Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread Speaks Love

**UPDATE** It is pure joy to give! Loaves delivered to neighbors, teachers, friends, and some new friends under the overpass on Nees Ave. I feel so blessed to have an oven, pans, and ingredients to have made them.

Eighteen mini loaves are in the oven as I pen this post (of course while listening to Kari Jobe's Christmas album, wearing my apron from Papua New Guinea.)

The purpose of the bread: to bless others with something savory, with the desire that it will make their day and that each would sense the Lord's matchless love for them.

It is funny how the small things in life shout "JESUS", isn't it? A precious friend of mine gave me a gift a couple of months ago that permeated Christ. When I opened the many gifts within the bag, I felt the love and affection of the Lord, which brought me to tears. Everything I pulled out of the brown bag was given with thoughtfulness and intention. O how I wanted to give her gifts in return, because it blessed me so...not out of obligation, but because of the overflow of love I received from her. God, our Father, loves us this way--He first loved us, so we can now love! When we know His love for us, He fills our hearts with His love and our only response is to love others.

As the smell of fall spices fill the kitchen, my heart is swelling even more so than a couple of moments ago, that some how, some way (by God's grace) each of the 18 people receiving a mini loaf will know how loved they are by Jesus Christ. Lord, show us Your glory today!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

3 cups white sugar

1 15 oz. can of pumpkin puree

1 cup vegetable oil

2/3 cup water

4 eggs

3 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon

1 Tablespoon ground nutmeg (I use 1/2 T.)

2 teaspoons of baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoon of salt

1 cup of miniature chocolate chips (I use the normal size and I love it this way)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottoms of three 9 x 5 inch loaf pans (or 8 mini loaf pans).

2. In a large bowl, combine sugar, pumpkin, oil, water, and eggs. Beat until smooth. Blend in flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt. Fold in chocolate chips. Fill pans.

3. Bake for 1 hour for regular loaves or 35 minutes for mini loaves. Cool on wire rack.

4. Enjoy with apple cider and give some away!

Out of the oven. Next step to write notes and wrap them up all cutsie. Then, deliver and pray.

Kylen Turns 16!

Kylen Jabez Downs turned 16 on September 23rd! I snapped this as he was heading to school. What a gift our son is to us.

Kylen, God has graced you with a discerning heart, a warm smile, and a desire to play! It is wonderful to watch you discover how He has made you like no other, all for His glory!

I have a feeling you are becoming passionate about Firefighting! Wherever the Lord leads you in on earth, may you shine His light to all. It is an honor to be your mom. I love you more than I can convey in words.

Grocery Bag Holder!

completed this just a few minutes ago! Now we have something to hold all of they grocery bags we have laying around our pantry. :)

Bag #2

I completed this last night!!!!

i have no idea how to turn the pictures, so just turn your head!!!!!!!

Sewing with JUJU :)

So... after an hour or more at Barns and Noble, my mom bought me a sewing book. So a hobby started to kick in. Before I knew it, I found myself in the blazing heat of the garage, sorting though my moms old sewing stuff. After sorting, unknotting, cutting, and untangling the string, I finally set up shop and before I knew it, I had completed a glasses case. Wanting a challenge, I started on a harder project. A DJ bag... skill level pro. After about an hour, I decided that I didn't need the directions... so I found myself doing my own thing. When I started up on it again this morning, the consequences started to kick in. Soon I found myself sitting and ripping out seams. But after a couple tries (and more ripping) I had a completed bag!