Monday Message

Sewing skills like fixing a hem can help stretch your dollar. Take time to learn the basics!

Ezra Taft Benson, “Prepare Ye,” Ensign, Jan. 1974, 68
April 1937 general conference of the Church, President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., of the First Presidency, asked: “What may we as a people and as individuals do for ourselves to prepare to meet this oncoming disaster, which God in his wisdom may not turn aside from us?” President Clark then set forth these inspired basic principles of the Church welfare program:
“First, and above and beyond everything else, let us live righteously. …
“Let us avoid debt as we would avoid a plague; where we are now in debt, let us get out of debt; if not today, then tomorrow.
“Let us straitly and strictly live within our incomes, and save a little.
“Let every head of every household see to it that he has on hand enough food and clothing, and, where possible, fuel also, for at least a year ahead. You of small means put your money in foodstuffs and wearing apparel, not in stocks and bonds; you of large means will think you know how to care for yourselves, but I may venture to suggest that you do not speculate. Let every head of every household aim to own his own home, free from mortgage. Let every man who has a garden spot, garden it; every man who owns a farm, farm it.” (Conference Report, April 1937, p. 26.)

http://www.foodstoragemoms.com/great-depression-meals/ this has interesting info I think when you find time read.

http://www.foodstoragemoms.com/healthy-snacks/  learn your dehydrator, and for that matter, learn how to use your appliances fully, like what all does your sewing machine do? Take the time to learn.

It is now time to think on your garden, start planning http://www.foodstoragemoms.com/garden-prepare-garden-beds-now-next-year/

http://cookingwithalison.com/2011/02/05/bread-and-cake-flour/ - this is good info to jot down.

When we were visiting my daughter’s familyIi also got to visit my dear friends… she uses a bread machine to do the "dough only" cycle and raises it in her own pan. It makes one loaf but I got the chance to taste it and is it ever wonderful! 

She puts little jars up ahead of ingredients used so it saves her time. She can also make a round cake pan of garlic crescents and one of cinnamon rolls with the dough as well. She has to run out a lot so this works for her busy schedule and has a small family now as kids have grown up, so this works for her. This goes with what I was saying, learn how to use what you have so you get full use out of your appliances.

We are always looking for ways to make our daily lives go more smoothly and efficiently. Do the best you can!

If you have basic skills like sewing, baking, how to stretch a dollar, then build on them. Help those who live with you to learn the basics.

If you get a hole in a sweater, can you fix it? Or if your hem comes out, can you fix that? It is simple things but they all add up to big savings on resources.

Life is busy, I get it. I too am very busy and I thought at this time in my life things would be slower as no more kids at home to drive around and such but life gets busier in different ways.

So find time to grow and learn, no matter where in life you are or how busy you are!

If you feel too busy, back away and decide how to slow that down. As life goes on I see people busier than they ever have been taking kids to more than ever things and running ragged schedules. I know that I am old and you might think "well you don't understand..." but I do. Over the time I have lived the home is pulled from every direction. Being too busy is not healthy for anyone. Family nites are so needed, time together is so necessary. Have "no tech" nites where no devices are on. I know they are useful and all but with everyone in the room on a device you have no family interaction at all, where do we go from there?

So take a deep breath and analyze your day, see where you could find some restful and restorative time... we all need it!