Traditions

We all have them! 

Each family is different. 

And during the holidays each family has special traditions.

Each family celebrates holidays different.

In my family every year is different. This year everyone went to the grandparents, up in Illinois, for Christmas. Last year it was Thanksgiving. Next year it will be Thanksgiving. 2015 we will all be there for Christmas again. So on and so forth. 

We always eat at lunch. My Grandma decorates her house to the nines. There is a long table stretched from one end of the house to the other, decorated and with place settings and name tags. My Grandma doesn't hold back. We have a load of food with all the women helping cook. Usually there is a whole table full of desserts, which my grandma decorates too lol :) 

All the aunts, uncles, cousins all in one place! No TV, no distractions. Just each other enjoying the company of family. We open gifts after we eat.  I usually eat to much and sit around the rest of the day until our walk down town. 

Then we sit around, nibble on food the rest of the day, playing hand and foot and having our infamous Kroneneberger discussions. 

Unfortunately this year I was unable to go.

I knew one day all of us cousins would get married and move on, 

little did I know that I would be the first!

It hit me. I'm growing up. I'm about to marry into a whole other family with traditions of their own

and I had an emotional breakdown! 

My poor fiance didn't know what to do. 

My Grandma offered to pay part of my way to Illinois. 

So I was left with ultimatum. My family or my fiance....

I chose my.....

Fiance! 

I know I'm nuts, but I knew it was gonna happen one day anyway and It's a hard thing to swallow when you have to choose to put your family second because you are starting one of your own.

I wasn't looking forward to Christmas before, but I went to Spencer's Aunt and Uncle's house and I added some of my own traditions and took my Grandma's advice...

I made Christmas what I wanted it to be. 

And it was perfect!

I hope you Cain's are ready!??!! 

I'm my grandmothers kin and I'm bringing some southern charm to your redneck craziness!!!! 

Long Time No Talk

Sorry for the silence. 

Just been busy in my own life I almost forgot I still had a blog.

Since our last chat I've met the man of my dreams

moved to Florida

and GOT ENGAGED! 

I know...Its lot to take in, but I'm about to elaborate. 

The end of March I had the privilege to go on an outing to Jonesboro, AR with Urshan College.

I wasn't supposed to go on it because there wasn't any room, 

but last minute a girl backed out and asked if I could take her place.

The weekend was spent passing out tracks, practicing for Sunday's service and youth party....

Where it all began.


I was sitting there with a group of people working on my cardboard testimony.
When in he walked.
This tall, dark haired man with a bright yellow shirt
And tennis shoes to match.

The first thing that crossed my mind....
Arkansas has some good looking guys!

But then this good looking guy came and sat right next to me
And come to find out we both lived in Florida for a short while and both our parents lived there still.

Crazy small world!

Little did I know this tall, good looking, country boy would soon be so much more then some guy I met at a church event!

Time went on and we started talking, which turned into dating,
Which somehow turned into us moving to Florida to be closer to our parents and for better jobs.

Let me stop before I get ahead of myself.
This man God has brought into my life is more then I ever could have asked for.

In previous posts I'm sure you've read all my specifications for a man.
All what I thought my man should and should not be.
Not that I was looking for Mr. Perfect,
More like Mr. Right! 

I started questioning if he existed, but 
Spencer has and continually shows me that he does,

I've never had peace about a guy I was talking to. I'd always find something to nit pick. 
But with Spencer I have no doubt in my mind where he belongs...
With me! 

Now back to my story! 
September rolls around and this boy proposes to me... 
Like I said so much has been going on!

But my reason for writing this is for all you wondering minds 
Who think we are going too fast, 
Who are questioning if I'm in Gods will,
Who are wondering if I'm still going to pursue ministry.

Someone a while back, when Spencer and I were talking marriage and talking about moving to Florida, was praying with me and told me I had some crucial decisions to make in my life. The decision to follow my calling and God's will or follow my heart and fleshly desires. 

Although Spencer's name never crossed his lips I'm pretty sure that's what he meant by following my heart and fleshly desires.


My question is why must they be two separate decisions. To me they are on in the same!



I've been living for God all my life. Chasing after this calling he has placed in my heart and now God has given me the desires of my heart. 

I am so blessed.

I always heard stories of people finding their help mate, their other half and how in love they are and now I know what they were talking about! 

I can't wait to start my life with you Spencer Cain and I can't wait to see what God has in store for us! 

Life is Short But Good

Unlike most people my age I'm ready for God to come back anytime! 

I mean there are a lot of things I still want to do.

Like get married and have a family. 

But if God was to come back today, I'd be ok with that. 

All I do in life is for God. 

Its for His Kingdom anyways. 

All so that one day I can stand before Him and hear Him say,

"Well done thou good and faithful servant"

I have been blessed here on earth though. I will have to say. 

I have a loving family. 

Great Friends.

A phenomenal church who have taken me under their wing.

Currently enrolled in my dream college that not only has molded me into a woman of God and minister of the Word, but also God has continually provided the finances for. 

I love my job and the young autistic boy I take care of.

Life is all around just really good!!! 

But it is also stressful. 

There are bills that must be paid.

Never enough money.

Sickness is always haunting me and/or family.

There are shootings, bombings, tornadoes, and many other horrific occurrences that seem to happen day in and day out. 

Life isn't always that easy. 

It isn't always certain. 

But one thing that is certain is God. 

And despite the hurt,

Despite the hard times, 

He always is there. 

So when I think of heaven. 

I think of always being with Him.

Never having hard times.

Never having hurt! 

Unlike many people these days I live for something that is eternal. 

So, I'm Ready!!!

ARE YOU?

Acts 2:38

Then Peter said, repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus for the remission of your sins, and ye shall receive the gift of Holy Ghost. 

With Love,

Ally

Little Green Giant

Recently my school had a huge music conference called

WORSHIP ARTS

 

Two whole days of classes with the some amazing, talented, well know musicians, song writers, singers and music ministers. A night service that showcases Apostolic music from the best of the best. All leading up to the live recording of Urshan's choir, chorale, and United.

 

Truth be told....I wasn't looking forward to it.

I'm in choir and chorale, but I knew I had to take off two days of work and put all this extra time into it and I just really didn't want to.

Mainly because I don't feel appreciated and I didn't feel like giving my time to them.

 

It was the wrong attitude to have.

 

I was envious. Jealous even.

Not of peoples talents, but that mine wasn't recognized.

 

Like I said I had the wrong attitude.

 

I got set straight though.

 

See since I've been here at Urshan I have been tremendously humbled.

I thought I was going to walk up into this school and be the coolest, most talented, gift they have ever had. I don't where I got off thinking I was going to be some hot shot, but no worries the Lord knocked me off my high horse.

 

For the longest time I was so upset about it though.

That Urshan wasn't all I wanted it to be.

That I wasn't really involved.

My talent wasn't really acknowledged.

That I didn't really have many friends there.

 

But I was in chapel one day a couple weeks ago and the Lord started speaking to me.

 

Its not about me and although this is something I've known since the beginning time, He revealed it to me in whole new way.

 

I think that its MY talent, MY personality, MY calling...It's God.

 

And in order for me to have His anointing in all I do I need to realize this.

 

The only reason I can sing is because God gave me that ability.

The only reason I can preach is because God gives me the words and wisdom to do so. How can I have anointing and be used if I think of it as my own ability.

 

So along with this new sense of humility I have realized that the people who are used and who do have all the friends in the world are just as blessed as I am.

 

No need to be jealous, no need to be envious or upset.

I have friends, I have family and I still have this calling that for some reason God has so graciously given me.

 

I will lean on his promises for they are forever and amen!

 

I am sorry for those who I was jealous of. I know you don't know who are and probably won't even read this, but I am proud of you and I hope the best in your life.

 

God Bless!

 

With Love,

Ally

A Better Me.

The Bible talks about our bodies being temples of the Holy Spirit.
That is not just our physical bodies, but also spiritual and mental bodies as well.
 

In my faith, Pentecost, we suggest that we don't do any harm to our bodies because of this very reason.

 

From piercings and tattoos, to drugs and alcohol...

we preach against it all.

 

But I feel like it's much deeper than that.

In fact I feel like we leave in important detail out.

 

FOOD!

 

Actually we do the exact opposite we never leave it out.

It's a social thing. We eat to fellowship.

 

Every Sunday and Sunday night, like clockwork...we dine!

 

Although this is good in some sense, it's an unspoken sin....

 

YES...Gluttony is a sin!

 

In Ezekiel we are told that the sins of Sodom were pride, laziness and gluttony!

 

Laziness and Gluttony hmmmm

 

Yet everyday when we get home from work or school whats the first thing most of us do?

 

That's right eat and take a nap or watch TV.

I'm taking biology this semester and one of the things we went over was nutrition.
It amazes me how it is over looked.

We need to have control over our weight and over how we eat and spend our days.
Your body is important. It is God's, not yours. You can't just do whatever you want to it.

Alright I'm done ranting about nutrition because that isn't the only thing I need to change.

2 years ago, when I decided to come to Gateway, a few people told me to be careful when I came because it is easy to fall behind in your walk with God.
I laughed and swore that would never be me.

But I was sadly wrong. It is super easy to get caught up in the day to day, classes, working, and all the stresses that follow and forget your walk with God.
You get in this mentality that you're OK because you had a theology class that morning so there is no need to read your bible. Or in other words you become "all churched out".

I said it would never happen to me, but it has. I need to get back to that young girl who was on fire and had a passion for the things of God.

I still feel a calling, but due to the lack of open doors I find myself pushing it under the rug and in my mind deciding to deal with it at a later date.

I don't need open doors to deal with my spiritual walk.
I just need to do it!

So no more games, no more distractions, no more allowing the devil to fill my mind with stress and doubt. I have a calling and that needs to be my one and only focus.

Another thing I need to work on is my mind.
I have a hard time when it comes to relationships.
I don't let guys in and the ones I do let in eventually tend to hurt me.
I'm not sure why I allow this to happen and for the longest time I blamed it on them just not being the "One", but honestly I'm not the one and that's why there is problem.
I have been searching for this perfect being when I myself am no where near perfect.
I have so many area's in my life that need worked on. So many things in my mind that I need to deal with before ever even thinking about dating.
I also know God as a special calling and it's going to be a little while before there is a guy ready to follow me in this calling.

And I'm OK with that. For the longest time I was so anxious to be in a relationship. Never desperate, but very willing, which always ended wrong. I know now that today, in this part of my life, it is not the time to be with a guy, to be distracted by a relationship, or stressed by the lack of one, but rather to live and love the life I have. To be content with just having Jesus for the time being. And I feel like I have finally gotten to that point. And it is a wonderful feeling.

Last year I told someone I wanted to be the Proverbs 31 woman, but that I didn't think it was possible. The devil made it nearly impossible and I have digressed so much since then, but today is the day, now is the time, I will be all that God has called me to be.

In Body, Soul and Mind

With Love,
Allyson