Ashley and the Powerful Love of Music!

Ashley playing a beautiful arrangement of "We Three Kings" at her Christmas Piano Recital!

One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is the beautiful music we often hear - whether on the radio, in church services or at special recitals and concerts! This year was no different, but for our daughter Ashley, the beautiful music has taken on a whole new meaning and importance.

.

After the past two and a half years of some very serious medical problems, which culminated in a intense reconstructive surgery and 8 week recovery at home, Ashley has spent A LOT of time in hospitals - both adult and childrens over that time. The greatest gift that Ashley has been given during that time (besides her obvious wonderful blessing of a clean bill of health) is that she has found a calling to be a music therapist to very ill kids in a children's hospital when she grows up!

.

What Ashley found was that music and art provide a powerful comfort and relief for children during times of great fear and strife with medical conditions. My dearest friend, Lisa is a music therapist and child life specialist at Children's Medical Center here in Dallas, and she made sure Ashley was well cared for during all her times at the hospital! She also inspired Ashley to want to take up her profession - because music was (and continues to be) Ashley's greatest comfort during stress!

.

So, now as we attend a high school choir concert, or a Christmas piano recital, or drive her to voice and piano lessons each week, it is so wonderful to be making an investment directly into Ashley's future! She wants to study music and psychology in college, get her masters degree in music therapy and then go to work - doing the job that made such a difference to her as a young girl during such a scary and uncertain time! God can bring amazing goodness out of every challenging situation!

.

. . . just another day in the life . . .

Ashley and two of her best friends after the CHHS Christmas Choir Concert!

Ashley singing in the Concert Choir during the CHHS Choir Concert!