I’m so excited to finally share this post!
About a year ago, I received a call from an unknown number. After I answered, the person on the other line asked if he was talking to “Preslee’s mom?” I immediately froze, being called “Preslee’s mom” isn’t something I hear very often, so it startled me. I was so shocked, I instantly started crying. The caller introduced himself as Elder Bradley Foster, and explained he was writing an article for the LDS Ensign, (The Ensign magazine of the LDS church contains first presidency messages, visiting teaching messages, and other spiritual articles.) I grew up reading the magazine my entire life. Elder Foster explained he was hoping to write his article about Preslee and our family. While fighting tears, I of course said yes. He said he would be in touch soon, and as I hung up, I sat and cried, thinking about how our little girl definitely is determined to share her message with the world!
I worked with Elder Foster, and a few people from the magazine until it was finished, and then we sat waiting for it to be published for months!
Elder Foster is a wonderful person. He was amazing to work with and always very thoughtful. As a thank you, he gave us tickets to last year’s April General Conference, where we were able to meet him! I posted about our trip {here}.
As Pat and I sat reading the article tonight, we discussed how a common fear for parents who lose children is that they will be forgotten. So, for more people to read about Preslee’s life and story is truly an honor. Another tender mercy really. We still desperately miss our daughter, but its been amazing to be taught so much by her over the past few years. We couldn’t be more proud. She has accomplished more than we could have ever hoped for in such a short time.
Thank you Elder Foster for sharing Preslee’s story. We’ll eternally be grateful. I simply cannot wait to pull this article out in the future, to help teach her three younger brothers who she truly is.
We love you Monkey!
Read the full article with pictures {here} pg. 64
Or the article {here}.
I received my Ensign in the mail today and saw your Instagram post so I immediately grabbed it and read your article. It was beautifully written and I love the direction it took explaining Preslee's missionary work. Your daughter is inspiring!
ReplyDeleteI love this and am going to sit down and read it now!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful article on your family and trials. I've read your blog and know the story and still ended up crying. Thanks for sharing your lives with us so we can realize we have the strength to overcome all things with the Lord's help. Your attitude and faith is amazing. Thanks for your example of overcoming when trials seem too hard to bear.
ReplyDeleteI took my Ensign out of the plastic but hadn't looked through it yet. I'm going to read it right now. :)
ReplyDeleteLoved it! Thank you, again, for sharing Preslee's life, death and the hard lessons learned. I know it's not easy to put everything out there and I thank you for it.
ReplyDeleteAshlee, it won't let me click the link to your story in the ensign, but I want to read it! Can you send me the link?
ReplyDeletei hope i get mine today!!
ReplyDeleteShe's still working miracles. You guys amaze me. Thanks for being brave enough to share the most personal side of your lives. It has strengthened my testimony.
ReplyDeleteThis is so amazing!!! I'm so excited to read it :) Preslee is definitely serving the Lord still and I think she is such an amazing little girl and her story is going to help so many other families :) Thank you Ashley, truly.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing Preslee with all of us.
ReplyDeletethis is yet another reason to renew my subscription today!
ReplyDeleteI've shared your story multiple times through the years in talks, lessons and testimony. Your family has changed my life in ways I will never be able to fully explain. I have been reading your journey since the beginning and praying for you for years and am eternally grateful for the change and the growth that your story has done in me. Because of this "sharing" I have done over our moves and travels the last few years I have received many inquiries since this issue came out as to whether or not this was "the story" I shared that had changed my life. Your story spreads through miraculous ways and channels and Preslee is doing amazing work, and so are YOU. Thank you for your example and strength.
ReplyDeleteI bawled my eyes out reading the article! What an amazing girl Preslee is! She still continues to do the Lords work and touch many lives! What amazing parents she has to stand so strong and not waver! I am so grateful every day I am a member of the Church and to be able to have the knowledge we do!! Thank you for sharing your lives with us!
ReplyDeleteI am a "stranger" to you who has benefited from your example and testimony through the years. I thought the Ensign article was beautiful and I had to come comment to tell you thank you for your examples of faith and trust in God through what must be an indescribably difficult mortal experience.
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful! Thank you for sharing your stories.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful article! Thank you for sharing the story of Preslee and your family.
ReplyDeleteThis is amazing! I bawled my eyes out the entire time. Way to go Pres! And way to go you and Pat!
ReplyDeleteAshley, I have been a silent follower of your blog for a long time, but haven't been checking for a while since Google Reader went away (lazy, I know). We haven't received our Ensign yet, but just wanted to thank you for your faith, testimony, and inspirational messages about Preslee and your family. Can't wait to read your story.
ReplyDeleteWe also live in a 2-bedroom house. 8, 6, 4, and 2 years old in a bunk bed, toddler bed and a crib. It sure does make it easy to sing to them all at night though.;) As a result my older kids have gotten in the habit of getting dressed in the morning in the kitchen (drives their father crazy), just so they don’t wake their younger siblings. I enjoy following you’re blog. You’re very inspiring
ReplyDeleteI sat down this morning to read the Ensign and I was so pleasently surprised to see this article. I have been following your blog for years and yet, reading this article still brought tears to my eyes. I can definitely feel of the sweet spirit that she has brought into your life and the life of others.
ReplyDeleteI just read it! That is amazing how she continues to influence people for good! Your are so lucky to be the parents of such a special little angel girl!
ReplyDeleteThe Ensign article was beautifully written. I can't begin to imagine how difficult the heartbreak is in losing a child...but I think God definitely had a special assignment your precious angel. Her life was way to short but it is an understatement that she made an impact. She already has changed lives for the better. Her amazing parents have seen to it. She will never ever be forgotten...her life will be a legacy of love and your lives are a living example of love, patience, faith and trust. Preslee is is happy and proud of you.
ReplyDeleteI just read this article and remember how heartsick I was thinking of your family. I didn't realize at the time that I knew the men who found her. I feel so bad for them, knowing what tender souls they are. What a fortunate discovery, but such a sad outcome.
ReplyDeleteWe already read it too! What a great story to be published! I never get tired of hearing your story... big hugs!
ReplyDeleteSo awesome!
ReplyDeleteAn amazing article guys. You're story is such an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful article and very inspiring.
ReplyDeleteI read it tonight and LOVED it. Thank you for sharing Preslee's story with the world.
ReplyDeleteWhen I opened my Ensign and saw the article I got so excited! I've mentioned you and your family in my Relief Society lessons, and then bam! There you are in the Ensign. I brought my copy to RS last week when I taught and showed everyone. Hopefully some of them will start following your blog and be inspired by your positive thinking and attitude like I have!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing article. Thank you for continuing to share your story with us all. Much good can come from great tragedy and you are a great example of this. Much love to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteThis was probably the most excited I've ever been to see the Ensign in my mailbox :) Your story is so inspiring and such a testament to the kind of people you and Pat are. Lately I've been reflecting on how our kids really do change us for the better. Surely Preslee's greatest work in her short time here on earth will have been the change she made in each of you, we're just all lucky that you're so willing to share parts of that sacred relationship with us. Thank you a million times for the frequent reminders of what a gift families are and how important it is to stay faithful even through the hardest parts of this life.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful article!
ReplyDeleteI truly cried while reading it but I also know & can see how many lives your story has changed of people..
Life truly is a gift & that is a reminder to live every single day as if it was our last & too always be thankful & cherish the time we do share with those we love..
Thank you for sharing your story. Our son Tacen passed away 16 months ago at the age of 28 months. I find strength in reading other's stories and yours has been no exception. Thank you for your testimony, faith and realness! Hugs to you from one mom of an angel to another!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful talk, I can't wait to get the Ensign and re-read it again. This weekend has been very diffucult. On Friday afternoon we lost a wonderful Bishop to a car accident. 14 months earlier his grandson was killed in the exact same way. And then on Sunday while sitting in Fast and Testimony meeting it was announced that a dear sister in our ward died that morning. Oh the Gospel. It restores Faith and Love. To know what the Plan of Salvation is and that we are never alone.
ReplyDeleteHi Ashley, just wanted to let you know that I read the Ensign article last night and it was so well done. What amazing examples you guys are. I believe I have come across your blog before, probably right after I lost my little girl. I was directed to a lot of different blogs at that time and every single one touched me. What a beautiful little girl with obviously an amazing spirit that have touched so many. I feel that way about my Ruby as well. I feel like she touch so many people in her short 2 weeks of life and she continues to do so 2 years after her passing. Thank you for sharing your story here and also in the Ensign. I believe the strength that the Lord gives us during situations like this can affect more than just us. I could physically feel the prayers being offered on our behalf during our time with Ruby and it is something that I will never forget. Again, thank you for your example and charity. Kristin
ReplyDeletehttp://warburtonblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/perfect.html