ALY ALLEN | THE BLOG

waiting. one of the hardest disciplines, isn't it? for me, anyway. i'm not the most patient person in the world... just ask my 2 year old. waiting comes in all forms. sometimes they're serious and life-changing things that we wait and hope and pray for, and sometimes they're just daily little things that pop up in our path. we pray and pray for God to work in our circumstances. to change them, make them go away, make them better.  but what if God had a different lesson for us to learn in the waiting? some of you are waiting for a baby. either because you're dealing with the heartache of infertility or you're navigating the difficult waters of adoption.  some of you are waiting for a wayward child to return. either to your home or to your heart. a broken relationship needs mending and you're waiting. some are waiting for your husband to rise up and fill his role as spiritual leader in your house. you're waiting for his repentance or h...

i was contacted a few months ago by a wonderful young woman named sarah, who had seen my etsy shop and wondered if i'd like to advertise [for free] on her soon-to-be-launched blog ? um, free ad space? of course i said yes.  well, her blog launched yesterday [that's a little screen shot up there. it's pretty, huh?] it's called "speaking of truth" and i had no idea i would love it so much. this girl has a way with words, for sure. you've got to head over and start reading, and subscribe, and go back and read everyday :) just to entice you, here's an excerpt i loved: Within chaos (tension…uncertainty…fear…failure), the weary and mixed up heart of a woman needs to know that she’s held and that she’s okay. She craves the assurance of a compass, something to be trusted, because if she knew she was heading in the right direction—and if she was secure in her destination—she would push through anything. The more that sinks in, the more it hits h...

if you're new around here, you might not know that i used to write a lot more. there weren't as many craft/decor posts, there were a lot less photos. i mostly just used to write. i happened to be scrolling through some old posts and found this one. i wanted to post it again today in case any of my new friends never got to read it: every time i buy something from the thrift store [which is very often] and repurpose or spray paint it, i can't help but think that Jesus would have been a thrifter/repurposer. he was a carpenter, yes, but i think he would've enjoyed finding old stuff, fixing it up, painting it, and giving it new life and a new home just as much as he enjoyed creating something from scratch. He wouldn't walk into Pottery Barn to buy the brand new, expensive sofa table. no, i think He would set out on a mission, searching from thrift store to thrift store, until He found  just  the piece He was looking for. and very likely, it would be the piece t...

[i don't...] i don't floss i don't bathe my daughter every day  she's pretty clean, i have to say i don't brush her teeth everyday   mostly because it is such a battle every time  i don't vacuum. ever. luckily my hubby does it  i don't get out much.   most days i stay at home and maybe run some errands,  but rarely do i have play dates scheduled or friends coming to visit.  you could call me a loner. i don't like talking on the phone , especially just to chat  i d on't keep up with friends. new or old, i am terrible at staying in touch, calling, emailing, etc.  i don't take my prenatal vitamins everyday.   at first they made me sick, and now i just forget since i'm not in the habit  i don't finish almost every book i start.  even if it's a really good one  and even when i start with the best of intentions of finishing i don't...

it was one of those mornings. the kind where you wake up feeling rested, your 2 year old is still sleeping soundly and you feel like you've won some grand prize if you have time to shower and eat and spend precious time with the Lord before she wakes up? yeah, it was that morning... and what struck me this morning was that God's goodness is so overwhelming, if we let it be. i woke up and read this post on my phone, and was sent immediately into prayer of thanksgiving. He gives us so much, and often it's that which we didn't even know we needed. that which we will miss if we don't open our eyes to see it. today it was: the birds chirping outside the window the cool fog resting on the grass the crisp shadows dancing through the trees the peaceful child  still sleeping the hot tea from a beautiful mug [seriously, those anthro mugs are works of art] the bittersweet remembering as i read through my journal the tender goodbye kiss of a hard-working husba...

** don't forget to check out yesterday's post  & then go buy your  tutorials and printables for a great cause ** * and please take a look at this really important organization that you need to know about * after blog sugar, i was reminded of this post i wrote a few months ago. it made me want to post it again and share it with you all in case you missed it back in april. your blog is important. your voice is important. and God wants to use you and your blog [that message was repeated several times at blog sugar, which i loved]. photo credit a little encouragement for my fellow bloggers: 1 Timothy 4: 8-16 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.  This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance  (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of tho...