{Hope for the Home}: Pumpkins Galore...a pumpkin patch parable and pumpkin bread recipe!

As of this weekend, it's officially fall and I couldn't be happier!  We are planning a visit to the pumpkin patch to pick out a sweet pumpkin to grace our front porch...one of my favorite fall traditions.  After we pick out our pumpkin, I plan to read this book to Grayson:

The Pumpkin Patch Parable by Liz Curtis Higgs is a fabulous book about a farmer who grows all sorts of things on his farm...but especially pumpkins! It continues with the pumpkin-growing process and reflects on the patience and care that the farmer shows his pumpkins.  The book makes a parallel between the farmer planting and growing pumpkin seeds with how God plants seeds and grows us.  There is scripture on each page, scattered throughout the book.  Your kiddos will love it!

After we read the book, I plan to bake one of my favorite fall treats...pumpkin bread!  Grayson loves to bake and help with the mixer, so it'll be a great activity for us.

This is a recipe I got from a friend and it is fabulous!  It makes a lot, so you'll have plenty to share with your friends and neighbors.

Pumpkin Bread

3 cups sugar

1 cup cooking oil

4 eggs

3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2/3 cup water

1 15-ounce can pumpkin

1. Grease the bottom and 1/2 inch up the sides of two 9x5x3-inch, three 8x4x2-inch, or four 7 1/2 x 3 1/2 x 2-inch loaf pans; set aside. In a very large mixing bowl (I use my KitchenAide mixer) beat sugar and oil.  Add eggs and beat well; set aside.

2. In a large bowl combine flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.  Alternately add flour mixture and water to sugar mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined. Beat in pumpkin. Spoon batter into prepared pans.

3. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 55 to 65 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes.  Remove from pans. Cool completely on wire racks. Wrap and store!

What a great way to spend a day with family...thanking God for fall weather, reading a sweet parable, and eating delicious pumpkin bread!  Do you have any special fall traditions in your home?

Go here for more ways to make God apart of your everyday life and home!

About the Author: MJ Smith has her little corner of the internet to document her family, their home and their adventures - and any crafting that occurs along the way - over at 517 Creations. She has the greatest job in the world: being a stay-at-home momma of a wild and wonderful little boy (and a baby girl due in November!) and is married to Scott, a youth pastor, which often makes for such a fun (and crazy) life!