Ok, this is just cool, watch the whole thing, it’s worth it.

Last winter I began to get back into camping. With the money I received for Christmas I began to buy the various items one needs to live outdoors. I searched the internet and began to research and purchase what I felt I needed (or had to have) – a tent, a backpack, a sleeping bag (actually 3), a mess kit, etc…. I won’t bore you with a complete list but you get the idea. Some items I bought worked great, others not so great, but at this point I feel like I have good equipment and am fine tuning my camping list. For example, I am currently assembling a survival kit to keep on me in case I am injured or lost in the wilderness. I know this is a random blog entry – but I thought it would be fun. What would you add to your survival kit? Did I miss anything?

Drew Boswell’s Survival Kit and Explanation:
1. Various fire starters: waterproof matches, tender, , military style one hand fire striker, firestarter sticks (magnesium), bic lighter.
• Redundancy – And take extras in case one method doesn’t work. (i.e. magnesium stick and a bic lighter)

2. fish hooks/lead weights
3. safety pins – for repairing clothing, or makeshift fish hook
4. flashlight (with batteries)
5. tea light candle
6. compass
7. whistle
8. pocket poncho – for water collecting, shelter, and high visibility
• Multiplicity – look for items that can be used for multiple tasks.

9. string and cord (fishing, fastening, sewing)
10. a needle with a large eye – sewing, makeshift compass
11. duct tape – for fastening and bandages
12. aluminum foil (heavy grade) – for boiling water and a make shift cup or bowl
13. pen/pencil and waterproof paper – leaving messages if you have to leave an area
14. wire – for traps or fastening
15. pocket Bible
• All of the lists I looked at, none had a Bible in the list. But if you are trying to survive one of the things to do is keep the mind calm and hopeful; what better than a Bible gives one hope?

16. magnifying glass/sheet – for starting fires
17. survival mirror – that can be seen at least ten miles away, checking for ticks in not so visible places
18. an energy bar
19. a knife or multi-tool – I also have a scalpel blade. The multi-tool is too big for the kit, so I have the scalpel as the emergency cutting instrument.
20. A storage bag/container to put it all in

Here are some things/questions that I thought of while putting the kit together:
• How much do you want to spend on something that you may never use? Do you want to skimp on the thing you are depending on to save your life? Do you want to waste your money on something like a Y2K scare that never happens? Where is the balance?

• One needs to familiarize oneself with the contents of the kit and to know how everything works before needing to use it for survival. I plan to practice with the magnesium stick once the weather breaks.

• The larger the kit, the less likely you are to carry it with you everywhere you go outdoors. I have a core kit that fits in a small plastic bag — see picture above (about the size on an altoid can), and the rest is in a bag that holds everything else.

I posted a blog on 1-18-09 in which I mentioned in passing “Hannah-Grace’s Whopper,” and have since had several people ask me what was the whopper. So, by popular demand, here we go.

Several weeks back H-G got off the bus and instantly began to weep and cry and came into the house an emotional mess. I was upstairs working on some things and after the crying continued for quite some time, I came down to see what was the matter.

As I entered the kitchen Kim was sending H-G up to her room. Kimberly told me that she had gotten into trouble at school and even had to go to the principal’s office for disobedience. Our kids know what will happen if they are disobedient to their teachers (or adults), so when I had all the details, I knew that she needed a pop. But as I was about to go up the stairs with a wooden spoon in my hand, Kimberly suggested that we call the teacher just to see what happened. So I called and left a message.

I then went upstairs to talk with H-G. She told me everything that Kimberly had told me – exactly. She went across and area in the classroom she was not supposed to go. She disobeyed several times. The teacher took to the office where the principal talked to her. As she was telling me the story in great detail, she was crying.

As I finished up our talk the phone rang and it was H-G’s teacher. I asked her what happened, and I began to explain what I was told. The teacher’s response was that H-G had an excellent day, that she was happy, and that her behavior was great. I didn’t know what to say, so I thanked the teacher for calling and letting me know what didn’t happen.

Why would H-G tell us a lie where she knew she would get into serious trouble? The bus ride from her school to our house in only a few minutes. Did she come up with this whole story in that amount of time? This is a first for us!

Today H-G and Caleb won awards for respect and responsibility and were recognized as a kid of character. Way to go kids!

Have you ever had one of those days? You know when the day swirls around you and at the end of the day you just want to collapse into the bed. For me it hasn’t been just a day but it’s been that way for over a month. Some of you may have even checked my blog a couple of times and have noticed that it’s been awhile since I have updated it. There has been so much that has happened — Here’s just a summary:
– Special Exceptions Approval
– Our Open House
– Cub Scout riding the Santa Train
– Hannah-Grace’s whopper
– Christmas Day
– Christmas Eve Service (Notice H-G’s Capri Sun)

Not to mention the normal drama. Our next hurdle is this coming Sat. and the Cub Scout Pine Wood Derby. So starting on Tuesday, the boys and I will begin construction. I’ll let you know how it goes.