Hindsight is nowhere near 20/20.

You know I am a procrastinator. The titles of my books say it all. "Disaster Prepping For Procrastinators", because everyone can do a little, should do a little, to keep the wolf from the door. 

It's been a year since the world shut down due to the Coronavirus. Now, I haven't been silent, don't get me wrong. I've just been on other forms of Social Media, making sure I posted not just information, but encouraging posts. People need hope when it seems all things are out of control. If you had faith in God before the Stay At Home Orders were first handed down, your faith has either been strengthened or it has failed you in this time. 

The good thing is if it was strengthened, you were able to pass that strength on to other people. If it was weakened, don't despair. God is waiting for you to come back home. 

What has the last year taught you? Are you seeing people for who they really are? I mean, who they REALLY are, under all of the smiles, civility and nice comments? Learning to read people has become important in this time. It's almost an introductory course in understanding where the true heart and intent of humanity is when the chips are down. Who would you leave behind your back? And who would you keep in front of you, where you can keep a good eye on them?

What would you have stockpiled or put away that would have helped you through this past year? Well, there is good news on that front. The shelves are starting to be stocked once more with things even I had overlooked that became like gold during the Pandemic...Lysol Spray...toilet paper...paper towels...plastic gloves...canned goods...for some, even alcohol became a necessity. 

Well, do you believe that things are almost over, or should you continue...or start...to prepare to ride out the storm to come? What is your gut telling you? When you pray, what are you hearing? 

If there is one thing I have learned in this past year, it's that I don't want to wonder, when I can be sure. I don't want to sit around this time next year asking myself, 'What could I have done differently? How could I have prepared myself and my family? What decisions am I making right now that could impact me in a negative manner in the future? What help was available to me that I have left on the table? Have I honored God in all I have done? Have I taken care of my neighbor as I would my own flesh and blood? Have I given enough? Have I prayed enough? Do I truly, after all that has happened, believe I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living?"

I wrote two accompanying books, 'Forms' and two 'Shopping List' Books, one of which came with accompanying scriptures. 

One of the Scriptures that has ran through my mind since the pandemic occurred is Proverbs 6:6-11. It states,

"6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

So, prepare for the worst, believe in the best. Believe the vaccine's will work. Believe the mutations won't be as bad as expected. Believe that the shelves will continue to stay full. Believe that you have prepared as best you could, and prepare as much as you can. Now is the time to plant gardens. Now is the time to remember the ant. We've had enough television binging. Enough overeating. Enough worry. Enough anxiety. Enough fear. And more than anything, enough procrastination. 

This is my first Pandemic Post on my Blog in over a year. You can follow me on Instagram at @trishaalindsey if you stand in need of some encouragement. If you don't do Instagram, my posts are automatically copied to my Facebook Author Page, Trisha Lindsey, Author. 

My thoughts are pretty much the same as yours as we have gone through the ups and downs of the past year. I don't post every day, but try to hit every Sabbath if I don't make a post that week.  Please. Be encouraged. God is in control.

#BeEncouragedTAL

Guess What Time It Is?

It's time to start your Disaster Prepping!  This is the month that the book starts from, September!  You're past the gearing up for the kids to go back to school, and the end of all your summertime fun, now its time to get down to business! So, let's dig in and get started.

Head on over to Amazon and get the Book Series, "Disaster Prepping for Procrastinators".  You have a choice of getting the Color or the Black and White version.  Then, get your Forms Book which will help you put away paper that you need and get rid of papers that you don't need.

Last but not least, is your Shopping List Book.  It comes in two forms, with and without Scripture references.


I always have some component of Christianity in my works, and this one is no exception.  Anyone thinking, "God is going to take care of me, I don't have to go through all of this." is kidding themselves. 
I wanted to make sure that everyone could be covered when it came to Disaster Preparation.  In the Scripture Shopping List Book, there is supporting Scriptures that show having a vision and a plan is something that honors God.  It's expected, not just for yourself, but for your family, and your neighbors.  Our system lets you take care of not only your family but have a little extra you can put aside for extended family and neighbors.

This is the first month that you will begin to build your long term supplies and start cleaning your house.  So, plans are made to be added to, so first, you need to look through the quiz portions of the book to find out why you procrastinate.  All the planning, purchasing and storing items in the world won't work, if you don't figure out why you keep putting off doing anything to help yourself and your family survive and thrive in an Emergency or Disaster.

I will be giving some shopping tips for things that I find along the way that will make your life easier.  Just know, even if you only get your backpacks ready, you need to do SOME level of preparation.  One thing I have seen from having lost power before is once the electronics run out of juice, things can get REALLY dicey around the house.  Teenagers without their phones can be worse than being caged in a guest bathroom with a hungry lion!

In addition to this month's purchases, I came across these Shelving Units from Sam's Club. They are reasonable, have great reviews, and would be perfect for a basement or closet area.  Always read the reviews before you purchase something that you really need to work.

Make sure you read some of the lower reviews also, but you may come to find that they are many times left by people who can't put anything together or you just can't please them no matter what you do. If the product you buy doesn't meet your expectations, take it back to the store or send it back.  I tend to order from Amazon, because they don't hassle me about returns.


Another choice for those on a budget is this shelving unit from Ikea.  It doesn't hold heavy loads, but will keep your things off the floor.

If you live in a NEW flood plain...you know, the areas that used to get hit with 100 year floods every year, but they come every year now...you need to think of not just shelving to keep your important stuff off the floor, but also plastic tubs that you can seal with duct tape to keep your important papers and things important to your family from being ruined.

So, go get your books, and let's get this show on the road! Get your front closet cleaned out, and your foyer in order.  Get your Backpacks and this month's water supplies.  Nothing grates on you more than paying $15.00 with a 2 pack maximum for water that cost $3.00 last week. You can go without food for some time, but you need water every day.

Links:

Disaster Prepping for Procrastinators Series

Sam's Club Shelving Unit

IKEA Shelving Unit

My Disaster Prepping for Procrastinators List on Amazon

I have began to compile an online list that is viewable to the public on Amazon, that features some things I try to purchase and keep on hand for my own family, in case of an emergency or disaster.  I have switched my focus to freeze-dried foods, as they store longer and they are available as items that my family actually eats.

I compare prices, and sizes of what I will actually receive. Even if you get a 10 pound bucket, when you open it up, you might be surprised at how little food you are actually getting. You can’t eat a bucket, so order a sample size so you can see what you are getting, before committing to a bucket.  Also, you might want 3 of the 10 things in a bucket, so don’t just think you’ll find something to make with those things you don’t normally eat. How much is in your pantry or fridge that you don’t touch already?  Don’t buy or store food that you don’t eat, it will go to waste.  If you can’t force your family to eat foods they don’t normally eat in good times, you won’t be any more successful in bad times.

Also, it is important to read through the Reviews before you purchase a huge amount of food or products.  It will save you having to send something back, or opening it in an Emergency only to find it spoiled, unpalatable or the servings too small.

Pay attention to what has been written, but also remember there are some people who won’t be happy no matter what they buy.  Make sure those people aren’t in your Emergency circle, and if they are family, get them together before you have to be stuck with them in an Emergency and they make everyone miserable.

There are materials that you can buy now for much cheaper than you will be able to get them in an Emergency.  Get and store them NOW while the prices are low and they are plentiful.  Here is the link for my Amazon Shopping list, start your own, and get ready while you aren’t pressured and your money buys more!

Disaster Prepping for Procrastinators Amazon Shopping List