Stacked Keys Podcast
The idea to talk to women who are out there living and making a difference is where the Stacked Keys Podcast was born. There are women who make a difference, but never make a wave while paddling through life. Immediately I can think of a dozen or more who impacted me, but I want more. I want to talk to those I don't know and I want to share with an audience that might need the inspiration to find their own beat. This podcast is to feature women who are impressive in the work world-- or in raising a family -- or who have hobbies that can make us all be encouraged. Want to hear what makes these women passionate and get up in the morning or what they wish they had known earlier in life? Grab your keys and STOMP to your own drum.
Stacked Keys Podcast
Episode 234 -- Ashlyn Bolen -- The DNA of Resilience
From being told she might never walk or talk to becoming a genetic counselor who helps families navigate similar journeys, Ashlyn Stackhouse Bolen's story exemplifies finding purpose through personal struggle. As a pediatric genetic counselor at UNC Chapel Hill, Ashlyn works with families seeking answers about their children's complex medical conditions—a role shaped by her own childhood health challenges.
Sixteen hours after birth, Ashlyn suddenly lost the ability to suck, swallow, and maintain muscle tone. Doctors warned her parents she might never develop normally, suggesting they consider institutional care where "she could pass peacefully." Instead, they fought tirelessly for her, through countless appointments, therapies, and five years of feeding tube dependency. Those early genetic evaluations, though they revealed no diagnosis, planted seeds for her future career.
"I've been through a lot of the testing and imaging that our families go through," Ashlyn explains, noting how this firsthand experience shapes her approach. "Even if I haven't walked their exact path, I've walked a similar one." This lived experience adds profound depth to her work of counseling families through genetic testing decisions, diagnosis processing, and the emotional complexities that follow.
The conversation explores the beautiful intersection of science and faith in Ashlyn's life. Before pursuing genetic counseling, she completed a Theology, Medicine and Culture Fellowship at Duke Divinity, wrestling with challenging questions about genetics through a Christian worldview. Rather than seeing conflict between scientific understanding and spiritual belief, she describes how they complement each other in providing a holistic perspective on human suffering and purpose.
Beyond her professional identity, Ashlyn shares insights on marriage, family dynamics (including the joys and challenges of living next door to parents), and cultivating independence through studying abroad. She articulates a life philosophy centered on seeing people beyond their diagnoses or limitations: "They're image bearers of God...treasure their life."
For anyone wrestling with finding meaning in difficult circumstances or seeking to transform personal challenges into purposeful work, Ashlyn's journey offers powerful encouragement. Her story reminds us that sometimes our greatest struggles become the foundation for our most meaningful contributions to others.
Music "STOMP" used by permission of artist Donica Knight Holdman and Jim Huff
I'm walking all alone down my yellow brick road and I stomp to the beat of my own drum. I got my pockets full of dreams and they're busting at the seams, going boom, boom boom.
Speaker 2:Welcome to Stacked Keys Podcast. I'm your host, amy Stackhouse. This is a podcast to feature women who are impressive in the work world or in raising a family, or who have hobbies that make us all feel encouraged. Want to hear what makes these women passionate to get up in the morning, or what maybe they wish they'd known a little bit earlier in their lives.
Speaker 1:Grab your keys and stomp to your own drum. Whatever you do, it ain't nothing on me, because I'm doing my thing and I hold the key to all my wants and all my dreams like an old song. Everything will be all right when I let myself go.
Speaker 2:I am beyond excited. I always get excited about any guest because I know that we're bringing people together that have stories and just have life experiences that we can all get something out of and grow from. I have known this guest since the day she was born, and so I'm excited to have Ashlyn Bolin join us. She is a Stackhouse and so I'm really excited to talk to Ashlyn. Welcome, ashlyn.
Speaker 3:Hi, amy, so glad to be here.
Speaker 2:Oh, I'm so excited, ashlyn, let's just right out of the gate. How do people know you professionally and personally?
Speaker 3:Yeah, so professionally, I am a pediatric genetic counselor at UNC, chapel Hill, and people might not know what that is.
Speaker 3:As far as genetic counseling, I think it's one of the greatest jobs.
Speaker 3:But just a little background.
Speaker 3:So, as pediatric genetic counselors, what we do is we meet with families to help provide information, support, guidance to them if they have a children who already have a confirmed genetic diagnosis or they may have one that we're looking for doing genetic testing for, or they could have a known family history of a genetic condition that we need to test for.
Speaker 3:And so oftentimes these kids, they are coming to us after they've seen multiple different specialties for different concerns and that can be related to maybe something they were born with different in their body, like a heart anomaly, differences in their development or behavior that their parents are noticing, and they often just have a lot of unanswered questions, usually related to different health concerns. So we're meeting with them to help you know, understand their story, as well as their family history and stories, and then helping decide on genetic testing that's best appropriate for them. And there's thousands of different genetic conditions we know about now and we're learning more as time goes on, so we have a lot of options to do that testing, and then there's so much that we do, if we do end up getting a diagnosis.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, because I mean you could wind up with emotional overwhelm or decision pressure. I mean there's so much so I guess that's where the counseling part comes in diagnosis.
Speaker 3:We usually have a completely separate appointment where we're meeting with them and going over a lot of information and we have time to really just let them sit and, you know, have silence, to just process things and ask us questions. But we're just, we're there as a counselor to help them navigate that new diagnosis and so we help them understand again, like more, the medical implications of the diagnosis. We can help them understand inheritance patterns, how it could have been passed down or passed down in the future, different complications, next steps. There can usually be different management changes for some of these conditions or treatment options, clinical trials, which I always try to find those if they're there and try to provide some kind of hope or steps moving forward. But sometimes it is just an answer that that's all we have. We don't have anything else kind of moving forward.
Speaker 3:And sometimes these conditions are life limiting and a parent may lose their child before they themselves pass, which is very hard. And we walk through all that with the family and are there for them and I think too, like from a social, psychosocial standpoint, we find great just community and connection opportunities for these families because we know we don't want them to walk through this alone. It can be very isolating to have a diagnosis and say, well, goodness, I don't know anybody else who's walking through something similar. So, finding you know advocacy groups, other families, if we can connect with them who have a similar condition or the same condition. But we know that and I know, when I meet with these families like there's so much more life that these families are going to live beyond our conversation and so we just try to give them everything that we know and we're humble in what we don't know and have to say what that is that we don't know and you know. As time goes on, there may be more clarity of steps moving forward for some of the families.
Speaker 2:Wow. So becoming a genetic counselor, as you are, that's not easy and it's not a fast track. So you've got the scientific knowledge, the medical, the psychology aspects. I mean that's a tremendous amount that you've put in to get to where you are.
Speaker 3:Absolutely yeah, and it blends so much for sure what you described. It blends so much for sure what you described.
Speaker 2:Wow, wow, that's awesome. Anything else you want to add in that line?
Speaker 3:Yeah, I think, I, just I think many of the kids and families that we work with are like incredible and are so resilient and just. It really does make every day worth it when I get to go to work, oh yeah.
Speaker 2:Wow.
Speaker 3:I would say maybe the most important thing about me is I'm a follower of Jesus and I'm also a wife to Andrew, I'm a daughter, I'm a sister, I'm a granddaughter, I'm a niece, cousin, family's a big part of who I am. I'm a friend and most recently became a dog mom of a golden shepherd that Andrew and I adopted from the shelter a few months ago.
Speaker 2:Her name is Daisy. That's funny, so dog mom goes right in there. Oh yes, I love the fact we're going to unpack a lot of that. Family is important to you. Being Family is important to you. Being a friend is important to you.
Speaker 3:Has it always been? I would say absolutely. I think we are really shaped by the people around us and family is who God gives us, you know, automatically in our lives that we, you know, get to have a part of in our journey. And I think we have an incredible family in the Stackhouse family. Just, you know, we've really been intentional throughout my whole life of always gathering, especially during certain holidays like Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and, you know, even having, you know, family vacations together and even on my mom's side too, gathering, and that's just, I think, to get to see those who are, you know, the generations ahead of us. That, especially looking at our grandparents and they've been a huge, huge part kind of in my life, of influence, just seeing how they love the Lord and have lived a life that really is a testament to that and so just have been shaped by family and have just been gifted with incredible friends all throughout life that many have I've had since, you know, the first few years of my life really, really has enriched so much about my life.
Speaker 2:Yeah, family really has been there. They've gone through a lot with you, but as a young kid you went to the math and science school and you left family. At what age? What age do you go?
Speaker 3:I think I was 16. Yeah, I think I was 16 when I left.
Speaker 2:Was that hard. I mean, you're close to your mom, You're close to your dad. I know your brother was there at the time, right yeah that's right.
Speaker 3:Yeah, your brother was there at the time, right, yeah, that's right, yeah, so, and he actually is the one who encouraged me to apply to the school that I did. So that was the North Carolina School of Science and Math. He went five years before me and has really been someone who's pushed me to do a lot apply myself and, from an academic standpoint, a lot of where I went. I wouldn't have gone if it wasn't for my brother, christian, who encouraged me to look into different opportunities. But I did.
Speaker 3:Yes, I left around the age of 16 for my junior and senior year of high school and it was definitely difficult to be a couple hours away from my mom and dad and friends who were so dear. But I will say my parents made such an active effort to be there Like I was on the golf team both years in high school and they would come to pretty much every match at least that they could and were there for all kinds of different events and also my brother, like you said, he was in the triangle and he was so sweet to be able to come and get me and we'd go have dinner together and do something fun. So there were ways to still, you know, spend quality time together and the effort of friends and family to do so. I remember, actually, you and the family came to visit and I got to tour you around the school, which was really special.
Speaker 2:Yeah, goodness, I remember that too. That's a time where you had to be independent in a way that a lot of kids don't, and so you had to draw from something. What kind of lessons do you think that your parents gave you? Or was it your parents to give you that kind of strength and independence?
Speaker 3:Yeah, that's an excellent question.
Speaker 3:You know, I think part of it is they, from an early age, would encourage me to do things and I can get into this a little bit later because I had a lot of challenges as as a child, a lot of health-related hardships, and so they would always push me to kind of just accept the greater challenge and, to, you know, do things that maybe you wouldn't think are possible, and, and so they really instilled in me a lot of just confidence and being able to step out and try something new, to just do things in the best of your ability.
Speaker 3:And so for me, I really wasn't scared to leave home. I felt like, okay, I'm just going to try the best I can. I know God's going to be with me every step of the way, and even though I was leaving friends and family, I trusted he would put people in my life that I could continue to walk along with and to grow with, and he did exactly that. So I think just trusting in that and trusting in the God-given abilities that we have yeah, wow, so that kind of formulated your science path.
Speaker 2:I mean, you made a mention of health hardships, so those began when you were quite small, and can you kind of dive into that just a little bit and then kind of maybe tell us how that ties in to where you landed in science today? Absolutely, yes.
Speaker 3:So when I was born in October of 1996, my parents described me, as you know, just a beautiful, healthy baby. Everything seemed fine and wonderful, and it was around like the age of 16 hours that they noticed a huge change in me that before I was, you know, seeming everything seemed to be fine. I had good APGAR scores, kind of looking at you know how well I was doing just as an infant to then being brought back to them without the ability to swallow, suck, nurse I was floppy. There was a change, kind of just in my appearance, where I was really red, my eyes were glassy, I couldn't hold my mouth open anymore. They described me as like a baby bird waiting for mama bird to drop a worm, and that was not what I looked like when I was born, and so there's still a lot of mystery behind all of that. But essentially I had to go to Brenner Children's Hospital in North Carolina and they were doing a lot of tests. I had to see so many doctors in the first few years of my life and actually because I couldn't eat on my own and swallow, I had to be put on a feeding tube. Eventually it was a G-tube. That was basically where I had a tube in my stomach and that's how I was fed mostly for the first five years of my life.
Speaker 3:And doctors had told my parents, like you know, we don't know exactly what's going on, but it's not looking good for her. She likely is not going to be able to walk or talk or even sit up in bed, you know, do things on her own. And it was looking at one point where one doctor said, you know, I think you need to give her up, said that to my parents and maybe even give her to a facility that can, you know, focus on her comfort and let her pass peacefully. And my parents fought for me to, you know, stay with them, for them to be able to continue to care for me, and it was a lot. It was definitely so much that they poured into just taking me to all kinds of doctor's appointments and therapists. And they had a lot of people that God put in their path in their life family, friends, strangers that were able to walk alongside them, give them wisdom, advice, wisdom advice. Help them in ways that were so practical and like part of that was even like letting them have a night on their own, you know, just to have a date night as husband and wife because they were very much having a lot of time that they were pouring into helping me and then also raising my brother too.
Speaker 3:And so all that to say, some of the testing, some of the evaluations that I was getting was in genetics, and at that time there wasn't as comprehensive genetic testing as we have now.
Speaker 3:But out of the testing that was done in the 90s, everything came back normal and so it was good to rule out some genetic conditions that could have been, you know, the answer for all of my health problems, or at least some of them. And then more recently I've been able to go back and get very comprehensive genetic testing that still has not provided an answer to my early health challenges. But all that to say, genetics and genetic providers have played a role in my story and helping to rule out just different genetic conditions has been very helpful in kind of clarifying details and has been just valuable that. It kind of sparked an interest for me about genetics and I think you know God has designed us so beautifully and intricately on a DNA level and we don't understand everything, but from what we can understand it can be very impactful to know if there is some kind of genetic condition involved with someone's health story, and so that's a summary, kind of leaning into what brought me into genetics.
Speaker 2:Yeah, wow. Well, that produced all kinds of things. I mean it, I'm sure, produced a compassion that you probably if I can imagine you in your work environment dig into that compassion on the regular basis, because you've lived a side that some of the people that you work with very well may, and you have heard through your parents and even seen as a five-year-old, you can remember a lot of the agonizing moments. So would you say that that is probably a true assessment, that that's been one characteristics that you have really pulled over.
Speaker 3:Absolutely. Yeah, I. I just get to hear so many of people's stories and as I'm listening to them, a lot of them I've been through something similar and I do remember quite a lot. I've been through a lot of the testing and imaging and just a variety of evaluations, and so I don't always share that with the families, but I definitely I feel like, even if I haven't walked their exact path, I've walked a similar one really think that has been something that's been formative for me as a genetic counselor to have that lived experience that maybe can pick up on things or maybe ask some more just questions to see how things are going, because I know how it was when I went through that.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so it may not be something you actually discuss, but it formulates how you hear and how you feel, Even though you're keeping the scientific mind and you don't lose yourself in the emotion. But that emotion might drive you to do a more thorough job than maybe somebody who hasn't quite been down that path. Did you miss out on things? I mean, I can remember running and you know all the kids are running. Did you ever feel that aspect, as you were growing up, of like I'm missing something I want, I want, I want to do?
Speaker 3:You know, as a kid, no, I didn't really have that kind of going through my brain. It was as I was getting older and becoming more aware of some differences and things that I kind of reflected on at a later point. But there I remember, um, two things. So, as far as running, I used to run like Forrest Gump where, like you know, the legs would go out to the side and um it, it didn't bother me and I was the slowest at the mile run. Um, I, just, I remember that it would take me a lot longer than most kids, but no one ever put me down for that. I had an incredible gym teacher who was just like a cheerleader for me and always encouraging me to just keep going, keep pushing and you've got it. You just do it at your own pace, and so that's what I did, and I like never got upset about it. I just, I was aware, though I was aware that I was slower and eventually I really worked on trying to run with more control as I was able to build more strength in my muscles. Thankfully now, like I, I don't run like that. I'm still not very much a runner, jogger. It's not my favorite activity, but I find other things that I I can do well and that I do enjoy um. So that that's one thing that I do remember. It was kind of like um, something that I just did differently um, but again pushed to do the best I could. And then I do know.
Speaker 3:So part of my whole medical condition with muscle weakness has been that for a good while I wasn't able to smile, like when I smiled it actually looked like a frown and that didn't really bother me until people started saying, like if I was at school getting school pictures, like you need to smile, come on smile. And I was doing the best I could. Or I remember someone at school. They were new, and they told me after I think it was maybe many months. They said you know, when I first met you, I thought you were a bully. You looked like a bully just with your face.
Speaker 3:But I know now that you're not and like I love that you're my friend. It didn't be anything further, right, right. And so I think, with that again, it didn't really start to be something that was on my mind until people started saying things. And I think, within that though, I've been a person that I try to express things. I try to express joy, even beyond the physical, of what I can show, and you know expressions. You know expressions like I try to express it in words, for example, of what I'm sharing and saying and and just you know, truly trying to care for the people who are in my lives and really being present and being someone who you know can share beyond the physical.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah. Well, I want to jump right into relationships, because you have a pretty cool relationship with your spouse, and to watch y'all grow into love has it's just been phenomenal. So talk to us about relationships and what a romantic relationship means to you, what having a husband means to you, what would you tell young Ashlyn was coming? Could you even imagine what you have wound up with? And I am just going on and on and I need to throw it back to you, but let's talk relationship.
Speaker 3:Oh man, yeah Well, Andrew, I firmly believe, is the man that God handpicked for me to marry, and he is the first guy I ever officially dated and the last one. And we've gotten married and it's been such a blessing to be married to Andrew, who is truly my best friend now that I think things as far as relationships and romantic relationships, it was something that I really was praying for, I was definitely seeking, although the time that we met I was not seeking because I was in grad school and super busy and did not think I had time for it. But God had a different plan. So, yeah, I was definitely surprised in the timing of it all.
Speaker 3:But hey, you know, before meeting Andrew, I read're going to push you to know the Lord more and to know, you know, that there are things that God has gifted you with abilities to do and he is going to push you to do those things that he's going to, you know, encourage you to be the best version of yourself that God has made you to be, to support you, to provide to for, hopefully, one day, Lord willing, our family, if we have kids one day, and, I think, someone who you can, you know, walk side by side in life with and just enjoy every moment.
Speaker 3:You know there are definitely valleys and we've been through some of those valleys quite early in our dating relationship and marriage just things that have been incredibly hard for our family and just a reminder of like, in the suffering that we've been through, that this world is not the way that it should be and just to be able to remind each other of truth, getting into the word together, praying together, through everything good and bad, to have that partner that you, just you really can be yourself fully and share in every good and bad thing that we have in life.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so what would you tell younger Ashlyn was coming?
Speaker 3:Yes, that was one of the questions. I would say trust God. Trust God and who he's going to bring into your life. Don't try to force anything if it doesn't seem like this is, you know, not the relationship that he has in store for you. Because I remember there seemed to be, you know, some situations where I was like, oh okay, like maybe this will work, and then it became clear that it wasn't. And so, yeah, just trusting God's timing and ask Him. Ask Him for specific things too, Not like things, you know, hair color, eye color, that kind of stuff, but you know, truly getting to the matter of what means the most from an eternal perspective and for their relationship with the Lord and what the Lord's doing in their life. That, and seeing what, you know God had answered in my prayers of what he'd been doing in Andrew's life before we ever met, that was powerful to see.
Speaker 2:Yeah, oh, wow. So are you a heart listener or a head listener?
Speaker 3:Oh, that's a great question. You know, the heart is deceitful and wicked. Above all things, I, I think I try to balance both. I do believe. In thinking about our marriage, I feel like I am more of a heart listener and Andrew is actually more of a head listener. When I think about heart, I think about emotion, I think about how we are reacting as humans to whatever the situation is or a story that we're hearing and we're doing what seems right, versus head. And for Andrew, he is very much more of looking logically reasonably. He is very much more looking logically reasonably, and so we're able to come together and, you know, make decisions whenever that's. You know what we're facing, where we are able to balance each other out, which is a beautiful thing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that is being able to take the best of both worlds. Yes, Now you guys live right next door to your parents. A lot of people would say, oh, Ashlyn, y'all don't want to do that, but tell me what that's been like. I mean, do you have to figure out boundaries, have you? I know having a mother daughter, I know when you've been close it's very easy to stay close. But have you had to figure out some things? And what tools have you used to figure those things out, if you've had to?
Speaker 3:Yeah, that's a great question. Well, it is such a blessing to live close to my mom and dad and I'm so grateful that Andrew also thinks the same and really just cherishes having them as a mother and father-in-law. It's such a gift and we really really are grateful for all the time that we have in this situation. And, yes, boundaries I know I've reached out to different people who have been in a similar situation and actually I think I've counted through all of our family and I think pretty much most of the grandkids live close to their parents, or at least have at one point. And so I know Andrew and I both have reached out, you know, just with personal experiences of others and, you know, trying to see what words of wisdom they could impart.
Speaker 3:But ultimately we had reached out before we even moved here and everyone was definitely encouraging us that it can be a very good and beautiful thing.
Speaker 3:So all of them agreed that this was the next right step for us and I'd say, yes, like boundaries, as far as we want to balance, you know, time where it's just Andrew and I having quality time together, as well as with our friends, we'll have sometimes our life group over, kind of like our group from church that we do just life together and go through like Bible study we have, I would say, probably a couple times a week we'll usually have some kind of meal that we share with my parents, and sometimes my brother is there, which is so special.
Speaker 3:We all can just say, hey, I'm going to do the meats and you do the signs and the bread, or you know, we'll just be able to have these meals that we recognize that not everyone gets to have those as often as we do, and so we try to balance, you know, making sure that that we're there's I guess you can think of it as different, like sphere circles of relationships, and that they're not always overlapping, but that we're setting aside time for, you know, each other and friends as well.
Speaker 2:That is a great way to look at it, because you've got these spheres and yet each one of those you can reach into when you have a need. Or you know, as you were saying, the way that you give back a lot of times is through relationship, and so you wind up being able to give. You know, I think a lot of times people on the outside will say, oh, you're right there with your parents and it's just a take, take, take. Well, I mean, it's really great for your parents, and I've had this experience I'm speaking for my own of when Becca and Seth lived right up the hill for me to get from them you know of being able to go into their space and have just a who moment, or them come into our space and have that same release of energy.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, I miss the fact that they're not right up the hill. I also miss the pantry. I got to tell you I miss the pantry. It was like having my own little convenience store up there. I miss the pantry. It was like having my own little convenience store up there. Becca and I would go to Costco or whatever together and split you know a lot of things, and so you know I miss that. That's a bonus that I hadn't really thought too much about.
Speaker 3:Oh yeah, most definitely, we do share a lot, a lot of those items.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's, we do share a lot, a lot of those items. It's kind of nice and I learn a lot too, because there is so much on the marketplace now. You know things where you're going a little more green things, where you're taking chemicals out things, and to have somebody who's doing that research along with you and then going, hey, look what I found, hey, let's do kind of a built-in fun. Yes, absolutely. You know there's a difference between having peace and getting along, or maybe there's not a difference. What do you think? Do you think there's a difference between peace and getting along?
Speaker 3:you know and this is specifically with like relationships you're thinking of, yeah, yeah, I think, definitely, whenever we, when you do get along with whoever it is in your life that there is this, you know, overarching piece around the relationship.
Speaker 3:I think, though, you can step back. You might have a situation where there's tension, or maybe, on the other side, you're doing everything that you can, but the other side is not on the same page and maybe thinking differently, and that's really hard to have that tension where you know, in the relationship there is no peace. But you can have peace in knowing that you know, in whatever that tension is, that you can give it to God, you can pray for that person, you can do everything that is in your ability to do, and sometimes you just have to take a step back and say, you know what, like, I'm going to let God be in charge of this whole situation, and maybe one day there'll be a resolve in this relationship, and I pray so. But, yeah, sometimes you might not receive it from the other side, but you can have peace and knowing, knowing that, again, you've done what you can yeah, I like that.
Speaker 2:I mean, you can have it on your side and and just go go from there. Right knows what will happen as that evolves right absolutely. Um now, um, ash, you have your doctorate right.
Speaker 3:I actually have just a master's Yep. So I did two years for genetic counseling training and that's where I stopped.
Speaker 2:Okay, all right, all right. Well, that is totally fine, because I think that is still tremendous, so I don't want to belittle that at all. So, with you being in pediatric genetics, and you are a woman and you are a Christian woman. Do you find that it makes it hard? Do you feel sometimes like you're up against anything, or do you feel like it doesn't make any difference at all? I mean, you're educated, you've got it, you're, you just go with it, or or is there is? Is being a woman in your field hard?
Speaker 3:Well, with that question, we are largely women in the field, so, like there are actually not as many men who are genetic counselors, so I definitely am the majority that's represented in the field of genetic counseling. I would say, though, as far as some of the encounters that I have with families or other providers, sometimes people might not be familiar with genetic counselors and what our background is and maybe what we, you know, can offer, and so sometimes they're not as receptive to what we have to say. And maybe you're like I just want to talk to the doctor, and we do work very closely with geneticists who are MDs. So sometimes there is that doubt, for you know, again, people that we encounter I'm saying it's not often and people are becoming more aware of genetic counselors in general. And then I would say, on the other part of that is, as being a Christian, you know, I really had to pray and ask God to guide my steps in this career, because I really I felt a great pull in that direction, just given my whole life story and just my curiosity and my love for understanding as much as we can about our bodies, health, dna, and, I excuse me, really wrestled for a little bit and there's a backstory.
Speaker 3:I won't get into all the details, but essentially I had an interruption, a health interruption my senior year in college at UNC, chapel Hill, where it was potential that I may have had cancer, I may have had something bigger going on, that I had to kind of drop all my plans and really kind of take a step back and see what was ahead.
Speaker 3:And so I ended up not applying for grad school straight out of undergrad and I had to take a pause and essentially God is so gracious and good that things ended up resolving as far as not having to do anything majorly with my health, not having cancer, not having to have big surgery, and so I had a year where I was just open and free to do whatever and God opened the door for me to do something called the Theology, medicine and Culture Fellowship at Duke Divinity.
Speaker 3:So I did that for a year where I really had a lot of questions about, you know, being a Christian and looking at things in the genetics world and though I didn't come out with all the answers, I really got to be in a community of believers who were able to think very thoughtfully and biblically from like a medical standpoint and navigating that as a Christian, in a lot of tricky situations and just thinking through suffering and patients that we serve, and thinking through medicine and how you know there's so many ripple effects of Jesus and the followers of Jesus and one of those is within medicine and hospitals, and so just so much richness in that year that I was able to wrestle with a lot of things as a Christian who was hoping to go into genetic counseling training and I did that next year, and so there's a lot that I wrestled with before, a lot I wrestled with throughout my training and still to this day.
Speaker 3:But I really, you know I felt called to go into genetic counseling. You know I felt called to go into genetic counseling and I wanted to finish in faith, you know, all the training and just trusting God that he was going to finish the work that he had ahead of me and that he would walk with me and, you know, help me when I don't have the answers to something. So there's a lot there that I feel like I could unpack more, but I'll leave it there.
Speaker 2:Oh wow. Well, it is so fascinating because what you're talking about just sounds like an opportunity, but it sounds exhausting because it could be like a year of wrestling with this and that and sometimes just being around Christian intellect can be really tiring and you can kind of did you ever find yourself going? Oh wait, I thought I knew things and now I don't know that I do.
Speaker 3:Oh, yes, yes, definitely so, and I think there's humility in stepping back and saying like, nope, I'm not God and I may never have an answer to this.
Speaker 3:And he didn't lay it out, you know, clearly in Scripture, although he's given us everything that we need in His Word that we can, you know, draw wisdom from.
Speaker 3:But I will say, yes, there was a lot, we had to read a lot, we had to write a lot. In that one year of that fellowship. Think very deeply, very critically, and we all loved it in medical school or had kind of finished medical school, going into residency and just like such a gift to be able to be a part of that community that again blends medicine and our faith as Christians. But I do remember some of our teachers saying at the beginning you know, don't use this as your primary way of walking with God and you know, spiritual growth, Don't use the classes, the academic classes, as that way of growth. You need a church community, you need somewhere where you have people pouring into you that you can, you know, go to when you know lots of other things beyond this academic world and really grow in that body as well. And so so thankful that I had that church community while I was there.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, yeah, because while you're taking things apart, you need to have somewhere you can put things together. That was fabulous advice, so complete the sentence for me.
Speaker 3:We were put on this earth to I think, know and glorify God, to know our creator, to know our savior.
Speaker 2:And you do that through.
Speaker 3:I, oh my goodness, just everyday life, I think, one being in his word, knowing him and how he's revealed himself throughout scripture and knowing his will through his word, I think being out in his creation, in nature. Andrew and I love to go hiking. We love to now walk, Daisy Mae. We love to mountain bike with some friends from church and like we sometimes play pickleball and I'm getting into aerial yoga, but like using and moving the bodies we've been given and getting out and just into the beauty of his creation, I think it just it points to him and just a masterpiece of making it all and making us like it's just incredible.
Speaker 3:Each life is a gift, and to be an image bearer of God and to be daughter of the one true King and know how much he cares for us and so I'm doing that too, within community, at church and having like that life group I was talking about that we can really just dig deeper into scripture and what we're learning in sermons.
Speaker 3:But also we talk through life and you know we share things that we are praising God for and that we need prayer for, and you know just being steeped in awareness that you know God has created us with such good purpose and for such good works and to know Him and to be saved by Him and to be changed by Him, jesus, and change for a life that we can find abundant joy and just see the beauty of it all whenever we can look at Him and know and trust Him.
Speaker 3:And like I think about it, I think I've read in a book one time. It's like if you have a car that has a piece that's broken, you go to the original manual and the one who made the car to understand, you know what's going on and how do I fix it. And so, just thinking through that and you know, thinking at looking at scripture, as you know, god has given us Word that we can know Him and know about us, who he created us to be and to know, and so I think that's something that is just so important in life and to see what he's guiding you to and how he's directing your steps and what he's wired you to do, how he's directing your steps and what he's wired you to do.
Speaker 2:And then there are those who would look at you and go but Ashlyn, you know your parents prayed for answers, for health, for an easier path. You did, and you didn't get an easier path. You got a different path and you've got a great life. You got a different path and you've got a great life, but I mean abundant joy, really tough. So does that coincide with the beliefs and the trying to understand science and apply science? Are there contradictions that you find yourself in and you just kind of have to go, uh, or what do you do with that?
Speaker 3:And how do you combat that if somebody says it no-transcript. And I said no, absolutely not. Like God used that to really draw me to him, to really seek to know him, to pray, you know, to pray for those things. And though some things didn't change, I know and trust God had a better plan and he used a lot of, a lot of the suffering to honestly bring me to, to know Jesus and to be saved by him. And to you know, not put all of my, I guess, effort into trying to, like, save and fix myself, but accepting who I am, who I'm created to be. And I have a husband who affirms that and, like I have no doubt about that, which is such a gift, and and I have other people who are able to affirm that and though there may seem like there's things that are like still a limitation or still a weakness, like I don't see them as such, still a limitation or still a weakness, like I don't see them as such. And I know that I'm perfectly and wonderfully made and that's something that I draw a lot of comfort from. And my parents, absolutely, they poured so much into me and my brother and so many prayers and I believe God did answer a lot of them and he allowed a miracle for me to be able to walk, talk, be here today, like, be able to go through everything I have to get to where I am today, and so I give him all the credit and glory for it all. I give him all the credit and glory for it all.
Speaker 3:And you know, sometimes we don't have all the answers, as much as we may think. We know, and all the technology we have, that's not our salvation. And we know, as believers, like our salvation is in the Lord Jesus, that one day, like he, will make all things right. One day, like he will make all things right. And in the suffering, even if I don't have answered prayers, I know he's not forsaken me, he's not abandoned me, I'm His beloved daughter and one day He'll resurrect me, just as he did. And there's just a lot of comfort and peace and joy that we can find when we set our mind on those eternal promises describe for me your perfect day oh, my goodness, perfect day.
Speaker 3:Sleeping in a little bit would be the start. Love, love to sleep in, although now that I'm older I can't really sleep in past a certain time. It's bummer, isn't it? It is. And then I would love a nice savory breakfast, um. And I think next would be some kind of adventure. Love getting out, um, and especially with andrew and now daisy may, our dog, um. So some kind of adventure, probably hiking, maybe off the Blue Ridge Parkway, having a picnic, and then we can have some kind of good, delicious dinner, maybe in one of the smaller mountain towns, and come back and wind down. I love there's a show, I love. It's called the North Carolina Weekends, that it's on PBS and it just showcases North Carolina and places to go, and so that's where I get a lot of ideas. Maybe ending with that and going through just what, what we've seen God do in the day, praying together, and that would be a perfect day.
Speaker 2:That sounds like a perfect day. Now you've traveled a good bit. You did some studying abroad.
Speaker 3:What do you?
Speaker 3:think that did for you oh yeah, so while I was at UNC, chapel Hill, I got to study in Edinburgh for one semester and that was such a gift, loved it, loved it. I, you know I worked really hard. I unfortunately was taking some difficult classes and the university had like three different locations of like where classes could be and I had one at all three. So I was running around Edinburgh and anyway. So I would work really hard and then I would take the weekends to really explore Scotland. Or I had two really good friends who were in London studying abroad at the same time. So we got to travel. We took like 20 days to go to I think it was nine different countries hopping around, which was just like amazing to get out of.
Speaker 3:Sometimes I think of like where we are and stay like a bubble, and so to get out of the bubble and to go and to be able to see so many other different countries and cultures and people, that like God was so good and and just the people that he brought into my life while I was abroad, um, and really an encouragement and I think what did it do for me?
Speaker 3:I I do remember in in the beginning in Edinburgh like I had no, there was no one that I knew personally that I could, you know, just reach out to or go and have dinner with, and so I just got comfortable exploring. I would just go out on my own and get to see Edinburgh, try different hikes or shops, restaurants, and I also just found a lot of comfort in just being with the Lord and reading Scripture and just reaffirming different promises I knew to be true and praying, and eventually he gave me such an incredible community while I was there and so, yeah, I think it did give me a lot of confidence, though, to just be able to, ok, go out and and see, and see God's beautiful world and just take it all in that is so incredible.
Speaker 2:I mean just to think of a young woman taking all of that on, even though you're a student and you've got this assignment and that assignment. There's a lot of bravery and strength that comes into that. So what would you tell that young person? You know the world is a little bit different than it was even when you were in school way different than when I was. But what would you tell that young student right now of what they ought to do, especially a young woman?
Speaker 3:I would say, if you're going abroad now, just something that can be important is to try to get to know the place before you get there just a little bit, not fully, because I love just to be able to be there with kind of no expectations and just to really embrace it all. But you know, I think, to be careful to know safety, you know information, things that you might want to be aware of if there's certain places not to go alone. But I think really it can be such a wonderful experience to just be in a new place that you can just get to know and explore and meet people you know be intentional about, you know just getting to know whoever you're sitting beside If it's in a class. My roommate eventually was somebody who I was in an English literature class with and we just started talking, became friends and eventually started rooming together and it was the most treasured friendship, one that I had probably while I was abroad.
Speaker 3:That was a new friendship and, just to be intentional at any kind of like, if you're a student there can be a lot of different events going on that, whatever university you're at, they may put on for students who are abroad, and so I would go to those. They'd have really fun events. Like we had a ceilidh, which is like a dance that they do in Scotland, and I got to know a lot of people there and so there was a lot of, you know, pre-organized events that I knew. Okay, I can go to these and I'll definitely meet people and I would get to eat meals with other students, and so I was also very intentional about getting to know people that I'd be around on those meal times.
Speaker 3:I also I would watch the news A lot of times. I didn't have a TV in my room where I was, but I would watch it at breakfast as many mornings as I could, just to kind of know what was going on in the world, because there can be a lot, and a lot of times people from other countries are really inquisitive and really want to know what your opinion is about things that are going on. So I felt like I had to be up to date and I was even often asking my parents what's going on, what's the new news? Because I like, literally when I got off the plane in Edinburgh and got in the taxi, like I was immediately asked about things going on in the United States in those first few minutes.
Speaker 2:Oh, wow, you don't want to be the one that goes I have no idea Exactly, yes, yes, yes. Well, ashlyn, you've had to trust people throughout your life and even in your career. You have to be quite trusting of the data that you're using, and then you know the relationships. What makes you know that you can trust someone? Do you have a trust meter or you know? Is there a method that you've kind of figured out?
Speaker 3:You know I I always like to assume the best of people. I think there there comes times where there's discretion that you should have, you know, with certain information. But I feel like I want to be the most genuine person that I can be and I will share things. If it is, I see them as appropriate and I trust the person with that. And you know, if that trust is broken then I back up in any kind of future. You know conversation situations and can choose differently. But yeah, I try to be as open and honest and trusting kind of from the get go. But if I have information you know otherwise from other people who are familiar with you, know someone who can, you know, tell me differently than I, take that into account.
Speaker 2:But yeah, yeah, absolutely. So. This is your platform. What would you really want to talk loudly about that the world heard and knew, whether it's from your professional standpoint or personal standpoint or personal?
Speaker 3:Okay, well, I'd say I'll do both. From a personal standpoint, I just think it is so important to get to know Jesus and to, if you're not a believer, not saved by Him, to just really explore and dig in and get to know Him and ask questions and find someone in your life who maybe you can walk through you know, understanding who he is and what he did on the cross and in His resurrection to save us. That's so key and just I think it's the most important thing in life is our relationship with Him. And then professionally, I really I think about two things. One is you know we've come a long ways as far as what we can understand about our DNA, our genetics, and there can be a lot of good insight as far as you know doing certain testing, if there are. You know certain things going on and the health of someone, and definitely you know reach out to your doctor or if you know a genetic counselor by chance or anyone familiar with genetics, if there's something going on and you or a family member that you might want to consider any genetic testing, it can be very valuable.
Speaker 3:But I think the patients that I get to work with a lot of times there is just so much hardship, so much suffering that they're going through and, um, and we all, we all have some level of of suffering, something that is is not as it should be, and it is okay, you know, to sit in that and to say you know this is hard, um, but I think also just looking to find where is there hope or where can I find joy, um, but I think also just looking to find where is there hope or where can I find joy, um, how can we enjoy this day? What can I be grateful for, um, and don't see whoever it is who has, if they have an illness that we can name? You know, don't see them just for that, but see them as a person to love. They're an image bearer of God and, you know, really treasure their life. I think that's just, it's so key.
Speaker 2:Ashlyn, you have to be organized. You've got so many things going and I am very curious as to what kind of tools you might use. I mean, just in what you were just talking about of you know, there's just so many different aspects of your thinking. Do you do journal? Do you have like a memo pad? Do you have a calendar? Are you electronic? Are you paper? How do you keep Ashlyn and your thoughts on track and moving forward?
Speaker 3:I am old fashioned and I was paper paper calendars, paper notes until Andrew came into my life and then we had to, you know, be on shared schedules and he didn't have my paper.
Speaker 3:So I got converted over to Google Calendar for being able to keep up with all of what's going on in both of our lives. So that's one tool that I use and then another tool I have journaled on paper in the past, but I find that I don't always have time to sit down and write. So sometimes I use, like the notes on the iPhone, and sometimes I'm able to type it out a lot faster than I can write it, or I can voice it over and I can just speak my thoughts, and it can capture it, and or I use voice memos too, and it can capture it, and or I use voice memos too. But yeah, I have I've probably got hundreds of notes in my, my iPhone, all kinds of things. I'll have different kind of thoughts about different topics too, or you know different stages of life, or I have a note that's like undeniable moments of of God at work in my life or answering a prayer. That's one note, for example.
Speaker 2:Yeah, All right, you've been digging a lot. You've referred to your Christianity a lot, because it is who you are. So if someone is new to this and someone is like I don't even know where to start, there's so many versions of the Bible, there's so many Bible studies. You can get a study of somebody's opinion that can take you down a road that you aren't sure. So if somebody came to you and said, okay, I have a scientific mind, where would you send them what? What would you send them? What would you send them? A resource to.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I you know, some of my first thoughts as you were talking was as far as starting in the Bible.
Speaker 3:I think it's great to start in Genesis, but also it can be good to start in the New Testament and the Gospels so Matthew, mark, luke and John and I think I've heard it recently, if you want to know how it all ends, you can turn to the back of the book and turn to Revelation, which is such beautiful, beautiful scripture to dig into.
Speaker 3:But I would probably start with the Gospels. I've been through a couple of Bible studies with ladies that the Bible studies were written by Jen Wilkins. She specifically has ones that I've gone through Genesis and Exodus that I think are phenomenal and I would highly recommend and she has a lot of talks as well that she'll go through a lot of different things that she's been asked. And then I find that there was a church that I went to when I was in the Triangle. It's called the Summit Church and there's many gifted pastors who have so many sermons and there's a lot of them that can really dive into things that when we do have more of the scientific or theoretical mind. I think they've covered a lot within past sermons, so maybe you can check out some of them.
Speaker 2:Okay, and Bible translation do you have?
Speaker 3:a Bible. I personally have the ESV and have read from the NIV, and I have a Bible that's the King James Version and I do like to read different ones and I yeah, those are just the ones that I have.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, it's nice to kind of compare. We were in a study the other night and the NIV used the word stupid and another one several of them used it and we were like, does any version have a different word there? And most of them used that word. But then you went back to King James and it was. I can't even remember what the word was, but it is interesting to see because you've got the different versions and I can remember my father who, who was a pastor, saying if you need a living translation to help you ease into it, that's all right, but then that's kind of like reading the abridged, so you might want to go back and go backwards and see what else was there. But you know, I guess it's milk versus solids sometimes.
Speaker 3:Oh, yes, oh, yes, and I love the church that we go to and the pastor often will kind of ask the congregation like whose translation says this and who says this? Like it's really really neat to see, and then to come together and kind of look just more at what's the overall you know meaning and often going even back to like things like the greek translation oh yeah, and it's just like well, yeah, respect for, for people who dig deeper yeah, I do too.
Speaker 2:I'm not sure I could go there. We have talked about so many things. Is there anything that we've missed that you want to make sure we cover?
Speaker 3:Oh, you know, there's something that's standing out in my mind I was thinking about when I graduated from UNC. The commencement speaker it was the CEO of Habitat for Humanity and he had three questions that I thought were so powerful and they've just stuck with me. And the questions were who are you going to allow to speak into your life? How are you going to define being rich or wealth? And then, what are you wired to do, like? What has God made you with gifts to be able to do? And I think those are good for everyone to think through.
Speaker 2:Have you answered all of those?
Speaker 3:I definitely have. I've talked with different friends and family and Andrew about them. Do you want me to answer them? Yeah, go ahead. Okay, let's see.
Speaker 3:So the first one like who are you going to allow to speak into your life? I absolutely fully trust Andrew, as my husband, to speak into my life to you know, call me out when he sees sin that I need to address things that you know I may be needing to do differently. Like an example, I definitely do a lot, have a lot on my plate and sometimes he reminds me you need to take time to rest. So that's an example of Him speaking into my life. And then my parents, my brothers and sisters in Christ, who I just really get to have the gift of walking through life together. So those are people in my life that I allow to speak into my life.
Speaker 3:And then how do I define like being rich or wealth? And then how do I define being rich or wealth? I think we are able to have such rich abundance of life in Christ and no matter what we have material things that we have, christ is enough and I think that's something that over time in my walk with him that I've come to realize. But you know, I don't see wealth necessarily tied to money.
Speaker 3:I think it's in the life that we've been given and in the people that we have around us and those relationships that are invaluable, just in each day. Each day is truly a gift, and getting to do things that you love and what you're wired to do, like I do, feel like part of what I'm wired to do and in my story has been to be a pediatric genetic counselor and to be able to walk with these kids and families who are going through such great medical hardship and helping them navigate through that and cope and educate when there is a diagnosis or if there's not. I've just had so much of that throughout my life that I'm able to pour into the families that I get to work with. And then I think there's so many other things in life beyond our job as well that we're wired to be in relationship with one another, and so that's something that I really treasure is the relationships we have both, you know, with my husband, family and friends, and strangers too.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Wow, what a rich life. Rich, rich life. Ashlyn. How do people get in touch with you if they wanted to Sure?
Speaker 3:Let's see you are welcome to reach out to our shared email which Becca, your daughter, recommended when we got married to have us share an email which has been so, so helpful. So you can reach out to it's andrewandashlyn2024atgmocom. I think that might be the best way, yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's good, because there are things that you might be able to answer from somebody or or send them in a direction or encourage them, so so thank you for that.
Speaker 3:Thank you for that so I can spell my name if you need me to yeah, go ahead okay so it's a s h l y n? Um. So andrew, and spelling out, and and then ashlyn 2024 at gmocom.
Speaker 2:All right, that's perfect. All right, Ashlyn, if this were your platform and you could say anything you wanted to, just as loudly as you wanted, and it's just your chance to say it and communicate any kind of message what would you want to say? What kind of topic would you bring up at this point?
Speaker 3:Well, my mind first goes to Jesus and for anyone who doesn't know the Lord, just get to know Him. It's truly incredible to understand what Jesus has done for us, on our behalf, and the life that he invites us into when we're saved by Him. And just I would highly encourage people to get to know Him and to read the Bible and to get to know other people who are followers of Jesus. If you have questions, I think another good resource is gotquestionscom.
Speaker 3:But that's think what my heart um is just you know, wanting to scream from the mountaintops is is get to know the lord um, and I think too, just sometimes it can be so difficult um in in the life that we walk and there can be so much suffering, and I've just seen that the pains of the suffering and just like brokenness and ugliness of sin, how it's pushed me to see more deeply the beauty of the gospel and really to hold tightly to God's promises and really finding refreshment in present promises that we have and secure eternity that we have in Jesus Christ and so just understanding the precious blood-bought salvation that we have. When we reflect on that, like we learn to trust God and His care and sovereignty in our life, learn to trust God and his care and sovereignty, and in our life so I just. I know I've wrestled through a lot, a lot of difficulty and hardship throughout my life but, like I've just been drawn closer and closer to the Lord through it all.
Speaker 2:Very good, very good, and I mean it just seems like that when you combine your science knowledge and your spiritual knowledge, then you just have this blend of what can help you put one foot in front of the other.
Speaker 3:I'm together and you know who I am, who he's made me to be, and I'm so, so grateful. And I think something too in the suffering like sometimes I think it's important no matter what that kind of suffering or hardship that it is if you yourself or know somebody who maybe has a new diagnosis or just has something difficult going on just the importance to be there, to be present. We know, like the Lord is present with us and will never abandon us, but it's so beautiful to see how he can provide comfort in those who can go and sit with and cry with and rejoice with others, just to be there and to really, I think, find value in the life that we have, even when things aren't the way maybe that we would want it to go, but to maybe cultivate like a time that we reflect on what's something good about today that I can be very glad for and grateful for. That's always something that can help us get through hard times as well.
Speaker 2:Yeah, very true. Thank you, Ashlyn. You have to keep up with the news. You have to know what's happening in the world A lot of times things that impact your scientific world and then how you process through that and apply that and just know what's going on. So do you have a resource that you particularly like and that you use and kind of turn to to stay in the know?
Speaker 3:That's a great question and, yes, I do have a couple of podcasts that I listen to as like my go-to news resources, and I do a lot of driving with my job, so I have a lot of time to listen to the podcasts, and so those are the World and Everything in it, as well as the Briefing by Albert Moeller, so I would highly recommend both of those. So I would highly recommend both of those, and they really are podcasts that are done by thoughtful Christian journalists and people who are really, you know, looking at what's going on in the world, praying for our world. And, yes, those are the two podcasts Do have to keep up to date reading different research articles, publications and my colleagues are always great about sharing stuff from a scientific perspective and then always people you know, just talking to the people who are in your lives, and I think that's always good, when you do know what's going on in the world, to have those discussions as well.
Speaker 2:Well, and it's kind of neat to have those discussions as well. Well, and it's kind of neat. You've shared those resources before with us, and especially with your uncle, tom, yes. And so to have that kind of group to kind of bounce things off of and talk about sometimes.
Speaker 3:Absolutely. Yeah, that literally made my day when I heard that Uncle Tom listens to it every morning as well, because we're probably listening to it about the same time and so knowing that and we can have, you know, conversations about that in the future as well, I really appreciate.
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, hey, it is great to have resources given to you. It's funny because you know what were the resources 30 years ago. Some of them are still the same, but there's a lot of new on the horizon, and so it's always good to have good, solid recommendations. So thank you for that.
Speaker 3:Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2:One more question. If you had a superpower you have it for 24 hours, you can use it both professionally or personally what superpower? You have it for 24 hours, you can use it both professionally or personally what superpower would you choose? How would you use it? And I always love to know why. Why would it be your choice?
Speaker 3:Oh my Well, I am going to have to take it two different ways. I'll start with professionally. I think one of the biggest things I encounter that like sometimes I really wish I could have, is like the ability to see the future. A lot of times these families are asking you know, what is this going to look like? You know, a couple of years down the road, 10, 20, you know they, they have a lot of big, heavy questions and we're not God and we, we can't, you know, answer that fully. We, we can answer as best we can from what we know, from a medical or scientific standpoint, but we, we have to have humility and knowing that we're not going to be able to predict everything. And I say all that thinking too that sometimes it is nice to not know all the specifics and for me at least, it's allowed me to, you know, press deeper into God and trusting Him with my life. And I think sometimes, if we don't know too, we can really just focus on each day, the gift in each day, taking things as it comes. So that's one thing, I guess, seeing into the future.
Speaker 3:And then, personally, I've, like always wanted to fly. I just even as a little girl I got to be in our community theater and my dad also knew that I always wanted to fly and we were working on a set, for Peter Pan was the play that we were doing and we brought in, like this amazing group that was able to set up so that many of the actors and actresses could fly, and they needed a tester. I was not one of the main characters, um, but they needed a tester and my dad volunteered me, so I got to fulfill that dream and I got to fly around the stage. So I'd still love to to do it again, but maybe without all the wiring, um, there's just a lot of uh, just freedom, and I have actually gotten to fly. In our county there's a place that you can go paragliding and you just run off the side of a mountain, and I got to do that a couple of years ago and it was so peaceful, just to soar up with the birds.
Speaker 2:It's the landing. That's a little scary.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah, my dad got to do it too and he got carried up, up, up, up so high that he didn't get to land where they normally would land. They had to go, like, pick him up somewhere far down the field and he uh, he said they almost ran into like a power line, but it was fine, they directed him away from it, so all good Wow.
Speaker 2:Ashlyn, this has been absolutely fabulous and I thank you so very much for taking time out of your day and sharing just your heart and and I, just I we. You have made a difference to listeners today. I'm positive, so thank you.
Speaker 3:Thank you, Amy, for inviting me and just letting me to share my story.
Speaker 1:Absolutely of my own drum. I got my pockets full of dreams and they're busting at the seams, going boom, boom, boom to my own song.
Speaker 2:Find Stat Keys Podcast on Spotify, soundcloud, andunes or anywhere you get your favorite podcast. Listen you'll laugh out loud, you'll cry a little, you'll find yourself encouraged. Join us for casual conversation that leads itself, based on where we take it from family to philosophy, to work to meal, to beautifully surviving life. And hey, if I could ask a big favor of you, go to iTunes and give us a five rating. The more people who rate us, the more we get this podcast out there. Thanks, I appreciate it To all my wants and all my dreams Like an old song.
Speaker 1:Everything will be alright when.
Speaker 4:I let myself go with the night. Gotta stomp to my own drum. Stomp to my own song. Stomp. Hey, gonna, put on my boots and move. Gotta stomp to my own song Stomp. Hey, gonna, put all my boots in the room, stomp no-transcript.