9 Months + Rice & Beans

So in the past few months of blog silence, the Ewens have just been truckin on.  We have enjoyed snow, lots of family time, and well, a little more family time. =)  We have just entered in to our 9th month with TJ looking for a new job.  Some days are frustrating, as we just still can't totally understand how it could be, considering he fills out handfuls of applications every week.  But we are still holding on to the knowledge that God has us in the place of life for specific reasons, some that we may never actually come to discover.

Though some days seem like hard times are knocking on our door, we easily forget, that even in our state of unemployment, we are better off than probably over 80% of the entire world.  We still choose what we want to eat every night (it may not be going out to eat, but that doesn't stop variety), and more often than not, we eat in our home for the pure pleasure of doing so.  Why? Well, because we can!

About a month ago, a guest speaker came to our church (I was actually gone that day, but TJ was there to hear her) from Portland, OR named Leisha Adams. Leisha spoke about a cause that she is involved in that asks people to eat nothing but rice & beans for the entire month of March.  Their website explains the reason why they ask this of people as follows:

"During March, we are gathering together as a global community to eat simple meals of Rice & Beans. We are doing this for three reasons:

1. Solidarity: To join brothers and sisters around the world with a commonly available dish.
2. Simplicity: To give up on wasteful and excessive consumption for one month.
3. Sharing: To give our savings to kids in East Africa that need help with their nutritional needs."

To read more about this amazing movement go to http://www.eatriceandbeans.com/.

So we decided this would be a great time to teach our kids (mainly our two older kiddos) about world poverty, as well as world unity.  About how we are lucky, and we have the ability to help.  Even in simple ways, like eating rice and beans for a month. I want my children to grow up with a broad awareness of the world around them; in all it's rawness. The beauty, the ugliness, but most importantly, the hope.  The hope that someday it will all be different. And you know what?  It's a great reminder for myself as well.  How quickly we can be consumed by self.  And how simply we can be reminded of something Bigger.

 To kick off our month of rice and beans, we decided to have a "Last Supper" of sorts.  We dressed up nice, lit some candles, and made a yummy dinner and really just enjoyed it.  We thanked God for our ability to choose what we want to eat, and then thanked him that we are never hungry. Then we prayed for those that are.  And that as we eat our rice and beans we will continue to remember to pray for those who are hungry.

The Last Supper.  TJ, are you giving me the finger?

Then we got to work for the next days r&b meal (we are only going to be doing r&b for dinners). I had Alexis join me in prepping the beans for the next night.  She was surprised to learn that most people in the world don't just open a can of beans for a meal.  Nope, they have dry beans that must be washed, measured and soaked overnight first.  It takes a lot of work. I love teaching my kids about work. =)

As we go through this month, I plan to blog about the different meals we make, the lessons we learn, and the gas that is sure to fill our comfy home.... Good thing I'm still allowed to by air freshener for the next 31 days!





Our big bags of really nice rice and our bags of dry beans.