ALY ALLEN | THE BLOG

I thought I would write out my first impressions of the weekend. Or maybe, more accurately, my  lasting impressions. I met a few friends for the very first time, and a few that I'd met before and communicated with a lot through the past nine months or so. I hope they don't mind that I'm talking about them behind their backs and they don't even know it! Oops! What I learned about: Mindy She came out here, by herself, from Kansas. Are you kidding me? And then took a taxi from her hotel to meet us in Balboa Island for breakfast. You guys, she was so sweet. Like beyond sweet. Totally real, totally charming, totally warm. You felt like her best friend after like 30 minutes. Not afraid to just be herself, she was encouraging and fun. I felt so happy getting to meet her [since I wasn't expecting to]. And her kids have the coolest names: Wilder & Story? Are you kidding me? April She was immediately engaging. She wanted to chat and joke and get to know you. J...

i really need to sit down and write about blog sugar but i think i need a few more days to process everything, maybe? surreal, odd, amazing, wonderful... all in 7 short hours. it was all of those and more. but before i give you all the mushy fun stuff, there's something more pressing that i didn't want to wait any longer to tell you about: at one point in the evening,  Danielle shared with us about love146  and it floored me. i guess i have that empathy gene, inherited from my dad, that i instantly put myself in someone's place and feel their pain and fear and everything else. and i also have those overactive tear ducts from my mom. crying is a normal and instant response for anything and everything that moves me. love146 is an organization dedicated to preventing child sex trafficking around the world. they're also passionate about aftercare: after these children have been rescued, restoring them to a normal life and bringing them hope, and reminding the...

yep! i'll be at blog sugar :) and i'm so glad i decided to buy that ticket! i wrote this post  back in march when i was wondering whether i should come. allow me to quote the best part for you: i feel like i would be trying to break into the popular girls' group. like i shouldn't really be there. i mean, no one invited me, so who do i think i am, just showing up? i don't usually put myself out there like that.  i know, i'm laying bear my insecurities for all of you to see. i should just register already, right? and get over myself? and i think i bought my ticket, like, the next day. it's true though, i still have those insecurities but i'm learning more and more that this blogging community is made up of people just like me . there are shy girls and introverts and gals that don't usually "go for it". they may be quiet in "real life" but God is teaching them and they share it with the world using a platform that's easier...

i went back to the normal "blogger" commenting system. i know. i just can't help myself. i think it's more convenient for you guys to comment really fast, rather than fill in all your info (but i appreciate all of you who continued to comment despite the time it took). PS i'm sort of, a little bit, debating whether to sign up for this ... blog sugar. it looks super awesome and it's only a few hours north, and really close to my brother. i could visit him on the way? what do you think? i know its totally crazy, but i feel like i would be trying to break into the popular girls' group. like i shouldn't really be there. i mean, no one invited me, so who do i think i am, just showing up? i don't usually put myself out there like that.  i know, i'm laying bear my insecurities for all of you to see. i should just register already, right? and get over myself?