"The LORD protects the simplehearted;
when I was in great need, he saved me.
Be at rest once more, O my soul,
for the LORD has been good to you.
For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling...
Psalm 116:6-8"

You may be a southern girl if...

~You always wear real pearls, and have been known to wear them to
the gym.

~You pull over to the side of the road when a funeral procession passes,
showing respect for the deceased.

~You know how to entertain, and all your parties have themes.

~You cross your legs at your ankles.

~You believe that if you can be ready to leave the house in less than 30 minutes, you probably shouldn’t be leaving the house at all.

~You always clean your house before going on a trip, just in case you don’t come home.

~You monogram everything.

~You know that no matter how old you are, your father is “Daddy” and your mother is “Mama.”

~You would stay home before you wore white shoes, patent leather shoes, or linen before Easter or after Labor Day. Also, you would never wear velvet before Thanksgiving or after Valentine’s Day.

~You only use a straw to sip a mint julep (silver straws are nice), during
an illness, or when you have a Coke in a can.

~You follow up everything with “Bless your heart.”

~You had two cakes at your wedding—a bride’s cake and a groom’s cake.

~You know that if you are chewing gum, you’d better be underneath the
bed with the bedroom door closed.

~You love sweet tea, red velvet cake, black-eyed peas, fried okra, turnip
greens, and cornbread.

~You have to have your stuff—Brighton, Arthur Court, Vera Bradley, Pink Monogram Clogs, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Lilly Pulitzer, and Burberry.

~You think fried catfish is the other white meat.

~You think of yourself as either Scarlett O’Hara, Reese Witherspoon, or Audrey Hepburn.


What makes a 'Girl Raised in the South' so very extraordinary? Why, it's the very essence of who we are--our style, our heritage, and our upbringing.
Deborah Ford

"Christmas, children, is not a date. It is a state of mind"

"I said remember this moment, We were the Kings and the Queens"

Being home for the holidays has been such a blessing, but it is also bittersweet because of the realization that I am getting older and people are growing up. Taylor Swift's new song, Long Live, is such a good song and it reminds me soooo much of my high school days.

My senior year was so much fun and such a blessing from the Lord. Its one of those things where you are caught in the middle of being where you belong, you long to be an adult, but also still be young and innocent.

When I was in 5th grade, I remember coming to the high school football games, the one in particular I remember was Homecoming. As vivid as my memory can be, I remember a girl winning Homecoming Queen and me looking at my mom and saying, "Mom, I want to be the Homecoming Queen one day! How can I do that?" My mom replied, "Well, first off it has to be a desire of your heart and the Lord will bless you if that is His will for you." Being a 5th grader, that was huge answer. But I after that night I always had it in my heart and the back of my mind. But there was one problem...

During the elementary years, all the Riley kids were home schooled, yes, that is correct, home schooled! We loved it, every second of it. But the problem was about to be solved because we only would home school until 5th grade. All of us went to school for 6th grade, that being the start of middle school. That is the most intimidating thing I think I will ever do to this day, going into middle school I knew three girls, Lauren Middleton and Lauren Calvert and the one and only Jamie Busby. Walking into a cafeteria full of peers I had no Idea was so scary, but I thrived in it! I remember talking to almost every person in my class that day because I was so proud that I was actually "in a school setting."

Middle school and high school were the most wonderful and exciting years full of useless drama and things that seemed important then, but looking back were so petty. I am here to say that a little girl from a homeschooling background can, if its the way the Lord wants to use you, can be crowned Homecoming Queen.

It was a dream come true, and I am so so so honored to still known as that title. In high school though, my main goal was to love the Lord and love people. And I believe that is why He wanted me to shine His light through that position. I wanted to at least share the message that you do not have to be the normal stereotypical Homecoming Queen, that you can be well liked for who you are, not for what you are in the status quota in high school.

The Lord has used me in that position and I hope that His light was shown through me during my high school years. I am giving all the glory to Him because without Him, I would have not been in the position.

The Lord listens to your hopes and dreams, trust me :) He will bless you above and beyond what you wish for!

Perfect Peace

With the season of Christmas rolling around, there is so much going on with everyone. Students are coming home from college, Christmas parties, and concerts full of joy. There is always something special about the season that shows the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

On Sunday, our college minister talked about which name of Jesus we as believers can relate to as we need and long for Him in our lives. There is so many references to what the Lord can be to His children:

Wonderful, Glorious, Holy and Righteous, Victorious, Conqueror, Triumphant and Mighty, Healer, Deliver, Shield and Defense, Strong Tower and My Best Friend, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Soon Coming King, Alpha, Omega, Lord of Everything. Victorious, Conqueror, Triumphant and Mighty Savior, Healer, Deliver, Shield and Defense

It is such an eye opening thing to see all the Lord can be to us, His children.

The one that I think is the biggest in my life at this moment is Prince of Peace, this is the one thing that I need everyday from the Lord, Peace. There is so many things going on in the World and we can get so consumed by all the events, things, and people who dwell in the world and all its desire, and sin. I just finsihed a wonderful book called Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow. It was a book that not only changed my life, but it completely made me look into where the Lord's peace in my life was needed. Here are some quotes from the book that I highlighted:

1. All of our fret and worry are caused by calculating things without God.
2. He planned what each of us would look like, who our parents would be, and who we would marry, and how many children we will have.
3. The strangehold of worry keeps a woman from enjoying a life full of contentment and PEACE.
4. God gives peace and contentment; worry gives illness and misery.
5. Peace comes through acceptance.

Here is a song by Sara Groves called "Peace Peace"

Peace Peace it's hard to find
trouble comes like wrecking ball
to you peace of mind
and all that worry you can't leave behind

all your hopes and fears
all your hopes and fears
all your hopes and fears
are met in Him tonight

peace peace
it's hard to find
doubt comes like a tiny voice that's
so unkind
and all your fears they conspire
to unwind you

all your hopes and fears
all your hopes and fears
all your hopes and fears
are met in Him

And in your dark street shines
and everlasting light
and all your hopes and fears
are met in Him tonight

all your hopes and fears
all your hopes and fears
all your hopes and fears
are met in Him tonight

peace peace
peace peace
peace peace


Peace is essential in the life of a believer, and those who are lost, they cannot conceive the power of peace that we as Christians are aware of. There are around thirty verses on peace in the Bible, seeming it is a huge part of our lives as Christian is to be at peace with who we are and what the Lord is doing in yours and my life.

**Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34:14
**Great peace have they who love Your law, and nothing can make them stumble. Psalm 119:16
**And He will called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlastin Father, Prince of Peace. Isiah 9:6
**You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in You. Isiah 26:3
**And the peace of God, which transends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

Ending Thoughts:
If our minds are stayed upon God, His peace will rule the affairs entertained by our minds. If, on the other hand, we allow our minds to dwell on the cares of this world, God's peace will be far from our thoughts. -Woodrow Kroll

Why do we swim away from Him in our times of need? I believe it is because of the fact that we may not think He will forgive us. Maybe you believe that you have done to much. Maybe ran your bill up more than you can pay. But I'm here to tell you that no matter how far you have gone out to sea the Lord will not leave you. No matter how much you hurt the Him, He still loves you. If you are thinking right now that you can't go to the Lord with something, think again. He went to the cross for us so He could be there when we need Him the most. Go to Him with what you need. Jesus is the life guard that will brave the currents and will go after you no matter how deep or how cold the water is.
-Tony Rhoda

First keep the peace within yourself, then you can also bring peace to others. -Thomas a Kempis





All my love,

Em :)

We wish you a BRIGHT Christmas season!

I love fashion, it is something that is truely one of my passions. I am longing to be a stylist for celebrities or people who need help getting ready for an event. I am so lucky to be in this major and I believe this is how the Lord will use me! Here are some sample outfits that are my favorites for the season. Be sure to incoporate a bright scarf or accent when dressing in dark colors.

Must Haves for Winter:
1. Riding Boots
2. Brightly colored scarves
3. Staple Pea or Winter coat
4. Its all about the thermal, be sure to wear it under everyting to stay warm
5. A good pair of neutral colored gloves


Peace. Love. Fashion :)