Ponderings

This past weekend, Michael allowed me to go to a counseling conference Friday night and Saturday morning at Clearcreek Chapel near Dayton, OH.  He did a great job taking care of Jeremiah, Grandma Lyons only helped him a little on Sat. morning.  I had a wonderful time getting to know better a few really neat couples at our church.  Lou Priolo was the speaker and it was encouraging to my heart to ponder some of the different topics he talked about- crippling fear, jealousy, envy, rash judgments and contentment. 

A few memorable things I walked away with from the conference:
*  Lou said that often in reformed circles, we often know and rely on the Sovereignty of God- but often it is the goodness of God that we question in times of fear, worry and anxiety.  I realized in my own heart, when I am struggling with fear or worry, often I am not trusting and relying on the Lord's goodness- oh I know He is in control of all things but I do not think upon the fact that He is good and His good for me is where He has placed me right now no matter what the circumstance.  Fear is sinful when it proceeds out of unbelief or distrust in God.
*  The second thing I took away with from the weekend was thinking about love vs. self.  He noted that fear is sinful when it is rooted in selfishness rather than love.  Love is giving, selfishness is taking.  I realized that one commonality of all sins is that is focused on self (me) and not loving another person.  What will happen if "I" loose my child or husband?  (fear)  Why can't "I" have a house right now? (jealousy)  When will "I" be able to have another child?  (contentment)  All these things focus on "ME" and keep me from loving my God and others selflessly.  All these things are a misplaced desire- I am desiring something ABOVE desiring God!  My prayer is that I would desire Christ above all else!
1 Corinthians 13:4-7-   Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
*  The third thing I have been thinking about lately is how sin can so easily take root in one's life.  John Owen's statement is true- "Be killing sin or it will be killing you."  Michael and I lately have had a wake up call in our marriage and own lives of the importance of killing sin and praying that God would keep us from temptation.  A week ago, we visited some friends dealing with the serious effect of sin that has damaged their family severely.  This has been a wake up call in our own lives to pray that God would be our focus and our love and that He would keep us from giving in to sin and not obeying Him.  I have realized again how Satan loves to prowl like a roaring lion seeking to devour esp. believers and their marriages.  It is a reminder to me to be sober, watchful and alert!  As much as we might think how could sin harden believing couples, we know it could happen to us if we are not submitting to the authority of the gospel and being alert and watchful.  And so my prayer lately- "O God, keep me reveling in the gospel and obedient and submissive to Your Word!"  I have been comforted in reading Psalm 139 that the Lord sees my friend and knows all of our ways.  The Lord is still on the throne and in control!

Under the Weather...

The past few days, Jeremiah has been feeling sickly.  He has had a runny nose, cough and on top of that I think he is getting more teeth!  Last night, he had a 102.5 temperature which is the worst I have seen in his little body.  So basically while daddy was gone working, we read books and snuggled.  I know the little boy is sick when all he wants to do is sit with me on the chair and lay his head on my shoulder.  So we rocked and sang some songs.  This morning, he would only sit on the floor and fuss and cry.  So in order to distract the little guy, I took him for a ride in the car and a walk in his stroller.  It seems to have worked because his spirits seem up.  Now we have heard news that Dad & Mom Lyons both have the stomach flu.  Hopefully, I am not next.  Even when the little man is sick, he still likes his moo-cow and was able to get out a little smile before we left.

Uncle Manny...

Last Friday night, our neighbor (from our Louisville apartment days) came for a visit.  He is studying at U of L to be a doctor and had an interview up in Cincinnati.  We secretly hope he would move to Cincy soon.  We would love to have him as a neighbor again.  Manny is our Ethiopian friend and cooked us an amazing Ethiopian dish when we were in Louisville- he is a good friend!  This was his first time meeting Jeremiah.  And he brought two very cute sweaters for Jeremiah as we all know Manny hates the cold weather- definitely not like Ethiopian weather!  All I have to say is Manny, you did a great job picking out the sweaters and we hope you can move to Cincy soon (hopefully!). 

Haircut...

On Monday, since Michael had off from school, I was able to get out for a little bit and do some errands I was needing to do without the little boy.  Needless to say when I got home, my little boy looked different.  Yes, my husband cut off his little curls in the back- he said he wanted him to look more like a boy.  He did a great job on the little trim, but I must admit- I miss those little curls in the back.  :)  Sarah Brown also came to visit and have dinner with us on Monday night.  We had pizza and she brought the root beer and a delicious box of Russel Stover chocolates- yum!  We always enjoy spending time with her! 

In other news, the stomach bug has struck our household- Michael is the current victim, we are praying that especially baby Jeremiah does not get it.

The Decision...

It has been a long few weeks in the Lyons' household as we have sought to make, for our family, a hard decision.  After praying, talking to friends and family and praying some more and talking together and basically Michael making the decision for our family- we have decided to go to Israel this summer with Jeremiah.  So we will be heading off around June 4th to go to Israel for 3 weeks, mainly staying in Jerusalem and traveling some around that area.  We will be touring with Hebrew Union Jerusalem elite faculty and staff and apparently seeing things most people may not see.  We don't know quite where we will be staying- possibly subleasing an apartment belonging to Hebrew Union Jerusalem.  After the 3 weeks, Jeremiah and I will head home (will need prayer support for this flight) and I will go to my parents for a week and then home for 2 weeks while Michael goes on a dig for 3 weeks.  We are excited to have made the decision but praying the Lord will give us grace as there will be a lot of stretching going on this summer (especially for me as I come home and stay 3 weeks with the little dude.)  But we are confident the Lord will stretch and grow us and give us grace and we feel this is a once in a lifetime opportunity esp. for Michael to further his studies. 

On another note, I am trying to start weaning of the little guy.  Right now we are in sippy cup boot camp.  Day #2 has not gone so well- he refused to learn how to suck the cup- he just chews on it.  I have given him breastmilk in the cup, juice, you name it.  As soon as I give it to him in a bottle, he takes it-crazy kid.  I have a feeling this little picky eater will give me a run for my money- I am already planning on him not being too good a the switch from breast milk to whole milk  Let the training begin...

Jeremiah 11 months

 Jeremiah just recently turned 11 months.  I cannot believe he is almost a year old!  It is hard to get good pictures of him anymore as he is soo busy. 

 Jeremiah's new favorite toy from Christmas is his push cart.  He pushes and pushes and pushes that thing around!  His new favorite game is to chase him as he is pushing the cart or to run away from him and yell "Ahhh!"  He also loves when I vacuum to follow me with his cart while I vacuum.

 Jeremiah has also started helping me with the dishes.  He really loves to stand on a chair and bang the spatula against the sink- at least it keeps him busy.

 During Christmas, Jeremiah started to push his bin of toys all around the circle in my parents house- through the kitchen, living room and dining room- taking his friends with him.  That pushing started the whole thing- now he pushes anything that will push.  What a funny little boy!  We just discovered yesterday that his top front tooth is coming in and I had been thinking the bottom ones were coming in first. 

Christmas in Cincinnati 2011

Jeremiah with Aunt Beka!

Jonathan sitting under the stuffed cats!

 December 31- the evening after we flew back to Cincinnati, we gathered with the Lyons' family to celebrate Christmas.  We were a little weary after not getting much sleep the night before, but enjoyed our time together.  Jonathan & Jeremiah loved being reunited again!  We had a delicious pot roast meal and yummy desserts and opened gifts.  Jeremiah & Jonathan got some neat gifts from their grandparents!  They got a few outfits and some nifty toys- like the Megablocks, a Noah's ark with animals that make noise, books and lots of attention!  They also got a drum from the Nicholsons!  We continued our celebration into the New Years.  Michael and I again for almost the 7th year in a row had a very uneventful New Year's Eve.  I was so tired, I even slept through the fireworks that went off at midnight!  We were thankful for the time to spend with the Lyons' family and thank them as they are very understanding of us going to York to celebrate Christmas all these years. 

Aunt Laura & Jeremiah

Playing swords with the wrapping paper rolls!

Jeremiah and the Noah's Ark!

Fun Aunt Beka with Jeremiah!

They love their gifts!

Decisions, Decisions...

This week we ask you to pray for us as we are taking the week to pray over the trip to Israel.  We need to try to make a decision by Monday.  We are feeling the pressure and trying to ask people to pray and asking advice and trying to get as much info as we can.  The decision, whether we should go to Israel this summer with Hebrew Union.  IF we go, Michael will go for 6 weeks and I will possibly either go for 3 weeks in June by myself with him and leave the baby with my parents.  I am sure if we decide this it will be harder on me and maybe my parents than even Jeremiah.  Or... do I take this little tike across the ocean to Israel for 3 weeks and what will that look like.  We met yesterday with a professor who is taking his almost 3 year old with his wife.  For some reason, this decision has been so hard for me.  Either way,  I have a feeling the Lord will really teach me about TRUST in HIM this summer as either way I will be stretched and our family will be apart for some time as I would come back after Jerusalem and Michael will go on an archeological dig for 3 weeks.  The other day I was struck with the fact that am I making this decision based on what is easier for me or my whole family- so I am trying to think that through.  :)  I love to travel but somehow being a mom now makes decisions so much more difficult.  Please pray for us as we make this decision this week! 

Christmas In York, PA!

We flew to York PA on Christmas Eve day.  We were a little nervous about Jeremiah’s plane flight since he is so active and will barely sit on my lap anymore. He was a trooper!  He loved crawling after all the kids he saw in the airport and he loved to push his umbrella stroller all throughout the airport.  This trip was a good test for me on being flexible with his schedule as I can be a very strict scheduler with myself and him.  We enjoyed going to COD’s Christmas Eve Service and then to church on Sunday.  It was fun to visit with my family and relatives.  Sunday night we had Christmas with the Delp family.  Monday we went to visit relatives in Philadelphia and my grandma who gave Jeremiah a special bear that sings Jesus Loves Me.  Tuesday night we had dinner over at Mike & Rachel’s place and they cooked us a great meal and we played a game!  The rest of the week, I hung out a lot with my sister and mom going shopping and doing girl stuff- Friday we had our nails done and went to lunch. 

We also got to spend time with some sweet friends- we got to visit Josh & Amy Jensen and Becca and visit the Sutter family.  We loved spending time with the Jensens though we all were struggling with colds.  I had fun going out with the girls- Angie Martin & Laura LaQuay on Wed. night.  We also got to visit with Fred King and Rob & Sara Fillmann and Eric and Kirsten.  It is always fun to hang out with them and Sara I always wish we lived closer!  I just love you so much and am looking forward to reading The Praying Life!  And Friday night, we celebrated Rachel’s birthday and visited with my high school teachers- Paul & Barb Adams.  On Saturday, when we headed home, we were so exhausted from a week of busyness and not sleeping well as Jeremiah had been waking up and we had colds.  We were so thankful for the time in York and Jeremiah definitely enjoyed being with his Pop-pop and Mom-mom and his Auntie Rachel, Uncle Mike, Uncle Josh and Uncle Jonathan.  We were very very blessed this Christmas for Michael to receive from my parents, Bible Works- a software program that he greatly needed for school!  We were so thankful for this surprise gift among many others! 

Look I got batteries for all my toys!

Aunt Rachel got me a lion hat- but I think daddy likes it better than me!

Jeremiah's great mom-mom with his bear!

Amy and Becca Jensen!

Josh and Amy Jensen and sweet Becca!

Uncle Mike & Aunt Rachel got me my very own baseball and bat- in training early!

Visiting with Fred King & Rob & Sara Fillmann & Eric & Kirsten

Not only was Jeremiah in training- maybe Michael was as well!

Celebrating Rachel's birthday before we left!