Memorial Weekend Stay-Cation

So I am a little behind on my posts. Memorial weekend I decided for us to enjoy the sights of Louisville while taking a few days off of work. So- on Friday, Jodi Koesters and I and her four kids journeyed to Hubers Farm in Indiana to pick strawberries! I honestly had not picked strawberries since I was a kid. Here is my 13lb. Flat of berries! I was able to use them in 1 week too making strawberry pie, pound cake, strawberry jam and eating them and giving some away to friends.

Saturday, we also took a visit to the Louisville Zoo. In our 4 ½ years, we have not been to the zoo so this was a must see before we left this summer. Though it was a bit hot- we enjoyed seeing all these furry friends.

I also had the chance to visit with Melissa Wagner- a dear friend from Cedarville on Sunday. We had a great time catching up on what the Lord is teaching us. It was a refreshing time!
Monday, we were going to go hiking- but it rained so we went shopping instead to Half Price Books for Michael and Kohls for Erin. We ended the day with dinner at Chick-fil-A and Erin tried the Spicy Chicken sandwich which definitely left me sweating.

Renovations

Renovations:


This past Saturday, we went up to Cincy to work on helping Michael’s parents renovate our new place!
I never realized how tiring ripping up linoleum flooring could be. I could barely do it and left the rest to Hubby to finish up as he was ripping up that flooring in double time what I could do. So I just resigned myself to inspecting all the new improvements in the apartment and picturing what paint colors I want and where I want to place everything. Don’t worry- I did do some work- I wiped down all the cabinets and drawers and wiped down the tub in the bathroom some. Though they were accusing me of slacking little bit. Then our lovely Jetta- Trusty Dusty- on the way home decides to have its car alarm go off in the middle of an intersection at a stop light. It was quite the sight. Michael directing traffic as he tries to stop the alarm and me hiding in the front seat. Needless to say we never have a dull moment with that Jetta! Gotta love Jettas (German cars) made in Mexico!

I love flowers!!!

I love to decorate the balcony of my apartment with flowers and since this is the last time I will have a balcony- I thought I would include some pictures of my plants.  :)  I really do enjoy getting my hands dirty and planting these flowers. 

Happy Graduation Michael!!!!

Michael’s Graduation- Friday, May 14, 2010
It is hard to believe that 5 years ago in October we were married and moved to our little one bedroom apartment in Louisville. I remember starting my job at the seminary thinking how far away graduation seemed. My office in fact worked all year preparing graduation and I thought someday Michael will graduate but 2010 seemed so far away. Now, a week after graduation has come and gone- I still stand amazed that this day is here. I have to admit I was getting teary-eyed on Friday thinking about leaving this rich season of our lives. It is hard to believe this chapter is coming to a end. God has been so faithful in this season, providing in amazing ways during this seminary journey and teaching us more about Himself! I was challenged and encouraged by such a Christ honoring graduation. I have never been to a graduation that so pointed people to Christ and left me thinking about my eternal home with Christ. Dr. Mohler reminded the graduates that they are small and insignificant in the grand scheme of God’s provident workings. Their days on this earth are short and yet God has called and appointed them as ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Soldiers of Christ in Truth arrayed. It was a graduation that I was proud to be a part of and supporting my amazing husband who worked so hard these past 4 years! I am so proud of him and so humbled and thankful for this season at Southern Seminary!!

 

 

Graduation Day!!!
It is hard to believe that graduation day is finally here!  Well almost here!  On Friday Michael gradautes with his MDIV in Biblical Theological Studies.  Though this week has been super busy at work with graduation as that is my primary role at work- I am trying to take time to reflect on these last 4 years at Southern Seminary!  I am so thankful for this school- Southern Seminary and I know I will miss Dr. Mohler, the professors and the great students here when we leave this wonderful place in August.  Because I work on campus, sometimes I feel like I live here but I am so thankful for all that God has taught me here at Southern!  Graduation day is Friday, May 14th at 10:00am.  We are hoping it will be out on the lawn- but it looks like rain possibly may be in the forecast- we will have to wait and see! 

Hebrew Union

The day we went up to see our apartment- we also went to visit the school- Hebrew Union!
Here are a few pictures of Michael in front of the school.  The building is very old.  The day we were there we met a kind Security guard who was telling us everything we needed to know about the school.  We are hoping to see him again sometime.  So here he is the soon-to-be PHD student!

Our New Cincy Apartment!

I have been wanting to post these pictures for two weeks.  On April 24th- Michael and I went up to Cincinnati for two reasons.  We went to see Mary Poppins downtown which was an amazing Broadway musical and we went to see the apartment and get a feel for our new home for the next couple years!  Michael's parents have been so gracious to allow us to live in this apartment rent free and for that we are so grateful!  But as you may be able to see- some bad tenants lived in the building three years ago and created a lot of WORK!!!  So it needs a little fixing up- but I think it has promise! 

 This is the back yard- so it is mainly concrete- but there a few trees.

This is the view from the front window of the living room.

This is the view from the living room.

This is a picture of the kitchen area.

Where the kitchen table will go.

The hallway with pantry that goes to bedroom.

The green bathroom- OK so we may have to work on that one.

The door to the small bedroom.

The master bedroom

Happy Birthday to My Bride, Erin

This is a guest post by Michael; well, actually, it is a "sneak-attack" post, since Erin has no idea I am writing on the blog.  It is Thursday evening and she will probably see this tomorrow--which tomorrow, Fri the 30th is Erin's birthday!!!

So.......HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIN!!!!

Now let me tell you all out there in blog land--Erin is quite a wife.  In fact, I firmly believe that when the author of Proverbs 31 was writing about the wise woman--yup, he was talking about Erin E. Lyons.  Aside from God saving me, redeeming me, and bring me to himself through Jesus--Erin is the greatest thing God has brought into my life.  I am grateful and thankful for her love and unwavering support she has shown me over the last years together.  Prov 18:22 fits Erin well: "He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord." Truly, God has bestowed grace upon me for allowing me to marry such a gracious and godly woman.

Over the past year, God has grown Erin and changed her more in the image of Jesus Christ.  I can testify as her husband that God is working in her life.  The evidences of grace in her are far too numerous to write, but just to give you a hint of the blessings I get to live with each day:

• After working hard each day at school, Erin serves me by making dinner
• When I have a particularly stressed time at school, Erin serves me extra well and finds ways to ease my stress
• Erin loves me and forgives me when I sin against her
• When Erin suffers, she looks to Jesus
• Erin serves other people even when she herself is hurting
• Erin displays the gospel to the world in the way she lives out her role as a wife, modeling biblical womanhood. 
• Erin is always trying to grow in God's word, seeking out times of prayer and reading

Now, I could go on and on and on...and I am probably making my beautiful wife blush right now, because more than anything I am amazed at my wife's beautiful humility that she displays every day.  A husband is allowed to boast right??

Happy Birthday, Erin! I love and cherish you more than you will ever know.  Thank you for preaching the gospel to me every day.
Love,
Michael

 
My dad is coming today with some guys from my home church for Together for the Gospel!  We are having Hungarian Gulosh for dinner!  It should be fun times as they guys are excited for this amazing Gospel Driven conference.  Me- I just get to feed them and work since it is Tuesday thru Thursday.  :)  Oh well- somebody's gotta work. 

And the winner is...

After almost TWO years researching PhD schools, applying to them, and waiting..........

we have decided where we believe God is leading us to go next in our ministry...
God is calling us to minister and grow at....

HEBREW UNION COLLEGE (HUC) in Cincinnati, Ohio- Where Michael will study Hebrew and Old Testament!!!

Thanks for all your prayers, advice, and patiently waiting to see what happens next! We certainly never thought we would be going to HUC, but God made it very clear that we are supposed to be at that school. It is very humbling and merciful to think that God would provide us with a full ride and stipend to study God's word. There are still unanswered questions about the future, but we are confident that God will provide as we lean and trust in him. 

Looks like at the end of July we will be packing up and leaving our sweet Louisville and heading to Cincy for the next season of our lives.  The Lord has truly blessed us as Michael received a full ride and stipend and we will live in an apartment in Cincinnati in a small building owned by Michael's parents.  Praise the Lord!