have you been RACK'ed?

Christmas is my favorite holiday and while I'm not obsessed with Pinterest, I do really enjoy browsing through it at Christmas time.  I love all the home made ornaments, the DIY projects and seeing how others decorate their homes for the holiday season.  Last night, I stumbled upon this amazing post which led me to amazing little blog with an even more amazing idea called the RACK Advent Calendar.

RACK - Random Acts of Christmas Kindness

The idea here is to do an advent countdown that will encourage your kids to GIVE, SERVE and HELP others.  Honestly, this is probably one of the most ingenious ideas I have come across.  We aren't going to get around the excitement of decorating the tree and opening presents... but we can teach our children that there is more to Christmas.  

Here are a few links to get you started on your own RACK Advent Calendar:

CLICK HERE to read Katherine's original blog and how she went about doing it.  

CLICK HERE to read Tracie's blog - Tracie asked Katherine for permission to post the idea and they actually became friends too!   It's neat to look at both of them because they both put it together a bit differently and they both had different ideas of what to do for the acts of kindness.  

CLICK HERE to get to Tracie's page with downloads to help you get your project started. 

Finally, if you would like to see how things played out for Tracie and her kids, CLICK HERE  to read a summary of their experience after they had finished their adventures. 

Yo Mama - Part 1 & 2

Click on the link below to be taken to our Facebook page which has the links to both videos. 

http://www.facebook.com/lakeviewmoms

A Tale of Two Brains - Part 2

This is the second video from Mark Gungor's "Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage" we watched this week... click on the link below to catch up with us or show your husband! 

A Tale of 2 Brains - Part 2 (Laugh Your Way)

A Tale of Two Brains - Part 1

We are currently watching Mark Gungor's "Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage".  This is the first video from last week for those of you who were in childcare or missed it or want your husbands to watch it too :-)  Click on the link below!

A Tale of 2 Brains - Part 1 (Laugh Your Way)

Layered Pumpkin Dessert

Have not had enough pumpkin yet?? My sister-in-law made this for Thanksgiving dessert and it was delicious!! A great twist on the classic pumpkin pie tradition. Click here for the Recipe. 

Prayer

This past Tuesday we had the privilege of listening to Brooke Graham share with us about the darkness that we all struggle with. She shared the following prayer and I thought is was so great I wanted everyone to have the chance to read again.

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.


O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

          Amen

Chocolate Zucchini Loaf

As fall quickly approaches, and school gets into full swing, you may be looking for some great recipes. Here is one that I just tried and the whole family loved. I stumbled upon this receipt on a site I found called Six Sisters Stuff.  It's an amazing blog started by six sisters who use it to keep in touch with one another and share with each other.

Chocolate Zucchini Bread
Recipe adapted from Taste of Home

Ingredients:
-1 1/2 cups sugar
-1 cup unsweetened applesauce (can substitute 1 cup canola oil)
-3 eggs
-3 teaspoons vanilla extract
-2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (I used 1 1/2 cups all-purpose and 1 cup whole wheat flour)
-1/2 cup baking cocoa
-1 teaspoon salt
-1 teaspoon baking soda
-1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
-1/4 teaspoon baking powder
-2-3 cups shredded zucchini
-1 cup chocolate chips (optional, but they taste amazing!)
Directions:
In a large bowl, beat the sugar, applesauce, eggs and vanilla until well blended. Combine the flour, cocoa, salt, baking soda, cinnamon and baking powder; gradually beat into sugar mixture until blended. Stir in zucchini. Fold in chocolate chips. Transfer to two 8-in. x 4-in. loaf pans coated with non-stick cooking spray.
Bake at 350° for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Yield: 2 loaves (12 slices each).