Peace, Love, Happiness and Being Prepared:

I was just complimenting my friend Becky at: http://beckypovich.blogspot.com/    for the cool retro graphics she has been using on her blog, and decided to go  looking for some that I could use on here.  I liked this one. It is a positive picture, reminding me of when I was in junior high.  When my worries were not as big as they are now. 

This morning, I was reading a mom write on another blog how she doesn't watch the news because it troubles her, and makes her lose her positive attitude.  I understand that one, the news does make you lose your positive attitude about the world.  I know that I have promised to only celebrate the positive portions of everyday life on this blog, but I am very worried about what is becoming of America, and my Facebook friends getting tired of my venting on there about the unfairness of it all.  If I avoided the news, the future might come as a huge surprise ... and I like to prepare for the future.  I also believe that knowledge is power, and I have become a bit more politically active these days so I need to watch the news to keep up.

I can't really do anything about the future, except to prepare for any upcoming hard times the best that I can.  Learning to can, planting a garden, stocking up on food, medicine, light, household supplies; making sure we have shelter, heat and clothing, and stuff to share.  Teaching school at home to the neighborhood kids and family members if I ever need to.  What do you know, I have a resource blog for that too!  Here is the link for Childrens Literature, Folklore and American Traditions: http://ogocaj9.blogspot.com/

For some reason I am stuck on the idea of people being out of diapers and sanitary supplies.  I don't even have a baby in the house and have already gone through menopause, but I still worry about that for others.  Don't laugh!  I don't think that there is anything wrong with having some cloth diapers and plastic pants around even if you never use them.  You can always use the diapers for dust rags, and if you don't put a lot of Pledge on them you can still use them for diapers.  

Telling me to not worry so much won't help either, because I do watch the news and it is very scary.  Fast and furious, things are changing.  Even our freedom of speech is under attack.  I suggest that you print off the stuff you like from the internet, and stick it in notebooks.  You can't go wrong with hard copies!  They are kind of like cloth diapers.

Then I keep thinking about the young families who are barely making it now, and don't have the money for stocking up ... but still they must begin thinking about it, and start doing it.  I have another blog called Emergency Preparedness and Self-Reliant Living, and have written down a few ideas and links to some resources at: http://ogocaj2.blogspot.com/

At the same time, I want to be encouraging and full of peace and the love of the Lord.  It is a struggle, and I created another blog to help me out when I feel down: Praise and Worship

I have a couple of church songs that I sing when I begin to dwell on my worries about the world situation.  The first is "Let There be Peace on Earth" and the second is "Fear Not".  Here are their lyrics:

Let There be Peace on Earth

Let there be peace on earth

And let it begin with me

Let there be peace on earth

The peace that was meant to be.

With God as our father

Brothers all are we.

Let me walk with my brother

In perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me

Let this be the moment now.

With every step I take

Let this be my solemn vow.

To take each moment

And live each moment

With peace eternally!

Let there be peace on earth, 

And let it begin with me.

Let there be peace on earth

And let it begin with me.

Let there be peace on earth

The peace that was meant to be.

With God as our father

Brothers all are we.

Let me walk with my brother 

In perfect Harmony.

Let peace begin with me

Let this be the moment now.

With every step I take,

Let this be my solemn vow.

To take each moment

And live each moment

In peace eternally,

Let there be peace on earth

And let it begin with me.

Fear Not

Fear not, for I am with you,

Fear not, for I am with you,

Fear not, for I am with you, 

Says the Lord! 

Fear not, for I am with you,

Fear not, for I am with you,

Fear not, for I am with you,

Says the Lord!

I have redeemed you, I have called you by name

Child you are mine!

When you walk through the waters, I will be there,

And through the flame

You'll not (no way!) be drowned

You'll not (no way!) be burned

For I am with you,  for I am with you! 

I am going to start giving everybody the "peace sign" again.

May peace be with you.

And, also with you.