While we were watching Camden play soccer at the indoor field in Hampton, you and Madigan and a friend spent some time on the six inch ledge above the high five foot hard laminated wood wall, sitting there, fidgeting there, with me helping you up and down. Over and over.

One time after helping you down, you soon said:

papa, lift me up! i want to get back up there.

I said, “try getting up there on your own.”

You looked at me, not saying a word.  I could tell the wheels were in motion and you were entertaining the idea.  You might have been surprised I had said that, but I had challenged you to do something you hadn’t thought possible.  Then I saw the determination come into your face – and I knew you were going to try. You didn’t have to say a word.

At first you placed your fingers on top of the wall and tried to pull yourself up.  But it was too high, too hard, too impossible.

You thought about it.  I said “you can do it Ainsley, you have to make your mind up that you can do it and then you will.”

Even more Ainsley Beaupre determination crossed your face.  I could tell you would try again and said “Why don’t you give it a running start? That might help.”

In a flash you moved backwards, 10 feet or so away from the wall.  You paused, silent as you always are when you’re ready to tackle something new, studying the challenge before you, eyes on the prize.   Then you took off, running full speed at the wall, your fingers reaching up for the six inch ledge at the top.

The added motion and momentum helped and so did the little bounce jump takeoff move you made at the base.  Your fingers grabbed the top and you pulled your body up.  You tried really hard, and got your body about half way when your fingers released and your feet hit the floor.

“Try again,” I said, “you can do it.  You have to want it bad.  Do it Ainsley!!”

You backed up again and launched yourself at the five foot wall.  This time, instead of just trying to pull your body straight up with all the dead weight, you decided to swing your feet in an upward sideways motion.  This created more momentum as your fingers held tight and pulled upward.  It started to work, and this time you were three quarters of the way up the wall before crashing back to earth.

In a flash you were 10 feet back again, eyes squinting at the prize, an even fiercer determination crossing your face.   “This time will be the charm,” I said to myself.

Sure enough the combination of sprinting, holding, jumping and even more leg motion  gave you an added boost.  You could sense victory was at hand, and seconds later it was.  You were able to swing your right leg onto the ledge and pull yourself up high. Soon the left leg followed and you were poised at the top of the wall, beaming.

“Way to go Ainsley,” I said.  You were proud of yourself, but that wasn’t enough.  Soon you jumped down, this time all by yourself without help from me.   And then I watched as the Ainsley Rocket Girl zoomed again toward the wall to conquer it another time. You did.

Once again, you jumped down, did it again, making it three times in a row.

I said “I wonder how many times you can do it before Camden’s game ends.”  There were about five minutes left. A new challenge had been created.  You loved the idea of upping your game even more.  Zoom. Zoom. Zoom.

Six times perched at the top of the wall.

You were starting to get tired, but took a deep breath, eyeing the wall with impunity and total confidence.   You rallied, trying it four more times, getting to the top each time.

10 times.

You were pooped, but proud.  So was I!

Buzzzzzzzzzzzz.  Camden’s game ended.

You had gone from an impossible dream to a possible reality, all because you made up your mind, took on a big challenge and never gave up.

That’s the Ainsley who will accomplish great things in her lifetime.