Letter Re: Books For Home Schoolers

I saw your list of recommended reading for young people, especially those being educated at home by their parents.

I would like to add my own list. Anything by Stephen W. Meader (1892-1977).

Meader published 44 novels in his lifetime. The subjects range from entrepreneurial to adventure to American history. The grammar, vocabulary, and storytelling qualities are first rate.

His books are set during difficult times, including the American Revolution, the westward expansion, the War Between the States, and the Great Depression. Characters are mostly young men trying to make a living through common sense, hard work, and persistence. Most of the characters live satisfying, adventurous, and productive lives in a world where electricity, plumbing, and all the modern conveniences had not yet been invented.

Though aimed at boys, they would have relevance and appeal to girls, as well. I enjoy reading them as an adult. The first fiction book I ever read, many, many years ago, in the fifth grade, was “T-Model Tommy”– the story of a young man in the 1930’s who rebuilt an old truck and started a coal-hauling business. He helps to support a widowed mother, while still attending high school and taking some time to court his girlfriend.

All of Meader’s stories are wholesome and promote honesty and moral values. Meader does not shy away from violence, because that was and remains a fact of life, but he is not grotesque or explicit. There is no profanity nor sexuality. Meader quit writing when such matters became commonplace in juvenile fiction.

When I tried to find a copy of T-Model Tommy on eBay, the price was prohibitive. It took years of scavenging thrift stores and online auctions to complete my set of all 44 books.

Today, all the Meader titles are available new from Southern Skies Press.

I have no financial stake in the company, but they did a favor for me. When the copy of “The Will To Win”, an anthology of sports stories which I purchased from an eBay seller, turned out to be missing four pages, Southern Skies graciously sent me the four missing pages so I could graft them into my book. That tells me something about the people who are publishing these treasures, not only for financial gain but to spread the memory of a man who dedicated his life to producing good reading for young people. – PMW

Odds ‘n Sods:

Some excellent video of solar storms that could have wreaked havoc on earth. People wonder why we prep? How a solar storm two years ago nearly caused a catastrophe on Earth. – G.G.

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Notice that the only way to ensure your phone is “off” is to remove the battery. Sorry, iPhone users.Can the NSA spy on your phone when it’s turned off? – Plain Jane Prepper

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Al Qaeda Targeting U.S. Infrastructure for Digital 9/11. – G.P.

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It seems similar to the IRS scandal in the U.S. Hopefully, Revenue Canada backs up their email and hard drives. Tax audits aimed at Harper government critics should worry all Canadians (with video) – P.S.

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National Guard in Texas Could Get Arrest Power. – T.P.

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land of Canaan; (this is the land that shall fall unto you for an inheritance, even the land of Canaan with the coasts thereof:) then your south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the coast of Edom, and your south border shall be the outmost coast of the salt sea eastward: and your border shall turn from the south to the ascent of Akrabbim, and pass on to Zin: and the going forth thereof shall be from the south to Kadesh-barnea, and shall go on to Hazar-addar, and pass on to Azmon: and the border shall fetch a compass from Azmon unto the river of Egypt, and the goings out of it shall be at the sea. And as for the western border, ye shall even have the great sea for a border: this shall be your west border. And this shall be your north border: from the great sea ye shall point out for you mount Hor: from mount Hor ye shall point out your border unto the entrance of Hamath; and the goings forth of the border shall be to Zedad: and the border shall go on to Ziphron, and the goings out of it shall be at Hazar-enan: this shall be your north border. And ye shall point out your east border from Hazar-enan to Shepham: and the coast shall go down from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain; and the border shall descend, and shall reach unto the side of the sea of Chinnereth eastward: and the border shall go down to Jordan, and the goings out of it shall be at the salt sea: this shall be your land with the coasts thereof round about.” Numbers 34:1-12 (KJV)

Notes for Friday – July 25, 2014

Today we present another entry for Round 53 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $11,000+ worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course (a $1,195 value),
  2. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  3. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  4. A $300 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any of their military surplus gear,
  5. A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $300 value),
  6. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  7. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  8. A roll of $10 face value in pre-1965 U.S. 90% silver quarters, courtesy of GoldAndSilverOnline.com, (currently valued at around $180 postpaid),
  9. Both VPN tunnel and DigitalSafe annual subscriptions from Privacy Abroad (a combined value of $195),
  10. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304,
  11. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit, and
  12. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $300 gift certificate.

Second Prize:

  1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  2. A FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100-foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
  3. Acorn Supplies is donating a Deluxe Food Storage Survival Kit with a retail value of $350,
  4. The Ark Instituteis donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package–enough for two families of four, seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate– a $325 retail value,
  5. $300 worth of ammo from Patriot Firearms and Munitions. (They also offer a 10% discount for all SurvivalBlog readers with coupon code SVB10P),
  6. A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials,
  7. Twenty Five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  8. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value),
  9. Dri-Harvestfoods.com in Bozeman, Montana is providing a prize bundle with Beans, Buttermilk Powder, Montana Hard Red Wheat, Drink Mixes, and White Rice, valued at $333,
  10. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $150 gift certificate,
  11. Organized Prepper is providing a $500 gift certificate, and
  12. RepackBoxis providing a $300 gift certificate to their site.

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  3. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security,
  5. A MURS Dakota Alert Base Station Kit with a retail value of $240 from JRH Enterprises,
  6. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  7. Ambra Le Roy Medical Products in North Carolina is donating a bundle of their traditional wound care and first aid supplies, with a value of $208, and
  8. SurvivalBased.com is donating a $500 gift certificate to their store.

Round 53 ends on July 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

The Fashionably Late Prepper, by G.S.

This article is meant to be read in the future by those visiting this blog on the day after TSHTF. This is for the person who only has access to the basic supplies anyone might have laying around the house. Regular visitors to this blog will ask why I did not recommend using a Berkey water filter (www.berkeyfilters.com) to purify water. It is too late now to get one.

This is for the man or woman who just did a google search (because they don’t know about IXQUICK) on how to handle the global economic crisis or what to do when the power goes out for good.

In your exploration of this site you will find years’ worth of information from people explaining the many scenarios that could happen and how you could prepare for them. You will find information on what necessities will be in short supply and which will be extremely valuable. You will find information on how to protect yourself and your family. Some of this information may still be helpful, especially today, so I encourage you to explore the many topics. You may still be able to gain an advantage over the millions of people sitting in their homes waiting for someone to come fix what is wrong.

All of the information on this site would have been much more useful a month ago. You could have done something… if only you had known. There is no time to spend worrying about that now. You have much more pressing matters to attend to.

All of the things below need to be considered. Depending on the crisis you are facing, some things may be more important than others. For example, if the electrical grid where you live is down, getting batteries and fuel may have a very high priority. Make a list of the most critical things you need, based on the situation.

  1. Food and water. What?!? You don’t have more than three more days of food? For goodness sake, get off your computer and find a way to get as much food and water as you can. Wait… finish reading, and then go. If the water in your home is still running, fill every pot, cooler, and bathtub. If it is not running, you have got to find a clean source of water. Go outside and rig a way to collect rainwater coming from your roof. Is the bottled water gone from Wal-Mart? Check to see if they have any pure bleach left you can use to disinfect water from ponds and streams. If there is any food left to buy at the grocery store, farmer’s market, or a vending machine, you need to get it. Start to conserve and ration your food and water. It is better to stink and live than to use your precious water supplies taking a bath. You and your family cannot survive without food and water, and help, if it ever arrives, could be months away.
  2. Money/Valuables. It is possible this option may not be available to you. Your bank may have shut its doors and you are stuck with just the bills in your wallet. Your credit and debit cards may not be honored any more. Paper money is quickly becoming less valuable, but you have got to get your hands on whatever money you can while it still has some value. That box of Ritz crackers you are shocked at paying $10 for today, will be $100 next week, if it is still available at all. In most SHTF scenarios money will increasingly become useless, so spend the money you are able to get your hands on to buy things that will be valuable in the future. Food and water are obvious, but people will be coveting many important items which will soon be unobtainable at any price… aspirin, medical supplies, vitamins, toilet paper, lighters, tools, auto repair supplies, shoes, warm clothes, camping equipment, hunting/fishing equipment, playing cards, cigarettes, diapers, and liquor to name a few. Gasoline is probably unavailable, but you may still be able to find propane tanks which will be extremely valuable for your own cooking and for trade. You will want a small battery-powered radio. Notice I did not mention precious metals, batteries, guns, or bullets. Regulars to this site cleaned the stores out of those yesterday.
  3. Security/Protection. You are kidding me? You seriously were anti-gun? You have nothing in your house to help protect your family except your son’s T-ball bat (*rolling eyes*). Do you know in two days your neighbors are going to start running out of food and water and will do whatever is necessary to feed their children? That guy you drank beer and laughed with on the Fourth of July will be breaking through your window at night with his 9MM looking for a bottle of water. You have three objectives. First, you need to find a weapon. Nobody is going to sell you a gun today. Be creative. Pull out the axe in your garage. Collect some large pebbles and build a slingshot using a branch from a tree and rubber bands. Check out your kitchen knives. Toy plastic guns look real in the dark. Be prepared to bluff, if needed. Have a flashlight ready to blind your intruder. What about Fireworks! Second, you have got to secure your home. Cover your windows with black garbage bags and secure them from the inside with discarded wooden pallets you find behind a carpet store. Secure your windows from being raised with screws. Secure your doors to their frames using extra lumber. Cut and stack thorny plants and thick bushes high in front of your easily accessible lower windows. Third, and most important, there is safety in numbers. Bring other trusted family members or friends into your home. Potentially move to your church with other brothers and sisters in Christ you can rely on to pool supplies and provide protection.
  4. Prepare to leave. There may be many reasons you leave your home. You may get a knock on your door from a government representative saying, “Your family must relocate. Come with us now.” You may feel your home will soon be overrun by “bad guys” and decide it is best to leave and survive. You want to be ready to go when the time comes. A basic school backpack filled with essential supplies should be available at the exit door to be picked up by each family member at any time. What is in your bag will vary depending on the situation, but there are some absolute essentials, including a couple changes of clothing, easily consumable non-perishable food (granola bars), water (two bottles at least), medicines essential to your condition (if you have one), a lighter or matches, basic first aid supplies, inclement weather gear (a plastic bag is better than nothing), a list with important personal information such as phone numbers, identification (passport), a roll of toilet paper, and a flashlight with extra batteries. Put it all in Ziplock bags. Some other lightweight items you might include if you have them are a map, sewing kit, pocket knife, razor blades, twine, a few yards of duct tape wrapped around a credit card, whistle, paper and pencil, small mirror, safety pins, fork, toothbrush, floss, tweezers, aspirin, bar of soap, wash cloth, and a comb. Some very useful heavier/bulkier items you will really have to decide if you can carry would be a battery powered radio, rope, bug spray, sunscreen, an axe, binoculars, and extra water. You may not be in great shape, so just carry the lightweight essentials you need. As you get more tired on your journey, even a lightweight bag will become heavy. The amount of water you can carry severely limits the length of time you can live using just the items in this bag. You have got to have a way to disinfect water. Someone in your group should carry a metal pot that water can be boiled in or pure liquid bleach can be used to disinfect water. (Generally, use 16 drops of bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented or “ultra” bleach. It should only contain calcium hypochlorite.)

You are not going to be able to survive long term on your own. In the unlikely event you are able to go to the store today and load every inch of your vehicle with food and bottled water, it will run out at some point. You are not alone. Very few people live where they are able to sustain themselves indefinitely these days. 99% of us are dependent on “the system”.

If there is no food in the stores and no water available at your sink, you are going to need to find someone to support you. You will have very little of value to trade for this support. If there is no gas, who will want your Maxima? If there is no electricity, who will want your big screen television? The recommendations above are meant to get you through the first few tumultuous weeks of the disaster. After this amount of time, it is possible millions will have died from violence and disease. You are going to have to venture out into this ugly world and find someone who is willing to provide for you. For the average business professional (like me) who did not prepare, this probably means you will need to find someone willing to feed you in exchange for your manual labor, unless blacksmithing was a hobby of yours. Yes, many people will essentially be slaves to someone else who can use them. The easy life is over. Your plan cannot be to wait around for the government to come by your house and give you food. That is the mindset that ravaged our country, and if you choose it, you will not survive. If you want to live, you have to get out there and find a way.

Good luck. If you are stuck in a major city, I encourage you to get out as quickly as you can. I cannot fathom how anyone will survive in an urban environment over the next three months. I encourage you to pray and remain civilized.

Anyone left a month from now is still here because they prepared or took what they needed. They bought or stole protection and know how to use it. A month from now, they probably will have had experience using it. Respectfully show them how you can be helpful in exchange for the help you need. For now, these people are in charge.

Letter Re: Prepping with an Unsupportive Spouse

Dear Hugh,

I enjoyed this article and several others that I have seen regarding this subject. However, it is rare that you see this subject discussed in reverse. I (the wife) am the prepper and the Christian in our home. My husband thinks I’m crazy. I have a small pantry, a small supply of gadgets and supplies, and have learned to can. I would like to do more with this, but my husband is already disgusted with all the space I have taken up. There are so many things that still need to be done, but many of them require building, power tools, and a little technical ability. My husband is excellent at these things, while I am not. I would love to hear from some ladies out there who are in the same situation and how they have handled their situation. – S.R.

Mrs. Latimer Replies: I encourage you to look for all the good things that your husband does and praise him for each one. Encourage him when he does take leadership to care for the family. In the meantime, the best thing you can do is pray and follow God’s instructions for being a godly woman and wife, even if your husband doesn’t follow God’s ways himself. Even when he doesn’t do what you think is “right”, show him respect. Your husband needs affirmation and respect. Be sure you are giving that to him, even if you disagree with him. There are two kinds of respect: one based upon position and the other based upon actions. Even if your husband’s actions seem wrong to you, he has a position in your home and in your marriage that you must respect. Believe me, I know it can be very difficult, especially when we are certain that we know what it best. However, God didn’t give us (the wife) the final say.

You may have read I Peter 3:1-7: “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”

I have kept you in prayer throughout the day today and commit to continue praying for you and your husband. God has power to change our circumstances. Ultimately, He is the One in control, and He is trustworthy. Please keep us posted. I am hoping for changes to occur for the better in your home. God bless you, dear sister in Christ Jesus!

Notes for Thursday – July 24, 2014

July 24 – The late Jerry Ahern passed away, today: July 24th, 2012. He is missed.

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Today we present another entry for Round 53 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $11,000+ worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course (a $1,195 value),
  2. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  3. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  4. A $300 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any of their military surplus gear,
  5. A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $300 value),
  6. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  7. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  8. A roll of $10 face value in pre-1965 U.S. 90% silver quarters, courtesy of GoldAndSilverOnline.com, (currently valued at around $180 postpaid),
  9. Both VPN tunnel and DigitalSafe annual subscriptions from Privacy Abroad (a combined value of $195),
  10. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304,
  11. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit, and
  12. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $300 gift certificate.

Second Prize:

  1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  2. A FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100-foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
  3. Acorn Supplies is donating a Deluxe Food Storage Survival Kit with a retail value of $350,
  4. The Ark Instituteis donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package–enough for two families of four, seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate– a $325 retail value,
  5. $300 worth of ammo from Patriot Firearms and Munitions. (They also offer a 10% discount for all SurvivalBlog readers with coupon code SVB10P),
  6. A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials,
  7. Twenty Five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  8. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value),
  9. Dri-Harvestfoods.com in Bozeman, Montana is providing a prize bundle with Beans, Buttermilk Powder, Montana Hard Red Wheat, Drink Mixes, and White Rice, valued at $333,
  10. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $150 gift certificate,
  11. Organized Prepper is providing a $500 gift certificate, and
  12. RepackBoxis providing a $300 gift certificate to their site.

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  3. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security,
  5. A MURS Dakota Alert Base Station Kit with a retail value of $240 from JRH Enterprises,
  6. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  7. Ambra Le Roy Medical Products in North Carolina is donating a bundle of their traditional wound care and first aid supplies, with a value of $208, and
  8. SurvivalBased.com is donating a $500 gift certificate to their store.

Round 53 ends on July 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Preparing for the Education of Your Children In A SHTF Scenario, by Professor Chad

The topic of education is near and dear to my heart. I am a father to three children, and I feel that parents should be, and usually are, the most dedicated and passionate individuals when it comes to the education of their children. I’ve made a career out of being an educator. I’ve taught students at varying levels (from elementary all the way up to the graduate level), and I’ve taught numerous children, including my own. It is something I take very seriously, and I think at minimum should be a mental exercise for all readers of this blog.

When I think about what parents need to know in laying the educational foundation for their children in a SHTF scenario, I think that with a few recommendations, it can be done with little financial cost and some pre-planning. I’m not sure how many people have logically thought through what they would do in such a difficult situation, but the good news is that there is still time to do so! Don’t let this critical area be passed by when looking at your whole preparation plan.

Disclaimer: It is no secret to those that know me– I’m a huge advocate for homeschooling and favor it over a public school education. Nationally, there are roughly two million children that are educated at home currently, and the numbers are quickly rising. I think that for many children, home education is the best type of education they can receive. If you look at the research on the topic, it is amazing how well these students, as a whole, perform! Do yourself a favor and take 10 minutes to search the Internet tonight with the keywords “homeschooling research”.

Now, on to the task at hand. How do you educate your children in a SHTF scenario? I think it is best to begin with the end in mind. Ask yourself this question: What is it that you want to accomplish in educating your children? I think a mission statement will clarify your goals and give you a reminder of why you chose to educate your children.

Here is our mission statement for our home education program:

We believe that our faith in Christ permeates every aspect of our life. We believe the bible calls us to be the first educators of our children and our way of fulfilling that calling is through home education. We believe that we are life-long learners, as it is written in Proverbs 16:16, “How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!” We believe that as parents, we should always have the heart of an educator and learning should be interesting and engaging. We believe that our children have been equipped by their Creator with unique talents, skills and abilities. We believe by homeschooling we have the wonderful opportunity to daily support and guide our children towards a more full understanding of God’s call in their life.

Once you have taken time as a family to formulate a mission statement with your goals, you can begin building your home library. A home library for your children does not have to be large, extravagant, new, or even pricey. Most of the books I purchase are at least 50 years old. I would begin by setting aside $25 to fund your home library. The vast majority of my purchases for our home library come from garage/estate/rummage sales. It is amazing what people sell inexpensively at these sales. Often times, at the sale, I have found a box with some old books priced around “4 for $1” or even at times they can be found in a box labeled “free”. Make it a goal to see how many books you can acquire for $25. See if you can get to 100 books for that price!

So, what items do I recommend for the home library? There are some books that you probably have in your house. As a Christian family, we use the bible as a teaching tool. There is so much you can learn in this book, as it is filled with practical wisdom, age-old advice, and guidance on so many areas of our lives. In addition, I have found a concordance greatly helpful. From there, you may want to pick up a dictionary, an older encyclopedia set, and some maps. Our family loves all sorts of maps (world, national, state, et cetera). We put maps and other educational materials under a clear, plastic table protector, so we can look at them on the table during mealtimes. Our state even offers a free state-wide atlas (through our Game, Fish, and Parks Service) that shows the whole state. It had 98 pages filled with lots of useful information, including every road, lake, city, and more.

The rest of the home library would be books tailored to your children, based upon their age, gender, interest, and so forth. I will include a general reading list for both boys and girls. The two lists have a focus on the main character being a boy/girl who is smart, adventurous, and fearless. In addition, these books are great for your children’s imagination. I think fostering a child’s imagination is priceless. A child’s imagination can take them from their reality (sometimes sad, difficult, and worrisome) and transport them into the story that is very different (often exciting, intriguing, and filled with wonder). Especially in a SHTF scenario, having your children be able to take time each day to use their imagination and be transported to a safe, fun, and exciting place can be invaluable. Plus, this daily exercise can really do wonders for a child’s emotional well-being.

My general reading list for girls would include:

My general reading list for boys would include:

Once you have a good start with your home library, what can you do now to begin educating your children? In a true SHTF scenario, most likely you won’t have all the technological distractions of today to compete with. So in a very small way, you can create the scenario. Every night for 20-30 minutes have a rule that there is no tv, cell phone, computer, et cetera, and as a family make time for reading. As a parent read to all your children, or let them each read their own book during this time.

Second, take time to help your children further their interests. Help them find out what topics they enjoy learning. As readers of this blog, we know how important it is to continue to learn new skills and abilities. When we as parents show interest and excitement in an area a child wants to learn about, it shows them that the topic is important and that they should continue to learn more about the subject. Maybe they want to learn how to repair an engine, fish, make candles, bake, or construct a tree fort. Maybe they enjoy learning about chemical reactions, identifying different types of birds, or making cheese. Any of those areas and so much more can be helpful in a SHTF scenario. Whatever the topic they are interested in, try to find a way to incorporate that learning into your daily activities. It makes learning a lot more fun.

In closing, there is still time to create an educational mission statement and to stock your own personal library. Begin taking time each day to read to your children. Have the heart of teach, and as you go throughout the day, teach your children as you do various activities. Once you have that foundation down (fostering a love of learning, creating opportunities for imagination through literature, and promoting an environment in which “everything” is learning, as seen by example from their parent), you may even choose to look at homeschooling. It was the next logical step for us. It has been two years now that we have homeschooled, and it has been a huge blessing for our entire family. Take control of what your children are learning. Don’t settle of mediocre standards. Give your family’s schedule some flexibility, and enjoy the extra time that you have together. I promise you won’t regret it! Know that if a true SHTF scenario happens, you can be prepared to educate your children and to do it well.

Letter Re: Frustrations of Prepping with an Unsupportive Spouse

Hugh,

Thanks to the author for sharing such a personal experience that a lesser man would not own up to. I think it is important for both husbands and wives to feel that they are one flesh called by God to work together for His plan in their lives and their community. There is no physical preparation that can overcome a lack of unity in marriage. A dictator is not a good leader, and often spouses feel unsupported when they make unilateral decisions without considering the demands and strains it will place on the family. If you believe that a wife is given by God as a “suitable helper” to her husband, then a wise husband will seek her counsel and consider her discernment as a gift from the Lord, and use it to help shape his vision for the family’s path. Getting your team to understand and respond to your vision is great leadership. I recommend the “Power of a Praying Husband” and “Power of a Praying Wife” books by Michael and Stormie Omartain to enrich any marriage, at any stage of development. – E.S.

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HJL Replies: This is an area that is near and dear to my own heart. Our society has become so ignorant of the scriptures and God’s design for the family that we often confuse the roles God intended, and as a result we have made a mess out of our families. In Ephesians 5, Paul again lays out the master design for the family that has been in place since the beginning.

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church … Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it…” Ephesians 5:22-26 (KJV)

From the very beginning, God’s plan was to have one person who had the final say in the relationship, and he designated that as the man. Part of Eve’s curse in the Garden of Eden was that she would desire her husband’s authority:

“…and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.” Genesis 3:16 (KJV)

We have struggled with this concept and through the feminist movement (and the man’s willingness to abdicate his leadership responsibility) and have greatly distorted God’s plan. Marriages are not the 50/50 proposition that is put forth by secular society but designed so that each must put in 100% of their effort to make it succeed. No organization survives well with two masters; marriages are no exception.

Current society states that if a marriage works the way it is described in Ephesians (as God intended), the man is a dictator over his wife, therefore, the wife should not be submissive. Actually, it is well known that the best form of government is a benevolent dictator, and this applies in marriage as well. This (God’s structure) creates an authoritative hierarchy: The wive is submissive to the husband, and the husband is submissive to God. Let’s not forget that God’s command to the husband is to love his wife more than himself. If the husband loves his wife, he will not make decisions that are in any way harmful to her, unless it is for the good of the family. He is also held responsible by God for those decisions and will answer to God for them. If the wife is submissive to her husband (and supportive), you have harmony within the house.

We have all seen this order break down: A husband who is selfish and makes decisions without regard for his wife and children, or worse, makes no decisions at all. We often see a wife who “wears the pants” in the home and makes the hard decisions that her husband should make but doesn’t. It never works well. There is always chaos, always shame.

I have lived in a household that has run both ways and there is no doubt about which one works. The family is harmonious when I step up to my God-determined responsibility and lead while my wife is submissive and supportive of me. I am the protector of my wife and family, by God’s design. I shoulder the responsibility of that duty, and part of that duty is that I prepare for unknown events as best I can. Call me a prepper or survivalist, if you will, but I just call it living up to my responsibility. With my wife standing behind me, I will charge hell with a bucket of water in defense of the family. By the same token, if my wife is not submissive to me, nor supportive, I am hamstrung. I second guess myself and withdraw into a “safe” cocoon where my feelings can’t be hurt.

This isn’t just my opinion. Mrs. Latimer spoke with me, when she read the article, that she wished she could speak with the writer’s wife. Mrs. Latimer’s heart was saddened that this wife was missing out on knowing the blessing of a husband whose heart was zealous, not for play toys for himself (though I do certainly enjoy my share), but for doing whatever it takes to provide for and prepare to see our family cared for in uncertain times. She asked me to share the following: “What a blessing to have a husband who boldly leads under prayerful guidance from our Heavenly Father, sacrifices himself regularly for the good of his family, does his part and encourages me in mine, is trustworthy, and has faith and hope for our future such that I can rest comfortably at night knowing that I have the protection of a great Heavenly Father guiding and watching over me and a great, loving husband guiding and watching around me.”

The commitment, devotion, and willingness to fill the appropriate, vital, and God-ordained role of husband or wife without taking the other’s responsibility is critical to the success and blessings upon a marriage. God made man and woman distinctly different with complementary characteristics to fill the roles He assigned to them. Stepping outside these roles undermines the other person and, whether intentional or not, weakens the relationship by weakening the parties. A wife that assumes leadership over her husband indirectly tells her husband that she doesn’t trust or have confidence in him. Keep in mind that one of most every man’s greatest desires is to have his wife’s confidence.

My heart goes out to those families that are not operating as the Lord intended. They will not see the full blessings of a God-intended family. Their children will not witness the authority of God in their household and will cleave to worldly standards, just as their parents do. The true answer to the conflict inherent in prepping is the same answer to the vast majority of marital conflicts. The family needs to operate within the boundaries set by God. If they will choose to do that, the conflicts that seem so big today will literally melt away. God promises:

“If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land. And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you. And ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new. And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people. I am the Lord your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bands of your yoke, and made you go upright.” Leviticus 26:3-13 (KJV)

By the same token, the rest of Leviticus 26 lets you know how life will go for you, if you do not follow the Lord’s commands. Is it any wonder that our families and communities are in such chaos today?

Odds ‘n Sods:

China ‘seals off’ town after man dies of bubonic plague -and- Chinese Officials Seal Off ‘Plague’ City, Puzzling US Experts – T.P.

This seems like a drastic response to a single death; even U.S. experts are puzzled at the action. Are they not releasing all the information?

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A Military Approach To Survival Security – JFJ

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This one left me scratching my head. They truly must be holophobic. I also wonder if the manager understands how truly little his life matters to the owner. Store Posts ‘No Guns’ Sign after Armed Customer Saves Manager being Stabbed – J.W.

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SurvivalBlog reader K.L. sent in this list of “Slow Sand Filter Plans”. If you are concerned about long-term water purification, you may want to look at these:

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FTMDaily had an excellent podcast about Mainstream Media: The Illusion of Choice. The information is in the first 15 minutes.