80 Acres in Oklahoma

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Out in the middle of no where ... not a neighbor within a radius

of, at least, five miles.

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Yellow circle is natural gas.

The forked red line is a creek.

The pink dot is a hand-dug well ... with an old windmill.

The red oval shows the clearing within the trees

that would be perfect to build a few

strawbale cabins with earthen plaster.

You cannot see into the trees

at all from the road, but

you can see the road

from within the trees ...

if that makes sense.

The red/green line is a natural rain run-off.

There is a depression in the earth at the base of this

that would be perfect to dam up for a pond. 

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I am standing in the middle of the field

looking south ... to the right is the grove of trees

that has the clearing in the middle

to build within.

The lime green circle

shows where the pond

would be ... at the

base of a gorgeous tree.

The orange arrow

pointing at the top of a hill

is where an old

family cemetery is.

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This picture, of a picture, shows the natural

depressions in the earth where rain

runs off and pools ... there are already natural banks on

 three sides ... wondering if a fourth side could be built up

to trap the water, and to form a natural pond.

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I think a homestead-type of

off-grid life

would work here, don't you?

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Hello. My name is Brooke, and I am a …

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Hello.  My name is Brooke, and I am a narcissist.

I am Self-assertive, Self-aware, and Self-confident.

I fight Self-righteousness often.  I can be Self-depreciating … when I deem it an honest assessment of my Self, or when it serves to show my sense of humor ... but most of the time I peddle Self-sufficiency, and practice Self-esteem, and praise Self-promotion, and pursue Self-protection all while striving toward Self-correction and Self-discipline.

Yes, I like my Self … no, actually, I love my Self.

I even love my family and friends, and our lives. I enjoy sharing “that love” with others.  So I blog, and I participate in online forums, on a regular basis.

I am thankful for the online opportunities, and for the public platforms, to give of my Self in this way. It makes me smile when others acknowledge me, and when others reciprocate the offer of friendship and laughter that I generously extend.

I received an anonymous comment last week that really prompted me to pause for Self-examination.

The anonymous comment confused me, I must admit, and hurt me. I fought the strong urge to be angry. I also fought the strong urge to deny publishing it.

I chose to embrace the persistent urge, instead, to look more closely at my Self.

And what I found during this initial Self-examination was … wow, this anonymous person is right:  I must really be narcissistic.

(Just look at all the “I-I-I” and the “my-my-my” and the "Self-Self-Self" in this blog already!)

And to make matters worse, or to confirm the anonymous accusation, or to solidify the initial Self-assessment ... my favorite flower has long been the narcissus … since childhood, through the innocent Self-preference of a daffodil, my own Self-consciousness has known of my true nature. 

This anonymous, yet objective, revelation bothered me. It didn’t sit well with my internal, spiritual compass. It made me feel alarmed and ashamed, and wretched. It made me question what and why … what my real motives were for blogging, and why I have recently chosen to try my hand at it.

This anonymous, yet objective, revelation spurred a need for Self-reflection, and a need for some Self-controlled investigation, into the darkest recesses of my repentant soul.

Have I been in ignorant Self-denial of my toxic personality disorder this whole time? THAT is what I was determined to find out.

I became very Self-absorbed, and silent, this past week while researching my anonymous, yet objective, diagnosis. 

Did you miss me?

But, I digress … oops, I take that back … my Self-indulgent, and Self-Seeking, SELF digresses.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

What I found while searching my Self more thoroughly is … is that this anonymous person was still right.

I can be Self-centered, and Selfish, at times … for I am human, and a fallible creature ... and, so, I really am narcissistic prone.

But I also found out that I am what psychologists, and psycho-analyzers, call a “healthy narcissist.”

I called my counselor friend, Frances ... I was really starting to worry about this ... but, we talked a long while, and I showed her all of the selfish traits I had discovered about my Self that pointed to the Unhealthy (immature/malignant) Narcissism ... but, whew, thank goodness Frances helped me to understand the truth.

I learned that everyone has some Narcissistic traits, or we wouldn’t be human, and it is normal to have certain amounts of Narcissism. It is called human nature, and it is a basic condition that we are all born with.

It is also, I learned, a necessary and healthy characteristic when held in check.

I am a Healthy (benign/mature) Narcissist, first and foremost, because if I wasn't ... you know, if I was the malignant kind instead ... I would not have been hurt by the slight.  I wouldn't have been alarmed or concerned, and I wouldn't have doubted my Self, and worried.  I wouldn't have prayed for God to search my heart.  That, alone, shows I have a healthy sense of Self.

I am a Healthy Narcissist because I am creative and flexible and romantic. Although I have fanciful aspirations I am, for the most part, realistic about my abilities, limitations, skills, and temperament … but I am also, alas, a risk-taker. Can’t deny that.  I am not afraid to aim for success and to seek out my dreams … and I am a lifelong learner. I am willing to pursue all appropriate avenues (including blogs, connections, contacts, friends, mentors, online forums, websites, you-name-it) that are available for me to achieve my personal goals.

I am a Healthy Narcissist because I sometimes use embellishments and exaggerations in my writings to try to increase the entertainment aspects of it ... I will intentionally strive to make my words more interesting and pleasurable, and I sometimes say arrogant/haughty things for shock-value. People who know me can see through the grandiosity, and know it is used as a writing style/tool ... actually, you don't have to know me to see that. 

I am a Healthy Narcissist because I like to blog, and I don't mind putting my Self out there. Not everyone is cut out to be a blogger. It takes a special personality. And, like I said, it makes me smile when others acknowledge me, and my efforts, or I wouldn't bother to do it at all. None of us would. But I do not NEED the acknowledgements, and I do not REQUIRE admiration, for Self-fullfillment.  My Self-worth does not depend upon it. That is the difference. I write because I love it, and I love to share “that love” with others. And this motivation is benign, and healthy.

My fellow narcissistic bloggers can relax now.

I am a Healthy Narcissist because I have learned from past mistakes, and I take care to honor appropriate boundaries, preserve my pre-determined degree of privacy, refuse to cross certain lines, set limits for my own Self-respect, and I strive to use appropriate adult behaviors and communications … unless I am, ahem, writing satirical-laced pieces.

I am a Healthy Narcissist because I am determined. I am willing to pick myself up and start over, again and again, after I fail. Which is very often. But I try not to project my failures, faults, flaws, insecurities, mistakes, shortcomings, sins, weaknesses … my ugly WHATEVERS … upon others. I do not think I am immune to the consequences of my negative attitudes and behaviors, and I take responsibility for my actions, and I do not seek excuses or scapegoats to try to make me feel better about my Self.

I am a Healthy Narcissist because I know there is a balance between giving and taking. I strive to make sure I am not manipulative, and I fight the natural tendency when I feel it rising. I have just the right amount of Self-centeredness to get some of my own needs met without forsaking the needs of others.

I am a Healthy Narcissist because I have unparalleled Self-esteem … knowing that I have a God-Given right to Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness; and comfort; and success … and this unparalleled Self-esteem fuels my ambition and purpose, tempers my natural tendency toward exhibitionism, and whets my continuous desire to reach out to others.

I am a Healthy Narcissist because I have Self-love … which is an important prerequisite for the experience and expression of real, agape love … and this is a balanced love of my Self, coupled with a stable sense of my own Self-worth, that graciously gives me the ability to empathize and, indeed, to fully love others. And, because of this, I have the ability to have open, loving, reciprocal relationships online, AND, in real life.

I am a Healthy Narcissist because I am not predatory … nor do I harass and stalk people. I am not envious, paranoid, spiteful, vicious or vindictive. I do not seek to confuse, destroy, embarrass, hurt, punish, or torment the source of my (real or imagined) frustration, inadequacy, jealousy and/or pain.

And, finally, I am a Healthy Narcissist because I am not a coward.  I put my name on everything I write ... every thing .... but I would especially want my beloved name assigned to, and associated with, a slap-down. 

Hello. My name is Brooke.  And I am a narcissist.  And, yes, Frances approves of this brilliant message. 

Now about that "bitch" part............do we REALLY want to go there?

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Everything's BIGGER in Texas

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So my little brother,

who has been home from Europe about three weeks now,

is having too much fun

showing off to his friends back in Belgium and Ireland ...

Just how BIG Texas is. 

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Even the SKY is big ...

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Wretha's Wonderful Book Giveaway

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Wretha and her husband have lived off grid full time since December 2007.

There have been ups and downs but, all in all, it's been a great adventure.

Now Wretha, and her husband, have been immortalized in an off grid book.

Click the link below (Wretha's Blog) to learn more about it.

http://wretha.blogspot.com/2010/07/my-wonderful-guest-book-giveaway.html

 

You can also place your order for an extra book from her site!

I am :)

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My Little Sister and Facebook :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If any of y'all tell her I have done this ... I'll deny it until the day I die. 

(Which will be very soon if she finds out.)

So don't do it. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okay.

So this is a little diddy about my little sister ...

and Facebook.

 

She's been on Facebook for well over a year.

 

Here is her profile picture.

This is the same profile picture
she's had since she signed up ...
like I said, over a year ago.

Adorable.

She is more shy than my mother and me

(put together!)

when it comes to having her photo taken.

So this profile pic is precious.

Take a good look at it, and smile ... it's okay.

See that happy grin on her face?
She was so excited to take her picture for Facebook.

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, anyway, her darling husband posts this (next) photo of her

on his own Facebook page ... captioned "My Beautiful Bride."

And she IS beautiful ... we love to see new photos of her

since it is so rare!

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And here, below, are the responses

to that recent photo posting of his.

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

At this point, I should note

that I have ALWAYS

called my little sister "Shithead" ...

and have for over 20 years.

It is known, and is meant, to be extended

in the most loving of loving ways.

Anyone who knows us, knows this fact.

But, as you could see, my sister has clients

that she is concerned about.

(sigh)

We must leave a good impression ... oops, my bad ...

but I think I handled it rather well

(with that sense of humor of mine, you know)

despite the minor bristling.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ha. Ha. Ha.

Funny.

"You really must know my special sister

(Brooke)

to appreciate her unique vocabulary

and sense of humor :)"

 BLEH.

Yes, yes, you MUST know me ... for I AM special.

Mhm. 

Yeppers.

You KNOW it.

(By the way, that really was a great suggestion Dee made ...

that snapshot would make a great profile pic.)

Keep reading.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She called ME weird?

And laughed out loud at me?

(sigh)

At least she covered her hiney by

telling me she loved me ...

in ALL CAPS.

(sigh)

Oh yeah ... the clients might be reading ...
the whole "good impressions" thing.

Gotcha.

(sigh)

Wait.

What's this about profile pictures?

Oh, Brandi ... no.

REALLY?!?

(gasp)

How's THAT for impressions?

Oh, wait, it gets better ... beyond impressive, even.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Go ahead. 

Read it again.
The WHOLE thing. 

You know you need/want to. 

It's okay.

I understand.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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 ((((( 'Nuff Said!!! ))))) 

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Family: Fourth of July

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our Fourth of July Celebration,

at Mama Crow's house, 

was uneventful

as far as festivities go.

It rained most of the day, and

we did not go anywhere.

I take that back ... we went to

El Chico's for supper.

Then we spent the rest

of the evening getting ready,

and packing, for Lindsey and Laura's

(my teen-aged daughters)

week-long summer camp in East Texas.

They leave at 7:15 in the morning,

and I will miss them.

I did manage to spend some time in deep reflection today  ...

upon the liberties we still have

in this country,

and upon my mother's 65 years

on this earth.

I have a lot to be thankful for.

My mother, Linda, was born in Sweetwater, Texas

on July 4, 1945.

She is as shy as I am

when it comes to having her photo taken.

Below is one of my favorite snapshots of her.

She is holding Nani Wayne aka Miss Field Lab 2010

(November 4, 2005)

and, honestly, my mother hasn't changed much at all.

I love my mother ... one hell of a lady, she is.

Oh, and if you are wondering why the day wasn't spent with her ...

she had been at my sister's house in Wimberley

for the past week, and didn't get home until later.

I was on the phone with her when Bo surprised her ...

she hadn't seen him since his return last weekend.

I think her birthday was perfect :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The following photos I can thank our long-time family friend, Angie, for.

She came back to Buffalo Gap (from Austin) to visit again,

and spent some more time with my little brother ...

maybe she'll pop in and give us a little narrative?

(hint, hint)

Here they are, again, at Tom Perini's Ranch.

I'm assuming Bo finally got his steak?

Angie and Bo

Bo and, his girlfriend(?) Kaysha

It has been over nine years since Bo got to celebrate

July 4th ... and play with firecrackers ...

since he's been in Europe all this time.

So he was HAPPY.

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And here is Angie and Bo

for some night-time sparkles.

I wish I could have been there.

I love y'all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rude Awakening for Nani at Joe Allen's

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's not like we've never been there before.

We love his hamburger basket ...

comes with a bowl of delicious beans

and real fried potatoes.

Nani loves the artwork there, too.

"Mama, is that Sirlingua?"

"Mama, will we see donkeys there?"

"Mama, can I have a baby donkey?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So Nani was excited to go.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Until we walked in, and she saw THIS ...

as if seeing it for the first time

 ... through different eyes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It really bothered her ... hurt her, even.

 

She loves her BENITA.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Edited to add:)

  Here is some back-story ... for you newcomers.

"God Loves Me, Huh, Mama"

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Happy Independence Day

Today is Saturday, July 3rd.

Tomorrow is one of our most cherished national holidays, Independence Day ... and there will be ceremonies, cook-outs, family reunions, parades, and, of course, an untold number of fireworks displays all across our beloved country this weekend.

Most people will start their freedom festivities TODAY.

Are you feeling the same anticipation, and jubilation, as you’ve felt in previous years? Or ... is there a certain foreboding beginning to cloud what was once an unbridled national patriotism that we used to celebrate with abandon.

There are quite a few major annoyances we’ll have to overlook this year if we’re to enjoy the kind of joyous 4th of July that is our nation's tradition.

All of us in the, ahem, so-called "working class" are seeing our standard of living come under duress ... as many staples that contribute directly to our quality of life have become less affordable.

Focus is on a "double-dipping" recession everywhere we turn, and most predictions reflect an outlook without improvement.

To irritate the matter further, we've found the White House administration apparently siding with dictatorial regimes that have long been recognized as enemies of the United States and our American way of life.

At a time when much of the world’s former "socialist nations" have been trying to dig themselves out of the blight of their ruinous ideology ... many in the U.S. are panting to adopt it!

Let’s nationalize EVERYTHING ... the oil industry, transportation, education, health care, energy ... you name it.

There is now encroachment of authoritative agencies into aspects of life, and business, once thought to operate solely on principles of the free market and the private sector.

The way things are headed, given the makeup of current legislative bodies, hardly any enterprise (or any activity imaginable) will escape the purview of federal regulation.

It’s obvious the worst fears of our nation's founders are beginning to play out.

And if you’ve been able to stand the news analysis and debate programs, you’re aware that many aspects of our present situation are self-inflicted!

Our children and grandchildren will inherit our debt ... and they will also look back at the irresponsible lives we've lead and, with puzzled wonder, fail to understand how we could allow the debacle that altered the country’s identity.

On our watch.

We don't even understand how we've let it happen.

The identity shift being perpetrated upon our unsuspecting and complacent/distracted populace was visited upon Christianity long ago, and remains to this day.

The laws of God which were the bedrock of life ancient Israel, and in the early (pre-Constantine) Christian church have long since been discarded in favor of a religious identity that empowers clergymen with authority that supercedes even the Ten Commandments.

The Bible ... God’s own word ... has been subjugated to the whims of deeply flawed Church leaders decked out in religious garb.

It is not hard to realize that all roads lead to Rome.

What we’ve seen happen to the application of clear biblical language in mainstream Christianity is now happening to the clear language of another document believed to be the result of divine inspiration.

At least our founders thought so, and said so.

But we live in the age of social, and financial, planners who have better ideas.

Just as those in control of Rome so long ago believed their need for unquestioned authority trumped scripture ... our political leaders seem to believe their presumably noble intentions trump the healthy constraints of the U.S. Constitution, and the ancient wisdom of the Declaration of Independence.

While contemplating the peace and freedoms we still get to enjoy this weekend ... along with the celebrations, cook-outs and family gatherings ... we should contemplate the personal sacrifices, and the divine intervention, that gave us the greatest, and most basic, blessing/right EVER offered any nation or people.

And THAT is the right ... granted not by men, but by God ... of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

The beauty of that concept, and all that it entails, has been defended by all the grit and strength our fathers, grandfathers and forefathers could muster ... and, in countless cases, to their deaths.

May we honor them and the peace, prosperity and freedom we have enjoyed due to their resolve.

We must also soberly contemplate what’s happening in our domestic society and around this troubled world, and realize that God’s favor will surely be our best hope amid the troubles to come.

And they surely are coming.

Our country needs to turn to God ... not only for help with so many of these nightmarish developments ... but to help get rid of these arrogant anti-God, anti-American politicians who are busily strutting their vain righteousness and wrecking what He has provided!

This quote from Abraham Lincoln sums up our current national economic and political situation ...

“We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved, these many years in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown; but we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own…”

As we celebrate Independence Day this year, 2010, we ought to bear in mind the words and warnings of our founders, and hope (PRAY) it’s not too late to turn this pile of mess around.

We still have a tremendous amount to be thankful for, and to celebrate.

Please don’t let this little tirade of mine spoil it ... I’m hoping you won’t read it until the Monday, the fifth!

God Bless America!

Nani Says the Danged'est Things

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, we're at the eyeglasses shop

looking for a pair of frames

for my new glasses.

A nice gentleman is helping me ...

telling me which ones, he thinks,

looks better on my face.

Without asking for his input ... he's

just volunteering his opinion.

All of a sudden, Nani blurts,

"Mom."

(Oh, and by the way,

Nani never calls me Mom.

So she's exercising "grown-up talk"

by choosing this name for me.

I should have sensed the warning

that "a dandy" was coming up.)

Okay, so back to the story.

All of a sudden she blurts,
very matter-of-factly, 

"Mom. I am fixing to shit my britches."

Thankfully, the gentleman did not laugh.

"Nani Wayne! THAT is NOT nice!"

A peep, "Yes ma'am."

I squatted down, to her level,
and the gentleman tried to busy himself.

I quietly asked her,

"Do you need to doo-doo?"

And, she, not so quietly responds,
"No ma'am, not any more!

It's just tee-tee now."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bocephus, Boo-Boos, Peek-a-Boos, Red Hots & Red Velvet

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The day started with, what I honestly feel/think, was a prospective thief

scouting out my home as a potential target.

He did not have a real reason to be knocking on my door,

and seemed uncomfortable that I answered.

Maybe it was the hand behind my back, never revealing itself, 

that made him uncomfortable ...

I don't know. 

Just hope he wasn't up to no good, is all.

Edited to add:  About a week after this happened, the local news
reported an increase of robberies in my area, and for
the public to call in suspicious activities. 

 My little brother, Bo, surprised me for a nice visit.

We spent the afternoon on the front porch

sharing the stories of the last

nine years of our lives with each other.

He also became a hero in Nani's eyes

for fixing the chain on her bike,
and in my eyes, for
running off a pit bull
that was "too interested" in Nani.

Made chicken parmigiana, and

broccoli tossed with penne, along

with warm batard bread

for supper. 

Oh! And Red Hot adorned, cream cheese icing'd,

Red Velvet cupcakes for dessert.

(Is icing'd a word? Oh well, it is now!)

Took a few snapshots of Nani's little finger

that got smashed in the car door

the other day.

She really didn't want me to, and they turned out poorly.

But you can kinda see the black nail.

I really think she might lose it :(

And here she is being shy

while I was taking pics of her hand ...

silly girl.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Laying Up Treasures

I read about a lot of homesteaders and preppers who say they are ready for anything, and that they have everything they need (laid up and in stock) for "when the shit hits the fan."

When I see that supreme level of self-reliant confidence, my eyeballs always widen in an "uh-oh" kind of way.

As mentioned earlier, and touched upon with katlupe, in another post ... prepping IS necessary.  I am not advocating doing nothing, and expecting God to provide my every need without so much as lifting a finger. 

No, doing our part is necessary, and prepping is necessary.  And most preppers have a tendency to feel like there is always more they should be doing.  

It is difficult for most of us homesteaders/preppers to feel like we have laid up enough preps/riches/stores.  

We are even warned against becoming complacent and lukewarm and trusting in our perceived riches. (Revelation 3:17) 

So, yes, when I hear some boast about how they have everything covered, and everything they need to survive a SHTF or TEOTWAWKI situation ... I am immediately concerned that they have become too complacent and trusting in themselves, and their independence.

This blog is for those who understand we will never achieve any form of independence unless we surrender ourselves to dependency.

 So, what sets faithful preppers apart from the others?  

The simple answer is "our priorities set us apart" ... if we have the right priorities, we should not fear. 

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles (unbelievers) seek.  For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:31–33) 

God assures us that if we stay close to Him, we will have everything we need ... but, as He gives us more, He will also expect more of us. (Matthew 25:14–30) 

With blessings/wealth comes responsibility ... and there are blessings/wealth that money cannot buy.

So, how are you ... my fellow prepper ... using your blessings/preps/riches/stores?  Your hidden treasures?

True treasure cannot be found by building up, and laying up, our personal riches/stocks and stores.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19–21)

All of our preps are conditional, physical, and temporary.   

All of the thought and time spent on "acquiring" is still conditional, physical, and temporary ... and it also borders upon idolatry, but that is another topic entirely. 

Everything we lay up (or store) for ourselves can spoil, or be stolen.  And if you are already a homesteader, or prepper, you KNOW this.   

I cannot tell you how many things I've read about how critical it is to rotate stock  to prevent loss/spoilage ... and how critical it is to protect your stockpiled goodies from all the anticipated SHTF refugees and/or zombies. 

^A protective mindset that is caused by fear ... yet another topic.^

But I digress.

When you gain some extra blessings/preps/riches/stores/wealth, and when you add it to your growing stash, do you mainly think about how well fed and protected YOU will be when it gets bad-bad?  

Or do you think first about your responsibility as a steward of what God has given you? Do you think about how you can use your wealth to help your family, your loved ones, and your community?  

Do you think about how you can thank your Creator, and support His Work, for all the blessings you've been GIVEN? 

Or do you have the attitude of Pa Anderson ... remember him from a previous entry?


You've filled that space.  You've saved, and shopped, and stocked.  It wouldn’t be there, and you wouldn’t have it, if you hadn’t done it all.  By yourself.  You worked dog-bone hard for every crumb and morsel in that there pantry.  But, as a safe afterthought, you better go ahead and thank the Lord just the same. 

God is looking at your heart.  

Are you stocking physical treasures?  Or spiritual treasures?

With Love,

Your Faithful Prepper 

(where autonomy and faith collide)