Cup of Thoughts

I'm all for spring cleaning. In fact, I'm a clean freak. I don't just clean in the springtime. I clean all year round. I'm the type of person that will re-arrange my closet every couple of months and re-fold all of my closet drawers so that they look nice. Yes, I totally do that. And the thing is, I don't really do it for anyone else besides myself. The only one who sees my closet is my sister, who still shares a room with me. I've always been that way. As I was cleaning this afternoon, a thought came into my head. You know those thoughts that make you startle, like, 'where did that come from?' I know you've had one of those before. "What about cleaning your soul?" I stopped my dusting and came to realize that is one thing I almost always neglect to pick up. Have you ever wondered that? How do you clean your soul? Redemption by the blood of Christ will certainly clean your soul;  'whiter than snow' as the Bible says. Bu...

My family decided we were all going to do the Whole 30 diet as our New Year's Resolution. Ever since the previous holidays, we haven't been keeping each other accountable for what we ate. We pretty much ate what we wanted, when we wanted it because, hey who cares? Not only did I feel bad about how I was treating my body, I felt it in the way I would go to work and my energy level was terribly low. My cravings were nonstop, even into the night. I wanted a change and I knew I had better start soon.  The Whole 30 diet occurs within a month-long period. During the month you are allowed to eat all fruits, veggies, and meats (as long as it doesn't contain sugar). You are not, however, allowed to eat any bread, dairy, legumes, or sugar within the time frame.  This diet is not a long-term thing. In fact, I've read several studies on how whole 30 is not the healthiest diet because your body will start to need the nutrients such as wheat and calcium. But, the diet is suppos...

You're not the only one stressing out about staying on track during these yummy-comfort-food-feasts. If you're like me you don't just have one favorite dish, you enjoy them ALL. So I've come up with a list of tips that will make your conscience feel easy and not stressful during Thanksgiving! Tip #1 - Drink water Water is so important! Our bodies are mostly made of it, so I'm pretty sure God approves of us drinking it ( Daniel 1:12 ) . I like to mentally keep track of how much water I consume on a regular basis. Which is around 50 oz. Pay attention to how much you drink now and double it (if possible), or drink ⅓ more when you know you'll be eating lots of sodium-packed foods. Tip #2 - Go for the greens When you've got your empty plate waiting to get it looking full, keep in mind to get your vegetables. I'm not saying you can't get a spoonful (or a couple spoonfuls) of dressing, but get more dishes that have a vegetable as...

Yesterday was one of those days when you go into the bathroom to find a quiet place to internally scream. Please tell me I'm not the only one who does this. Everything started out perfectly at dawn. Had all my ducks in a row and every bow was perfectly timed. Then bad news came and with it a multitude of mistakes and mishaps that made the workday seem to stretch. Never before in my days of working was there a day with so many errors in it. I felt like a palm tree in the midst of a hurricane, getting tossed and flipped by the oncoming storm. At one point the day met its climax and a sudden thought blew past my mind; I know the Master of the storm. What do I have to fear? I know the Master of the storm. The disciples were placed into a similar circumstance in Mark, however, their storm was literal rain and wind. Jesus was teaching parables on a boat to the many eager listeners that filled the beach. Once he was finished, he told the disciples to cross the sea o...

The new Disney remake of the classic tale, Beauty & the Beast, has caused the cinemas all across the world to be full of viewers. The box office results have surpassed the record boards. People blindly willing to support a cause that has accumulated into something much grander than it ought to. The depressing news of one of the identities in the film is portrayed to be homosexual. That, and the fact that the corporation which created the film, is proudly flaunting the gay-theme into children's faces, are major factors in my disagreement. This is a tough subject. However, it is a crucial discussion that needs to be made. There are no gray areas to choose from here. Either you believe it's wrong or you believe it's right. By the holy, inspired written word of God, it says that same-sex marriage is wrong. I think I'll choose to go by God's standards, rather than the world's. I did not, nor will I go see the newest film adaption of Bea...

Crunchy, surprisingly delicious, and healthy. Kale chips are one of my most favorite snacks. If I make a large batch of them at once, then I have snacks for meals later.. as long as they're not all devoured beforehand. The only ingredient you need are the leafy greens. Unless you would like to add some extra flavor, then you can grab some grated parmesan or salt. Instructions:  Preheat your oven to 350°. Pick a baking sheet, the bigger the better. Spray it with a light layer of olive oil spray. Wash the selected kale leaves and pat them down until mostly dry. Now you can spread the kale over the baking sheet, sprinkle some salt or parmesan if desired. Once you've placed the fluffy greens into the oven let it cook for at least 10 minutes. Then continue to watch until crispy, unless you like some moisture to be left, then you can pull them out. And that's it! Easy, right? I hope this inspires you to try it out for yourself! Just remember, whatever you p...

I've come to realize getting older is hard. So many responsibilities. Lots of peer pressure. Many, many more school books. Getting the additional privilege to run over pedestrians with four tires (JUST KIDDING). Who knew that being able to drive had its limitations and its advantages? Passing the permit test was significantly easy. (Even if I missed a total of 3 questions. Shhh.) Being on the road is terrifying, yet calming somehow. I can't really explain it. Besides the peculiar account of squirrels waiting until they spot me on the road to pass. I almost killed my Dad trying to swerve the first one. It was as if the first day on the road all the forest creatures decided to introduce themselves. I'm not even going, to begin with, the turkey vultures. That was scary.  Aging has its hysterical moments, but with each passing birthday means a new adventure. New goals and such. As your body starts breaking down, just think, you're growing wiser. Now I'm able...

One of my English lessons required me to improve my public speaking technique and well, for some reason I thought it would be more beneficial if I used my blog instead. No, it's not cheating. I'm imagining that I'm speaking to you right now. In the future. Or the past. Or whenever or whoever eventually read this. In the Applying the Lesson section of my English assignment there is helpful suggestions on what to write about. For example, an interesting animal, eh. An unusual plant, I'm not that good with plants. A summer project of your own, if I chose this one you would probably stab me for describing last year's boring summer bucket list idea. Long story short, we didn't finish all the items on our list and ended up with some odd-looking tie-dye shirts. And last of all, a hobby. Yes, I think that will do just nicely. I have many sorts of hobbies. Some that I'm fond of doing only in a certain time of the year, or just when I feel like it. But th...