About

What to Expect

On this blog, I share my story of learning to accept and dwell in God’s passionate love for me. I invite you in to my daily and weekly struggle to be a good steward of my time and resources and words.  I highlight the stories of hope and heartbreak that awaken me to the Love that drives out fear and the call He has on all of our lives. I aspire to be true to myself, to the heart and brain that God has created me with, and to the story of His transforming love and grace in my life.

Topics range from the poetry of T.S. Eliot to the efficacy of international intervention to my struggle with depression to my life as a new mom.  As I write–and as you read—I hope we find grace and connection. Please stick around.

Who am I? 

I’m Aly. I’m a writer.

After graduating with a degree in Journalism and Creative Writing from Point Loma Nazarene University, I joined the team of international development nonprofit, Plant With Purpose, as a Staff Writer and Grants Specialist. I sleuthed out program information, wrote compelling proposals, reports, blogs, and newsletters, and soaked in everything I could related to poverty alleviation and international development.

Since I wasn’t getting any younger, I decided to finally act on my longtime dream of living in Central America. After much prayer and deliberation, I took the plunge and traded my predictable San Diego schedule for a less predictable life living in Antigua, Guatemala. I left fully expecting that I would meet the man of my dreams and live in Guatemala forever.

That didn’t happen.

I stayed in Guatemala for a year then moved back to San Diego in 2013. I pursued a Master’s Degree in TESOL/Applied Linguistics and now have the privilege of teaching citizenship classes to immigrants on their path to U.S. citizenship. I met the man of my dreams (a Filipino, not a Guatemalan), we married in September 2015 and welcomed our first child, Aidan, in 2016, and our daughter, Nadia, in 2018. 

I am passionate about T.S. Eliot, Latin America, welcoming the “stranger”, environmental and social justice, and using my words to seek and share God and grace in a hurting world.

 

I’d appreciate your thoughts and feedback, and hope we can give grace together.