ALY ALLEN | THE BLOG

"Have you ever wondered if there's a grander purpose for our children beyond growing up to become responsible, productive adults who happen to be Christians?" - Julie Ferwerda, One Million Arrows {introduction page} i'm beyond excited to start this new book One Million Arrows. s o far i've read one page... and that sentence {the very first sentence} jumped off the page at me as if God was literally saying to my heart- "here is the answer to those prayers you've been praying since before Reese was born". YES. i have always *known* there is a greater purpose. i've never desired that my children grow up to be nice. or normal. good citizens. loyal americans. well-educated. contributing members of society. etc, etc, etc. no. i've always prayed that my children would CHANGE. THE. WORLD. or at least their little sphere of influence. however large or small God decides it will be. i've always desired {as you can read also in this post } that my ...

Sweet sweet Reese... I'm writing this on May 23, 2010. It's not quite ON your birthday, but the idea just came to me that I should write you a "letter" each year of your life {and we DID just have your birthday party yesterday, so it's not too far off!}. Your turning one has been absolutely surreal for me. On one hand, I feel like time has flown by and I can't believe you're *already* ONE! On the other hand, when I think about how much I LOVE you, I can't believe I've *only* known you for ONE year!?! It seems like you've always been here, and I can't remember life before you. I had a flashback recently of bringing you home from the hospital. This whole thing was new- for BOTH of us! But we're quick learners :) You started sleeping through the night at 12 weeks old. It could have been sooner, but I didn't have the heart to put you in your crib! The first night in your crib = 12 hours straight. You are the definition of "sleeping...

so, my baby girl has been walking for about 6 weeks. she'd take 3 steps, then 5, and then she'd walk all over the place- as long as she was holding on to a finger or two of mine :) most of the time, she would stand there and cry until you let her grab on and go. she just plain did NOT want to walk on her own. this morning, same 'ol story. she didn't want to walk unless i was right there by her side. this afternoon, she let go a few times... she wandered off and then she'd come right back and grab on to take me with her. but tonight.... i sat her down in front of the TV for a few minutes while i set the table. all of a sudden i see a little bobbing head rounding the corner coming toward me. it had to be my imagination?!?! my little baby girl who was too scared to let go had stood herself up by grabbing onto the couch, had LET GO of the couch, and headed toward her momma?? i literally could not believe my eyes. the rest of the night i couldn't hold on to her. she ...

a sweet friend taught me a huge lesson tonight. she's in the choir at church, and she's almost like a big sister type to me {i'd say "mom-type" but she's not old enough :) }. she looks out for me and gives me good advice, and she's just there if i need some encouragement, a compliment, or just a laugh. she's a wonderful person... carolyn has lost 3 siblings and her mother in a short period of time. another sister is on the last leg of a battle with cancer right now. she has just received some news about her own health, and her husband suffered a seizure just a few weeks ago and they still haven't figured out the cause. she stood up tonight and *testified* to the power and strength and love and sovereignty of God Almighty. i mean PREACHED with confidence and conviction and clarity. the words of the Holy Spirit were no doubt pouring out of her mouth. and oh . how she moved me. i have had a remarkably easy life thus far. when i say "remarkably...

i love how God teaches us things in certain seasons of life, and brings those lessons back to us when we need them... i wrote this "blog" on my MySpace page a little over two years ago. every now and then, God gently reminds me that i was once on a quest to LOVE others with a passionate, unwavering, and unconditional love. that i was going to seek out people who were hurting and needed something from me. people whose lives i could impact just by doing something simple. complete strangers. friends. whoever! He reminds me that i was heading down a path that would require me to fulfill the commands of Jesus Christ, to follow in His footsteps and "love my neighbor as myself". here's what i wrote those years ago: Here’s what I’ve been learning, and grappling with, and poring over the last few months... 1 John 3 (read it if you haven’t) It gives us the two most important principles for living. People (myself included) usually take one without the other, and think they...

i always love "american idol" season. the part i don't love, is each time the new season starts, i start hearing it- everyone wants to tell me why they think i should "go on american idol". why they think i would win. why they think i need to try out next summer. i always politely say that it's just not something i'm interested in... the honest truth is this: i can sing, yes. and i sing regularly in my church. let's be realistic, first of all- there are 1,000's of people exactly like me in churches across America and around the world that can sing. they show up every Sunday to worship their God... people scoff at that like it's so silly, like "yeah, i just sing in church." like they haven't been discovered yet, or they haven't gotten their big "break" yet. a couple of things: 1) it would be quite presumptuous of me to think that somehow i'm extra "special". somehow i have that "it" factor th...

so, reese's grandma bought her a walker yesterday. she is *IN LOVE* with it. it's like she totally know that she's not attached to someone's hip, or strapped to a high chair... she knows that she decides where the thing goes. she gets to explore and discover what the wall feels like and what she looks like in the oven's reflection. she has independence! she will walk and walk and walk until her 'lil legs are so tired. she uses both at once, one at a time. she can turn it and walk backwards and sideways... i'll be honest, i may love it more than she does. it's a nice break for me :)