Lyla is still doing great, she was moved to the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital NICU on Friday. Wow what a huge difference! We didn’t know what we were missing out on in the other NICU but the place we are in now is amazing! Lyla has her own room now so we can go in, shut the door, and have some privacy. Yesterday Grace and I got to sing to her for a while. The room is pretty spacious and has two rocking chairs. Yesterday we snagged one of the reclining rocking chairs from a room they were cleaning (rebels!). Also they brought a pump and are keeping it in Grace’s room so she can pump in the room without having to leave Lyla’s side. Overall this place is just much more comfortable and we feel like we could come and stay for hours, which we will be doing.
Now…..I want to talk for a second about Lyla. You say, “That’s what you have been doing the whole time idiot!” Well, yes and no. I have been talking about how Lyla is doing and how Grace and I are doing, but not much about my daughter Lyla Grace Bryan. Of course she is the smallest, cutest, sweetest girl you will ever meet (and I hope you all get to meet her someday!). And yes she is a fighter and so strong just like her mom. But she is extremely special. Let me explain.
Ever since I can remember I have wanted a little girl. If you had asked me, “You can only have one child, boy or girl, what would you pick?” Hands down a girl. Most people are surprised by that answer. I have dreamed of having a little girl for a long time, way before Grace and I ever started dating. I can’t really explain to you why I wanted a girl, that’s just what I longed for. I longed to have a daddy’s girl, who everyday when I come home from work runs up to me exclaiming “Daddy!!” Then when I pick her up and give her a giant bear hug she kisses me on the cheek and says, “I love you daddy!” So when I found out we were having a girl you can guess how excited I was. BUT I was also scared. Why was I scared? I was scared because I knew that God had big plans for this little girl and that she was going to have such a huge impact on so many people I thought, “I hope I don’t screw her up”.
Enter Lyla. She is exactly what I have hoped and dreamed for my entire life. In the little over two weeks that she has been here I might go as far as saying she has already surpassed me as far as the number of people she has impacted. Let me share something with you. This is a screen shot of the statistics of this blog site.
My daughter, in a little over two weeks has, has had her story read and checked for updates over 32,000 times from 34 different countries! Go ahead….tell me that she isn’t going to have a huge impact for God’s kingdom and that He doesn’t have awesome plans for her life. You would be a liar.
“Why did you title this post ‘Your Turn'”
Well I am glad you asked.
You are now a professional blogger just like me! (I hope you are picking up on the sarcasm cause I’m layin it on pretty thick) I ask (pretty please with sugar on top!) that you comment on this post and share with us how Lyla’s story has impacted your life. It doesn’t have to be a huge story, it can just be a sentence or two. But if you feel like you need a whole story, by all means! It can be what part you liked best, what God has taught you through this, or how you have been challenged. This is going to take time should you choose to participate, I know, trust me I do. But I’m not asking you to do this for me or for Grace even. I am asking you to do this for Lyla. I am planning on compiling this blog into a story book for Lyla to read some day. I would love to include in it the story of how her life impacted you. You can write directly to Lyla if you want and tell her how special she is, how much she is loved, and how you have been praying for her. I just wanted to give you a chance to (quite literally) be part of writing the story of the birth of Lyla Grace Bryan. I thank you in advance to those of you who choose to participate. I appreciate it very much, and I know Lyla will too someday!
Updates on Lyla's Status 
Lyla,
This is your grandpa more affectionately known as your “Pops”.
First know I love you very much and pray for you continuously.
You have been a blessing since the first day we heard you were coming at Christmas 2012 , the day we found out your Mom and Dad was having a girl (pink balloons in a sealed box that gave away you were coming as our first grand baby girl!).
At 26 weeks we were told that your Mom was going to the hospital due to labor pains.
We prayed to God for you.
I have to admit I was not aware of what it meant for your Mom to be be going in labor at 26 weeks. I was not even sure if a baby could survive outside the womb at 26 weeks.
We prayed to God for you.
You were born at 26 weeks and you were perfect. You were small at only 2 lbs and 13.5 inches but our little peanut angel. You showed everyone you were a fighter and that God had big plans for your life. You reach 32,000 reviews in 2 short weeks on your Blog. All of us were so thankful to have your blog to read about your progress each day.
We prayed to God for you.
We are going to come see you today in your new NICU room. It is a great room that your Mom and Dad have enjoyed immensely. The rocking chair and privacy of the room has been a special treat for your new family. We are just glad you are doing so well each day.
Your Ci Ci and I are looking forward to when we will first get to hold you. That will be a special treat for sure. Know that we will always be here to support you in all you do. God has a very special plan for your life and it all started with you reaching thousands of people about your Savior and Lord protecting you as you started your life.
Love you more……. your Pops.
Our dear Lyla you are such an amazing gift from God can’t wait to see you. We hope very soon. You have touched so many of our lives we have our pray chain praying for you. We love you. GREAT GRANDMA and FREDDIE
Dear Our Lyla,
I say “OUR” because even though you are only two weeks old, thanks to your daddy and mommy you have impacted my life and so many others. Your strength has made us so proud. I pray for you daily and have held you in my arms many times “in my dreams” already. I’m looking forward to the day we meet. I agree God has Big plans for you. I’m thrilled you finally get your own private room and the three of you are together. Stay strong and soon we will meet.
We love you Great Uncle Roger, Great Aunt Mindy and Drew
Hello sweet Lyla! Cici here. As you know by now, I had 3 boys which I love to pieces, but I always told your dad that he has to have a little girl first, because I missed out on girlie things. Now you’re here and I’m SO excited to have a chance to do those fun “girlie” things with you!!
You are such an amazingly strong and special little angel. From the first day, we could tell you were a fighter and that you would be able to make your own way in the world – with God by your side! You have made incredible progress all because so, so many people are praying for you. In your short life so far, you have touched so many hearts and lives. My prayer for you, sweet Lyla, is that your life will continue to be a blessing to many, and that all will see God at work in you!! We all have given you to God every day and know He has an awesome plan for your life. I can’t wait to see how He will use your life to glorify His name!!!
Keep fighting sweet one and keep growing stronger every day!! Cannot wait to be able to hold you and shower you with Cici kisses!!!
We were somewhat concerned when we knew you were entering this world early, but are so thankful for blessing you with a wonderful daddy and mamma who love you dearly and that you are in a place where you are receiving great care! When you were born, God reminded me of a scripture in Psalm 139:9 that says, “You have hedged (enclosed) me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me.” I felt like it was saying: God has you in HIS incubator where you are being protected and cared for by Him as you grow and develop, to prepare you for the plans He has for your life! We are so eager to see you and hold you some day! We continue to pray daily for you and know you will bless many, even as you have already! I’m writing on behalf of your great-grandpa and grandma Beachy.
Dear Sweet Lyla,
We are here in Chicago, but feel like we have experienced your birth as if we were right there with you all. Your Father has done an amazing job of keeping us all posted day by day of the miraculous progress you are making. Justin has made us so proud, just by seeing what a man of God he has become. Your Dad and Mom’s faith and the way they have opened their hearts to us all has touched each one of us. I think we have all been blessed and reminded of God’s mighty Power though your birth. You are a very lucky little girl to have such wonderful Godly parents who love you so much! We wish you all many blessings as you start out your journey as a new family!
Love, Great Uncle Jim, Great Aunt Debby, Rachel and Nathan
My dear sweet Lyla Grace!
We found out that you were coming into the world while we (me and your Uncle Drew) were in Germany – talk about feeling helpless as can be! I have been with your mom through virtually everything in both of our lives since we were in the 2nd grade, so being so far away was very hard for me! I had planned to get on a plane the minute your mom went into labor in August, but God had much different, better plans for your life!
While being in Germany, with your mom and dad thousands of miles away, with there being nothing that we could but pray was hard, but so beneficial for me! I’m the type of person that likes to be with people when they’re hurting and be there for them, but I obviously couldn’t in this situation. It was such a learning experience for me that even in times when I can be there and sit with someone that the greatest thing that I can do for them is pray. Good grief, I prayed unlike I’ve ever prayed before while your mom and dad were in the hospital waiting for you! I was praying for your mom – that she’d be protected, that the pain would subside and that she would have a peace that passes all understanding, I prayed for your dad – that he could be the loving, patient man that your mom needed at that point in time, and I prayed for you – that God would bring you in the world at the perfect time that He’s had planned before the earth was formed!
I’ve continued to pray for you and your parents! I pray that the day will come that you will understand and believe the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross for us and that you will be one of my sisters in Christ! I pray that you will know and always remember that you are fearfully and wonderfully made! I pray for your parents and that their love for Jesus will remain the most important things in their lives and that their love for each other will sustain through the test of time (which I have no doubt that it will!)
I love you sweet Lyla Grace and am overjoyed to meet you and be in your life for years to come! You are going to be so loved!
Oh my goodness, lyla grace, your daddy has opened up a can by letting me, your gigi, say what is on her heart about you. I’ve written one sentence and I’m already crying. You will forever be hearing the wonderful story of your birth and how it all started with a sneeze!!!! When dr. Mcweeney/mcgorgeous, said that you were ready to be born, I knew then that you were going to to be a determined, “feisty”(that’s what all your nurses say about you),very special child, but lyla, I had no idea how your birth would impact everyone,and me especially. My prayer life took on a whole new meaning. I really understood, for the first time, What “praying without ceasing” meant. As i write this, you are just two and a half weeks old and barley two pounds and already running our lives. I cant wait to hold you and talk to you and sing to you. You are such a fighter and so beautiful and such a miracle. You are also the most blessed little baby. You have got the most wonderful mommy and daddy. You should see them when they look at you. They absolutely adore you. Know that you have always been loved and prayed for and always will be, our precious lyla grace bryan. Love, gigi
Lyla (aka Chu)
Wow- you are awesome! It is such a joy to come by the NIC unit and watch you do your stretching routine. You are so active to be so small. This should not be surprising when you consider the lineage of women in your blood line. The Birch (Momma Berchie), Grandma Fay, Gigi, and your Mom. I had no doubt that when you came early that you had that fighting spirit. You have already been such a blessing to both families. I can’t wait to see you mixing it up with all the cousins! If I were a betting man (your mother and father know that I am not), I might put a little coin down on you in a friendly little game! I love you! I thank The Lord for you being in our family.
I love you
Shug
Dear sweet Lyla Grace!
We (your Uncle drew and Aunt Caroline) heard that you were coming into the world, we were half a world away in Germany. I can’t remember a time that I’ve felt as helpless as I did during those days. I have been with your mom in basically every major event in both of our lives since the 2nd grade! I had been planning to jump on a plane (we currently live in Canada – weird, I know) the moment your mom went into labor in August. Clearly God had a very different, better plan for your life!!
I’m the type of person who has to physically be with friends when they’re hurting, going through trials, etc and clearly being half a world away, I was unable to physically be there for your mom. It killed me, but I knew that even if I was with your mom during this, the best thing I could be doing is praying to the God who made the heavens and the earth. This taught me a lot about prayer, like your Gigi mentioned. It reminded me that it is the best thing I can do for a friend in need!! Boy, did I pray a lot!! I prayed for your mom – that she would be protected, that she wouldn’t be in pain and that she’d have a peace that passes all understanding; I prayed for your dad – that God would give him the ability to be courageous, patient, and love Grace exactly the way she needed to be loved at that time; and of course I prayed for you – I prayed that you would be healthy and that God would bring you into this world at the exact moment He had planned for years upon years.
I’m so grateful for your life Lyla and the joy you already bring to everyone who has met you or even who has just heard about you! I am committed to continue praying for you as you grow into a beautiful girl and woman! I pray that you will personally know and believe in the sacrifice that Jesus made for you on the cross and have a relationship with Him, I pray you will believe that you are fearfully and wonderfully made, and I pray that you will live a life full of love! I pray that your parents will keep their love for Jesus as their first priority and that their love for one another will sustain the test of time ( I have no doubts that it will!)
You are loved Lyla Grace!
Little Lyla,
You don’t know me, but I’m best friends with one of your mommy’s best friends, Kate. She is that girl who likely smothers you with love and will hopefully teach you how she gets that sparkle in her eyes in EVER PICTURE SHE TAKES. (You know she even modeled for Land’s End once? ; )
I have a little baby girl in my belly right now. Her name is Vivi Mae. When I heard you had come early, my heart hurt for your mom and dad. I honestly had no idea you could could be born so early. I never understood before how much you could love someone you had never met, but I do now that I’ve got Vivi here in my belly. And Lyla, that mom and dad of yours love you sooo much! And as much as you need them, they need you just as much too! I’m so thankful you are fighting so hard to be there with them. You will never know what that means to your mom and dad. Or to all the other people who have been impacted by your story. Your birth has taught me a lot about how many opportunities I will have to choose trust or worry as a parent. Seeing how your mom and dad are handling it and putting you in the Lord’s hands has been so inspiring. You actually helped inspire this blog post which has impacted a lot of people. http://www.valmariepaper.com/a-worrying-heart/
Love, Valerie Woerner
Dear Lyla,
God has such a plan for your life and while I don’t know your mommy and daddy, I know your Cici and she is mighty special! Your birth situation has impacted a lot of people in that we are getting to experience how God’s mighty hand is working through this situation by using you and your parents to show how Glorious and how much love the Father has for us! I can tell you are a fighter and how God has placed you with just the right family! I am praying for you to grow and be strong in every area, in the sweet name of Jesus!
I love the name Lyla Grace, and I have so enjoyed reading your blog (with tears in my eyes many times). I’ve loved seeing and hearing how much your mommie and daddy love you. It was precious seeing you hold his finger and I didn’t think babies that young could smile, but you definitely opened your eyes and gave a little smile when he said, “I love you.”
I have prayed for you many times too and will continue to pray for you and I hope to meet you someday. Maybe we can see you at your cousin Michelle’s wedding.
I’m so glad your Daddy posts on this blog and I think it is a wonderful idea to make a story book for you to read some day. I know your sweet Cici and Pops will spoil you, no, not spoil just love love you.
You are very special and we thank God that he allowed you to live and I know you will have a big impact on many lives.
Love you….great great Auntie Bea and Uncle Len
Lyla will do great things because she will have great parents to give her what she needs!! God is with all of you and Lyla is going to be a shining example of you love for each other and your love for God! You have sure been an inspiration for me! Love you all
Lyla (aka Chu)
This my second try! The Gaskins family is a bit more technically challenged than the Bryan(t) clan. You are one tough nut! You come from a long lineage of strong women. Your mom, the Birch (Momma Birchie), Gigi, Cici, and Grandma Fay all were blessed with a great fighting spirit. I can already see that in you! The Lord gives special gifts to certain people and I truly believe this will be one of yours. I can’t wait to see you mixing it up with all the cousins. If I were a betting man (your mother and dad know that I am not), I would put a few coin down on you! I love you very much and you have already been such a blessing.
I love you
Shug
My sweet niece Lyla,
I was so excited when your mom told me that she was pregnant. I couldn’t wait to meet you! Of course I wasn’t expecting to meet you so soon, but you are a fighter and God is good because you are here and you’re perfect! You mean so much to me. You mean God’s faithfulness and his provision. For a little while before you were born I had not been able to feel God’s presence, which made me feel distant from him. I knew that God was present always, but the distance made it hard for me to feel connected to his truth…until you came along. When your mom went into pre-labor I was terrified. I began praying immediately. I felt the holy spirit flood through and he spoke God’s truth and his promises to me. I was still scared, but I was so comforted by God’s presence and His power. God used you to show how faithful and how present he really is in my life. You should know that you were prayed for so often and thought about constantly. You are so special Lyla Grace.
You have the greatest parents who love you so unconditionally. Now, one day they are going to drive you crazy and you are going to come running to cool Aunt Gillian’s house to save you from their madness! And of course I will be there with open arms, but know that you mean the world to them and you meant the world to me too. Your uncle Patty and I love you so much. We are so excited to watch you grow into a beautiful young woman. I know God will do great things through you because he already has and you are only 2 weeks old. I love you so much Lyla.
Love,
Aunt Gillie
Dear Lyla,
This is Jason. I guess you might call me your pastor, though I’ve never really taken much to that title. What I have taken to, however, is your family. You are such a blessed little girl. You have no idea (right now) how much you are loved (you will one day …)
Because I’m your “pastor,” I have had the unique privilege of having a front-row seat into your life. I have been blessed to do life with your mom and dad — and just let me tell you something: They are awesome! They love you so much. I’ll never forget the night they walked over to our house to tell us you were coming. Lyla, your mom and dad have prayed for you, have prepared for you, have talked about their dreams for you, and have faithfully entrusted you to God’s care when they were not able to physically meet your needs in those first few days of your life. They will always love you and give you their very best. Their great faith in God is a legacy that they pass down to you, and is a gift that you will come to experience personally for yourself one day.
I also had the privilege of being at the hospital when the rest of your family — grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins — was waiting on your arrival. You took us all a little bit by surprise when you decided you were going to go ahead and come into this world. And it was a little scary, if we are really honest, because we were worried about how little you would be. But I got to watch all of your family demonstrate an incredible faith in God — they prayed for you without ceasing, Lyla. And God heard their prayers, because that’s what He does. And He answered them, because He does that, too. And He knew just exactly what He was doing when you were born. And you are just exactly perfectly the way He wanted you to be. You are a Masterpiece — a work of art — proof that our God is a Master Creator who spared no detail in perfectly forming your tiny fingers and toes, and beautiful eyes and silky soft hair. And because we can see He spared no small detail with those things, we also trust that He spared no small detail in forming your heart and your mind and your soul — the things that will enable you to grow and love Him back.
Finally, Lyla, I had the privilege of watching my church — YOUR church — rally together in support of you and your family. They signed up to pray around the clock. They brought your parents meals. They sent encouraging cards to your mom and text messages to your dad. They love you, Lyla. WE love you. You, little girl, have reminded our church about the power and importance of prayer. You have increased our faith in God. You have reinforced in us the immense truth that life is an incredibly valuable gift. You have unified us in a way that no sermon I preach could ever do. You have reminded us that God is real. He’s really REAL! Because if He wasn’t, you wouldn’t be here.
So, you see, Lyla, God doesn’t just have big plans for your future, He also has big plans for you NOW. A plan to show everyone that you ever meet the INCREDIBLE depths of the Love that God has for them. You are a gift. To your parents. To your family. To your church. To the world.
Thanks for letting me be a part of your life. You’ve already made a permanent mark on mine.
Jason
Dear Little Lyla Grace!
I , too, love the name your parents chose for you! I also can’t wait to meet you someday (ahem…reunion anyone?). I have prayed for you often and thanked God for the miracle of your life! Although you may never know me, I trust that I’ll meet you someday in heaven!
love from a “distant but close” cousin!
Sherry
I agree Sherry, we do need a reunion. The family is growing by leaps and bounds and there are so many young ones we haven’t met yet. So glad we can keep in touch through social media, but there’s nothing like hanging out with the Beachy’s!! Miss and love you!!!
I found out about your story through Ben and Rachael Heile on Facebook (Ben is the associate pastor at my church). I read all of the blog on Friday and have checked for updates every day since. You and Grace have been an awesome example of how to glorify God in EVERY circumstance. I know from the beginning y’all said you wanted to glorify God through this situation, and I would say y’all are definitely succeeding! I have been praying for Lyla every day, and the Lord is continuing to show me the power of prayer.
To Lyla I would say you are definitely a fighter, and God has some AMAZING things in store for your life. You are only two weeks and have already impacted so many people, even a stranger like me.
Hope this isn’t too creeper-ish 😉 I feel weird posting this because everyone else that posted is like family, but I just thought you should know your daughter is impacting complete strangers’ lives!
Ashleigh Moss
Wow thats so awesome!! Not creeperish at all! Actually to be completely honest, I was hoping that complete strangers like yourself would post a comment because in my mind that is even more of a testament to the impact that Lyla has had. So thank you so much for taking the time to encourage and pray for us and to tell Lyla how special she is! It means a lot!!
Dear sweet Lyla,
I am so very thankful for you & for your life. You are my smallest friend! And although this is true, you have impacted me in a BIG way! The Lord has used your life & the early struggles that have gone along with it to show me how much He loves you, your parents, & even myself! Lyla, you are so strong, you’re a fighter, & The Lord uses you to bring joy to others! I imagine The Lord holding you in His hands while you’re in the hospital, and telling you “my sweet daughter, I am so proud of you. I’m here with you. You are greatly loved and cherished by me”. The thought of that and the evidence that He is with you as you are growing makes me full with joy! The Lord loves you greatly, Lyla. I am fully confident that He has tremendous plans for your life! He has used you to impact others from the day of your birth! What a precious and beautiful thing! To be used by our God and to give The Lord glory in the process is so beautiful.
You have reminded me the importance of glorifying The Lord in all that I do. You’ve reminded me that The Lord loves me and will always be with me during my struggles, holding me in His hands and telling me that He is proud of me. You have reminded me to be thankful in everything. And you have reminded me to fully trust in Jesus.
You are beautiful sweet Lyla! I am thankful for you, and for all that The Lord is doing through my smallest friend’s life! I am praying for you!
And I can’t wait to meet you! xoxo
Dear Lyla,
You have the strongest parents I have ever met. I have kept up with your story since before you were born and have been very impacted emotionally. There were some scary times that took place before and after your birth, but do you know who had the most strength through all of this? Your parents. They taught me that no matter what the circumstance and no matter what you are going through, never turn your eyes away from God. Always have complete trust and faith that everything that is happening is part of Gods plan, and Gods plan is always good. They kept a positive outlook even when it was hard to. In return, it made me have a positive outlook. Before you were born, I remember going into your moms room at the hospital. The first thing I did while walking in was start to cry. I look up at your mom and she has this calm and peace about her that was unexplainable. Right away the tears subsided. Through your story I have learned strength and faith above all else. Your story still continues to touch my heart every day and I know that it always will. Just know that you have amazing parents that love you and care with such a strong passion that will never change. I also love you very much!
Love your cousin 🙂
Whitney
Sweet baby Lyla,
Wow, you sure do know how to make an entrance into the world! When your “Uncle Brandon” and I moved to Nashville, your parents quickly became two of our best friends. And even though your mommy broke the “pregnancy pact” that she and I made together, I was so excited when your mom told me she was pregnant with you. I couldn’t wait to walk along side of her throughout her pregnancy and ask a million questions. Then, when they found out that you were a girl, your daddy could NOT be more excited!! You were a daddy’s girl from the very beginning!
I’ll never forget on Thursday, May 16, when your “Uncle B” called me at work to tell me that your mom was going into surgery because you were ready for us to meet you! I had a mix of emotions in that long hour–excitement, fear, worry, helplessness… I just wanted to be there for your mom and dad, but I couldn’t. I cried in front of my fifth graders and even had to leave work early. I wanted so badly to be at the hospital, but all I could do was just pray, for the Lord just to make His presence known, for a peace that surpassed all understanding, for the doctor’s steady hands, for your little organs to be strong. I checked my phone so often that day, waiting for the blog updates. As quickly as your dad wrote the updates, I read them and shared them with as many family members and friends as I could. It was evident that prayer was working in the most powerful ways that day throughout the United States, and even the world! You were only a few hours old, but your impact was already reaching thousands of miles.
Lyla, you are one incredibly special gift. Through you, the Lord is showing off His glory, faithfulness, and provision in more ways than we can imagine. Through you, your mom and dad are growing even stronger in their faith and as husband and wife. Through you, I am learning not to take things for granted. I am so grateful to be a part of your life and story. I cannot wait to continue to watch you grow in wisdom and strength. You are loved!
Love,
“Aunt” Kate 🙂
My Dear Lyla,
I’m your aunt Kasturi who came with uncle Shashank to meet you last Sunday morning when you were fast asleep but took time to look at us and say hi!! You are very precious to us and you would always be.
You certainly are very strong as your parents and this inspires us to be strong in turn. When the alarm in your room went red, my heart started to beat faster but your beautiful eyes said, “hey aunty it’s cool… i’m doing great, chill :)” and I would be calm again.
At such a young age you are already inspiring so many hearts, it’s incredible. Generally, kids at such a tender age hear stories, but you are already making stories and people are eagerly listening to those stories about you. You are surely unique and we are grateful to god to have you around us.
We love you and are praying for you. We will come again to meet you soon and spend some more time with you. Till then keep inspiring people as ever.
With Lots of Love,
Aunty Kasturi and Uncle Shashank
Dear Lyla Grace,
What a miracle you are! God has always known you’d enter our world over 3 months before your due date, and although I was shocked and scared, and didn’t know what to think, God was not at all surprised and wanted us to meet you now! And I’m so glad His plans are much higher than ours. In your short 3 weeks of life, He has already used you and your precious parents to teach lots and lots of people all over the world about his faithfulness and glory. And one of those people is me!
You have no idea of how encouraging your story has been to me! You see, I have been going through a pretty big struggle lately myself, and I’ve found that since you’ve been born, my faith and my prayers have increased big time! When your mom went into preterm labor, I just couldn’t imagine how scary that was for her and your dad, so I prayed and prayed and prayed. I prayed for comfort, for faith, for strength, for wisdom, for peace, for protection against the enemy, for God’s will to be done, for joy. And as I prayed those things for you three, God was reminding me that He offers those gifts to me, too! And when you were born, and every update we got showed signs of your growth and health, my faith increased even more! Lyla, you are a tiny little girl, but a HUGE reminder to me that God is good, His timing is perfect, and He is in control. I pray you know how much you’ve encouraged me. Thank you!
I am so excited to continue to get to know you, Lyla. Your parents are rockstars, and I know you already know that. They love Jesus so so much, and that’s why they love you the way they do. You are beautiful, cherished, and loved, and I praise God for the gift of your life and your impact on the world! I cannot wait to see just what else will unfold in the coming weeks, months, and years!
Love,
Sarah
Dear Sweet Lyla Grace,
This is your cousins from up north in the suburbs of Philadelphia. I am your mommy’s cousin and I think that makes you second cousins with my children, Alena Grace and Colin. Your mommy was the flower girl in my wedding many, many years ago :). She certainly has grown up to be a beautiful mommy, blessed with such an amazing family and beautiful daughter like you. I loved how your pastor illustrated so beautifully how you are a masterpiece. Your strength is an inspiration and you have already touched so many. I can’t wait to hear all the places you will go and the people you will continue to touch in your life. Please try to swing by up north in your travels someday. We would love to see you sometime very soon.
With Love,
Cousin Anna
Dear Lyla,
I started going to your parents’ church a few months ago, and, although I don’t know if I’ve ever spoken to them directly, I know who they are. I found your dad’s blog on the Ekklesia Facebook page, and started following his updates from Kenya, where I’m living for the summer.
Like I said, I don’t actually know your parents, but it is so evident that their love for you is a mirror of our Father’s love—deep, steadfast, and true. And that love has spread, near and far, to all corners of the world, and ranges from your blood relatives to friends of friends of friends who probably won’t ever meet you (and lots of people in between). Throughout this journey that has produced a broad spectrum of emotions—joy, anxiety, exhaustion, inspiration—it has been so encouraging for me to remotely observe the power of community. I try (and fail miserably…repeatedly) to be strong and independent, yet read your parents’ honest expressions of weakness and dependency. This intimacy and vulnerability so, so sweet, and is how the church was designed to function, as a loving reflection of its Creator. From seeing photos of friends from Ekklesia visiting you and your parents, knowing there are people praying for you at all hours of the day, and reading a blog that generates tens of thousands of hits (and counting!), it is clear that your parents are welcoming you into a life that is in rich communion with others, and it has been a blessing to see its power.
But now, Lyla, I have a challenge for you. I am living and working in an environment that is unfortunately representative of the majority of the world: thousands of mothers and babies needlessly die every day simply because they lack access to safe, competent, and affordable health services. I can confidently say that, had you been born at 26 weeks here in Kenya, there is a very, very minute chance that you and your mother would have survived. However, solely by God’s boundless grace, you were not a victim of this silent tragedy that overwhelms our globe. Lyla, you are ALIVE, and that is not an accident! So I challenge you to pursue life with passion and fervor, knowing that you have a divine purpose for being here. Thank you for the impact you have already had on so many people, including myself, and, as you get older, I pray you will allow God to work in you to impact so many more.
Shalom & Kisses,
Laura
Dear Lyla,
I started going to your parents’ church a few months ago, and, although I don’t know if I’ve ever spoken to them directly, I know who they are. I found your dad’s blog on the Ekklesia Facebook page, and started following his updates from Kenya, where I’m living for the summer.
Like I said, I don’t actually know your parents, but it is so evident that their love for you is a mirror of our Father’s love—deep, steadfast, and true. And that love has spread, near and far, to all corners of the world, and ranges from your blood relatives to friends of friends of friends who probably won’t ever meet you (and lots of people in between). Throughout this journey that has produced a broad spectrum of emotions—joy, anxiety, exhaustion, inspiration—it has been so encouraging for me to remotely observe the power of community. I try (and fail miserably…repeatedly) to be strong and independent, yet read your parents’ honest expressions of weakness and dependency. This intimacy and vulnerability so, so sweet, and is how the church was designed to function, as a loving reflection of its Creator. From seeing photos of friends from Ekklesia visiting you and your parents, knowing there are people praying for you at all hours of the day, and reading a blog that generates tens of thousands of hits (and counting!), it is clear that your parents are welcoming you into a life that is in rich communion with others, and it has been a blessing to see its power.
But now, Lyla, I have a challenge for you. I am living and working in an environment that is unfortunately representative of the majority of the world: thousands of mothers and babies needlessly die every day simply because they lack access to safe, competent, and affordable health services. I can confidently say that, had you been born at 26 weeks here in Kenya, there is a very, very minute chance that you and your mother would have survived. However, solely by God’s boundless grace, you were not a victim of this silent tragedy that overwhelms our globe. Lyla, you are ALIVE, and that is not an accident! So I challenge you to pursue life with passion and fervor, knowing that you have a divine purpose for being here. Thank you for the impact you have already had on so many people, including myself, and, as you get older, I pray you will allow God to work in you to impact so many more.
Shalom & Kisses,
Laura
Thank you so much for sharing Laura, that is awesome and I love your challenge to Lyla! I am takin time to pray for you right now as you are serving in Kenya. It was so great to hear just a snippet of your story that Sunday you shared at Ekklesia an I hope someday you can meet Lyla and we can get to know each other more. Thanks again!
I loved reading this story. My son was born early and with sever fluid surrounding his lungs. He spent his first 97 days in the NICU and the experience changed my life forever. He changed the lives of the drs and nurses that we encountered and showed them that God still performs miracles. It’s amazing how these tiny babies can literally impact the world. I also kept a blog of our experience and have printed into a little binder for my son when he grows up. I would love to actually write a book about our experience.
Blessings to you all and healing and peace to your little one as she grows.
June 16th, 2013:
Lyla, I remember when I heard your Mom and Dad went to the hospital on Tuesday, May 14th. I was very nervous. And then, I remember visiting your parents in the hospital, the very next day, and meeting your loving grandparents, aunts, and uncles, who love you very much. I also remember, the next day after that, Thursday at 2:20pm, hearing that your Mom was in labor. I was again very nervous. Within twenty minutes, though, we had heard that you had entered the world! We were all very excited for you!
One week later, Sarah and I got to visit you in the hospital in the NICU. I remember being in awe of how wonderfully you were created, so small and adorable! And also, I remember the proud look your Dad had on his face. I also remember visiting you one week later after that, at two weeks old, and being so encouraged by the faith, patience, and trust that your parents had in The Lord.
Today is your one-month birthday – Happy Birthday! Thank you for the life that you’ve lived, even though you don’t know it yet. Through your life, we, and our entire church, have grown closer to the Lord through prayer and have gotten to know Him in a new way. Thanks for the opportunity, and keep on rockin’!
Hunter Yarbrough
Howdy ho, Lyla. I’m unbelievably late and I have planned to do this for weeks on top of weeks. Seeing you for the first time at church on 9/15/13 was truly one of the most beautiful sites I’d ever seen. As I saw you lying on Daddy’s chest in your Bjorn (maybe I got that right?) and Momma beside him I couldn’t help but be reminded of your journey. A journey that in your short time of living has already been longer than many adults.
As you lay there quietly I got to talk to the parentals for a few minutes. You didn’t make a peep and you looked as at peace as I’d ever seen someone. Right before my eyes was a new family that seemed to have everything together with no hiccups along the way. Ironically, someone who wasn’t familiar with the situation would think this and couldn’t be more wrong.
Though you are fine now, things weren’t always this way. Your parents afforded the family and friends in their life to journey with them through your ordeal. I was new on the scene so I was still getting to know the Ekklesia family. It was during this time that I got to see the church in action, living and breathing as God has called us to. There were many prayers, tears, frequent checks on blog updates, and conversations about your and Grace’s status. Not only that, we were able to see that this weighed on Justin just as much.
So here I was on the outside but allowed to come in to y’alls journey. And what did I see? I saw a church with a love that was deeper than a high five on Sunday. I saw a community of believers who united in prayer to petition Yahweh Himself (the only one who could work in this situation). A church that gave of themselves sacrificially for the betterment of a part of the body. Our family cried, hoped, and begged to God right alongside of y’all. It felt as if it was my child who was fighting with all she had to survive. As if I was cycling in and out of faith-doubt-faith in the hospital room. It was as if we could literally feel it too.
Truth be told, we could. During this time it became immensely clear that this in fact is what the body (the church if you will) is all about. We are all united in Christ. And because of that when one member hurts, we all hurt. When one part feels hopeless we speak hope into their lives. Little did I know that in my first 6 months of being in Nashville I’d get a crash course in The Church 101 but I couldn’t be more thankful for it.
Lyla I pray for the beautiful future that Christ has planned for you. As you grow older I’m sure you’ll come to better understand how He was with y’all then. God worked wonderfully and His promises held true despite how grim it seemed at times. Follow your parent’s example, and when there is nothing else to hold on to, cling to Him. Though His plan is by no means easy or how we would have done it, trust Him. He can see not only the present but where He has you headed to. Know you have two awesome parents who love you. Supporting them is your Ekklesia church family who also wants to see all God has planned for you come to fruition. So excited we can rejoice on this side of that storm. Encouraged by the fight (and faith) in you and your parents. Thankful for all I learned through your journey. If there’s anything we can do let us know. Be blessed and know we love you.
John Dansby