Thursday, August 27, 2009

Am I Obsessed? You tell me...

I guess that I have an obsession, but I hope that it is a good one. I am obsessed with getting food storage for my family. I might have told some of you that over a year ago. I had reoccurring dreams about getting my food storage taken care of and in order. We had a really good start to having about a year's supply of staples, long term items that would sustain life if needed. That brought us comfort and so it went on the back burner for a while.
I kept on having the strongest impression that it wasn't enough. I went to a bread making class that was taught by a woman in my stake at church and she talked about making sure that we had our houses in order as far as making sure that we have enough food for our family. It really hit home for me and I now consider it an obsession. I want to have my family be prepared for the time when we can't always run to the store because we are out of this or that. I don't want to have my children look up at me and tell me that they are starving and need something to eat. I know that there must be balance in you life, but I started looking at where I was and where I needed to be, and I decided to make that commitment to help my family be prepared.
I started clipping coupons, looking more closely at the sales and deciding what was most important to our family at this time. It is hard work, but I look at it like my job. I am CEO of this household during the day and I am for the majority responsible for the nurturing and well-being of my family. It takes work to do this, but when I look back and see the results and feel the security that having a well stocked pantry brings to me and my family. It is all worth the time, effort, and penny-pinching in the end.
We are even having to expand our good sized pantry to accommodate our growing supply. I am so grateful for the counsel that a modern day prophet has given us to use the time of plenty in our land to create a surplus in our home that will provide for our family's well-being. I know that by following his counsel, even if we never have to rely on it solely, we have been blessed by being obedient.
When I was younger, I remember my family having to eat their food storage because my dad lost his job. We relied on that supply to sustain us until we could again provide for ourselves. I am so grateful that my parents listened to a prophet's counsel. I hope one day that my children will have a testimony of this principle of self-reliance.
Here is an update from my shopping trip. I went to the store today armed with coupons and the ads and hit a store that was having a sale on cereal. I was able to get 9 boxes of cereal and a package of nut clusters for under $10. Here is a picture of what I got. As my friend Kristin would say... not too shabby!!!

`


10 comments:

Kimberly said...

I love your extra shelf. That is a great idea.

Meggan said...

We are on our way as well. Good to know I am not the only one that is obsessed :)

SweetmamaK said...

Very Inspiring!

Barbi by the Sea said...

It is so comforting for me to know you are "following the prophet" and being obedient to counsel that has been given now for so many years. My only advice that I know you are aware of is to remember to use and rotate or so much can be wasted. AAAAGGggggg! It just kills me to miss a can of something and then to have to just throw it away. It has not happened often. Also, some grains and ground supplies can be frozen to prevent those pesky little crawly things. Yuck! I just opened a box of corn meal that I had not placed in the freezer and yep! It was alive and i just had to toss it. It was over a year old. Love you bunches.

123 checkoutourfamily said...

You may be obsessed but in the long run, you'll be blessed. :)

Thanks for the extra coupons. I'm sorting through them and still trying to get the hang of it.

Hey, I was wondering, does Randalls take one of their coupons along with a MFG coupon?

Karyn said...

I don't think that you are obsessed. I think that what you are doing...following the prophet...is a great thing. I am very impressed by your 9 boxes of cereal for under $10. I wish that I was that good of a shopper. Then maybe my food storage would look like yours!

Ash said...

I'm jealous of your pantry and your canning skills. Maybe that means I'm obessed too, because those are kinda funny things to be jealous of. You're an inspiration to me!

the watkins said...

That is so impressive. It will hopefully inspire me to really watch for better deals and take advantage of them!

Jenn's Mommy Days said...

That is Awesome. I am jealous of your pantry. I wish I had that much room. Keep up the great work!

Unknown said...

Oh my goodness are we related? I love getting deals and I too do the coupon thing. You are doing a great job. It is very addicting and I always look for the best deals. good luck and keep it up!!