This is a quote I've really liked for a long time. It is worthy of pondering.
"We are not human beings having spiritual experiences, but spiritual beings having human experiences." Teilhard de Chardin
Don't you think we really have so much control over the experiences we have, even create for ourselves. I know some experiences are truly out of our control but most aren't. Makes me more aware of my choices and wanting to create spirituality in my life.
Life is really different at this "stage" of my life. No busy little bodies running around while trying to give a Family Home Evening lesson. I hope if you're in that busy-little-bodies-stage you will be patient and know that your good lessons are getting through on some level. I've just added two new lessons to my side board, on Knowledge and Plan of Salvation. Hope you find them helpful. We mom's need all the help we can get.
What to Throw Away:
Almost any textiles, like carpet, mattresses, bedding, clothing, stuffed animals, etc., that have been submerged in water for some time should probably just be thrown away. The dirt and odors that are imbedded in the fabric will most likely never come out. Also, they have the potential of containing mold spores that could cause serious risks to your health. The safest thing to do is to just replace them. Textiles that weren’t in water, but were exposed to the combination of heat and humidity, may have had the opportunity to grow mildew. Do what you can to remove it, but in the end, these too might have to be thrown away.
What to Do With Your Food:
Frozen food: If the meat still contains ice crystals and feels as cold as if refrigerated, it’s okay to refreeze it. However, if it’s thawed or has been in forty-degree temperatures or higher for more than two hours, throw it away. Fruits are pretty salvageable. Unless there is mold or sliminess, it’s okay to refreeze juices, and home or commercially packaged fruit. Vegetables can be refrozen if there are still ice crystals, but if they are thawed, they belong in the trashcan. You can refreeze most breads and pastries unless they contain custard or cheese fi llings, likes cake and pie, which you should get rid of.
Refrigerated food: If meat is still cold or has been in forty-degree temperatures or lower for less than two hours, it’s okay to keep. Anything over two hours should be thrown out. Just like meat, dairy products are good if still chilled, but anything else goes in the garbage. The exceptions are butter and hard cheeses, which are safe to keep if they are exposed to warmer temperatures. All fruits and vegetables are safe to keep, unless they have been cooked. Breads are generally safe, except pasta—especially if it is in a sauce.
Assess the Damage:
Go through your house and thoroughly inspect everything from top to bottom. Check for cracks or erosion in the foundation, make sure major systems like the air conditioning work, and check appliances to make sure they operate. Make a written list of damage in addition to taking photographs.
If you have any photos of your house from before the disaster, the extent of damage done is much easier to identify for insurance purposes. When the adjuster comes to assess the damage, be ready with documents, receipts, photos, and anything else to help prove the extent of damage that has been done.
Make Temporary Repairs:
Do what you can to prevent any further damage from happening to your home by making minor repairs. Be careful, however, not to remove any evidence of the damage so that an adjuster is able to make a correct assessment. By making an effort to avoid more damage, an adjuster is more likely to approve the claims you make than if you let your home get even worse.
Call Your Insurance Agency ASAP:
Even if you don’t have insurance that covers the particular damage, some policies cover living expenses while you are out of your house. If you don’t have insurance, call the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at 1-800-621-FEMA to apply for federal disaster assistance.
Protect Yourself:
When returning to your damaged home, take a few cautionary steps to prevent harm. Wear protective clothing, like gloves, boots, and long pants, which will protect you from debris, chemicals, and bacteria. If there is any sort of water damage there is a possibility of mold spores in the air, so wear a face mask to keep you from inhaling them. If you smell gas, open a window and leave immediately. If it’s possible, turn off the main gas valve from outside, and then call the gas company.
If your appliances are wet, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box, unplug the appliances, and let them dry out before using again. You may want to have them inspected by a professional.
I plan on sharing excerpts from an outstanding article I found online. I hope you find it informing and helpful. I adore the motto of the BSA, Be Pre*ared.
After the Disaster: Now What? by Ashley Evanson Tuesday, from LDSLiving, online magazine, full article found at http://www.ldslivingmagazine.com/articles/show/1615
There’s a lot to be done and a lot to cope with after a natural disaster has hit. It’s a stressful time, and a lot of people don’t even know where to start. If you ever find yourself in a traumatic situation like this, let the following be a guide to help you deal with the disaster.
Drink Clean Water:
This is by far the most important thing. Access to clean drinking water after a natural disaster is critical to survival, but water can be a challenge to get a hold of. Different disasters affect water sources differently; however, in all cases, consider water from wells, cisterns, and any other delivery systems contaminated until tested and proved safe for drinking.
In an emergency, it’s best to use bottled water if at all possible. If it is not available, it’s safe to use water from neighboring municipalities that weren’t affected by the disaster. Also, if plumbing fixtures in your house weren’t damaged, you can get water from your water heater or water pressure tank. Make sure to boil water that could possibly be contaminated in order to get rid of microorganisms and bacteria. However, make sure your local water supplier or health department has given an official boil order before doing so. Otherwise, the water could still contain harmful substances that boiling doesn’t get rid of.
