One of the presents I received for Christmas was a beautiful collage and lots of family pictures to fill it with.

We had scheduled a photo session with our photographer friend, but due to The Boy getting hurt we had to cancel and then due to a series of unfortunate events, we were not able to reschedule  I was bummed.

Unbeknownst to me, my oldest son and his wife secretly had a photo session with the young kids while I was running an over night EMT shift.

Beautiful A

E”s got personality.

A, The Boy and E

That’s our pup Wesson causing trouble.

The future of America…

I was so surprised and touched. Do I have great(and super cute) kids or what?!

As a reminder, for the past year or so my husband and I have been trying to get our school district to take proactive measures to help protect the children who attend schools here. We are not people who believe it is possible to fully, 100%, guarantee anyone’s safety. It is possible that even with good solid plans in place and even if those plans are properly implemented, that harm could come to one of our children while in the care of the school. Life is a risk and we accept that, however, we also believe there are ways to up the odds in favor of preventing or limiting harm from anyone trying to commit a violent criminal act.

We have mostly received the polite smile and pat on the head treatment. After the events in Connecticut I wrote to the principal of our little one’s school and stated again that I hoped those in charge were not using the fingers crossed and hope nothing bad happens here approach. I informed them that if they did nothing more and something did happen here, it would not go unnoticed by me. I, once again, offered them a wide variety of resources to consult.

I do not think my meetings, phone calls, emails or strongly worded letters made a bit of difference, but I did receive a mass email that gave me hope they were listening to someone if not me. I see a lot of very positive statements.

JOINT TASK FORCE SETS SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM GOALS FOR SCHOOL SAFETY MEASURES

Members of the Joint Task Force include Dr. XXX XXX, XXX School Superintendent, Sheriff XXX, and XXX, XXX County Administrator, as well as staff from each entity including fire and rescue and principals. The purpose of the Joint Task Force is to streamline communications between entities and create efficiencies in the review, development, and implementation of safety measures. The group will meet on an ongoing basis to discuss the progress of school safety enhancements. The next Joint Task Force meeting is planned for early January.

We shall see what, if any action actually comes from this.

Tonight on that crazy little social network known as FaceBook, Bob from Gun Politics Blog posted a link to story on a “successful” gun buy back campaign in Connecticut.

The thinking of some people perplexes me to no end(not Bob, the folks in that state:) What on earth does the mass shooting in Newtown have to do with your gun? Honestly, if you own a gun and you are inspired to get rid of it based on the actions of a crazed murderer, I think that tells us a little something about what you think about yourself. It tells us that you identify yourself with a killer. When I heard the news of the shooting at no time did I think about my gun. It was on my hip and it never crossed my mind. I never equated what happen at that school with me or my firearm. I am not a murderer. Nothing about that man or what he did made me reevaluate myself or my ownership of firearms. There is not a thing that could ever cause me to use my gun in such a horrific way. NOTHING! The only thing I identified with that day was the victims. I thought of myself being in a school unarmed, I thought of my children and their safety. I thought about the pain and suffering of the survivors and the nightmarish existence of those poor parents having to live the rest of their lives without their precious children. I can’t imagine any human being thinking anything else.

Either that or somehow from that beyond tragic event, where unarmed people were brutally murdered, these gun owners, who volunteering turned in their means to self protection, thought their life and that of their family’s wasn’t worth defending. Those in that school had no way to fight back and to you that seems like a super plan? What are you thinking??

Unless you are planning on using your gun to kill or giving it/selling it to someone who is, your buy back is nothing more than another thing to make you feel good. Listen closely to what has been said a million times by a million smart folks…your feel good move WILL NOT make a flying flipping bit of difference in terms of keeping your kid, my kid, any kid safe in schools, movie theaters, banks, parks…

So when another attack happens because no effective change took place I hope you are still feeling good about yourself. As for me, I prefer to do what at least has a chance of working. You will not be getting my gun. Not for 200 bucks or for $500 or for $1000 or…you get the picture.

There is really nothing new here. I have said all this before, but each time there is some kind of crisis people start looking for help. This is good or at least is better than not looking. Although, a proactive approach instead of a reactionary one should be our goal, so in that vain, let’s talk, again, about what we can do now to be more prepared for the future…Whatever it may hold.

I once received a comment on my blog that I was preaching to the choir. That no one that needs to hear what I have to say is listening anyway.

The many emails waiting for me this morning very much dispute that fact. Lots of what gun should I buy, where can I get ammo and the full on panic, WHAT SHOULD I DO are the main themes.

However, the comment made about no listening may be mostly true a lot of the time. Otherwise I wouldn’t be getting the emails now.

But, from the comments I get here, on FB and the daily emails I receive many people that is starting to change. Those who have not prepared at all or very little are reading my blog and lots of others too.

I know the general reaction from some long time preppers is that these people are sheep and should have thought about this before and too bad, so sad, but that is not my perspective.

There are people, who like a person I used to know told me she knows she isn’t prepared and knows she could not save her kids from a bad guy attack, but she is fine with that. She isn’t going to make any changes. She is probably going to conform and stick her head in the sand hoping and praying nothing bad happens to her and she is not alone. I pray no harms comes to her or anyone as well, but for those people (and there are many) who want to do something in addition to prayer I am glad your looking and asking now.

The first step is to remember not to let the current state of things get you down. As I have said again and again in my post…Do Not Freak Out!

I understand how hard it is to catch up. I have 4 children who live in my house. Six people plus a son, DIL and grandbaby that will end up here if things get ugly. That’s a lot of mouths to feed, tons of bodies to keep clean, healthy, and not to mention protect.

Thinking about guns, ammo, water, food, alternative sources of heat, first aid, plus learning new skills seems overwhelming. In addition to buying those extra items and adding to my skills set, my husband and I have to maintain our life. Our kids still want to have a special birthday meal or new clothes or go on vacation. We, essentially are a one income family with lots-o-kids. Trust me when I say both time and money are at a premium here.

I can’t go off to every knife class out there and I worry my skills are no where near adequate to fend off the bad guy, but I do know I am better and more skilled now than I was last year at this time.

Whatever you do be sure you learn from your experience. If you waited to buy a certain kind of gun or gun part or ammo and now are in the Oh Shit crowd, learn from it! Apply that knowledge to get yourself ready in other areas.

If for some reason the gun or ammo you want or need is currently unavailable or too expensive then refocus somewhere else.

The money you planned to spend on ammo can go towards food or water storage. Maybe buy that heater that doesn’t depend on electricity. If a gun course is booked or not feasible due to ammo shortage take a different self defense course. Maybe Krav Maga or a knife course. Sign up for a first aid class or build up your home medical kit.

Suppose your still a lurker and haven’t done a thing to plan then may I suggest, even if you are not ready to accept the way the world is going, at least take the time (30minutes) to search the Internet on people effected by natural disasters. Hurricane Sandy is enough of an example, but by no means the exception…no food, no water, unsanitary conditions, price gauging, looting, little to no government help…

Some skills to be able to keep the looters away, a little extra water, some food and a decent first aid kit is a great start.

Do not use lack of ammo as your excuse to panic and do nothing. The more scared and unsure you feel probably means there is plenty you could be doing.

Look around at all the crazy gun/prepper folks. Those that started before us. Those with guns and ammo and food and skills…do they look nervous?

No.

And why?

Because they are prepared. The more prepared you are the more relaxed you are. I don’t worry about things I worried about 2 years ago because I have a plan and a way to implement that plan. Eventually you will be so well prepared that you will have multiple ways to handle whatever is thrown your way.

In a total collapse situation everyone is gonna suffer. Being prepared will not mean you or I are immune to difficulties, but it does mean we have a better chance of not only surviving, but doing it in a less devastating way.

Some resources for you. While you will find info on guns on these blogs, they also offer very practical, doable, realistic ideas and suggestions for other ways to prepare.

Patriot Nurse

Trace My Preps

Active Response Training

Tales From The Clothesline

I know I have been neglecting you all and for that I apologize. My computer died a few weeks back and trying to post, especially pictures using this IPad is a nightmare. I took over 400 pics between Christmas and a range day, but there isn’t an SD card slot on the iPad, so emailing them, saving them, sorting and trying to get them to load right in the post is more frustration than I was willing to endure.

I have opted for using my AGirl Facebook until I can get a new computer(which I am on my way to do). I can quickly add a pic from my phone or share a thought in between dinner and a movie with the kids over there. It’s not the same and I miss my blog interactions, but I don’t get a headache from it. Please forgive me.

I am hopeful that later today or tomorrow I will have a real post up, but either way I do want to wish everyone a Very Happy New Year!

Thank you all for your continued support. I get great satisfaction from writing and sharing part of my life with you. You make me laugh and you make me think. Two of my all time favorite things!!!

Looking forward to spending 2013 together.

Be blessed! Be safe! Be determined!

We have a closet down in our basement that is full of old boxes. I am not one to keep things. I hate clutter, but over the years I have allowed a few boxes for each person that hold a few things which represent the personality, character and/ or contain an item of value to members of the family. It is a way to preserve our history.

When my grandfather died my father gave me several boxes that were of value to my grandfather. My father didn’t want them. The boxes have items in them that have little pieces of family history. My family is actually, sort of, prominent in Illinois if you can believe that. Our family home is now a museum and every 10 years there is a town play depicting our heritage. The town library has a big book that includes my children’s names. I have a brick in my family room from the original outhouse that was destroyed a few years ago. I know, a brick from on outhouse…don’t be jealous. There is even a street named AGirl. Ok, not AGirl. It’s actually my maiden name Gottschalk. Homewood, Illinois. Kind of a dirty town. A very dirty town. It’s demise is sad.

I digress.

One of the boxes is full of newspaper clippings of when my cousin Billy died in Vietnam.
My passive nature runs deep. My cousin wanted to join the Marines and be a helicopter pilot. He wanted to defend his country, but my family they are not fighters. My aunt, a lovely woman, convinced Billy that he should be a rescue pilot. To fight was not honorable. If he insisted on going to war he should be on the side of saving.

It cost him his life.

On a mission to a rescue others, he was shot down.

His name is on The Wall in DC. William Gottschalk.

Now, in all fairness, even those who fought on the offense died. Many died. Many, many, many. There are no guarantees.

That is the fallacy of the pacifist. The “peace” loving. The “good”. They believe there is a moral superiority to being a victim. Somehow there is a higher value in laying down and taking it. They don’t actually want to lie down, but believing in the power of doing so, that makes them immune.

I am here to tell you, there is no such immunity.

Those in power, the ones telling you that you are kinder and more gentle if your turn in your weapons, they are not going to take it. The President isn’t going to take it. He has armed security because he feels that his life is far more valuable than yours or mine. Of course, he should be protected by the the best of the best at tax payers expense. Again, in all fairness, if we are going to compare lives of worth, his does rank at the top. He is after all the leader of the Free World…well, semi-free world, well, America. We are free right?

Anyway, the point is, he is important. You and me, not so much.

I wonder when my children lay their heads down at night as they close their eyes and drift peacefully off to sleep if they do so believing Obama will protect them or if they do so knowing their father and I will.

I wonder who they think has more value…

Eric in Texas left a link on my blog and so, of course, I clicked and read the story. It’s powerful story. At least to me it is.

It’s story that brought back feeling of fear and emotion that I hadn’t felt in a very long time. I am still surprised how quickly I can be transported back to the days following my mugging. But, today I felt a different fear.

Back then I was afraid of being hurt, of not being strong enough, mentally or physically, to protect myself and my children. Now, the fear is of being forced to be defenseless. I am not panicking or freaking out as I am not even sure what is even true right now, but just the thought of not having access to my gun terrifies me. I would like to say it doesn’t. That I am cool, calm, and ready for anything, but I am not.

I am not willing to give them up. I shouldn’t have to.

I have a couple of posts milling around in my head on a few things and plus I want to share with younmy fabulous Christmas festvities, but I am having to much fun with the kids on break(although a couple of them are currently sick) to actually sit-down and write, so in the mean time here are a few blogs you should visit.

I have admired and respected The Gun Divas for a long time. This post only adds to that. I am new to the gun world an wasn’t paying attention during the last assault weapons ban, so I am not sure how much trouble we are in here, but it feels like it’s a heap. I hope more gun owners get vocal. Not rude and obnoxious, but visible and loud enough to be heard. I hear there is power in numbers.

Although Michael Bane has some thoughts on just how much trouble is brewing.

Monty on Guns doesn’t blog much, but when he does, he does it well.

And lastly, Greg reminds us what all this fighting is for in the first place. I have written a few posts with similar sentiment, however, visiting the murder capital of the word all by myself is just a little too much fun for me. I do still travel to DC, New York, Chicago and I will return to California one day to take my kiddos to San Simeon. Just because these places are gun free for the law abiding, doesn’t mean they are self defense free.

Also, I bought a pressure cooker and some canning things, so this weekend the fam and I will be working a way. Wish us luck!

I received an email asking permission to repost Melissa’s article. It was from a gentleman in the UK who had this to say…

“I live in a country where handguns are banned, and even our Olympic Pistol shooting team has to travel to another country to practice. In the UK, there is an almost country-wide ban on all sorts of firearms, except for the police, who are supposed to be unarmed, but who more and more frequently are seen in public with firearms, usually Hechler & Koch semi-automatic rifles. Here the people who have firearms are criminals, and a farmer who shot a burglar with a shotgun was (a) imprisoned for shooting said burglar, and (b) sued by said burglar for injuring him.

Kind regards”

I am not sure the validity of this article. I keep thinking it is some sort of Onion type article because the insanity of it is beyond, well, insane. It is the BBC, so it appears to be an actual story even if the source appears to be off mark on occasion.

Kitchen knives. Kitchen knives…