"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 :)

Blinded by Love, By Charles Stanley

This was on a email I got, its so great! :)

If someone we care about hurts, our first instinct is to remove the pain. We want to offer money, advice, or a way out of a mess. However, if God is not ready to have the problem patched up, then the believer who repairs it gets himself into a fix. The Lord will discipline a Christian who obstructs His work in another person's life. Love can blind us to the fact that God bring a person to a position of utter desperation so that she will give up her self-sufficiency. Only when His strength is manifested in her weakness does she finally know what it means to rely upon God. We do not want to hinder such an essential lesson! Our heavenly Father's ways often do not make sense to humans. We wonder how pain could be the means of bringing about spiritual victory. Yet His greatest triumph—overcoming sin and death—was achieved through Jesus Christ's sacrifice, which involved physical and emotional anguish. And the example in the paragraph above helps us understand why God uses hardship to mature believers: Hurt and despair often strip away the "props" we depend on and expose our need for a Savior. Man's weakness is a showcase for God's strength. It is only natural that we want to rescue hurting loved ones. However, we may not be the tool God wishes to use for that purpose. The wise course of action is to ask God if He wants us to get involved. Then, we must be sensitive to His will and ready to stand aside so that His plan can move forward.

Devotional by Elisabeth Elliot

It would not be possible to exaggerate the importance hymns and spiritual songs have played in my spiritual growth. One of the latter, familiar to most of you, has this line: "O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer" (Joseph Scriven). Prayerlessness is one of many ways by which we can easily forfeit the peace God wants us to have. I've been thinking of some other ways. Here's a sampling:

1. Resent God's ways.
2. Worry as much as possible.
3. Pray only about things you can't manage by yourself.
4. Refuse to accept what God gives.
5. Look for peace elsewhere than in Him.
6. Try to rule your own life.
7. Doubt God's word.
8. Carry all your cares.
If you'd rather not forfeit your peace, here are eight ways to find it (antidotes to the above eight):

"Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them" (Psalm 119:165 KJV). "Circumstances are the expression of God's will," wrote Bishop Handley Moule.
"Don't worry about anything whatever" (Philippians 4:6, PHILLIPS).
"In everything make your requests known to God in prayer and petition with thanksgiving. Then the peace of God... will guard your hearts" (Philippians 4:6,7, NEB).
"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me... and you will find rest" (Matthew 11:29, NIV).
"Peace is my parting gift to you, my own peace, such as the world cannot give" (John 14 27, NEB).
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts" (Colossians 3:15, NIV).
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing" (Romans 15:13, KJV).
"Cast all your cares on him for you are his charge" (1 Peter 5:7, NEB).


"Grant, O Lord my God, that I may never fall away in success or in failure; that I may not be prideful in prosperity nor dejected in adversity. Let me rejoice only in what unites us and sorrow only in what separates us. May I strive to please no one or fear to displease anyone except Yourself. May I seek always the things that are eternal and never those that are only temporal. May I shun any joy that is without You and never seek any that is beside You. O Lord, may I delight in any work I do for You and tire of any rest that is apart from You. My God, let me direct my heart towards You, and in my failings, always repent with a purpose of amendment."

--St. Thomas Aquinas

Life's Little Detours

I saw these on someone's blog and thought they were so true! :)

Life Lesson's:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.