The Bucket August 2007

The Bucket

Learn it, Love it, Do it!

It's finally happening! That's right, the Food Storage classes are finally scheduled. Mark your calendars, clear your schedules, and figure out where we live. On August 23rd and 24th, we will be having a course for rookies. The party begins at 7pm and the vanilla ice cream will be floating in A&W promptly at 7:45. You only have to come to one night—unless of course you want floats two nights in a row.

The agenda will be as follows:

1.Reality Check

2.The First 90 days

3.Long Term Needs

4.Calculating Needs

5.Food Storage Strategies

6.Goal-setting

The main objective of the class is to answer the issue of “Jeepers, I want to get my food storage, but I just don't know how to get started.” Veterans are also encouraged to come. Your practical advice is not only welcomed, but needed. I know this class sounds extremely exciting, and you all want to come, but you will need to reserve your seats by calling me. If you get voice mail, just leave a message.

In other news, the Young Women will be canning wheat on the last Tuesday of the month. They are invited to encourage their families to order some cans for this special activity. Each 5.7lb can of wheat is $2.00. Young Women, please let Sister Hall know how many cans your family would like by Sunday the 19th. Parents, we will be canning at the chapel so you can come down at the end of the activity and pick up your orders. We will all be very sad if the Young Women leaders have to deliver wheat into the wee hours of the night.

On a personal note, I have decided to create a goal for my calling. My intent is to help every ward member have a 3-month supply. I am hoping that by utilizing The Bucket, monthly food storage opportunities, occasional classes, and my endearing personality, I will be able to motivate you to take action. Considering the private nature of this work, there really isn't an appropriate way to follow up. However, if a family wanted to set a goal and have me follow up, I'd love to support you in your efforts.

You are all so wonderful. In fact, just today, Kristy and I considered throwing out some questionable macaroni, but I told her that we should keep it to give to needy ward members in times of hardship. What a guy, huh?

Get Canned,

The Bucket June 2007--Edited

I know what you are thinking, “Another edition of The Bucket! I can't wait to read this and add it to my collection!” I hope I don't disappoint. Have you come to feel the wonderful spirit that comes with working on your food storage? Upon accepting this assignment I thought it would be a more “temporal” rather than “spiritual” calling. I have found that I have felt the Spirit in this calling in exactly the same way as I did in previous callings. I remember the excitement as a missionary when someone committed to obey a specific commandment. I have felt the same when a home teaching family came to church for the first time in many years. It is my testimony that the Spirit you feel as you follow the Savior's example is also present when working on your food storage. I promise you will also feel the Spirit as you not only commit to gathering your year supply but actually do it.

This month, we have two ways to help you do just that! On Saturday, June 23rd, we will be having another food storage activity in Ogden. The party will start at 11:00am ending at 1:00pm. We will need 4 volunteers with one person willing to make use of their pickup truck for deliveries. Please contact Andrew. The main items will be wheat, rolled oats, sugar, and macaroni. Other items will also be available if you would like to order!

As Always,

The Bucket May 2007

One of my favorite activities is to explore the fridge, freezer and cupboards after Kristy has been to the store. Without fail, she brings home something that makes the mouth water—usually Cookies-n-Cream Ice Cream or Marie Callendar pies. It is exciting for me to think about having a treat in the evenings—it's “comfort food” in more ways than one. Lately, I have also found that my food storage is another source of comfort food. After April's trip to the Food Storage Center, I was really excited to put my newly obtained wheat on the shelves in the storage room. My cans are all lined up just screaming to be used! I still have a long way to go to complete my year supply, but it is exciting to see the food start to pile up.

That leads me to this month's topic—goal setting. In Proverbs 29:18 it says that “where there is no vision, the people perish.” I think the first step is to have a “vision” of what you want to accomplish. In our storage room, I have a plan as to where everything is going to be stored and how much I need. I obviously have a long way to go, but I can “see” it coming together. In preparation for June's trip to the storage center, I am considering what items I can obtain to help get me closer to “fulfilling the vision.” By doing so, I keep motivated and driven to fulfill this important commandment.

Over the next couple of months, we will be hosting a couple of food storage workshops. One will be for “rookies” and the other for “seasoned vets.” The rookie workshop will cover how to calculate the amount of food needed, what type of food to store and general strategies on how to store it. Those who attend will set goals on what to accomplish first and develop a plan to meet the goal. Many times we complicate the task so much we fail to even get started. The direction from the church is simply to have a year's supply of food. There are some like me who mistakenly think they need to learn how to harness the energy of the sun to produce their own water, dig a fallout shelter, and grow corn to produce their own ethanol without first fulfilling the initial counsel from the First Presidency. The vet's workshop will cover advanced storage techniques, food preparation, and “life management” during a long-term crisis. You are all invited to one or both workshops—stay tuned for time and location.

Finally, on Saturday, June 23rd, we will be having another food storage activity in Ogden. The party will start at 11:00am ending at 1:00pm. We will need 4 volunteers with one person willing to make use of their pickup truck for deliveries. Please contact Andrew. The main items will be wheat, rolled oats, sugar, and macaroni. Other items will also be available if you would like to order!

As always,