Hello fam! Long time no chat! I know it's been light years since I've written a post, but, as always, life got the better of me. Also, to be honest, I really haven't been inspired as much as I used to. It's like I have ideas, but they just don't transfer well. I guess I lost my "groove" for a while.

Today, however, I feel like God is showing me a new beginning. A new chapter of my relationship with Him that I never really got down entirely. I'll be real with you all and say I haven't been reading as much as I used to, and I felt as though each and everyday I would get somewhat weaker. It's like as if I wasn't getting nourished enough because I wasn't on my devo game everyday. I felt... stoic. I felt like I either had way too much emotion (aka fury, in my case), or none at all. I felt numb to the things happening around me, not really feeling anything at all.

Today, I decided it was going to be different, considering I had a lot of time to do so. I took out my bible, and I felt the Lord calling me to Isaiah 55. I opened it up, and I knew from the first few verses that this was something I needed to hear. When I got to verses 6 & 7, I felt tears, actual tears, stinging in my eyes. It says,

When it comes to people that either A) start to slowly drift away from Him [me], or B) literally leave Him behind and never look back, we tend to change in the way we act because we think we can do it all, and when we stray God will smite us. But that's not the case at all. The Lord wants us to come to Him with problems, with our struggles... with everything. He doesn't want us straying away for any reason, he just wants us to know that no matter what we do or have done, He loves us. He wants us to be on the side of eternal victory! He doesn't want us craving materialistic things, He wants us to crave Him! No matter what, He loves us and wants to have and continue a relationship with us. How many people can do that?

For all of those who are struggling today in whatever areas that you do, know this: He knows your struggle, and He wants you to come to him with a humbled heart and lean & trust in Him. When you do that, your life will be changed from sorrow and weeping to joy and peace. Rest in that each and everyday!

Yours truly,

In our culture, we see relationships being romanticized as some sort of necessity. We constantly see celebrities get in and out of them in the blink of an eye. We are told that if you aren't in one, you're going to be forever alone and that you're weird for doing so.

For me, seeing everyone I know in a relationship can really pressure me. People I went to high school with are tying the knot. People I grew up with are settling down. Even those closest to me are sort of getting into one.

To be honest, it bums me out. It makes me wonder when I will get that chance. It's thoughts like this that is the devil's playground to truly get you. It's the thoughts that say, you'll never be in a relationship, you'll never be loved, no one cares that can really wreck you.

This is why it is so important to realize that whenever we have these thoughts, we need to continually press into God. These thoughts are put there because you're putting your trust in relationships and finding that love that we all need. We need to realize that the love you're searching for? It can only be found in Him. He loved us so much that He sent His son to die for us! That's a love that can't be compared with what the world has brought us to believe is "love".

What we also need to remember is that even when we see people, even our believer friends, get into relationships, we are not forgotten. Whenever I get into my little funk, I always feel as though the Lord has forgotten about me altogether. In Isaiah 49, the Lord says,

This verse is one that's really important in my struggle with being content with being single. It's so easy to feel forgotten, but to realize that the Lord hasn't and that He always has you in mind is really comforting. He has our entire lives planned out. He knows that this season of singleness is really hard when you see everyone around you not in the same position as you. He wants you to realize that He knows your every thought, and that His timing is perfect. Jeremiah 29:11 says that his plans for your future are still to prosper, and in this, He wants you to know that He has the perfect someone planned for you and is preparing you and that person for that moment.

When it all comes down to it, we need to remember that this season of singleness isn't just brought about for no reason. It's a time to really focus in on God, to know that He loves you and has not forgotten about you. He hears every want and need you ask for, and He will provide at the right moment in time. When will that time be, you ask? I don't know. Be encouraged that the Lord has all of that planned out for you at the perfect moment, and that you have a love that cannot be compared to this world with Him.

Yours truly,

Leighan

Hello friends! Long time no chat! First off, I would like to say HAPPY NEW YEAR! I had a lot of fun this past holiday season, and I hope you all did too! I'm really excited to be bringing more content on this blog, even though I've been severely neglecting you all for so long.... Life just gets crazy sometimes, even I can't keep up with it!

Anyways, in recent events, winter storm Jonas just hit basically the entire East Coast... of course, except from where I live downward. I have a ton of family and friends up north who got hit pretty bad, and were complaining. In my opinion, I would have loved to be snowed in and gotten a snow day off of work... But, I digress.

I know whenever my family and I got snowed in, our usual comfort foods were as follows: chicken noodle soup, a block of cheddar cheese, and homemade hot chocolate. My mom had such a way with making that hot cocoa that my sister and I used to go nuts for. 

Looking back on it now, I probably would: 1) be too lazy to make hot cocoa from scratch, and 2) be afraid that it wouldn't be as awesome as my mom's. Also, some traditions get outdated. Which is why I thought of the great idea to bring 5 of my favorite food/drink recipes from Pinterest! Now, some of these I have not yet tried, but I know it would be a huge hit in my household, especially with my 8-year-old sister. I hope you guys use these recipes to your advantage the rest of this winter!

"Birthday Cake Hot Chocolate", by BiteMeMore

Now, I know I said hot cocoa is outdated, but this fun twist on the classic could bring it back to life! Also, it looks like some of the ingredients could possibly be already in your homes! If you have little ones in your household, this one would be perfect!

"Skinny Pumpkin Spice Latte", by Jeanette's Healthy Living

Alright, I know what you're thinking, "Doesn't she know pumpkin is a fall food?" Yeah, I know it is. For the PSL fans out there, this seasonal drink never ends. I have made one of my own, and it is probably so much better than shelling out $5 for one at Starbucks. Whenever I think of pumpkin, I think of coziness and warmth, hence my reasoning for putting it on this list. It's also great for those who are trying to cut back on the calories and actually trying to keep that New Years resolution!

"Cake Batter Blondies" by Sally's Baking Addiction

Whenever I think of comfort, my mind goes to brownies. As a person who doesn't eat too much chocolate (don't judge, fam), I think these blondies are so perfect! I have always loved blondies, and these cake batter ones sound like a match-made in heaven. Come on, let's be real for a second: we have all eaten raw cake batter at some point. Why not just stick it into a blondie? Also, think of the cute Instagrams you could make with this!

Going towards the more savory side, kielbasa is such an amazing dinner for cold, winter nights! I had my first taste of it recently, and I was obsessed! I'm a sucker for sausage and cheese, and this was absolutely perfect. The mac and cheese style of this one sounds phenomenal! It's a good recipe to change up your dinner menu!

"Empanaditas / Pastelitos" by Aunt Clara's Cooking

Alright, this last one goes out to my roots. Going up to the city to visit my family was such a treat because of these little guys. I have practically grown up on these, and it was all the more special taking a bite out of a cheesy pastelito while watching the snow fall in New York. They're pretty easy to make, and you can put almost anything in there: pork, cheese... you name it! They're totally customizable!

What do you guys like to consume when the weather outside is frightful? Let me know in the comments below!

Yours truly,

Leighan

Being a female in today's world stinks, to be honest. You are constantly bombarded with unrealistic expectations on how to look, how to dress, what to say, what to do... the list goes on. You see magazines with women who are probably not even close to your size all glammed up, and headlines screaming, "This is how you're supposed to look!!". Articles are splashed all over with talking points on how to win over that cute guy you like, or how to talk properly in an interview. I'll admit that I even fall victim to what the world says is the right thing to do as a woman, every one does.

What I sometimes forget to acknowledge is that what the world is telling you is not what you should be focusing on. God has so much more planned for you than you could ever imagine. He doesn't care that you spent 3 hours on your hair and makeup for church, or that you're still single in a pool of people your age already getting hitched and having kids. He doesn't care that you're not as thin as the women in magazines. He cares about you for who you are. He loves you in a way that you can't find in someone or something. In church this past Sunday, our pastor was listing things that we find ourselves filling that void where the Lord should be: money, cars, relationships, etc. We should never forget the wonder and beauty and overwhelming love that God has in our lives.

I was doing my devotional today, and this verse really made all of this clear to me. Ephesians 2:10 says that,

In my devotions, I read that workmanship in Greek is poiema, and that's where we get the word poem. When you think about a poem, you think about how carefully crafted each word is before it is put together into one perfect sonnet. That's how God has our lives planned. He created you in His image, carefully and full of love, and it all blends together beautifully. Whenever you read a regular poem, sometimes you can appreciate its beauty, sometimes not. God wants us to show others what great things He can do for them, for us to show them the poem He has written for us. There will be naysayers, but there will be people who will appreciate that poem and will want what you have. 

However, before you can go and show others the poem God has written for you, it is important that you love the poem first. God has so much in store for your life, and whenever you aren't appreciating what He has in store for you, it most likely upsets Him. If you let the things of this world, the things that Satan whispers in your ear about you not being good enough for anything, take over your life, you'll forget about what a wonderful, graceful Savior and Lord you have. 

That's just Satan's trick: for you to forget about Him and get yourself lost in the desires of this world. Don't let that happen! Whenever you start to feel that way, read through Psalms 139. Don't lose sight on the poem God has written for you. Don't ever forget that no matter what this world may tell you, the only true way to find happiness is through Christ. And when you find it, let others know, so that way they, too, will find that peace and love and grace that everyone else is still searching for.

Yours truly,

Leighan