Fast Friday, Fast

I am busy all day every day. Not having a formal job with an office I go to everyday. Its what I used to dream about. I'd sit and fantasize about all the things I could accomplish if I had more time and didn't spend the majority of it sitting in traffic, sitting in an office then sitting in more traffic. (That's a lot of sitting where you put it that way.) I could do so many of the things on my wish/dream list. Well it's been a year and while my first statement is true I am busy every day, I can't say it's because I have managed to whittle down my dream list. Here is the stark truth, when you have a whole bunch of time on your hands you are NOT more productive simple by virtue of time. There are so many things that are NOT EVEN on a list at all that I spend my time doing. Turns out they are important things but still not on the LIST.

As human beings we need structure it helps to manage those plans (LISTS) we have. I am never going to be a 'sit on the sofa all day and eat bon bons watching TV' kind of gal. For one thing I don't even have a TV, but we'll leave that alone for now too. I am a get up early and greet the day kind of gal, I am busy morning to night but without structure the Whirlwind takes over my tasks. I learned about the Whirlwind reading the

4 Disciplines of Execution, good book lots of applicable information. In essence if you don't schedule, save or block off time to do important things the less important things will just fill up the space.

With this in mind this Lent I plan so slow down on the weekends whenever possible. Fasting on Friday from anything that is not essential, making space for silence on Saturdays and clearing out junk from my life, then fellowship with God, family and friends on Sunday. Yesterday, I went to Mass (before I left I put all the ingredients for our soup in the crockpot), when I returned home I spent time writing about the day before and then finishing a lesson plan for the class I teach, that is all. We went to Stations of the Cross at the church in the evening and came home had dinner and read a book.

12 Bean Soup

3 cups dry bean mix (10, 12 or 15 bean mix is available.

Vegetable broth

Mirepoix Mix (at Trader Joes)

Cumin

Thyme

Rosemary

Garlic (no time to mince a clove? I used a Tablespoon of garlic paste)

Salt and Pepper

2 Tablespoons Sofrito bullion

Water add enough to fill the pot

Add all ingredient to crockpot and turn on low for 8 hours. Check the pot once about half way through cooking time (all of my liquid had absorbed so I added 2 more cups) stir the soup and let if cook. About 30-60 minutes before you plan to serve taste the soup. Add liquid and seasoning as needed. (I thought is was kind of bland either because I didn't add enough spices before or because I added more water at the half way point either way there was still time to give it a boost. I added more onions, another Tablespoon of Sofrito bouillon some celery seeds and 1 4oz can of mild chilis.) I garnished with a spoonful of sour cream, some shredded cheese, some chives and I fried up some flour tortilla points.

Serves 8