More Christmas...

Before January ends, I wanted to post a few more pictures from our Christmas in York, PA.  My mom and sister threw Baby Lyons a precious shower!  They worked so hard and it was so fun to see a lot of sweet people from York and Church of the Open Door!  It was so fun to reconnect with many of these ladies and we felt truly showered by their love and support!!!  We then came back and spent time with Michael's family for New Year's Eve!  It was a blessing to see my sweet friend Melissa Wagner & Sarah Brown on New Year's Day.  It was fun to reconnect and see these friends from college! 

On another note- we are about a week from my due date on Sunday, February 6th- though I know that this is an estimated due date.  I know the Lord will be stretching me in the area of waiting on the Lord for our little guy's arrival.  It is amazing to me that no one truly knows what starts labor and so I just keep thinking that it is truly the Lord's plan and timing when it does happen!  And so I have a feeling in the next week or two- He will be teaching me alot about waiting and trusting His perfect timing in all things- and of course being content in the waiting.  But then, I keep thinking, we are always waiting for something so that we may trust and rely and depend on the Lord!

Christmas 2010

Though this post is a little late- we were thankful to be able to go home to York, PA for Christmas.  We drove the 8 hour trip which was definately more challenging as I was feeling more uncomfortable.  We were able to see and spend time with my sister Rachel Santoro and her new husband Mike.  They did a great job hosting us and having dinner for us and a game night in their new apartment!!!  They are a cute couple! 
We also were blessed to spend time with a frew friends in York!  Josh & Amy & Becca Jensen were in York for a few days visiting Amy's family- so we jumped at the chance to visit with them!  I also got to see Laura LaQuay and have lunch with her- she is due with her second child a few weeks after me!  I also got to visit with my Grandma Delp who I don't get to see too much.  I also enjoyed sweet time with my sweet friend Sara Fillmann and see her two little ones and Rob too!  One of my favorite parts about being in York for Christmas is trying to get together with these friends that I hardly see now that we live farther away! 

Mike & Rachel Santoro!



Amy and sweet Becca Jensen



Dear Bubby- aka Laura LaQuay

My Grandma!

"The Dears"- Sara Fillmann

I Love My Bride!

Every once and a while, I--Michael--take over Erin's blog account.  The time has come that I must do that again. :) I just want to say Happy Courting Anniversary to my bride, Erin!!

On January 24th, 2004, I asked Erin for permission to pursue her and see if God was leading us together for marriage.  So Happy 7th anniversary, my dear bride! I am ever grateful that she and her family allowed me to pursue her and ultimately marry this beautiful woman. 

The sweetness of marriage grows each day with you, Erin, the delight of your friendship is overwhelming.  May God grow our delight in the gospel and grow us towards a deeper love for each other. 

Thank you for taking the courageous step, 7 years ago, to say "yes" to me--even in the midst of tears and fears.  How faithful our God is, isn't he?!

Winter Getaway

This past Saturday and Sunday we were blessed to be able to get away for a quick trip just the two of us before we become a family of three!  Because I was so close to my due date, we decided to stick close to home and drove the long 20 minutes up north to West Chester- an area north of Cincinnati, also known for having Ikea.  :)  Michael had given me this trip as a Christmas present!  We enjoyed browsing through Ikea on Saturday and found a few things- the best part was running into good friends Justin & Bonnie Myers from Louisville!!!  I thought we might see someone from Louisville but did not think it would be dear Bonnie!!! 
So that was so fun!  We then headed out to dinner and relaxed in our hotel that night! 

On Sunday, we were able to rest and relax at the hotel- I especially collected the free cookies and fruit since they were Free and of course all the shampoos and complimentary stuff!  The highlight of Sunday for Michael was finding out Uno's Chicago Grill has GLUTEN FREE PIZZA- yes, you guessed it!  He was super excited about this find!!!  And we went there for lunch and it was better than he even imagined!  :)  This has been his first pizza that he hasn't had to make himself in 3 years!!!!  We also browsed through some outlets and then tried to find a Half Price bookstore.  It was fun to see a new area and spend time together before a baby and busy semester start.  Michael started classes on Tuesday and thankfully today, he had a snow day so he could be home with me.  I spent my snow day trying to bake some meals and goodies to freeze to use after the baby comes. 

The Rocking Chair

The dark brown rocking chair that we moved from our room to the baby's room used to belong to my parents. I love this chair!  I took it with me to college and was in our little dorm room and then took it when I got married!  Not only is this chair comfy but has many fond memories.  My mom rocked us kids in that chair and I just remember that chair sitting in our living room and many times being rocked or rocking in the chair!!  So I am hoping to use it to do lots of rocking with the children the Lord may give to us.

Baby's Room

After many frustrating weeks of careful searching, we finally found a crib and dresser/changing table for the Baby Lyons' room.  It seems that the price of furniture is outrageous these days and we were so thankful to find this discontinued model at Burlington and that it was a great price too!  So now we are feeling a little more ready for Baby Lyons' arrival though the doctor things it will probably still be a few weeks- but who knows! 

We were thankful to find the lions/jungle bedding at a store called Once Upon A Child near us that has great used furniture and kids clothing!!!

Yes, Michael is sharing a room with the baby- they will be study buddies today.  He may even try to teach him Hebrew at a young age and is already contemplating when he can start teaching the little guy.  :)  We are so thankful for the cradle the Wojnickis let us and we have put that in our room in the corner. 

A shower of many blessings!

This past Saturday, my mother and father-in-law masterfully organized and planned a sweet baby shower!  I was so blessed from many women from our church (women I don't even know that well yet)!  My mentor from college, Meredith Irving, even drove down from Cedarville with her two girls.  We had a great time!!!

Grandma Renner knitted a small blanket for baby and a big blanket for me!  They were beautiful!  We feel so blessed by all the provisions God has given for Baby Lyons.  Even today we received in the mail another blessing which was a reminder to us of God's provision!  Through these past few months we have seen the Lord provide, be our strength in weakness and provide our "daily bread."  Truly!!!  We have been blessed by the saints near and far who have given of themselves and their resources to bless us!

This past Sunday, Michael also taught Sunday School and did an excellent job at explaining the background of the Beatitudes- "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."  Michael challenged us that only when we are truly broken before God with no resources to give- only then can we truly depend and treasure Christ and focus on the Kingdom of heaven and not of this earth!  One gentleman in the class asked how can we truly live these Beatitudes- when are we totally dependent on Christ?  Michael challenged us that only by focusing on Christ are we changed!  We change by beholding Him!  At the end of the class, I was in tears thinking about Christ and what it means to be solely dependent on Him!  I am always amazed at how much God teaches me through my husband!!!

This weekend- we are headed for a little getaway to where else- our own city- mainly because we can't stray too far from the hospital but we are looking forward to getting away from the business and even baby things and focusing on Christ and spending some good quality "us" time before Baby Lyons comes.  I sure hope he doesn't want to come this weekend.  We are grateful for this gift of time together!

Some pics from the shower!!!

An Update- January 2011

It has been awhile since we have sent you all an update from our end here in Cincinnati.  We are thankful to the Lord for this new year and all that the Lord will do and how He will grow and stretch us in this coming year!  We are about a month away from welcoming Baby Lyons to our family and we are praying the Lord continues to prepare us for this transition and grows and strengthens us as we welcome this little one to our home. 

We praise God for how He has provided for us in such tangible ways throughout the Christmas season and the many sweet baby gifts we have received.  We know and are confident that God graciously provides through His people!  We praise God that the Lord has provided a job for Michael beginning in January at the Hebrew Union Library!  We think this will be a great fit for him as it is VERY flexible and he can work up to 20 hours if he needs to.  We are also still waiting to hear from a Retirement home that would hire Michael to drive the residents to different doctor appointments.  He could also work some Security for them as well.  Erin is hoping to continue to nanny up until the end of January.  We praise God the baby is growing well and that she is still able to work and watch these kids.  We know the Lord is still intricately weaving together our son in her womb and we are confident in His perfect timing for his arrival. 

Another big praise was that Michael received and earlier appointment (from Feb. 7 to Jan. 5) to see an osteoporosis bone specialist in Cincy.  His appointment on Wednesday went well and they are currently doing blood work to determine why his lower back has not been absorbing calcium and why it appears to be a 75 year old back.  The doctor told him things he should avoid and he will need to be careful lifting the baby with the car seat.  We praise God that He used a kidney stone and a wise family doc to find this in his lower back.  He will be taking calcium supplements and walking to try to build the bone back while they determine what is causing this problem, then they can treat it more systematically.  Thanks for your prayers in this area for him! 

Rejoicing in a new year to trust in Him more!

1 month from today!

It is hard to believe that in one month- roughly almost 4-5 weeks, Lord willing, we will be meeting our little guy face to face.  Though this fills me with joy and anxiousness for that day- it often fills me with fear and just nervousness at this unknown new season of life that lies ahead of us.  Michael and I have both been realizing the reality that our time together, these first sweet years as a couple is brief and coming to a new chapter.  We are excited and have waited to add this little one to the family but we know too that our lives will never be the same again!  And so for this next month, we are trying to prepare ourselves for this baby and spending time reflecting and praising God for all He has taught these 5 years of marriage! 

Hard to believe our little Lyon is a few weeks away from his big day.  I am realzing throughout this whole pregnancy- my utter need to entrust this life to the Lord.  I find how easy it is for me to worry and be anxious- is he moving enough- is he OK in his little sac?  And yet our Sovereign Creator God sees what we cannot and this helps me to trust Him knowing He has a plan and He is Good and All Knowing and Sovereign!  Little Lyon- we pray that you would come to know this Sovereign God who is knitting you together even now and sustains and protects your life!  One of the funny things I am just hoping about him is that he has hair!!!  I know that sounds funny- but I just love hair- I love Michael's hair and I hope our baby has hair too- but I'll still take him if he is bald.  :)

On another note, we praise God that Michael had an appointment yesterday for his back- and that that got moved up a month!  He is meeting with a top specialist in Cincinnati and he is working to find out why Michael has a 75 year old back at 28.  He is getting some labs and blood work and beginnging to take calcium in hopes to build up his bone density!  We praise God that He allowed Michael a kidney stone this fall to find that it was calcium based and that he had such a wise family doctor to even think about getting a bone scan. And thankfully God has protected Michael's back these last few years from any fractures.  Praise God for His provision!!!!