Climbing the mountain and reaching the summit
A couple years ago I went with a few guys from church to Colorado to do some mountain climbing. I had a really great time and was bit by the climbing bug. I have been back once since then and I look forward to going back in the near future. I learned a few things especially on my first mountain that I am reminded of tonight. When we approached the base of the mountain it was absolutely beautiful. It was late May and still at least 75% covered in snow. I gazed at it in awe and amazement at what God had created.
I felt the same way the first time I saw my little 3 lb Ashley and knew she would be my third child and second daughter one day.
We started climbing the mountain and it seemed as though we would never reach the top. We could not even see the summit, it was hidden behind a ridge.
It was mid August when we first met Ashley and we were told that she had a large part of her intestine removed and would be in the hospital for some time, they guessed she would be home by Thanksgiving, we were overwhelmed, we knew it was a long climb, but also knew it could be done.
After a couple hours of climbing Mt. Democrat it became easier and began to reward us with the beauty of all that surrounded us.
After a few weeks with Ashley the driving to Dallas became easier. The time spent away from the family was easier and we began to become accustomed to our new lives.
Another couple hours of climbing Mt. Democrat and the climbing began to be more difficult, not because of the difficulty of the mountain, but rather because of the lack of oxygen in the air. Our bodies are used to the air in Texas just barely above sea level. We were around 12,000 feet and our little Texas sized lungs were being tested.
Well Thanksgiving came and went and Ashley was still in the hospital in Dallas, now we were being told Ash should be home for Christmas. Christmas came and went and we began to hope for another future date.
We took a break in climbing and were able to get the oxygen in us that we needed to carry on. We were now met with another obstacle, a much more technically challenging part of the mountain was before us. It turned out to be more than we were equipped to handle. We just did not have to necessary safety gear to carry on. After a time of discussion we realized it was not worth the risk to carry on. We had to turn back.
After some time Ashley did finally make it out of the hospital and in late January of 2006 she came to live with us in Longview. For the first time since her birth in August we, all five of us were sleeping in the same house under the same roof. I remember those first few nights together and how great it was. How fun it was to see Blake and Allie play with their baby sister and show her all around her new home. How rewarding it was to see Blake and Allie finally get the chance to bond with and develop a love for their baby sister. Ashley was still having health problems and still struggling, but things were looking better. She was being managed by a new team of doctors at a new hospital and this gave us renewed hope that things would improve and she would be fine if we just gave her a little bit more time. But just like us on that mountain our Ashley had hit a place that she would just not be able to get past.
We all felt rotten for not reaching the summit and having to call it a day. But, the next day we had another chance and we went back to tackle that mountain again. We had a new plan this time and we were going to climb it from a different route. We began to climb again and on this new route there were new challenges and new rewards. I remember one particular part of the climb that was much steeper than any part we had climbed before. Not only was it much steeper, but it was covered in snow that had melted and re-froze so many times that it was very dense almost like ice. We did not have ice axes or crampons (those spikes you put on your boots for climbing in snow and ice) but we did have a determination to carry on. The summit was our goal and as this was our last day in Colorado we were not turning back.
On 9-26-2006 our Ashley was given a second chance when she received the gift of organ donation from a very special family. It was a very scary night for all of us, but Ashley was tough and she pulled through. She has had ups and downs and endured many additional surgeries since that day. She is much stronger than I ever was on any of my climbs. I envy her determination and will to push on. I pray that some day I will be able to take this little one climbing with me.
We continued climbing and thought we were nearing the summit. However if you have ever been in the mountains or done in climbing you know you can be fooled. As I drew closer to the summit I realized I was on a false summit, the reward was still further on ahead. I had to keep pressing on.
Last week I saw things moving forward and could tell things were going really well for Ashley. She was released from the hospital which has been our goal for over two months now. We had prayed that Ash would at least be out of the hospital so she could be in an apartment with her Mom, Dad, Blake and Allie for Christmas. She had finally made it out, but it was her false summit. She was so close, but now we know that there is more climbing to be done. I am afraid this set back may make her second Christmas her second Christmas in a hospital. My prayer is no longer that she will be out for Christmas, but that she will be alive and conscious for Christmas. I pray that God will bring her back from this blow. I pray that her body will recover from the damage done. I pray that my Ashley will reach the summit and be at home with us back in Longview, TX. It seems the closer she makes it to the summit the higher her mountain gets. I pray she will reach the summit. I pray she will survive.
Climb on little pickle. Just keep climbing.
Thank you Lord for blessing my family. Thank you for bringing Ashley so far.
Please be with Allison in Dallas, Blake in Longview, Trish at the Nebraska House and Ashley and I in the PICU. I pray that before long we will all be together sleeping under one roof in the home you have blessed us with.
Goodnight,
DAVE
I felt the same way the first time I saw my little 3 lb Ashley and knew she would be my third child and second daughter one day.
We started climbing the mountain and it seemed as though we would never reach the top. We could not even see the summit, it was hidden behind a ridge.
It was mid August when we first met Ashley and we were told that she had a large part of her intestine removed and would be in the hospital for some time, they guessed she would be home by Thanksgiving, we were overwhelmed, we knew it was a long climb, but also knew it could be done.
After a couple hours of climbing Mt. Democrat it became easier and began to reward us with the beauty of all that surrounded us.
After a few weeks with Ashley the driving to Dallas became easier. The time spent away from the family was easier and we began to become accustomed to our new lives.
Another couple hours of climbing Mt. Democrat and the climbing began to be more difficult, not because of the difficulty of the mountain, but rather because of the lack of oxygen in the air. Our bodies are used to the air in Texas just barely above sea level. We were around 12,000 feet and our little Texas sized lungs were being tested.
Well Thanksgiving came and went and Ashley was still in the hospital in Dallas, now we were being told Ash should be home for Christmas. Christmas came and went and we began to hope for another future date.
We took a break in climbing and were able to get the oxygen in us that we needed to carry on. We were now met with another obstacle, a much more technically challenging part of the mountain was before us. It turned out to be more than we were equipped to handle. We just did not have to necessary safety gear to carry on. After a time of discussion we realized it was not worth the risk to carry on. We had to turn back.
After some time Ashley did finally make it out of the hospital and in late January of 2006 she came to live with us in Longview. For the first time since her birth in August we, all five of us were sleeping in the same house under the same roof. I remember those first few nights together and how great it was. How fun it was to see Blake and Allie play with their baby sister and show her all around her new home. How rewarding it was to see Blake and Allie finally get the chance to bond with and develop a love for their baby sister. Ashley was still having health problems and still struggling, but things were looking better. She was being managed by a new team of doctors at a new hospital and this gave us renewed hope that things would improve and she would be fine if we just gave her a little bit more time. But just like us on that mountain our Ashley had hit a place that she would just not be able to get past.
We all felt rotten for not reaching the summit and having to call it a day. But, the next day we had another chance and we went back to tackle that mountain again. We had a new plan this time and we were going to climb it from a different route. We began to climb again and on this new route there were new challenges and new rewards. I remember one particular part of the climb that was much steeper than any part we had climbed before. Not only was it much steeper, but it was covered in snow that had melted and re-froze so many times that it was very dense almost like ice. We did not have ice axes or crampons (those spikes you put on your boots for climbing in snow and ice) but we did have a determination to carry on. The summit was our goal and as this was our last day in Colorado we were not turning back.
On 9-26-2006 our Ashley was given a second chance when she received the gift of organ donation from a very special family. It was a very scary night for all of us, but Ashley was tough and she pulled through. She has had ups and downs and endured many additional surgeries since that day. She is much stronger than I ever was on any of my climbs. I envy her determination and will to push on. I pray that some day I will be able to take this little one climbing with me.
We continued climbing and thought we were nearing the summit. However if you have ever been in the mountains or done in climbing you know you can be fooled. As I drew closer to the summit I realized I was on a false summit, the reward was still further on ahead. I had to keep pressing on.
Last week I saw things moving forward and could tell things were going really well for Ashley. She was released from the hospital which has been our goal for over two months now. We had prayed that Ash would at least be out of the hospital so she could be in an apartment with her Mom, Dad, Blake and Allie for Christmas. She had finally made it out, but it was her false summit. She was so close, but now we know that there is more climbing to be done. I am afraid this set back may make her second Christmas her second Christmas in a hospital. My prayer is no longer that she will be out for Christmas, but that she will be alive and conscious for Christmas. I pray that God will bring her back from this blow. I pray that her body will recover from the damage done. I pray that my Ashley will reach the summit and be at home with us back in Longview, TX. It seems the closer she makes it to the summit the higher her mountain gets. I pray she will reach the summit. I pray she will survive.
Climb on little pickle. Just keep climbing.
Thank you Lord for blessing my family. Thank you for bringing Ashley so far.
Please be with Allison in Dallas, Blake in Longview, Trish at the Nebraska House and Ashley and I in the PICU. I pray that before long we will all be together sleeping under one roof in the home you have blessed us with.
Goodnight,
DAVE
posted by Ashley @ 9:41 PM
8 Comments:
Isaiah 54:10 " Though the mountains be shaken & the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
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another wonderfully written page in the book of Ashley!! i am praying ...still praying...for all of you!
come on, baby girl. you have wound your way into my heart. keep climbing. God, give her body the strength and the stamina.
Praying for your sweetie and your whole family.
Mary, mom to many
I need to get to bed..... for church will come early in the morning...but I find myself praying & wondering how this dear child is doing ....what plan God has....I can't fall asleep .....I feel I need to continue to pray....I have never met this baby in person but God has put her in my life & in my heart. I am thankful that I have come to know her wonderful parents....what a lucky girl she is to have such a loving family.... I will pray tonight till I fall asleep....& check on you guys in the morning. Thank you GOD for pressing on my heart to pray for this family.....it is a pleasure & honor to go before you FATHER on their behalf.....Thank you JESUS for what you will do for them....You already know the outcome.....We have FAITH that it is the best road....the only road that can be taken....for it is YOUR will. Thank you JESUS....AMEN
God's Promises for You
The Lord says, "I will make my people strong with power from me!... Wherever they go, they will be under my personal care." Zechariah 10:12
If God sends us on stony paths, he provides strong shoes.
I truly believe that God has equipped Ashley and you, her family, with strong shoes to walk this path together. The Lord is with us always and while we may not always understand His plan, He always knows how to protect us and provide us with the power to be strong! I pray that God will give you strength to climb this "mountain" together and recognize that He has a wonderful plan for you and your little Ashley.
Thank you for keeping us posted on how Ashley is doing. I just wish I could come to Omaha and put my arms around you. While I am not able to be there, I hope you realize how many people love you and pray daily for Ashley to get well and for your strength as you take each day as it comes.
God bless you and keep you strong!
Our prayers are continuosly flowing for you. I know many other people are praying too. God will continue to see you through all you mountains and valleys,our prayer is that you can feel Him with you in every moment of every day. The days and nights are long and hard, but He is constantly there watching over you! Much love and prayers.
I am reading this and tearing up at the same time. we are praying for you every time we sit down at the table for a meal, and when we get up in the morning and go to bed at night. just keep on fighting little Gherkin!!!! you have lots of safty lines of prayer holding you up. we are praying that you will someday be all under the same roof as we are now all under the same God!!!
God answers Prayer!!!!!!!
Laura Roller, Kc, KS
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