Fall is in the Air!

Fall is in the air! And more importantly it's in my mouth! Nothing says "Fall" like pumpkin chocolate chip bread- so delicious. I'm including the recipe below because it is just that good I want all of you to make it and see for yourselves (if you all lived in the same state as me I'd bring it to you, but seeing how most of you don't, it's unfortunately not very feasible). That will come later though (skip to the end if you want the recipe now). First, I want to reminisce on the other things that made it feel like the seasons were changing today: I wore a completely brown ensemble, complete with my new Burberry scarf; we carved pumpkins for family night; and we made cinnamon-sugar toasted pumpkin seeds for the treat! All of that, combined with looking forward to going to a corn maze this weekend with my family on our annual "College Cousin Group Date" makes for a wonderful changing of the seasons.

My cute roommates: Vale, Beckie, and me

with our pumpkin and roasted pumpkin seeds

Our pumpkin- drink, hamburger, and fries

(McDonald's fries, of course)

Change. It seems fitting to stop for a moment and realize the significance of change. Does it have any significance? I feel like I should have something profound to say here. I guess I'll just mention what's been on my mind. I feel like times of change are wonderful opportunities to look back and see how far we've come since the last time of change. How have I grown? What have I learned? If I haven't learned anything, how can I learn more this next time around?

Since the last time of change in my life (I'm thinking since school started and I returned back from my internship) I feel like I've had many opportunities to learn about relying on my Heavenly Father. I am not perfect, nor am I expected to be perfect (yet). Heavenly Father expects me to make mistakes. That's why He sent His Son to perform the atonement for us. Proclaiming perfection is, in essence, denying ourselves the blessings of the atonement. It's ok to make mistakes, and it's definitely ok to use the help afforded us by means of the atonement. As we work to know Christ better and rely on Him more, we'll find it easier to do so and it will become our first source of comfort- really the most sure source of comfort there is.

I hope you enjoy reflecting back on your own times of change... while eating pumpkin chocolate chip bread!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

(from the Ivory Favorites Cookbook)

5 eggs, well beaten

3 cups sugar

2 1.2 cups canned pumpkin (Libby brand is the only way to go)

2 cups corn oil (vegetable oil works too)

4 1/2 cups flour

1 1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

4 1/2 teaspoons soda

1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 1/2 teaspoons nutmeg

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 1/4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Cream eggs and sugar. Ad pumplin and oil. Add dry ingredients slowly and combine thoroughly. Fold in chocolate chips. Pour into 4 greased and floured (9"x 5") bread pans. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.