Category: family

why i don’t want you to feel sorry for me on mother’s day, my first without mom.
adoption · cancer · faith · family · Grief · hope · Love · mom · mother's day · motherhood · Nostalgia · Ovarian Cancer · time · Travel · wisdom

why i don’t want you to feel sorry for me on mother’s day, my first without mom.

Ally Velsor1 Comment

I understand being sensitive towards someone you know might be going through it, but I implore you to stop falling into the cracks of political correctness. I’ve been skeptical about writing this post because the last thing I want is to bring someone down who is already grieving. But let me be clear, this post is mostly directed towards you who are not.

If you can take anything from reading this, I want you to go all out and celebrate with the loudest bells and whistles you could find! I know I would if mom was still here and my only hope this year is for you to have that moment with yours. We don’t know the day of our departure, so I implore you, celebrate like it’s the last Mother’s Day you’ll have with her.

when her name is Courage (an ode to a friend for mother’s day)
adoption · church · courage · faith · family · God · godliness · hope · humility · inspiration · leadership · legacy · Love · motherhood · Ode · redemption · Resilience · service · Sisterhood · Testimony · Waiting · wisdom · Worship

when her name is Courage (an ode to a friend for mother’s day)

Ally VelsorLeave a comment

I do know a friend whose name is actually Courage.

I thought she was kidding at first,

anyone would merely dream of displaying such formidable surname.

It was 2013 when I met her and became friends

as we served together in a restaurant at a church.

This Easter 2017: When Death Defers Hope, Remember He is the Resurrection & the Life
#WriteHopeFWD · cancer · easter · faith · family · fear · God · Grief · hope · legacy · Memorial · mom · Nostalgia · Ovarian Cancer

This Easter 2017: When Death Defers Hope, Remember He is the Resurrection & the Life

Ally VelsorLeave a comment

Last year’s April 16th wasn’t Easter or any major holiday, it was just an ordinary Saturday. Before that day, there were plenty of other days, ordinary days, I chose not to think about death. Every time I did think about death, fear would invade every aspect of my life. Whenever I think about death, it becomes an obsession. The what, when, where, why, how questions would flood my brain to the point of keeping me idle and isolated as to avoid anything that could possibly kill me. So, I did my best and I deferred.

But April 16, 2016 was one of those days I didn’t think I’d remember, but one picture brings a plethora of memories and emotions.

Because for the first time in my mother’s diagnosis, I thought of death. Her death.

For God So Loved… Moms & Tots
faith · family · Love · mercy · mom · motherhood · SAHM · stay at home mom · Switchfoot · tantrums · Valentine's Day · Worship

For God So Loved… Moms & Tots

Ally VelsorLeave a comment

My dear readers, love must first be rooted in our homes as we embrace our spouses, our children, and our families; it then sprouts into our communities through our neighborhoods, schools, and churches. Valentine’s isn’t about a box of chocolates and a dozen red roses, but it’s in the how we express our love every day of every week of every month of every year. We are way too focused on the big picture and in how others choose to react, but we forsake where the real influence of love should initiate.
Remember?
It starts with me.

Dr. K’s Best Medicine: Take Your Own Advice & Make Lemonade
cancer · faith · family · fear · Forgiveness · God · Grief · humility · inspiration · legacy · Love · mom · Nostalgia · Ovarian Cancer · pride · redemption · Resilience · this is us · wisdom

Dr. K’s Best Medicine: Take Your Own Advice & Make Lemonade

Ally VelsorLeave a comment

NBC’s This is Us has been renewed for two more seasons! (Yippee!). But there’s a reason why this show has captivated the hearts of many, including my own. Here’s my take on the latest episode “The Big Day,” although I really missed the grown up Big Three, this prequel to the pilot episode gave us a window to peek into the depth of Dr. K’s grief over the death of his beloved while further explaining to us his “when life gives you the sourest lemon” philosophy.
**Spoiler Alert** Don’t read if you haven’t watched the episode and don’t want to know what happens!**

When We Don’t Feel Like Giving Thanks
contentment · faith · family · Friends Tv Show · God · godliness · inspiration · Looking For America · mom · Nostalgia · Resilience · Switchfoot · Thanksgiving · this is us · Where The Light Shines Through · wisdom

When We Don’t Feel Like Giving Thanks

Ally Velsor1 Comment

I feel like this year’s Thanksgiving Scrooge.

My husband lately has been bugging me to write. But I haven’t felt like it. I feel internally yucky. I feel like I shouldn’t share my internal yuckiness because I don’t want to be contagious or give anyone a reason to complain about their miserable lives. So I opted to abstain from writing… and letting you in on my misery.

Then the Lord reminds me of this verse in 1 Timothy because I’m pretty sure when Paul penned this to Timothy, his circumstances alone didn’t give him a reason to rejoice. But he did anyways. Despite the persecutions, the incarcerations, and the beatings, Paul somehow trusted God and all His promises.

As we prepare a marvelous Thanksgiving feast, my prayer for everyone is that we don’t miss these ingredients that will make our times memorable for a lifetime.

For He Who Promised Is Faithful: The Story of Joshua Isaac
faith · family · fear · God · inspiration · legacy · mom · motherhood · Story-telling · Testimony

For He Who Promised Is Faithful: The Story of Joshua Isaac

Ally Velsor1 Comment

**This story is the inspiration of this blog**

It’s been written to give you hope when you feel forgotten.
It’s been written to inspire you to be open for God to change your heart and transform your mind.
It’s been written to remind you that what you want isn’t always what you need.
It’s been written to encourage you to stay the course,
for He who promised is faithful!