They Tell You To Sort, But They Don't Tell You What to Look For

I just got back from Wal-mart about 20 minutes ago, and as much as I hate to start reading recipes right at this moment, it's something I must do. Otherwise I'll start wondering what we'll have for dinner around 4:00 tomorrow afternoon, at which point I'll realize I don't have time to start anything, and Michael will wind up getting pizza again. One of the items that made my list last night was Red Beans and Rice. The dry red beans are soaking in the kitchen even now, as are a pound of black beans I'll be using in Taco Soup sometime in the next six to eight days.

When I was a kid I had no interest in learning how to cook. I always preferred to read a book and usually I did. In college I was always in class during "family" meals at the Chi Alpha Girl's House, and when I was home I was never REALLY home, so I never learned how to do all these basic things that I've had to figure out over the past nine years. My mom has been a tremendous help, but it has only been in recent years that I've started asking her questions. My friend Melanie has been a tremendous help as well, and Anne Miller has shown me a few tricks here and there that have made a big difference. Did I forget to mention my mother-in-law, Carol, or my friend Heather. Have I mentioned lately that I just adore Heather?

I've only been soaking dry beans for about the past nine months, and that only occasionally, so I haven't yet figured out all the ins and outs. The package says to rinse and sort, which I attempt to do, but I'm not quite sure what I'm meant to be sorting out. Sometimes I wonder why it's taken nine years for me to figure out how to prepare sides to go with a meal. Other times I realize that in some areas you need a lot of experience with the simple things before the more complicated become graspable. There's got to be a life-lesson in there somewhere.

Anyway, the red beans are for dinner tomorrow night, and the black beans are for later. I figured that since I had four bags of dry beans to cook I might as well do two a day for the next couple of days so that I don't get stuck trying to find three large bowls to fill with beans and water at once. As usual, I don't know whether or not the recipe will be any good because I've never made it before. But hey, it'll have red bell pepper in it, so it can't be too bad.

By the way, I bought a belt for Parker at the thrift store this morning. Didn't bother to try it on him because I didn't want to have to get him in and out of the stroller an extra time. I was more concerned that it was going to be to large than anything else. I got it home and it was too small.

While I was at Wal-mart this evening two nice day brightening things happened. First, I got to stop and talk to my Dad's student and his wife who have been visiting our church recently. They are a stunning couple, and extremely friendly. Second, the lady who checked me out at Sam's Club pointed out that my lettuce was already wilty. She rang the bag up, and then let me go back and pick out another one. I never would have noticed, would have gotten home and realized tomorrow that my lettuce was already going bad. I appreciate it when someone does me a favor out of no where, with no expectation of receiving anything in return. I think I experienced this in both instances while I was shopping tonight. I consider these small kindnesses little gifts God gives us, reminders that we are loved. Then I see the man in the rain with a sign that says "I am homeless, and hungry" and I have nothing to give him. In my spare moments I think that I should pack sandwiches before ever going to the store, but it never happens. And then I purchase only the things I need to carry out a specific plan for me and my family so that I have nothing in the car that I can spontaneously offer that will meet a stranger's need. Why am I imagining the Facts of Life Theme Song?