Living Providentially: It's Not JUST Emergency Preparedness!

My parents moved to Utah recently.  They still live almost 50 miles away from me, but it beats three hours, right?  Since dad works for the church, the church paid movers to come pack and move everything - which sounds like the loveliest thing in the world. Well their maximum was 6-8 tons in weight (or something like that...I can't quite remember).  My parents are not pack rats or hoarders by ANY means.  Inf fact, they are constantly cleaning and purging things from their life (both temporally and spiritually) like it is their job.  They live simply.  BUT, besides being a seminary teacher, my father is a great handy man who has always done everything himself....and he is an avid mountain biker who loves to share that passion with others.  So, needless to say,  there are quite a few valuable, albeit heavy, tools and mountain bikes.  Like 12 mountain bikes...maybe more.  And then my mother.....an avid reader an collector of knowledge and all things education.  Almost every classic she has ever read, she has in beautiful, leather bound, Easton Press, gold embossed gorgeous books.  Heavy books.  LOTS of books.  57 large boxes of books to be exact.  Who has 57 boxes of books - books you have read and plan to read again and again?  This woman does.  And everyone loves it.

So, to put it simply, they had more than their allotted weight limit.  So guess what?! Their favorite oldest daughter (moi) was the lucky recipient of a beautiful hutch/vanity, another smaller hutch, a couple of large dressers, a piano (that holds many memories for me), a coffee table, end table with lamp, piano lamp, and a lot of food storage (because food storage is heavy too!). So we put everything in its place and my home feels like a home, and it is a beautiful thing.  But what to do with all of this food storage - on top of my own food storage? And what in the world is "Teff"???!

I open one of these large barrels, and find it is full of these dark brown teeny-tiny seeds (or what looked like seeds).  Thank goodness it was labeled "Teff", or I would never have known.  According to this website this is what Teff is:

"Teff is a fine grain—about the size of a poppy seed—that comes in a variety of colors, from white and red to dark brown. Teff grows predominantly in Ethiopia and Eritrea, and thrives even in difficult climates. As such, it comprises the staple grain of their cuisines. The grain has a very mild, nutty flavor, and it packs a serious nutritional punch. Teff has an excellent balance of amino acids, and it is also high in protein, calcium, and iron. Ground into flour, teff is used to make the traditional bread, injera: a flat, pancake-like, fermented bread that complements the exotic spices found in the regional food. It can also be ground into flour to make an excellent gluten-free flour alternative, and can be used to make pie crusts, cookies, breads, and an assortment of other baked goods. Teff can also be eaten whole and steamed, boiled, or baked as a side dish or a main course.

Teff’s history traces back thousands of years,to ancient civilizations of Abyssinia, as a reliable support to our early ancestors’ survival. Attracted to its delicious taste, gluten-free composition, and versatility, more consumers are committing to teff. Along with other alternative grains like quinoa and millet, this grain has become well-known in the health foods community because of its great nutritional value.

Teff leads all the grains – by a wide margin – in its calcium content, with a cup of cooked teff offering 123mg, about the same amount of calcium as in a half-cup of cooked spinach. It’s also an excellent source of vitamin C—a nutrient not commonly found in grains—and also a good source of iron. Teff is high in resistant starch, a newly-discovered type of dietary fiber that can benefit blood sugar management, weight control, and colon health. It’s estimated that 20-40% of the carbohydrates in teff are resistant starches. A gluten-free grain with a mild flavor, teff is a healthy and versatile ingredient for many gluten-free products."

Right away I began to find ways to use Teff.  Our favorite is making a porridge, or hot cereal, out of it.  Once cooked into a hot cereal, it looks like chocolate malt-o-meal (Isaac introduced me to chocolate Malt-o-Meal when we were first married - before that, I didn't even know it existed). We love it with a little honey, cinnamon, chopped pecans, and Medjool dates or dried cranberries.  And (though we haven't tried it yet), you could try making it into a healthy chocolate Malt-o-meal by adding a little honey, salt, and straight cocoa powder (which by itself, unsweetened is rich in anti-oxidants and quite healthy) - and we always add a big scoop of crunchy Adams peanut butter (no sugar added, of course) to give a healthy dose of crunchy, protein.  Chocolate peanut butter breakfast, sans sugar?!!  Yes please!   I also like to chop up a bunch of fresh fruit like strawberries or peaches, or a handful of blueberries, with a dollop of yogurt and sprinkle of nuts or seeds (like chia), and then sprinkle a bit of teff  on top.  It adds a delightful little crunch to everything.

It got me thinking about food storage.  No matter what you have, you should be constantly using it, and then replenishing it.  Keep a variety of grains like wheat, oats, millet, Teff!, quinoa, rice, barley, etc... and legumes like black beans, kidney, garbanzo, pinto, etc on hand in big barrels and cycle through them for each meal, and once it becomes depleted, make sure to replenish it.  That way, you always have a fresh food storage - and you KNOW how to use it!  Learn how to use these grains, and how to cook beans.  You won't regret it!  The internet is an incredible source to look to for information about everything.  

In the Noah Webster 1828 Dictionary (which is my very favorite dictionary of all time), you will find the definition of the word "Provident".  Provident means "Foreseeing wants and making provision to supply them; forecasting; cautious; prudent in preparing for future exigences; as a provident man; a provident animal."  Living providentially is more than having a "back-up" or just having a bit of emergency preparedness food storage.  It's about using it in your day to day lives, replenishing, and being confident in your ability to use it - so that not only are you "prepared" by having things, but you are prepared because you know how to USE those things and you are very comfortable with it.  

Live long and prosper....providentially, of course!  :-)

Facebook and The Spirit of Elijah

I finally made the jump and deleted my Facebook account – which I have had for many years.  Facebook was something I would check on a daily basis – multiple times a day.  It was fascinating for me!  I got to see pictures and posts of friends and acquaintances I had met throughout my life.  There were always a plethora of interesting articles to read every day that people had posted or “liked”, which then showed up on my news feed.  It was truly an addiction, and something I looked forward to doing every single day.  I got lots of interesting ideas for crafts/food/home/etc... (most of which I never actually tried). 

And then something pulled at me.  Something very deep.  It wasn’t until just this week that I realized what the root was.  But before I go in to that, I’ll explain the “branches” so to speak, that led me to delete my account. 

I am a mother and wife.  That is the number one reason.  Let me explain.  In July, I will have three children, three and under.  I am very busy woman.  I keep a clean home, do laundry, iron, make meals, shop, keep track of my little budget in frugality, love my children, support my husband – you know…the necessary things that all mothers and wives do.  I never would have even thought – growing up - how much time that takes up!  Teaching children good principles AND GOOD HABITS is time consuming, and takes a lot of patience – and more prayers, tears, conversations with husband, and thought than I can count.  It is such a beautiful and rewarding work.  So much so, that I am willing to take the time and patience to do it.  Because I am selfish – and I want to be HAPPY…and this makes me SUPREMELY happy – especially when I finally see the progress we have made, and knowledge and understanding dawn on my children’s beautiful little faces. 

Well….Facebook, believe it or not inhibited me with regards to my style of motherhood.  (I realize we are all different and have different talents, gifts, inclinations, etc... - so deleting a Facebook account is not the answer for many.) I became so focused on other people (digitally) that I lost a perfect balance and foresight for my own family.  I found myself comparing myself to others…and others to me….so often.  Do you know what that does to a woman?  Well, if you are a woman reading this….then you probably know.  Nothing good.  AND it is SUCH A TIME WASTER.  Beyond that, I was growing very weary of my friends and acquaintances posting articles that contradicted how I felt about life, parenting, morality, choice (this includes vaccinations – whooowheee), and marriage, and everything else under the sun.  I found myself drawn in – no, SUCKED in - to reading these articles, and what did they do for my family?  Nothing.  Actually – it took time AWAY from my family, and completely wasted my time on nothing important.  I know that some people find these things important, but for me – I already know what is right for myself and my family, and I have a God who inspires me through personal revelation and through others – including lessons at church, pleasant conversations with the mothers and friends outside on the playground, religious leaders, and the books I read. 

That is another thing.  I found myself looking horizontally for help in all categories of life.  I would post on Facebook a question and a plea for help in whichever category of life, and everyone had a different answer or opinion on the matter.  I had forgotten that if I stopped “searching on Google”, or stopped looking horizontally toward the opinions of others on Facebook, and LOOKED UP, toward my Heavenly Father, I would receive all of my answers from Him – the right answers for me/my family.  And do you know what? That takes some getting used to!  You have to listen with different ears, and speak with a different heart.  When you haven’t been accustomed to relying on the Lord that often, you have to train every part of your being in a new way.  It takes time and patience. 

But I feel happier.  I feel more balanced.  I get more done.  I have devoted more time to my children (and myself) now than I ever have.  I compare less…actually I find a whole day goes by where I haven’t compared myself to another or another to myself at all.  That has really brought the spirit in to my home/heart!  I have thoroughly enjoyed it – and I haven’t missed it at all, although I found myself going to the computer often, and by muscle memory (not even thinking about it), type in “f”, “a”, “enter” – which was what I would always type quickly to get to Facebook.  It just takes me to a “search” now, and reminds me how silly I am.  I didn’t realize how accustomed my body had come to going to Facebook.  This is separate from my mind or even desire.  The other day, I wanted to look up google maps, and without thinking, my fingers began typing in “Facebook” – without thinking!  So, so silly – so contrary to what I want for myself. 

This past weekend, our stake had a Stake Women’s Conference.  It was absolutely wonderful, as always.  In the “motherhood” class, the woman leading the discussion asked something along the lines of, “what are you doing in your life that is a distraction – that is taking time away from doing the essential and the necessary?”  She said much more, but I’ll focus on that.  Immediately, my mind knew exactly what those things were.  There are one or two TV shows with which I keep up online, and they are my guilty little pleasures.  And I have this game on my phone that I play whenever I just need to “veg”, or I want to “relax” and think about nothing and be entertained.  When I think of what God wants me to do in my life, I can never see Him saying, the words “veg”, “guilty little pleasure”, “think about nothing and be entertained”, or “waste time”.  Goodness!  That makes me chuckle, just thinking about that.  NEVER.  Do you know what Jesus Christ did when he had suffered for the sins and pains of ALL of us, and had suffered again and died on the cross for us?  He did not rest for those three days, before he was resurrected.  He was busy at work in the Kingdom of His Father – our Father.  Whenever I find myself content with my life and what I am doing, and find that I deserve to relax, I remember my Savior and what he did for others – after he had done….everything…..for me – and everyone.  He continued persevering and serving and bringing others to know Him and the good news of the gospel.  So I deleted that stupid little game on my phone.  And I refuse to watch another show. 

THIS brings me to root of it all.  Last night I realized it.  The Lord has been preparing me, and I didn’t even know it.  My mother, Julie, took President Neal A Anderson’s challenge (at the Family RootsTech conference this year) to do family History work (which she already does very well) AND to teach others to do it as well.  She challenged me.  And she even came to my house, and taught me how to begin.  And since then, the ball has been rolling, and it is never going to stop.  I have a new addiction!  Family History work used to be SO overwhelming for me.  It still is – at times.  But once you begin, you catch the Spirit of Elijah, and you run with it, and you never want to stop.  I feel that there are other forces pulling me now – not just myself.  I KNOW my ancestors are in my presence, pushing me on – pulling me.  I can FEEL it, and it is something I cannot describe, but it is something very real, and almost tangible.  Almost.  You know those stories about the pioneers crossing the plains, and having no strength left in their bodies, and then they feel the angels come and help push.  That must have felt tangible – that push and pull – and that is the best way I can think of to describe the feeling I feel.  It is something that is and isn’t myself.  It is my growing connection to these incredible people – my ancestors. 

Last night, I reserved my first name to do all temple work (he still needs a little more information before I can give his name to my husband to complete the temple work), but the feeling that came over me was so overwhelming and beautiful and profound, all I could do was cry.  I tried to pray, but no words came.  What was I supposed to say?  Thank you? That wasn’t quite it.  So I just called on God, and invited him into my presence, because what I was feeling was so powerful and overwhelming that I couldn’t do anything else.  It felt so warm, and FULL of purpose and direction.  I had never felt anything quite like it. 

So now, beyond being a woman, a mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister, and a friend – I am now taking up the Spirit of Elijah, and I am going to run with it and spread it as far and wide as I can.  I have found a new part of me, and I feel more “myself” than I ever have.  And “myself”, really, is a daughter of God, a princess in the House of Israel, a “God in Embryo”, as my good friend CS Lewis would say. 

I exhort all those who read this to examine your life, not just once, but daily – even hourly – to eliminate YOUR distractions, those things which keep you from doing the necessary (like dishes and laundry, and meals and cleaning) and the essential (like family and personal prayer and scriptures study, FHE, Attending the temple on a regular basis, attending church weekly).  There will be days when all you can do is the very, very basic (ESPECIALLY if you have small children underfoot), and there will be days when the ONLY service you can give to another is a smile.  God knows about those days, and even though especially as mothers, we don’t feel like we accomplished anything on days like that – they ARE acceptable offerings unto Him.  Why?  Because we were being mothers and wives.  Even at the very basic level, and even if we didn’t accomplish anything that we can see, and even if we lost our temper more that we care to admit, and even if we weren’t perfectly patient with our children…..we were being mothers. 

But on the good days, if you have trained yourself not to rely on those distractions and time wasters- whatever they may be for you – you WILL be able to accomplish more than you could ever imagine.  And perhaps, you too will catch the spirit of Elijah. 

And if you do……RUN WITH IT!!!! 

Sometimes, the funniest and sweetest things happen during nap time in this home.  

For example, yesterday Mary was just playing in the pack n’ play, instead of sleeping.  That was fine with me.  She has free agency, and if she isn't tired, quiet time is just as wonderful.  During quiet time, she is left to her thoughts and imagination and creativity.  And boredom is the father of creation and ingenuity.  

I have come to love it when my children are bored - and confined to a room.  They sit there – almost glassy eyed for a while, and all of a sudden the wheels and cogs of the brain begin to turn and their eyes light up, and they jump up and begin to play in new ways, new games, and with more creativity than what they had before.  Boredom is so good for children! 

Anyways, she was sitting there quietly talking and playing and singing.  When after about a half hour (William, in his room, was quiet and assumed fast asleep), Mary began to yell out to me.  “Mama!!”  “MAMA!!!”  I knew she didn't need anything.  Usually if she needs something, she says that she needs to go to the bathroom, needs water, etc…  This time, it was just the boredom that bothered her and she wanted me to save her from it, which I wouldn't do.  So I quietly walked to the door, and spoke through the door, without opening it, saying in Spanish to her, “Mary, it’s time to nap now.  It’s time to go to sleep, okay?”  Long pause…..and then I heard a sweet little voice say “Okay!”  But it didn't come from Mary.  It came from across the hall.  William, who I thought was asleep in his crib in the other room had been awake this whole time, listening – and he responded.  So cute.  After William said “okay”, Mary seconded her response.  And all was quiet for the next couple of hours.  J Cutie pies!  

There is another thing that happens often – and it happened again today.  When William is trying to nap because he is so tired, but is also at that stage where nothing I do can comfort him, he just lays there a cries for a while until he calms down enough to begin thinking happy thoughts and fall asleep.  Well, Mary – in the other room, in her pack n’ play – also during her nap time – often calls out to him, comforting him, saying in Spanish, “William!  It’s okay!  It’s okay.  Be happy.  You have your blanket, and your water, and your teddy bear!  It’s okay.”  He often quits down and listens to her words, and is soothed.  They are the same words I have said to him, but coming from Mary, for some reason, is more magical.  

They are quite the pair.  Good friends and great siblings, and I don’t think that will ever change.