Moving forward when it all feels backwards

I love fall.  I love pumpkins and pumpkin spice and cooler weather and football and all my tv shows starting back up and apple picking and Halloween and preschooling A actually going to preschool and...all the important things in life happen in fall. But this time last year…gah…last year.  I’ve been avoiding writing this post, one because of what was going on this time last year and do I really want to dredge all that up and two because how has it already been a year and three I haven’t really completely done what...

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Rogue Tomatoes

We have this garden.  We planted it last year.  When I was sick.  The idea was for it to grow organic produce, allowing us to eat healthy without breaking the bank.  And it's sort of doing that.  But not really.  We get some cucumbers and squash here and there.  But the bugs and the heat, they get most of it.  Its okay, really, we're learning.  Next year will be better. We also have this tomato...

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When all that's next are the wars within

I guess it's time.  I was only in Argentina for a week.  But it's taken a month and a half and two vacations for me to readjust.  Our trip was great. Had an awesome team of people loving on an awesome organization whose soul purpose in life is to love those who matter most.  But I only got one week.  I wasn't ready to come home. But I did. And I stumbled back into routine, more like flailing around looking...

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I interrupt this blog to turn 30

I don't even know where to begin.  All those cliches about not having the right words and not enough words or any words at all.  That just happened. What do you do when all of your PEOPLE are your people at the same time in the same place? Cry when your sister who lives hundreds of miles away steps through your front door. Scream when friends you haven't seen in a year or more walk into your living room. Laugh when balloons...

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A little tiny update and a gigantically huge thank you

I leave for Argentina in 1 week and 2 days.    Ready for this?  You've given $3,010.  You've donated 50+lbs of supplies that I'll be packing very tightly into my second bag. I don't know why I'm surprised.  You are amazing people.  God is even more awesome.  But I am in awe. With the extra money you've donated, we get to build a new closet for the kids and do some much needed backyard patio work.  We get to buy new sheets and bedding for the kids.  We get to do an hour craft...

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These kids

The fundraising is over.  The money has been raised.  Tickets have been purchased.  But it's all just really beginning, isn't it? I got this picture in an email today, it was taken on May 8th. Look at these faces, all 26 of them (even the one hiding). These are the faces your donations are helping.  These are the faces you've been praying for. They're smiling.  As if they're saying thank you, thank YOU. These...

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Finding beauty is what makes it worth it - My Messy Beautiful

My three year old, alone, is enough beautiful mess for an entire lifetime of this mama. The dressing herself, the constant whining, the can I have a snack question every 76 seconds. Exhausting.  But, gosh, she's beautiful. And messy. In my 29, never 30 years, I've had a truck load of messy things happen to me. And a boat load of beautiful. There are stories of death and divorce and sick kids and cancer and overcoming and...

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Can't stop, won't stop

I have to tell you, I've been thinking about writing this post for for about a week now. I've set down to write it at least 3 times and turned away.  The words just won't come.  I think partly it's because I'm in such awe at what God is doing...no not partly, that's completely why I'm speechless. One uneventful Tuesday I nervously registered for a trip to another country to serve orphans.  I'm not kidding.  I was shaking...

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Do Something

Y'all...just....you all. We were finishing up the second half of our trek from DC to GA today (longest car ride in the history of car rides ever) when I was playing working on my phone and decided to check my email. DANG GIRL!! Is the subject heading I see.  From the administrator heading up the Argentina trip. Nervously I opened the email and Not kidding for one second at all. In two days. Thursday. Friday. Ready? Wait for it. The total donations amount to...............(drum roll).............. $1,010 Y'all!!! That's...

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Because You Were Made For More

DONATE HERE!  (Total Needed $2200) -Create an account or register as a guest -Fill out the form and select Argentina as the trip -Enter my name, Allyson Bonzo -Enter the amount you'd like to give. -Give yourself a high five and a big hug from me! If you'd rather mail a check or have any questions, email me at allyinargentina@gmail.com Read more of Ann Voskamp www.aholyexperience.com Jennie Allen's Restless Restless: Because You Were Made For More Finally, Oceans by Hillsong United Oceans *Correction: over...

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Drive a Stake

 I didn't used to be this way. At least not this bad. A wishy washy person.  A difficult decision un-maker. But then I was diagnosed. Death got real. And the ability to take a stance has all but vanished.  And even though my diagnosis is gone too, a trail of fears has been left behind.  Real fears I didn't have before. And all of these fears?  They make me second guess if I'm ever doing the right thing. ...

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