Hienes White Bean Soup

This is a soup my mom used to make and I love!

2 cups white beans
12 cups water
4 pieces of bacon
1 c each chopped onions, celery, carrots
2 cloves garlic crushed
2 bay leaves
1 cup mashed potatoes instant
1/2 c half & half or whipping cream

Add everything except mashed potatoes and cream. Cover and cook for two hours. Add salt and pepper, potatoes and cover. Simmer for one hour. Add cream and cook twenty more minutes. Add water if too thick. Enjoy!