Fall Time Pumpkin Cake

We have been making this recipe since 2006! I think it was originally from Kraft Food & Family Magazine, but you know how that goes. We have a few recipes that have been written down on so many cards. There's a reason they are called family favorites! After describing this dessert to our guests, they usually give us a questionable look. It's always a good sign when they end up taking seconds. ;)

Ingredients
1 (18.25 oz.) Betty Crocker yellow cake mix

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup oil

1 (15 oz.) can of pumpkin

1/4 cup water

1 tsp cinnamon

4 large eggs or 1 cup liquid egg substitute

1 Cool Whip for topping (optional)

• Preheat oven to 350° F
• Lightly grease the bottom of a 9x13" glass pan. A standard size Bundt pan, or two 9-inch cake pans could also be used.
• In a large bowl mix together the yellow cake mix, sugar, oil, pumpkin, water, cinnamon, and eggs. Beat until well blended.
• Transfer to the baking dish or cake pans.
• Bake at 350° F for 45 minutes, cool on wire rack.
• Serve and top with Cool Whip. 

Wishing a happy Autumn to all of my followers. Let me know if you try the cake!

Retro Metro Bag Review & Updates

Hey guys! How was your Summer? Mine flew by! (it happens every time) I can hardly believe that it is already September. Temps in the 60s, and you know what that meaaans. #cozyclothes

1| It's officially been one month since I had all four of my wisdom teeth removed. I am so relieved that it's over. I never have to go through that again! One of the holes inside my mouth took it's sweet time closing. Good news! It is almost healed 100%. I'm looking forward to eating on both sides of my mouth. Woot!

2| My Thirty-One gifts Metro Retro Bag. This goes along with my surgery. At the time there was a fundraiser going on, and I felt it was necessary to buy myself a reward for facing my fears. I chose to have a special saying embroidered on the front. It's a reminder to stay positive. Even when life knocks you down, it is possible to never lose your smile! A little babycakes taught me that. This tote ended up being larger than I pictured, but it has quickly become my "go to bag" as I run out the door. Take a peek inside - there is a pocket for my phone, a spot for my lens cap, and a very handy clip for keys. I'm giving it two thumbs up!

3| A new book. I picked up a copy of Grace for the Good Girl back in December. I had plans to read it after I graduated. It's interesting that I always put reading off when it's nice outside. Now that it's getting colder outside, I just want to curl up with a good book. I started reading the first chapter today, and I can already tell that this is going to be a convicting read. There's nothing wrong with that! In order to change, you have to know what's wrong in the first place.

Five Minute Friday: Fall

I'm linking up with Lisa-Jo for Five Minute Friday! Join in on the fun! Today's word prompt is Fall.

GO

It was a perfect evening to go outside and weed. A chore everyone loves to do! I headed out back and started tackling the hill that we don't walk quite as much as we used to.

Every time I weed, I think about an illustration I once heard about dealing with sin. We need to get the whole root, and make sure we fill the void with something good.

Breaking sinful habit is never easy. When we try to fight on our own we lose focus. Satan's lies are believed, and we quickly find ourselves right back at square one.

Just the other day I was studying Israel. In the past I almost laughed at them as they wondered the desert. How could they so easily forget God and turn from Him? Now I realize that I am just like the individuals of this nation. Picture a circle and draw four points around it. Israel followed this cycle. 

1) Rejection of God

2) God delivered them into the hands of their enemies

3) Israel repented

4) They fell back into Sin

Anyone with a sinful nature knows this cycle too. We forget God in our sin.

"Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." 1 Corinthians 10:12

But there is hope and grace. We can rise from these ashes. Verse 13 goes on to say that God is faithful! He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to withstand. We can escape the trap of falling, get off the merry-go-round, but only with God's help. Resisting the devil = drawing near to our Savior.

Tonight is a wonderful night to remove unwanted things. Whether it's a sin that keeps repeating itself in your life, or weeds in your backyard.

STOP