It's Been A While!

Hello There!

It’s been nearly six months since I sat down to write a blog post for all of you! I would say I’m sorry, because I do hate that it’s been so long. But things were out of my control and honestly, I just needed to slow down and enjoy my husband and my baby and my life in general. So, I’m half sorry then 😆!
Today’s post will be a bit of a life update and a what to expect moving forward kind of post! Including some upcoming post topics and an opportunity to help me with posts moving forward!

Life Update

Let’s start with the most important thing: In February I realized I had been trusting in a lie for 20 years and I fell under conviction. On the 5th, when this had all been made clear to me, I got saved! That’s probably not what you expected to hear today, but I appreciate all of you so much and I couldn’t not tell you! It’s such a blessing to finally be at peace, and knowing for sure, without a doubt, where my eternal home will be!

I’ve been struggling some with baby blues, but in October I was able to make huge progress in accepting changes in my life, Physically and Emotionally, that come with motherhood. I had another breakthrough just recently and praise the Lord, I’m starting to feel more like myself, just different 😉

The Lord has blessed me with many more singing opportunities at my church, Hunt Valley Baptist Church, and more opportunities for service! I help with our junior church, nursery and have been tapped to head up a couple small projects which has been a blessing to help with! I’ve missed being more involved and my energy levels have finally enabled me to take more part in ministry!

Which leads us to the update I know you all actually want…

Dixie's Corner

No sooner had I typed this than the lady in question woke up! She must have knowing I was about to talk about her 😂

Dixie keeps me on my toes! She is walking now and prefers to be barefoot and in nothing but a diaper; I indulge her in the former, but not the latter 😁 She talks constantly: Da-da, Ma-ma, Pa-Pa (Pop-Pop), no, ba-ba and, “thertle” (no idea what that means) are her most used ones, but she’s constantly learning new sounds! “I ya ya,” is “I Love you,” and “Psh,” is “please.” “Da-Do,” is “Thank You.”

She loves books, and will often look through her stack on her own, babbling words to herself! She loves balls (we got her a mini ball pit and Pop-Pop and Ema (Jacob’s parents) got her a big bouncy ball to play with!), stuffed animals of all kinds, and literally anything soft, she claims for her own! She got her need for soft, cozy things from me and Jacob!

She turns one April 11th, and honestly, I’m not sure if I’m ready! She’s already so ahead for her age… But no turning back now, right? At this rate, she’ll be ready for pre-school next year 😜

Writing

Not much to report here. I did get a story published in the Seize the Night Anthology compiled by Abigail Kay Harris, “A Heart Without Christmas.” That was so much fun and I am working on a second story for her, this time for “Seize the Fight!”

I am working on drafting The Battlefield is Silent now that I know what direction I want to go with it! I needed to start it from someone else’s point of view and I think you’re all gonna love it 😇

To Save a Life is almost ready to publish! Just one more revision and the eBook will be ready and I can get with my cover designer to complete the wrap around! Please pray for me that I will have the time to get it all wrapped up!

Reading

I’ve officially read 20 books so far this year! I set a Goodreads goal of 50 for the year, so I am hoping to increase that soon! I currently have eight started and I have nine on my tbr for the month! Below is the genre breakdown of what I have already read, the titles I’m working on and my April TBR!

Word of the Year

I love doing a word of the year and this year, I chose Reset. I need to slow down, get back to my roots, put down new ones and enjoy the moment. There’s so many ways one can do this! For me, its doing more reading and learning more about home décor and cooking, organizing and restarting my bullet journal! There’s more, but I’ll share more in another blog post!

What to Expect

My goal is a new blog post each week, but at the very least, every other week. Please pray for me that I will be able to find the time to work on them! I am also planning a newsletter once a month! So be sure and sign up for that!

Each time I post, I am hoping to share some blog posts from friends that I have been enjoying. I hope to find ones that match my post, but some may just be posts I loved the past week! Like today!

Our next post will be a look at the books I’ve been reading! It won’t be complete reviews this time (those are coming!) but I will include age recommendations, what I liked and an abbreviated content list. After that, I’ll be sharing a post from my Instagram, but expanding on it a little…Something about Christians that annoys me!
I will no longer be doing recap posts, those will be reserved for my newsletter! So again, don’t forget to sign up for that!

Blog Round-Up

As promised, here are some blog posts I've been loving this past week!

Saintly, Sweet, Sensual and Smutty: A Treatise on the Four Types of Romance Novels & How to Navigate them as a Christian || Kellyn Roth, Lilacs & Revelries

Book Rules, Book Myths || Katja L., Little Blossoms for Jesus


I think that just about covers everything! Sorry this post was so long! It’s been a while!

Question of the Day: How have you been? What have you been writing/reading? Did you miss me?? What content would you like to see moving forward?
 
Have a beautiful day and may God bless you as you follow Him!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22