Why stock up?

I'm still dealing with some kind of a bug or something. Yesterday I had to skip church and ended up sleeping off and on. Today I'm still quite weak but I've been able to get some basic housework and laundry done... so I'm (hopefully) on the mend.

There was a comment left on the Sunday Afternoon Tea post, asking what is the purpose of stocking up for a month or so in case of emergency. That's a great question.

Actually, I live much like those who came before me (especially both sets of our parents and all of our grandparents) who kept a pantry and "deepened" it as they could. In our case, we add to the pantry when financially able and whenever possible we purchase items when they are on sale. It's just a way of life.

We feel it is a frugal way of living and shopping and helps us get through the lean times when we're living only on our Social Security. I've written lots about how we came to be in these circumstances, not what we expected at all when we were younger. :)

I find having the items I use most in the pantry and freezer to be freeing when doing my daily cooking and baking. It also keeps me from having to drive into town for an emergency grocery store run (most of the time).

However, some people who have never deepened their pantry are feeling like they should do so in these uncertain times. It is insurance you can eat in a time of rising food prices, should you lose a job, or there be some disruption to the trucking industry. As I've written before, my friend in New Mexico found the shelves in her grocery stores empty for awhile when trucks were diverted after Hurricane Katrina.

I believe the Government is now suggesting more food "put back" then they used to after seeing what happened after Katrina, too. If a family has their own extra supply of food, water, and other essential items then they don't have to depend on help from the government. They may find they are able to be of help to others during an emergency.

In my own family, we have been so thankful to have food in the pantry and freezer after job losses, first due to the economy and later illness. There was one time we were employed and doing well financially and we were able to take from our pantry and freezer to help our best friends when they went through a job loss.

I have learned (and am continuing to learn) not to do anything out of fear as you are so right, food can run out and then what do we do? Well, all we can do is what we personally feel God is leading and then trust Him for the rest. My trust is not in my pantry, or my bank account, or another person... but in His promises which have proven worthy in the past. Believe me, my pantry items would not last very long these days. :)

The Bible talks about faith, patience, experience, and hope... one coming after the other. When one has walked through many storms of life and finds themselves able to look back and see answers to prayer (often only seen in retrospect)... then a pantry becomes practical but not an idol.

Someone else asked about lists for a pantry... there are quite a few available on the sidebar in the section where I have "Pantry" links. I use my typed out and printed grocery list for most stocking up and then I'll look to see what other people consider important and add those items. I keep an overall stock up list in my scrapbook journal (with pretty cutout pictures on the side). :)

I'll add a few more pantry and recession posts this week.

ADDED NOTE: I forgot to tell you I added that delicious cheesecake recipe to my recipe blog.