DIY Gel Room Deodorizers

~~~HOMEMADE AIR FRESHENERS~~~ FB post by Courtney Luper

These gel air fresheners are the perfect project! they take a total of five minutes to make, are highly economical, and each jar should last you about a month. These would also make great gifts! 

To make these little beauties, you first need heat-proof jars, food coloring, and essential oil. You can find inexpensive essential oils of various scents at craft stores and some grocery stores. I chose a raspberry scented oil...it smells delightful!

Into each jar, drop a few drops (I repeat...a few...it doesn't take more than 2 or 3) of food coloring.

Then, put in about 30 drops of essential oil, give or take. The more essential oil you put in, the stronger the smell.

Now for the fun part. Gather up 4 envelopes of unflavored gelatin, a tablespoon of salt, and 2 cups of cold water.

Why salt? Salt (or vodka) apparently help to keep the gel from molding. Interesting fact, isn't it?!?

Get one cup of water boiling on the stove. When it begins to boil, whisk in the gelatin, stirring until it's all dissolved.

Then, pour in the other cup of cold water and the salt, stirring until the salt is dissolved.

Quickly pour the hot gelatin mixture in each of your jars, and then use a disposable stick or spoon to stir it into the oil and food coloring.

Let these gel overnight, and then voila! Air freshener!

Emergency Preparedness

This is a subject which is 'dear to my heart'.  Though I have never suffered through a large scale natural disaster, there have been times when things were hard because of economic or physical hardship.  The counsel that I followed many years ago to become prepared by having certain things in place in my life made life bearable and even 'not miserable'.  We always had food on the table, clothing to wear, and sufficient for our needs.  

As a child, this was not always the case in my family.  There were times when all we had in our cupboards was macaroni and tomato sauce.  I remember eating that for weeks at a time for dinner.  It is important that we prepare for the unexpected in our lives.  Even if the economy doesn't collapse and Armeggedon doesn't happen, we have seen that anyone can lose their job and struggle to replace that income.  If you are prepared with the basics, it will make those times much less stressful.

So to help you with that, I will help you find resources to aid in your preparedness journey.  Regardless of where you are now....just starting out....or a veteran looking for your next adventure to tackle.  We can help one another along this journey.

Please feel free to post links for each of the following categories in the comments section.  I welcome advice from those who are even more advanced at this than I am.  I will update this page and create others that link to the categories as our discussion progresses.

Let's separate this into categories:

1.  The beginner.  Where to start and what you should look at first.  

     It always helps to start with a plan.  That way you won't be wasting your money and time on things that might not be beneficial.  For example, buying a bunch of wheat for storage will not help you much if you don't know how to use it.  It also might be detrimental if you don't learn how to store it properly and end up with pests that can ruin not only it but also other parts of your vital storage....not to mention, that you also wasted vital resources because of your lack of knowledge.  

2.  The Novice.  So you've done some preparedness.  How can you become better at it?

    You've got some food and other basics and some knowledge. You could probably make it through 3-6 months if you had to but it would be in survival mode.  Let's ramp it up and get really organized.  Start learning to grow and process your own food.  Learn how to do more to survive longer and better.

3.  The Awakened.  You are realizing that there is much more to preparedness than just having food, water, and shelter.  

     You have what you need to provide for you and yours for a year or more.  But what happens if the SHTF and you become the target of those who weren't so forward thinking.  We know it happens and will happen if a natural disaster occurs in your area or if our economy collapses.  We saw it in New Orleans with Katrina, in Puerto Rico after the earthquake, and in oh so many other situations.  You should be prepared to defend yourself from predators and keep yourself and your loved ones from becoming victims.

4.  The Prepper or Survivalist.  You are working on becoming more self-sufficient and getting off of the grid.

     Wonderful!  You will probably be able to survive and protect you and your loved ones.  You may not live as you did before the SHTF but did you expect to.  That's not realistic.  Nor do I believe that you would even want to if you are truly concerned about preparation.  Once we are in this stage, our society has to work towards rebuilding in healing ways.  The way of life that our culture has lived both now and in the past should show us the error of our ways.  A society that takes and takes and takes is not sustainable. Future generations will pay for it.  Our children and grandchildren will pay for it even if we don't.  So let's find ways to help become more self-sufficient so that we can then be in the position to help rebuild in productive, healing ways.

5.  The Leader.  You're prepared.  Congratulations!  Now think about what you can do to help others around you work towards that (even if they aren't aware of it).  

    But why, you ask?  Think about it.  The most dangerous persons to you if the SHTF will be those who are not prepared and will be looking at you and yours to meet their needs.  If you have helped form a community in which even a small percentage are doing their own prepping, your chance of surviving with some semblance of civilization is greatly increased.  I know you can defend yourself against many comers but what if it's not just a few?  What if it's hundreds and they have guns too?  And would you even want to live that way if you didn't have to do so?  Don't leave this to chance.  Try to get others involved that will know what to do and will help lead those who will be driven by fear...because that will be the major driving force.  And the best way to stay it is with sound leadership and planning.  If you haven't read or listened to 'One Second After', you should.  Your attitude could make the difference in whether or not your community survives or becomes like the 'posse'.  How would you rather live?  How would you rather your family, neighbors and friends live?

This page is a work in progress and I a considering moving it to a website.

Today's Scripture study

Food for Thought

Why does God only allow Priesthood blessings for those who believe and request it?

He IS all-powerful.

Book of Alma son of Alma

Chapter 15

Alma and Amulek go to Sidom and establish a church—Alma heals Zeezrom, who joins the Church—Many are baptized, and the Church prospers—Alma and Amulek go to Zarahemla. About 81 B.C.

http://feastupontheword.org/Alma_9:11-15

Chapter 15

My thoughts

1 And it came to pass that Alma and Amulek were commanded to depart out of that city; and they departed, and came out even into the land of Sidom; and behold, there they found all the people who had departed out of the land of aAmmonihah, who had been bcast out and stoned, because they believed in the words of Alma. 2 And they related unto them all that had happened unto theirawives and children, and also concerning themselves, and of theirbpower of deliverance. 3 And also Zeezrom lay sick at Sidom, with a burning fever, which was caused by the great tribulations of his mind on account of hisawickedness, for he supposed that Alma and Amulek were no more; and he supposed that they had been slain because of his iniquity. And this great sin, and his many other sins, did harrow up his mind until it did become exceedingly sore, having no deliverance; therefore he began to be scorched with a burning heat. 4 Now, when he heard that Alma and Amulek were in the land of Sidom, his heart began to take courage; and he sent a message immediately unto them, desiring them to come unto him. 5 And it came to pass that they went immediately, obeying the message which he had sent unto them; and they went in unto the house unto Zeezrom; and they found him upon his bed, sick, being very low with a burning fever; and his mind also was aexceedingly sore because of his iniquities; and when he saw them he stretched forth his hand, and besought them that they would heal him. 6 And it came to pass that Alma said unto him, taking him by the hand: aBelievest thou in the power of Christ unto salvation? 7 And he answered and said: Yea, I believe all the words that thou hast taught. 8 And Alma said: If thou believest in the redemption of Christ thou canst be ahealed. 9 And he said: Yea, I believe according to thy words. 10 And then Alma cried unto the Lord, saying: O Lord our God, have amercy on this man, and bheal him according to his faith which is in Christ. 11 And when Alma had said these words, aZeezrom leaped upon his feet, and began to walk; and this was done to the great astonishment of all the people; and the knowledge of this went forth throughout all the land of Sidom. 12 And Alma baptized Zeezrom unto the Lord; and he began from that time forth to preach unto the people. 13 And Alma established a church in the land of Sidom, and consecrated apriests and bteachers in the land, to baptize unto the Lord whosoever were desirous to be baptized. 14 And it came to pass that they were many; for they did flock in from all the region round about Sidom, and were baptized. 15 But as to the people that were in the land of Ammonihah, they yet remained a hard-hearted and a stiffnecked people; and they repented not of their sins, aascribing all the power of Alma and Amulek to the devil; for they were of the profession of bNehor, and did not believe in the repentance of their sins. 16 And it came to pass that Alma and Amulek, Amulek havingaforsaken all his gold, and silver, and his precious things, which were in the land of Ammonihah, for the word of God, he beingbrejected by those who were once his friends and also by his father and his kindred; 17 Therefore, after Alma having established the church at Sidom, seeing a great acheck, yea, seeing that the people were checked as to the pride of their hearts, and began to bhumble themselves before God, and began to assemble themselves together at theircsanctuaries to dworship God before the ealtar, fwatching and praying continually, that they might be delivered from Satan, and from gdeath, and from destruction— 18 Now as I said, Alma having seen all these things, therefore he took Amulek and came over to the land of Zarahemla, and took him to his aown house, and did administer unto him in his tribulations, and bstrengthened him in the Lord. 19 And thus ended the tenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.

The Lord finally lets them leave this wicked, wicked city. They do as the Lord command them and find the people that had been cast out.  Was Amulek’s family among them? It must have grieved them to have to tell these people that their families were dead. Zeezrom is sick because of the things he has done and because of what he thinks his punishment will be. Even though he had spoken against the prophets, apparently he really cared about people.  He probably just hadn’t discovered this for himself.  He had been so busy enriching himself with wealth and power that he hadn’t taken time to discover what was really important to him. He is truly repentant of what he did. He was happy that they had survived.   His repentance begins to glean rewards. Acts of service.  They are willing to forgive Zeezrom and help him find salvation despite what they know he has done. Zeezrom seeks a priesthood blessing from them and they willing give it. An example to us of how we should act towards those who have wronged us and then later seek repentance.  (unless the spirit warns us otherwise) Alma must make sure that he has truly repented and understands from whence his blessings come. Zeezrom professes to now believe. Healing requires belief/faith.  Why?  God has all power to do all things.  Is it perhaps a function of the laws of Agency.  God will not force His will upon us...even His blessings? Zeezrom professes his belief. At that point, Alma is free to help him and bless him through his priesthood authority/power. The Lord blesses us according to our faith and then that those blessings serve to strengthen the faith of others. So the suffering of Alma, Amulek, and the other believers is not in vain. Even though the people that they originally preached to rejected them, the peoples in the surrounding areas accept them readily. Even with all of the miracles in their community, the people of Ammonihah still reject the gospel. Amulek forsook all that he owned and even his own family for the Lord. Alma makes certain that the church is strong in Sidom with all of the leaders needed before he leaves. Because Amulek has nothing and no family or friends, Alma takes him to his own home. Alma is doing what he should do. Amulek is being blessed for his faith and loyalty through all tribulation.