Happy Holidays From Me to YOU!
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Happy holidays from me to YOU! As the holiday season wraps us in warmth, reflection, and gratitude, I want to take a moment to say thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to every one of you who has been part of this journey with me since 2012.
What started all those years ago as a simple space to share ideas, recipes, stories, and inspiration has grown into something truly special, because of you. Your support, comments, shares, and encouragement have turned this blog into more than just a website; it has become a community.
I wanted to teach the world about food storage and emergency preparedness. My goal was to help one family or one person every single day. God has blessed me beyond words. I know HE wanted me to teach the world; this is not something I take lightly.
We have shared sicknesses, happiness, the births of new grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and moves to other states. This has been a rough move for me, moving to Northern Utah. Thankfully, I have cherished family, wonderful neighbors, and church members who are so kind and caring.
My Health Issues
Many of you know I have been on oxygen since April 2024. I would never have guessed I would get a lung disease. It could be worse, I keep telling myself. I am tethered to an oxygen hose 24/7. I have never smoked, vaped, or whatever to get this nasty disease. The higher altitude is not helping it either.
But financially and physically, it doesn’t make sense to move to a lower elevation. Mark and I went on a family reunion with my sisters to California, and I realized I didn’t need oxygen at an elevation of 7. You have to laugh, really? My Pulmonologist warned me that my lungs are damaged, and after a while at a lower elevation, I may still need oxygen 24/7 down the road. Life may give us lemons, but we must turn them into lemonade.
Thank You for More Than a Decade of Support
Since 2012, you’ve been right here through:
- New recipes and family favorites
- Holiday traditions shared year after year
- What months are best to stock up on items
- Stories, tips, and memories from my kitchen and home
- Growth, change, and everything in between
- Learning to store water
- What food to store
- What we need for personal hygiene after a disaster
- Cooking from scratch
- Cooking without power
- Storing fuel
- Emergency preparedness tips
- How to light a home without power
- How to make an evacuation plan
- If you haven’t printed this out, it may help you! Free Emergency Binder Kit to make sure you have all your essential documents on hand.
Whether you’ve been here from the very beginning or joined somewhere along the way, your presence has meant more to me than I can ever fully express. Blogging isn’t just about content; it’s about connection, and I’m deeply grateful for the relationships built over the years.
The Heart of This Community
This space exists because you show up. You read, you cook, you share, and you pass these ideas along to your families and friends. Knowing that something I’ve shared has found a place in your home, your holiday table, or your traditions is truly the greatest gift.
Your loyalty since 2012 has allowed me to continue doing what I love, and for that, I will always be thankful.
Wishing You a Season Full of Joy
As we celebrate the holidays, I hope your days are filled with:
- Delicious food and cozy kitchens
- Laughter with family and friends
- Peace, comfort, and cherished moments
May this season bring warmth to your heart and joy to your home, and may the coming year be filled with health, happiness, and plenty of homemade goodness.
The holiday season has a special way of slowing us down and inviting reflection. As the year comes to a close, I find myself thinking about gratitude, tradition, and the incredible community that has grown here over the years. Today, I want to pause and speak directly to you, the readers, followers, and friends who have supported me since 2012.
What began more than a decade ago as a simple passion has become a meaningful part of my life, and that is entirely because of you. I love that we have a community to share ideas with and talk with one another in the comments.
A Journey That Started With Heart
When I first began sharing recipes, stories, and everyday moments back in 2012, I never imagined the impact this space would have. It started with a love for home cooking, family traditions, and the belief that food brings people together. Over time, this blog grew into something much bigger than I ever expected.
You’ve been here through the early days, the learning moments, the growth, and the evolution. Through holidays, seasons, and countless shared meals, you’ve continued to show up, and that means everything.
More Than Recipes & Emergency Preparedness—It’s About Connection
This space has always been about more than just recipes or words on a screen. It’s about the memories created around the table. It’s about families cooking together, traditions being passed down, and comfort found in familiar dishes.
Knowing that something I’ve shared has been part of your holidays, weeknight dinners, and memorable moments is genuinely humbling. Every comment, message, and shared post reminds me that this community is built on genuine connection.
Gratitude for a Community That Feels Like Family
To those who have followed me since 2012, thank you for your loyalty and trust. You’ve watched this space grow and evolve, and you’ve continued to support it year after year. To those who joined along the way, thank you for becoming part of this journey and helping this community flourish.
Your encouragement fuels my passion and inspires me to keep creating. Because of you, this blog remains a place of warmth, comfort, and shared experiences.
The Meaning of the Holidays
The holidays are a reminder of what truly matters: time together, meaningful traditions, and gratitude for the blessings we often take for granted. They are about gathering around the table, sharing stories, and savoring moments that become memories.
My wish for you this season is simple:
- Peace in your busy days
- Joy in your gatherings
- Comfort in your traditions
- Warmth in your homes
- Staying healthy
- Staying safe
May your kitchen be filled with the smells of home-cooked meals, and your heart filled with love and laughter.
Looking Ahead With Hope and Gratitude
As we step into a new year, I’m filled with appreciation for what has been and excitement for what’s ahead. I look forward to continuing this journey with you, sharing more recipes, stories, and moments that make life meaningful.
Thank you for allowing me to be part of your lives for so many years. I’m still working on all my recipes for a cookbook, which I will share with you.
125 Preparedness Items You Need To Stock
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Final Word
As this chapter of the year closes, I want to leave you with my heartfelt thanks. This blog exists because of you. I have lost two friends to accidents or health reasons, and I still miss them to this day. Thank you for welcoming me into your homes, your kitchens, and your holiday traditions. Thank you for trusting me with your time and allowing this space to be part of your everyday life. It is a privilege to share this journey with you.
As we move into a new year, I hope that we continue to create memories together, one recipe, one story, and one shared moment at a time. May the coming year bring health, happiness, comfort, and countless reasons to gather around the table. Thank you for making this journey so meaningful. I pray for a peaceful New Year; may God bless this world. Linda
As I write this from clear-skyed Myrtle Beach, SC w/ a high of 71 predicted for today, I wish you peace, love & blessings, Linda. Thank you for all you’ve shared over the years. Many of us live in places which are better for us. Today’s temp & warmth sure beats 100 inches of snow & freezing temps in mid-state NY, where I grew up. I know, I know…it’s sometimes very hot here in the summer, but thank goodness for the invention of air conditioning. It’s all about counting our blessings & the reason for the season!
Hi Janet, oh I bet its beautiful and sunny where you live! Last night for our annual family Christmas party, we had the doors open! It’s usually snowing on Christmas, it had a bit of rain but the weather was beautiful! Merry Christmas, my sweet friend, Linda
Linda: The wife of our church’s pastor must have something similar as you have. I thought of her when I was reading your responses just now. She has a hard time breathing too & was told it’s the result of having Covid back in 2020. Perhaps she has other same symptoms as you do. We’ve been praying for her for several months now. Like you, she has a heart of gold, so it’s hard to imagine such physical problems pulling people down. Love you, girl!
Hi Janet, oh, my gosh, I need to give you some more information about me. I hope it will help someone else like your Pastor’s wife. Mark and I went to England and Paris in January 2020 for my 70th birthday. I have a daughter who works for the airlines so don’t think this trip was expensive. LOL! We buy groceries in the stores in other countries because the food is cheaper there compared to here in the US. We do not eat out when we travel. Although I did get fish and chips in England at a restaurant, oh my gosh, I will tell you that story another day. LOL! Before we left for our trip I kept telling Mark I didn’t feel good but our grandson was playing volley ball for Nottingham University in England to get his Masters Degree, so I had to go. I love that guy so much. Covid had just been rumored about in January of 2020.
For about three months I couldn’t walk ten feet before I was out of breath. Silly me, I thought it was because I was overweight and never exercised. I couldn’t walk to any of the venues on our trip because I couldn’t breathe. Literally. I had a stash of antibiotics in my purse so I took some that work for pneumonia which I thought I had once we got on the plane. My back hurt so bad, a sign of Covid. No idea what I had. I was not going to go to a hospital in another country. Nope, I would not. I was having a hard time breathing the entire trip, wheezing so bad I thought I was going to die.
I had trouble breathing from September 2019 until we discovered I needed oxygen 24/7.
The doctors did not figure it out. Have your friend get an Oximeter https://amzn.to/4qddclf. It shows your oxygen level AND how hard your heart is working to get oxygen through your body. The doctors in St. George should have recognized I needed oxygen. Whenever I went to the doctor they put that oximeter on you finger, mine was 82-83. It must be at least 90 or go to the ER immediately. The nurses would ask me for years, are you a smoker or have you ever smoked, I would say no. They would tell me to take a really deep breath to get it up to 90 before I would see the doctor.
Fast forward to moving to Northern Utah, (it’s really bad for my health here, the air is bad AND the elevation is too high for me). In April 2024, I went to urgent care and my oxygen was 66, if I had stayed home i would have died. I had the Norovirus and was having trouble catching my breath. They gave me 6 liters of oxygen and transported me by ambulance to a well known hospital in Utah. I never saw a doctor, I guess everyone I was supposed to see that weekend was off for the weekend. I was supposed to see a Cardiologist and Pulmonologist. Nope, I never saw a doctor. I finally asked what’w wrong with me, everyone is wearing protective wear. They said I had the Norovirus. Okay, here’s where it gets scary. My daughter kept asking me “why aren’t they sending you home with oxygen”. She has a friend with COPD, I do not have that. When the caseworker came to check me out of the hospital 3 days later, she looked at my oxygen levels and said why is your oxygen turned off? Well, it was hooked to my face, I had no idea I was not getting oxygen. My daughter called the hospital from California and said you cannot send my mom home without oxygen. Her oxygen is 82-84. Here I am, I’ve never been on oxygen, what a nightmare. They fixed that immediately, I NEVER saw a doctor for three days, I call it my $12,000.00 hotel with a lousy mattress weekend.The nurses showed me where to click to turn the machines off if they buzzed and turn them back on. Did, I complain, yes, indeed. About 4 months later. I will never go to that hospital ever. Sorry, so long. Your pastors wife needs to be her own advocate. Please call me if you have any questions. Linda
Oh my gosh. A chance to go to Europe & all you had was a miserable time just getting through all that. And then, more problems once you were home again. Dear Lord, please help Linda. My pastor’s wife has been receiving the best of care here locally. She’s also been to a great hospital in Charleston, SC where she’s gotten good answers & a diagnosis. She & her family now know more of what’s going on. I’m the one who can’t remember the terms of the diagnosis or it’s name, but I know her family does. I’m sorry if I confused you into making it sound like THEY don’t know what’s going on; they do. I know she has breathing problems. I do NOT know if she is being treated w/ oxygen, but it sure seems like she must be. Since I only hear about all this from her preacher husband on Sundays, I’m possibly in the dark about a lot of what’s going on. I’m not naturally nosey about such things; that’s probably to my detriment at times. Sorry.
P.S. I used to work for American Airlines back in the late 80’s-early 90’s. I went to Paris for a “training trip” one year w/ some of my co-workers who also handled overseas flight bookings. They stayed for a 24-hour period & then went home. I stayed for another week in Paris all by myself & saw all the wonderful sights by myself, thanks to 3 yrs of French in high school & a couple more semesters in college. C’est bien!!
Hi Janet, oh my gosh, you probably fell asleep reading my “thesis, LOL”! My daughter works for a subsidiary of American Airlines. Wow, that French class came in handy! I’m so sorry I bored you to death about my health issues. I’m such a private person but I thought if I could help someone I would tell them what happened to me. Now the whole world knows, such is life! You are the best! Linda
Merry CHRISTmas from Texas, and my heart to yours. I pray that you have a blessed day. Today is a day for Love and Forgiveness to all, but family in particular. At least it’s what I feel in my family. Have the best that life has to offer. As Tiny Tim once said, “God bless us every one!”
Hi Deborah, today will be a wonderful day for all of us, Tiny Tim was right! Merry CHRISTmas my sweet friend, Linda
Merry Christmas to you and yours Linda!
Hi Paula, thank you my sweet friend! Merry Christmas to you! Linda
Thank you Linda for the many years of helpful and enjoyable posts!
We truly understand the need to breathe! Due to damaged lungs from picking up a serious illness unknowingly until it was too late, nearly 50 years ago, my husband David can no longer live in the high altitude and deal with the snow shoveling etc. We’re very blessed to have him here with us still and especially that all our children and grandchildren live here in Arizona nearby too!
We feel so blessed and love our Christmas memories and traditions with family!
You have given so much Linda and we know you’ve got a lot more to share and lift others up with! You have a great gift for this! Thank you again and Merry, merry Christmas to you and your dear family! Hugs! David and Tana
Hi David and Tana, thank you for your kind words. My lungs were damaged by Covid possibly and several bouts of pneumonia and Influenza A. I have scar tissue, I never would have guessed I would be on oxygen. I have family living in Phoenix and Flagstaff. I wish I could move, but it’s not possible. Meery Christmas and hugs, Linda
I’m enjoying a bit of peace for a few moments before going in the kitchen to put the annual Christmas morning brunch together. This tradition is so old and loved in our family! Then family will show up and Christmas morning will explode with the joy of being together enjoying good food, opening gifts, and remembering the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Thank you Linda for the years of wonderful blogs helping us get prepared, recipes, and information. Merry Christmas to all from Northern Utah (where we are in the 50’s during the day and getting rain instead of cold & snow – the weather is bonkers).
Hi Kay, the weather really is bonkers this year! LOL! I can almost visualize your house filled with your brunch ready to serve and the memories your family makes every year! What a blessing. Linda
Thank you Linda for all you’re teaching us and for your wonderful and dedicated service to us. I think the one thing I’ve most loved of all you’ve shared is your Emergency To Go Binder. I’ve completed one for my husband and I and I made another one for my daughter. I feel so much better now I have my binder and it’s in the bag you suggested. We live in tornado country and we have a storm shelter. Every time we get ready to go down in our shelter, that’s the first thing I grab. I pray we’ll never lose our home, but knowing I have the most important items with me is such a comfort not to speak of it’s convenient knowing when I need something important, I know exactly where to look. It’s all in one place. Thank you so much for putting that together. I’ve even shared it in workshops that I’ve taught for preparedness and I’ll be doing it again in March.
I’m so sorry to hear about your health. I’ll be praying for you. Thank you again Linda. God bless you and have a very Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas, Linda, and to all the FSM extended family. You have done so much for all of us over the years, and we are definitely grateful. May God grant you blessings and lift you up every day. We pray for miracles to help and cure those with health issues. Be safe and well. And thank you.
Hi Terry, thank you for your words, my sweet friend. We really do have a wonderful FSM community here! Life is good! Merry Christmas, my sweet friend, Linda
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Linda. May a multitude of blessings be yours.
Hi Ray, thank you my sweet friend. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and Jane. Linda
Merry Christmas to all and here’s to a better New Year. We had family here, smaller due to the passing of some, others in different states. But we are doing well and enjoying the holidays
Hi Kathy, I’m sorry to hear you had some family members pass, but happy you had some come to visit you this year! I’m glad you are doing well. Linda
I bless the day I found you Linda. You and your followers have added so much to my life. We saw our great grandson for the first time last night. Just having our family together was the best night. Please Linda and everyone have the merriest of Christmas and a safe and healthy New Year
Hi Chris, thank you for your kind words, my sweet friend! Oh my gosh, you saw your great grandson last night? What a blessing! What a great night for you and your family. Yes, please let’s all stay safe and healthy! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Linda
Thanks so much, Linda, for all the time and knowledge you share with all of us! I’ve learned much and have put what I can into practice. One of my gifts to my family this year was their own seat belt cutter/window breaker tool. Love those prepper gifts! I hope you are having a lovely Christmas season and that you have a wonderful new year! “Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and let all that is within me bless His holy name.” Psalm 103:1
Hi Lisa, thank you for your kind words, my sweet friend. Thank you for the beautiful scripture, you are awesome! Happy New Year! Linda