sponsoring a blood drive for June 17 from 4-9pm. As you have probably noticed there are bood drive signup sheets on some of the bulletin boards in the gateway building. Please use these to signup if necessary, I will gather them all up the Sunday before the drive. We are being asked to have as many people as possible signup on the UBS website that you will also find on the signup sheets. We have a few signed up so far but we need several more to make this drive a success. If you have any questions feel free to email me.

Healthy Diet?

Sis. Penny Brown shared the following link with me. You can use this free website to develop a balanced menu or to check how healthy your diet is. Click here.

At My House

If you would like to use a canner (for fruits, jams and jellies) or a pressure cooker to bottle (tomatoes, stew, meats, etc.) or a dehydrator (for fruit leather, dried fruit, or jerky) please give me a call and I'll arrange for you to use mine-
thanks!- Sis. Noall

New Location for the Midland Canner & Sealer

I'd like to thank Sis. Cathy Nelson for 11 years of serving as the keeper of the canner and sealer. She has taught so many of us how to store our food-she's been great!!!

Now that she is having a much deserved rest the canner will be at my house for awhile- Sis. Noall 686-0012. If you need to use either machine please call and schedule a time.

New Church Web Site

The church has a new web site to help anyone dealing with an addiction to pornography. The website also offers help and support for spouses and others affected by the addiction. The web site is here.

Chewy Brownie Cookies

Sister Penny Brown generously shared the recipe for these super yummy cookies- Thanks Penny!

Chewy Brownie Cookies

2/3 cup Crisco shortening
1 1/2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
1 Tbsp. water
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (12 oz.)

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Place sheets of wax paper on counter top for cooling cookies. Combine Crisco, brown sugar, water and vanilla in large bowl. Beat at medium speed of electric mixer until well blended. Beat eggs into creamed mixture. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Mix into creamed mixture at low speed just until blended. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by rounded measuring tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheet. Bake one baking sheet at a time at 375 degrees for 7 to 9 minutes, or until cookies are set. DO NOT OVER BAKE. Cookies will appear soft and moist. Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet. Remove cookies to wax paper to cool completely. Yield: about 3 dozen.

Time to Start Your Garden

Now is a great time to be preparing your garden! The weather is nice and it feels good to be outside. If planting a full size garden is overwhelming try container gardening- this is a great way to grow food and it virtually eliminates the need to weed! How cool is that?!

The LDS owned Benson Institute has prepared a 21 page booklet telling exactly how to be a successful container gardener. Check it out here.

Becoming Provident Providers

Here is a sweet video reminding us about the importance of Becoming Provident Providers (click on the red to see the video).

Pres. Kimball Teaches About Provident Living

Pres. Kimball said: "Let us as individuals, as families, and as wards and stakes learn to live within our means. There is strength and salvation in this principle. Someone has said that we are rich in proportion to that with which we can do without"

More of his teachings can be found here.

Save Money on Furniture

Most furniture is a want and not a need. But if you are ready to budget for furniture you might want to visit this website that gives you free plans to make your own- and it is really, really cool furniture. Ana focuses on teaching women how to do wookworking and it is amazing to see what has been created from her plans! The website is knock off wood. You could use her plans to make shelves for your food storage!!

Also, have you noticed that there is now a monthly article in the Ensign on Provident Living? There are -and they are helpful.

Recipes From the Web

You can find GREAT recipes on the web. Here is a link to wonderful recipes from Utah "chefs".

This picture is from one of the websites they recommend called the Changeable Table.

Helping Others

The Church has a new Charities website- click on the previous word "charities" to see the amazing things that our church is doing for people in Haiti! To see what they are doing to help people around the world visit LDS Philanthropies- and while you are there make a donation.

In my opinion, one of the best ways to receive financial blessings is to help those less fortunate than yourself- visit LDS.org and type in "blessings of paying fast offerings" to learn more about the blessings that await you.

Provident Living Family Home Evening

Sister Shauna Gibby prepared the following FHE lesson on provident living. Click here for her lesson.

Using Whole Wheat Flour

Here is a delicious recipe from my mom that uses some whole wheat flour and no one will ever notice.

Soft Gingersnaps

3/4 c. margarine
1 c. brown sugar, firmly packed
1 egg
1/4 c. black strap molasses
1 1/4 c. white flour
1 c. whole wheat flour
2 t. baking soda
1/4 t. salt
1/2 t. ground cloves
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. ground ginger

Cream margarine and sugar. Add egg and molasses and mix well. mix in dry ingredients. Cover dough and chill for one hour. Roll dough into 1 inch balls and roll in granulated sugar. Bake between 350-375 for 8-10 minutes. Don't over bake. These should be soft, chewy and very yummy!

New Prices for Bishop's Storehouse

When ordering from the bishop's storehouse make sure you use their new (as of Jan. 16) order form. The prices have increased- but are still a great deal!

Cans/ Pouches Needed per Order

Thanks to Sis. Wren for figuring this out! Sorry it is a bit sloppy. I can't figure out how to change formats between documents and blogs-

How many cans or pouches you will need for each product:

Item                      Cans      Pouches
Beans, Black           5.5--------3.7
Beans, Pinto            5.2 -------4.1
Beans, White            5.3------- 3.8
Milk, Nonfat Dry       6 ---------5
Rice, White              4.3------- 3.6
Sugar, Granulated    4.---------3.52
Wheat, Hard Red      5.8------- 3.57
Wheat, Hard White   5.8------- 3.57

Apple Slices              11.5------ 9.3
Carrots                     8.9------- 6.9
Macaroni                   5.8------- 5.
Oats, Quick               9.6------- 8.1
Oats, Regular            9.25----- 7.5
Onions, Dry              12.5------10.2
Potato Flakes            13.8------10.8
Spaghetti best in P    5.8------- 5.

Beans, Refried          10.4------ 8.9
Cocoa mix, Hot         4.3------- 3.5
Flour, White             5.2-------- 4.5
Fruit Drink mix         4.1-------- 3.5

Do You Need Something From the Cannery?

Sister Wren is making a trip to the Cannery and she has generously offered to pick up your order for you! Here is how she would like you to do it:

You can get a current price list at wwwprovidentliving.org. or I will have a
few copies printed up to hand out. I will not be passing a list as I used to do. Your order should be only in the column to the far right side of the order form or from the already packaged items at the lower left side of the page and also Potato Pearls and Pancake mix as they are already packaged.

You must purchase an entire bag or box of an item (you can find someone to share it with if you'd like to do that on your own).

Your order needs to have the number of cans, lids, plastic lids and oxygen
absorbers along with enough boxes to take care of your cans. The boxes hold
six ( 6 ) cans. If you are doing pouches order the number of pouches you want
and how many oxygen absorbers you need. Everthing gets an absorber except
sugar.

The labels are free, but you must ask for them You may have one for each can
or pouch. You will need to write what you want on the bottom of your order form.

When your order is completed, please add 10% to help with gas since we will have to pull a trailer to transport the food.

When you go to providentliving.org you can fill out your order and it will total it for you. You can also email it to me as well as print out a copy for yourself. There is no place to do labels, so you can email your list to me

I will need all orders turned in by 21 February 2009 and we will pick it up after the second Tuesday of April. I will let you know the exact date later.

I have made a chart that shows how many cans and pouches are in each product. I will have them with me Sunday.

Checks need to be made out to Mdland 3rd Ward and then our Ward Clerk will make out one check to me taking the 10% out for Norma Wren's expenses.

If you have any questions, my phone #432-458-3321.

Sincerely,
Norma Wren