Hello There!

It’s been a little quiet around here. My husband always saves vacation time for the end of the year when we don’t have mid-week services to run so that we can have time as a family. So during this time I take a break from the blog and come back in at the New Year refreshed and ready to go.

I thought it would be super fun to join in on a new little link-up that I came across on my sweet friend Jamie’s blog, The Celebrating Momma. I am kind of excited to be introduced to Andrea at Momfessionals and I just can’t wait to follow along with her. But anyways, I wanted to jump in on Show and Tell Tuesday because it seemed like a ton of fun.

First off, let me start off my introducing myself to begin the new year. Some of you have been here forever, some of you are recent friends, and some of you are total newbies and I love making strangers my friends so let’s get to know each other. I’ll start by telling you a little bit about me.

My name is Ally and I just turned 25, guys that’s half a century, but it’s okay because sometimes I still feel like I am 17. I grew up in a military family and my parents were split so I moved ALL over the place. When I say all over I really mean it, from California, to Colorado, to Texas, to Hawaii, back to Cali, then to Virginia, and North Carolina, Cali, North Carolina, and then landed in the Midwest. Seriously, does all that traveling make anyone else exhausted? I am still a total California girl at heart. I love the warm weather, anything below 60 degrees is just really too cold. I am a city girl at heart and love the view of a big city in the distance.

I am a total people person and love making new friends every where I go. I am not a fan of surface level relationships and can quickly spill my whole life story because I like to be real. I like real, authentic, let’s dig in deep and have each other’s backs kind of relationships. I love being silly, I love laughing, I love building each other up, and I love not holding anything back.

I am not a fan of cooking, but I like finding new foods. I can definitely get into baking because I like to eat sweets. I am a bit crazy about Dr. Pepper and it’s always in my house. A good old S’more is my happy place. There is something about Target that makes me incredibly happy. I love having planning parties and wish I could have more. I can’t figure out how to do anything with my hair, but wish I could. I love the beach and the sunshine as much as I love a big crowded mall.

This cute guy over here is my one and only. We met in Missouri where we both were a part of a program called Master’s Commission. We fell in love and the rest is history. Ha! I wish the story was that easy. This patient man fell in love with me, but didn’t let me know it. He prayed and prayed that if I was the one for him things would fall into place. I was a little bit in denial and still trying to figure out this whole Jesus loves me thing and I didn’t think I deserved such an incredible guy. But little by little I grew, and little by little I fell in love. Chad stole my heart with his love for the Lord and his love for children.

We are Children’s Pastors at a local church and we couldn’t be more blessed. Watching children discover how much Jesus loves them is the most rewarding “job” of all. This is probably why I forget I am not 17 sometimes, we are big kids ourselves. We love Disney and we love playing games.

In June of 2013 we welcomed our first baby, our little man Jase. Since the beginning he has been a strong and tender hearted little boy all wrapped into one. He is ALL boy – crazy and full of energy. He goes a hundred miles per hour and doesn’t slow down. He is strong and knows how to stand his ground, but he also can turn around and completely melt your heart. He opened our eyes to an entirely new level of love and we couldn’t be more blessed.

We knew that the only way our hearts could grow any bigger is by seeing Jase with a little brother or sister and in March of 2015 we welcomed his little sister, miss Elyse. Elyse is the SWEETEST little girl you will ever meet. She has this innocent, sweet little smile that she gives you that just makes you melt inside. She loves to snuggle, and she absolutely adores her mama. She is our quiet little girl who likes to observe the action.

I love to write and I have a pretty big heart for mama’s and young women which you can find in the words I share in this space. I have big dreams that the Lord has given me that I can’t wait to see Him fulfill. This space is my outlet as a mom, a place to find community, and a place to encourage others who are walking this road with me.

The next part of this little deal is our New Year’s Resolutions. I don’t have any. Say what?! You read that right. You’ll have to check out tomorrow’s post to find out why, and come back the next day to find out exactly what I do have. 2016 is going to be a good year!

Are you new here? Introduce yourself and tell me a little bit about yourself!