I need Him..

Jesus.. I need Him.

More than you and I even know, understand or comprehend. I just know I need Him.

On days when I would prefer to stay in bed all day than waking up I need Him.

When my days are energetic and filled with laughter I need Him.

When motherhood is exhausting I need Him.

And when it makes me cry tears of joy I need Him.

He puts all the pieces in place, and He creates all things lovely.. I honestly don't know where I'd be right now if it wasn't for Jesus.  The sweetness of His Name makes my soul leap. He is my obsession,
my passion.. I need nothing else. Just give me Him.. The One who died for me so that I may live the abundant, eternal life that was promised.

Recently God has been challenging me to step out.. To step out of this comfort zone that I unfortunately made comfortable in. I prayed to Him one day to use me and not let any talents that was given to me to go waste.. And I believe that's exactly what He did..

I am involved in a new Church. A church that is still young and new, a church that started out as an anointed Bible study with just a few people including my hubby and myself. A couple of years later we became a church that's continuing to grow and will reach millions. (can't wait for that!) And because we're a new church we needed some things. A worshiper, Children's Pastor ect. And I wanted to help out. I just wasn't sure how..  Honestly here. I didn't think my talents qualified.. But Jesus thought something different when He told me that I needed to start singing at the church..So after a few more confirmations I sent my Pastor a message asking if I could start singing.. So that's what I've been doing every other Sunday.. I don't actually lead worship at the moment but I bring glory to God as we do tithe and offering and I really love it! I don't have any dreams or visions for this at the moment.. But I know God does and  whether He calls me to worship until my daughter takes the stage or something else I'm completely fine with that! So, here is the very first song I sang a month ago. "Lord I need you" by Matt Maher.

Happy TEN months to my Darling Piglet.

I know I say this every month literally. But this month I am really feeling it! It's just so hard to believe my baby girl is already 10 months. I remember when Evelynne was just a wee little darling just cooing away and laying swing. I couldn't wait for her to be old enough to start playing and and laughing and everything that a 10 month did. And now that she's actually ten months it's very bittersweet.. There are two different emotions going through me today. Half of me is sad knowing that I only have two more months of Evelynne being a baby and the other half of me is super excited to watch Evelynne grow into the young lady God has created her to be! I've been loving each and every stage of motherhood and every stage is a favorite for me. I am glad  that a baby is only a baby for a year though! I honestly couldn't even imagine a baby being a baby for like five years.. I can imagine many mama's being drained. We need our babies to grow.

But back to my precious baby girl..

Happy 10 months Evelynne. You're a double digit now!!

 

At ten Months Evelynne is:
-Clapping her hands on demand.
- Giving high fives
-learning to blow kisses
- taking four steps.
-playing chase and crawling faster than mama. LOL
-eating pretty much anything now. Loves Banana's. Their probably her favorite food right now! The funny thing is that three months ago she couldn't stand them.
-Wearing 9 to 12 -12 to 18 and some 18 to 24 clothes. It's sooo hard to clothes shop!!
-Wearing 2-3 in shoes.
- in size 4 diapers.
-Weighing 18lbs
-pretty much sleeping through the night
-taking 1 to two naps a day.
-Nursing 2 to 3 times daily.
-Starting to really enjoy morning cuddles

Mama at ten months is:
-Enjoying this baby girl as much as possible
-So excited that Evelynne has developed a new love for cuddling with mama in the morning. It's only for like 5 minutes or so but I'll take it!!
- So blessed.

Daddy at ten Months is-
-A wonderful dad and is finally getting the hang of it.
-Loving taking Evelynne to the park and pushing her on the swings.
-Working so hard so that mama can stay home with baby girl. We couldn't be more appreciative.
- very blessing and is making his family feel the same!

What we're looking forward to:
-Hopefully going apple picking as a family on Monday!!
-Evelynne saying words! She's said "dada" a few times but that's it.. I honestly don't care if she says "dada" first. I just want her to start talking!! lol ;)
- Her first Birthday EEEK!!!I need to get to work!!

Here are some video's of the last month of Evie! I wanted to get some of her taking steps but of course she refuses to perform them on camera.. Anyways I love these ones!

P.S Just so you know I AM one of those mama's who talk in a high squeaky voice like my voice isn't high and squeaky enough! lol   I've become one of those mama's I thought I never would be.. But now I totally get why we talk in high squeaky voices.. Because it's a mama's thing and it's really the only voice babies react to! At least my baby lol






Happy 10 Months baby girl!!! You have made our lives so complete and blessed!! God has blessed us beyond measure.

Are you a mama of  a winter baby? What did you do for their first Birthday? Do any of you have any idea's? I have a few but I'm trying to get all my options in. :) 


                                        Much love to you Darlings!!
                                                 -xoxo Heather
             

The girl behind the blog// My comfort zone.

Hey Darlings, I hope your week is going fantastic!! Today I am linking up with these two amazing ladies Ashley & Megan I'm a new follower of Megan and I love her so much already!!
                      

The Girl Behind The Blog- Comfort Zone 

Time limit: Vlogs should be 2-3 minutes long 

Introduce yourself and your blog 

What is your comfort zone/who makes you feel most comfortable? 

Is it hard for you to step outside your comfort zone? 

When's the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone?

The best nine months of our lives.

I know I've said this way more times this week than I should have but I can't believe my sweet baby girl is nine months and will no longer be a baby soon!

I'm sure all of you mama's who are putting your babies in school this year want to slap me for saying this considering my baby is still practically a baby but, I seriously can't believe that she is already 9 months. I feel as though the time is just flying by! Time flies when you're having fun right? That, and running around the house to catch your laughing, fast crawling baby!

Words can't describe how thankful and blessed I am to be a stay at home mama! I praise God for giving me the desires of my heart and will forever be grateful to my beloved husband Leon for being super supportive and encouraging me to be at home with our daughter! My husband is amazing. Yes, we most definitely have to live inside our means and our budget is usually pretty tight right now. But when Evelynne wakes up every morning so excited to see me... Really, no money in the world could buy that kind of joy that brings a mama.

It may be hard for me to believe that time feels like it has flown by since I brought Evelynne into the world.. But I honestly don't feel like that's a sad thing.. I love all the new experience's and new adventures we have every day! From flipping, crawling, noticing the simple and beautiful  things of life. It's fun and exciting watching Evelynne grow up and experiencing the newness of things with her.

Evie's accomplishments at nine months:
Standing up all by herself// Walking like a pro with help// Very photogenic//
clapping her hands// waves//  Has two bottom teeth with four on the top coming in// dancing// taking three naps.

Food: Evelynne's favorite food right now is squash, applesauce and organic chicken lunch meat. She is eating solids three times a day and has snack time. She is also starting to try grownup food. She'll see us eating something and she'll want to try it!

Doc appointment: Her 9 month appointment is on Tuesday. Leon is off on Tuesday so, he'll be able to join us! :)

Weight and height: If I had to guess it would be 20 lbs but I won't know for sure until Tuesday :)

Favorite toys: She loves her loud toys especially her piano and her giraffe. She's also developing a special love for her teddy her daddy bought her.

Words: Nothing yet. She's just starting babbling more often. I'm hoping to get a "mama" soon!! ;)

Personality: All I can say is Evelynne has her own haha! She's such a joyful and happy little girl. She's def a morning person with such joy from The Lord. She sure is stubborn though. When she wants something she wants it right this second!.. She's even starting to throw tantrums! Like ones a two year old would throw. Hoping we're experiencing the terrible two's early.

Sleep: She's down to about 3 naps daily. And she naps anywhere from 30 minutes to an hr. Rarely I get an hour and thirty minutes. Bed time she's usually in bed by 7 and up around 6-6:30. For the most part she sleeps through the night but every once in a while she'll wake up around 12ish or 4ish.

Nursing: We are still nursing about 3 times a day and will officially stop at one year.

Mama's thoughts: So excited to be a mom for another month and the rest of the months to come! God is so amazing and I see His perfect gift in our daughter every day. She is such a blessing and I'm so glad He has anointed Leon and I to raise this sweet baby girl as The Lord continues to anoint her for the things He's got planned for her in days, months and years to come.

                                         Happy 9 Months Anointed one.
                                 Words cannot describe our love for you sweet girl.

The girl behind the blog// Encouragement.

Hey ladies! (and gents you're always welcome!)  I'm linking up here today with the beautiful Ashley &  Nadine! And I'm so excited about it. This is my second time linking up and I don't know why it's only my second.. I'm always forgetting about it which makes me sad.. Anyways I remembered this  time!!

 

So these are the questions for today if you wanted to head over to these lovely ladies pages and link up.

Introduce yourself and your blog 

What is something that encourages you in the blog world? 

What is something that always encourages you in real life? 

                                        How do you go about encouraging the people you love? 

P.S Sorry if you can't hear me..I need a new camera because the video tech on my camera is slowly dying on me.. =( 

Email me at Heather.L.Riley.LWACW@gmail.com if your interested! I'm so looking forward to getting to know you. =D

Purity & Forgiveness

Happy July 1st!!! I feel like this year is going by so fast.  I'm doing something a bit differently today friends. I'm going to be sharing a vlog with you! This is my very first time making a spiritual vlog so I was a bit nervous but making encouraging blogs are something that Jesus has been really putting upon my heart to do. It's definitely not something I like to do because well, they're  awkward and sometimes I just don't know what to say or share. A bit out of my comfort zone you know?  But God has given me the words to speak just as He has given me the courage to turn my video camera on & share. I've heard these things get easier and easier with every vlog so until than I can be fearless. I know these vlogs Jesus has encouraged me to do will bless someone including myself to be more of a public speaker. Anyways... Now that I have poured my heart out to you about vlogging.

This vlog title is called "Purity & Forgiveness"
About forgetting  what God has already forgotten which is such a hard thing to do sometimes isn't it? We often feel like God remembers the bad things more than the good. But my friend it's the total opposite. The God we serve is The God of love and when Jesus died on the cross for you all of your sins were forgiven & forgotten right there. Right at the moment Our Sweet Beloved whispered "It is finished".  Our Past. Our Present. Our Future. There is nothing that you can do to separate His love from you.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:38-39

Today friends, right this moment. I deeply encourage you to forget what God has already forgotten.. To trust and accept the fact that you ARE forgiven, loved and treasured indescribably. He takes great delight in you girl! Much love XOXO



 

Also, don't forget to come back Wednesday for our Mommy 5 Link up! We will be discussing our top five pieces of advice for birth/labor.. :)

Mommy 5 Link-up #2

Hey there! Welcome to the Mommy 5 Link up! This is Sarah's and my second link up and we're so excited to have you today..

There are no rules or obligations for this Link up. Sarah and I only request that you link up the actual questions we ask and not just a random post or your blog. ;)

You don't have to follow us to join in on all the fun. If you wanna follow us that's great if not that's fine too! I think I can speak for Sarah on this as well. We don't want to be followed for the sake of a Link up lol. We only want to be followed if you want to read all of the awesome blogs posts we have to share! Plus we love making new friends!!

It would be great if you would spread the word to get more people on this. More the better I always say! :)
HAVE FUN!

My lovely preg friend Sarah came up with the question this week and the question is.....
What are 5 baby names you love?

1. Scarlett.. I honestly don't know why I love it. I guess it just sounds so lady like and proper ha! When I was younger I always wanted  it to be my name. I would love for our next daughter to be named Scarlett. But Leon likes "Ivory" Blah!!

2. Isaiah Lloyd. This name is a name that Leon and I both want to name one of our boys. The Lloyd part will be named after Our Pasor Joe Lloyd because He's such a Fatherly figure in both Leon's and my life. It would also be after my uncle Lloyd. He's always been like a Grandfather to me.

3. Malachi. Yes I'm the kinda girl who LOVES all of the unique Bible names. Some Bible names are just so strong and the meaning is so powerful. I can't help but to love them.

4. Tabitha. Tabitha in the Bible was a Prophetess. That may be why I love the name so much. I would totally name my daughter this..... But Leon says no. :(

5. Alana. I just love the name and meaning. Again I would totally name my baby girl this!!

Sooo... What are your top 5 baby names?? We'd love to hear from you!

And in case you need your day to be made I decided to post a little video that made mine. Here's proof that Babies are blessings. I just can't stop smiling at this girl!

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Over Coffee.

If I were having coffee with you, I would tell you how excited I am to be with you today and how I am very in need of a good chat!

I would  ask how you were doing? And ask what your plans for the summer are? I would tell you I haven't been to the beach in over a year. And I'm feeling very beach deprived right now. I really miss it. The waves, the sand, board walk and those famous board walk fries Ocean city is famous for. Yes, I plan to go all out when I finally go there. "LG fry and the biggest Ice cream cone you have please!"

If I were having coffee with you, I would tell you that being a wife of a police officer is much harder than it looks. I miss my husband so much! When he's not working he's sleeping and when he's not sleeping he's working. It's tough! But I'm so glad that I have the love of Jesus to get me through. Him and I are best buddies. After all He was and is still my main Man. Way before my beloved Leon even came into the picture.

Church yesterday was such a powerful service. I have been asking seeking God harder than I even have and just desiring our intimacy to go to the next level. I want God to use me for His glory to do powerful things. To witness the sick being healed, the dead being raised, and the dry bones to be filled with living water. I want to hear the voice of God  more clear. As clear as you and I talking over a coffee date. I want to be that sensitive to Him, I want Him to be able to ask of me to do something and without a doubt to do it. I have been wanting to encounter the Love of God to a deeper level. And it happened yesterday.

I have never felt a love encounter so deep as the one I felt yesterday. It was as if electricity entered my body and just filled me. I was so shaky and even teary eyed as they were playing "There is Power in The Name of Jesus". Something came over me. It was the Love of Jesus. Just when I was just getting myself together. Our Pastor (Who was full of fire) told me  "The Lord knows what  you have been seeking and He wants you to know that you have it!" Yep, I lost it there! Mascara, eye liner it was gone. I busted out in tears and no body was there except for me and my sweet Jesus. Things are going to change in my life. And I can't wait to see. Jesus and I are on a new adventure!

 

 If I were having coffee with you, I would tell you how much I can't believe my baby girl is actually growing up! In one week my sweet Evelynne did two big things that seriously made my week! She not only slept two nights through the night! (Can I get a amen?!) And if that didn't excite me enough she started crawling!! Her first major step of independence! Apart of me just wants to hold her in my arms for forever. <3 But you know, then I would be missing out on everything. Every new thing this girl has been doing is my highlight of the week. 

If I were having coffee with you today. I would tell you that this season has probably been the hardest on my marriage. The cop life has been really messing with Leon. And we're struggling. But I know God has a plan and He told me to be at peace. And tonight I am at more peace than I have had in a while.We are supposed to be going on a long needed date this week so I'm so looking forward to a short get away with my man.

 

 This is what I would tell you my dear friend if we were having coffee together. What would you tell me beautiful? Be blessed XoXoXo

Laughter.. It's something I LOVE to do often!

Do ever just love to laugh?! Of course you do! I mean, who doesn't? So I thought today instead of writing anything I would post some stuff that brings a huge grin out of me and possibly leaves me to start a laughing spell!    

HaHahA funny & true!  I actually read a study on breastfeeding and  people who breastfeed end up saving around five thousand a year!! And if that doesn't inspire one to breastfeed enough, you also burn 500 calories daily! Whoohoo!

These are some video's on You tube that I find pretty hilarious!

I asked my beloved Leon to sing me a romantic song while we were dating and this was the best he came up with! Not too romantic but this is definitely something that I will always look back on with a smile and gosh that was a gross song! 

 

This is probably one of this funniest pictures I have of Evie yet! This girl always gets giggles out of me!

So these are just a few things I find hilarious! Where do you get your laughs?

Moving with a 4 month old

Happy Monday guys!  I'm so glad it finally feels like spring outside! I just wish I could enjoy it instead of packing. Any who! Did I mention we're moving?? We finally found a nice single family home and we will be moving with my Mother in law and our sister Ashley to save some money. I'm very excited about it because finally Evelynne will be having her very own room! For the past four months we have all been cramped in one bedroom. And I have been dreaming of an official nursery for this girl! And of course I've been counting on pinterest  for inspiration.. Pinterest you has not failed me yet! <3

I'll be heading over to her room this week to start the painting. The colors will be a "Airy Pink Balloon" and "young seedling". I'm really excited to be finished!

Pinterest has been a huge help while moving! For instance I  saw the coolest idea on there about how to pack clothing! Buy leaving them on a hanger, placing a huge trash bag over them and tying a rubber band around the hanger so they stick together.

Oh, and guess who was trying to crawl while Mommy was packing?? I was seriously shocked when I saw Evelynne in "crawling position" considering she is not even sitting up all the way yet! I love how she is so determined at such a young age!  

Life is going to be so crazy the next couple of weeks! If anyone has any advice on moving with a teething baby I'd so appreciate the advice. :) 

The Girl Behind The Blog- Your Inner Foodie

So today I'm doing something a bit differently.. I've been wanting to start Vlogging for a while now but I never liked the way it turned out and I can't stand the way I talk sometimes haha. But despite of insecurities I've decided to link up with "The Girl behind the blog." I had a lot of enjoyment doing it so I'll  be back! =D
My favorite Chocolate chip cookie recipe!!  Enjoy!!