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| This photo is an updated photo of our pantry, circa February 2013 |
On my mind today is my full pantry. It is by far more full than some pantries, and definitely wouldn’t be deemed enough by owners of even fuller, more bursting pantries…but I’m happy with it.
“Of course you are happy with it!” you might say. “Look at how FULL it is!”
However, now that I am of a homesteading mindset, there are always those inclinations to expect much more out of myself than I am possibly able to accomplish with my limited knowledge, not to mention our limited cash flow.
A friend of mine told me yesterday that homesteading and disaster preparedness go hand in hand. I believe that it definitely can, and I can totally see how homesteading would prepare a family for hard times. As a matter of fact, my friend is SO prepared for anything that when I talk with her and hear about all she does–just in the way she lives and conducts her life daily–my head is left spinning and wondering if there is any way that I will EVER be able to do half of what she does. This happened to me yesterday.
As I prayed about why I was feeling so anxious, I began to think it through. I realized that God’s plan for my friend is not God’s plan for me–that’s her walk, not mine–and I need to walk my own walk, carrying out the tasks that God has been working into my life.
Sounds simple, doesn’t it? Not always so. It takes personal focus and determination on my part to resist getting myself into a tizzy about “important” things. I have learned to recognize the feeling of anxiety that I tend toward when I’m following a path that is not mine. I am so thankful for this, as it is becoming easier and easier to bounce back after each tizzy. Thank God.
What is it that God is working into your life? Are you walking that walk, or are you feeling as if your walk isn’t measuring up….like you aren’t prepared for any disaster that might come your way? If you are feeling that way, perhaps you, like me, can do a little inward seeking and find that you aren’t measuring up because you weren’t meant to, and that God has your life, as unprepared as it might be, in His hand.
1 Unless the LORD builds the house,
the builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the guards stand watch in vain.
2 In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
for he grants sleep to those he loves.
~Psalm 127:1-2
wow, someone has been VERY busy. can’t imagine what your friends pantry looks like if you feel like an underachiever!
http://bettermebetterworld.blogspot.com/
Your pantry is amazing. Preparedness has been strong on my mind for a solid week now. DH and I have been talking about starting a food storage. I have been doing a lot of research on it. We have some food, probably about 2 weeks worth in our cabinets and refrigerator, but we have no water stored. So, we will begin be working on this issue. I am excited about it.
Maybe tomorrow I can take a picture of our spare bedroom that looks more like a closet and talk about how it all needs to be organized, etc. LOL!
Sue Ellen
Thanks Sue Ellen. I was thinking about water too, we have all of about 5 gallons stored, and I’m thinking that I need to have much more than that. I’m going to be working on this issue as well!
Wow, a whole bedroom dedicated to preparedness would be great! You are lucky to have it!
Thanks Dmarie! I haven’t seen her pantry yet, but I will very soon. Compared to her, I am definitely an underachiever, but hey–that’s ok, right? We’re all a work in progress!
Thanks for visiting! I’ll be checking out your blog next!
So hey…I just ‘found’ you through Farm Friend Friday. Small world, hee hee! Your pantry is wonderful, Kristi. I know just what you mean about comparing – it’s so easy to do, and so easy to get discouraged, but like you said, we have to work from where we our, our own resources, abilities, time and financial constraints..we are all learning and growing at the pace God has set for us.
Hugs to you, pantry girl!
-Laura at TenThingsFarm
Thanks for the encouragement—that means a lot from you, Laura, as I consider you one of my most-prepared friends!
I am learning to be happy with my “novice” homesteading status, and not worry about what everyone else has done/is doing. I’m better off than last year, ya know? It’s that good/better/best thing that can help me here!
Hugs back!
I so agree with Laura at Ten Things Farm-she couldn’t have said it any better
Novice or pro–we are all doing our best.
Thanks for sharing with FFF!
Yep–Laura sure is right.
Thanks for visiting, Amy!
I have been researching the water issue and they say you should have one gallon per day per person. Just for personal use. Plus you need cooking water, etc.
Some women talk about their food storage for emergencies and they say how much food they have frozen. It seems that you would not want your food storage to be frozen if their was a power outage…. We recently bought a little freezer, but I don’t think we will consider the food in it as food storage, you know, for emergencies….