not-so-little miracles
This is Debbie and Ashya Marie Hupp, central characters in a recent miracle that took place right here in our hometown of Fullerton, California. This picture was taken the first week Ashya was at home, which was three months after she was born. Ashya was not content just hanging out in Debbie's womb, so she decided to make her presence known to the world about 3 months early, weighing in at just under 2 pounds. The tiniest premie diapers almost covered the entire lower half of her body. Soon after delivery she was ushered into an incubator in the NICU at St. Jude's Hospital, where she would spend the next 2 1/2 months. Maybe if Ashya had known that, she'd have stayed warm and cozy inside Deb a little longer. But I think her adventurous nature must have gotten the better of her. I only hope for Paul and Deb's sake, she's not as adventurous throughout life, or they've really got their work cut out for them.
This little, and yet no-so-little, hometown miracle leaves me in awe of God once again. The miracle of life is, in and of itself, a miracle. And yet Ashya decided to test things a little further, and make her start in life a little bit more ... dramatic. But she is no match for the mighty hand of God. And here she is, finally at home with Mom and Dad where she belongs. She weighs in at 5 pounds now, and has grown an inch in her first week at home!
God also took amazing care of Paul and Deb, first-time parents navigating a kind of parenthood most people don't experience in a lifetime. They were surrounded by friends and family who love them, and most importantly held up by a God who cares more deeply for them, and their little girl, than they can fathom. They weathered this storm with more grace and humility than most people handle getting caught in traffic.
We get to hang out withPaul and Deb this week, and I look forward to getting to hold this little miracle myself, and look full in the face of God's goodness, grace and love. It truly is an awesome God we serve.
Debbie has put together a video montage of Ashya's first few months. If you're interested in viewing, copy and paste the following link into your browser: http://www.onetruemedia.com/otm_site/view_shared?p=11d9ee4febe9eb0062b12c&skin_id=0&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=email
