Simple Way of Life

I think back to my grandparents and I had so much fun on their farm growing up. There was so much to do to be entertained. I would go and stay a week or two each summer. We didn't watch T.V.; we were outside during the day as there was always something to do on the farm. I remember helping my grandmother to gather the eggs and watching her clean them and prepare them for others who would purchase them from her. Monday was wash day and on Thursday she would get her hair done and we would go to the grocery store. She would buy me Chicklets gum. Ah, those were the days. Not a care in the world. She was never in a hurry and always took time to include me in what she was doing. I have to remember this. There are many days when I want to "get done" and I seem to always be in a hurry. This makes it hard to always include the kids in what I am doing. However, I am getting better at it. Days when I feel like I am never going to get out of the kitchen. Then, I count my blessings. The kids are no longer complaining that things don't taste as good as they used to (when they were processed) and they are more willing to try new things and help out. All this comes with time. Even though I feel there is never enough hours in my day, I try to always remember to count my blessings. We are feeling better, losing weight, and generally have more energy. Sometimes too much ... when some of us don't know when to stop (usually me). I find that we must seek out a more simple way of life. It won't just find us. I must schedule that time in if I want it to happen. All other things get put aside. I have found myself saying "no" to things that I wouldn't normally just say no to. I realize that if I take something else on, it will compromise my goal of a more simplier way of life. I challenge you all to do the same thing. Believe me, I know how hard it is to cut things out of our schedule. It is easier when something ends, to just not replace it. It doesn't always work, but that is our goal. Good luck! Posting some answers to some bean questions that I received: I soaked my Northern beans for 8 hours (during the day) and then I cooked them in a water level just above the beans in the pan for 45-50 minutes. Afterwards, I mixed them with some rice that I had cooked separately. My kids would never just eat the beans. However, mixing them with rice, they don't have a choice!