Oh this video.
I don't even have words to explain it, just watch it. LISTEN to the words. It's my life right now.
On the way home from my Dad's 12th day at the hospital tonight I was feeling so defeated. I'm emotionally exhausted trying to hold it together. I find myself mad & frustrated & shouldn't be. I am just ready for my Dad to leave the hospital & go home so our lives can go back to normal with him. I am ready for him to have complete healing; I am ready for him to feel whole again.
CRAZY how God works, but this song came on & I caught it from the beginning in my car & just balled down the interstate thanking God for reassuring me of where I need to keep my focus, on Him.
{I love how it says, "What if the trials of this life are His mercies in disguise"}
Dad update:
It's been another hard few days. Dad's tube finally came out but they haven't started giving him normal foods again. They are slowly going to be starting him on liquids again tomorrow to see if he can hold them down. We PRAY that whatever was making him so sick will go away. It's his HEART that is needing healed. Early morning his heart went back into a-fib & some a-flutter as well. As of now they are just monitoring trying to figure out the right steps to take to get control of that. He can't leave until those 2 things are under control, so I have no clue when this hospital journey will end. But, we are hopeful by the end of this week.
In the midst of this journey with my Dad I have just felt completely defeated some days. I was completely surprised & on cloud 9 when my friend from church asked to take our family fall pictures as a gift. Crazy story but her Dad too had heart surgery the WEEK before my Dad. She has been going through the same hard trials I have & has been keeping in touch with me. It's is neat how God can use a situation & bring people together. So this weekend she took a few pictures of my family & I could not be more impressed, & thankful.
Visit Katie's Facebook page HERE & like it, she is so great! I love her stuff, SO talented!
I LOVE all the prayers & notes/e-mails I am getting from all of the world about my Dad! It is so refreshing to hear that I am not the only girl here in Arkansas battling some life changing things. I love hearing from you. My Dad reads these too & every single note so don't be shy! Tell him where you are from & that you are thinking/praying for him; it touches his heart so much!
We love you all!
Let Him have all your worries & cares, for He is always thinking about you & watching everything that concerns you. 1 Peter 5:7
Beautiful family photos!! And still praying for you and your family!!
ReplyDeletethoughts and Prayers being sent from Oklahoma! My world was turned upside down in 2011 when my grandma had a stroke, she is my mom, she raised me amd i am as more attached to her as you are your dad, months of good and bad days at the hospital,physical therapy she is now living back home and walking, talking again and the doctors told her she would never be the same.prayer after prayer HE answered my prayers and he answered my grandmothers too. She told me she prayed that she could have more time to see her great great grandson grow up and he answered those prayers. gOD is GOOD! I'm praying for you, your sweet dad and your family. Beautiful pictures by the way!
ReplyDeleteSuch stunning photos!! Continuing to keep you all in my thoughts and prayers, especially your special Dad, that he will be fully healed and feeling back to his normal self soon!! Love and {hugs} across the ocean! xx
ReplyDeleteI've been praying incessantly for your sweet dad...I can only imagine the things/thoughts/feelings you've been going through. Hold on to God's faithfulness--He will pull your dad through this! And I absolutely adore your family photos...what a precious little family y'all are. Makes my heart happy!
ReplyDeletePraying for your Dad from Alabaster, AL!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm praying his heart will have a better day today so he can go home this week! Praying food will settle in his stomach so he can get some strength!! Praying for you & your Mom and Brother as well!
What beautiful pictures, Ashley. And I love your hair in a top bun.
What a sweet friend to do this.
Reading your update at my desk this morning from Indiana! Just wanted to let you know I'm praying for a healing for you! ((hugs))
ReplyDeleteLovely pictures, Ashley! =) Praying for your Dad's heart to be completely healed, so he can go home and recover comfortably around those he loves. Sometimes these things take time, which I know can be extremely frustrating, but with all the faith, hope, and love that surrounds him, I just know he will make a full recovery. Hang in there...hugs to your entire family! By the way, I think you are absolutely amazing, and I really enjoy reading about the special bond you and your father share, so sweet. =)
ReplyDeleteI love these pictures...you have the cutest little family. Praying for your dad
ReplyDeleteHI Ashley's Dad! I hope you get well soon and feel better real soon!
ReplyDeleteI have read Ashley's blog for a long time, since before she had Avery! I love her fun style and getting ideas from her! I am from Central Illinois and work at the University of Illinois and have a little 2 year old girl myself!
Take care, we are all praying for you!
Ashley,
ReplyDeleteI just watched the video and started crying (at work non the less). I have the blessings to work in the office at a Methodist Church. I see and hear from so many asking for prayers. Even though we have never and most likely will never meet in person I feel that every person we come in contact with whether in be in person or through some other means we are all brothers and sisters through God. I have continued to pray for you and your family during this difficult time. I have placed you and your family on our prayer chain. You and your family have the blessing of many prayers from the RF United Methodist Church in River Falls WI praying for strength and healing. Your Dad will over come these hurdles and will be home recovering. After being home with family is the best medicine anyone could ask for.
Blessings to you and your family!
Still praying from SC. My twins were in the NICU for two weeks and it is so emotionally exhausting to go back and forth to the hospital for days not knowing when it will end. I'm sure that any day now - just when you least expect it - your dad will be released from the hospital and you will be praising the Lord for such a sweet surprise. I think about you often and stop to say a prayer right then and there every time. :)
ReplyDeletePlease know that tons of prayers are coming to your dad (and you and your family) from Texas. :) I KNOW that your dad is getting better every SECOND of every HOUR of every DAY. He will be home sooner than you think. Just think of all the relaxing times y'all will have celebrating the upcoming holiday season. I wish you and your family the best!
ReplyDeleteSending prayers from Southaven, MS!!! Love the Autumn Pics!!
ReplyDeleteAshley,
ReplyDeletePlease know that your Dad is healed and made whole again. You and your family are of strong faith and everything is going to be okay. Netia- Memphis, TN
I love your Blog.
I've been praying over your family for weeks now. I have shed many tears for y'all imagining what you have been feeling and experiencing. I am praying often for strength through the hard days and healing to come SOON!
ReplyDeleteMelissa in California.
Many prayers for your Dad Ashley. I am a Texas girl currently living in crazy California. I know through the many determined prayers for him, he will beat this thing. We almost lost my sister a little over a week ago due to a blood clot on her lungs. She is in stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and has been suffering like crazy. We all got down on our knees, and she is home now learning how to walk again and making great progress. This will happen for your Dad as well. It's hard to see past this terrible storm, but I know there are many wonderful days ahead with your Daddy. Hugs! Claire
ReplyDeleteI think of and pray for you all often. Sending love from South Dakota.
ReplyDeleteLots of prayers for your family! Coming from Kansas :)
ReplyDeletePraying for your precious dad from Birmingham, AL praying for complete healing. Love the pictures you have such a beautiful family!!
ReplyDeleteAshley praying for healing and full recovery for your dad and that he will get stronger and full strength to come home. My prayers are always with you and your family, take care of yourself and just remember that this storm is coming to an end and that your daddy will be home soon. Keep the faith and be strong God is always watching over us! Many blessings to you and your family ~Maggie~ Orlando Florida
ReplyDeletestill praying for your sweet daddy! hopefully things will keep progressing and he will be out of there in no time at all:) Also I LOVE the family fall pictures! your friend did and awesome job!
ReplyDeleteI love those photos. Your dress is darling! Prayers from Jefferson City, MO for your Daddy. Peace, Love, & Razorbacks
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, beautiful pictures! Praying for you!
ReplyDeletePraying for your dad from Moore, OK!
ReplyDeletepraying for all....we had very rough family, illness, my dad in Heaven, older than you all, I am from south, always will be Charleston girl, hehe even at 50! Ashley, your great, praying for you and your intentions, hugs from southern NJ
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