The Lyons Den: December 2013

Christmas Rumblings from the Lyons Den

Christmas 2013, Hebrew Union, Cincinnati, Ohio

Looking Back…
• In January, Jeremiah enjoyed playing in the snow, the little boy was always on the go.
• In February, Jeremiah had his two-year-old party, and on the 18th- we welcomed our sweet little Lydia Eliah with joy and glee!
• In March, we sleeplessly adjusted to life with two: Jeremiah also broke into the “terrible twos.”
• In April, Lydia was excited to say she had a girl cousin- Anna (born to Ben & Laura Lyons)- yay!
• In May, we enjoyed visiting with the Proctors, our sweet friends, as we journeyed to the land of Lake Michigan. We also took a family overnight to a Christian retreat: The Springs, a refreshing place for us to stay…until Michael threw out his back for the next 5 weeks- oh yay!
• In June, Erin enrolled Jeremiah into boot camp: what began was a journey of ups and downs of how to use the potty—complete with M&M candy (his mommy might have snuck some too!)
• In July, we enjoyed a fun vacation with Erin’s family to the Great Smokies. After Jeremiah tossed his cookies on the Dragon’s Tale (11 miles of switch back road), we arrived and had a wonderful week: hiking, swimming and—in any vacation with little kids—little sleep. But we loved the week!
• In August, Jeremiah switched to a big bed fairly easily and Lydie became his “official” roomie, though sometimes for the sanity for all involved she sleeps overnight in the living room happily.
• In September, we celebrated 8 years of marriage and Michael enjoyed teaching a Pentateuch class at church and began a semester of teaching Hebrew to his students at Hebrew Union.
• In October, Erin watched Katy through the fall for two days a week. We were thankful to Michael’s parents for watching J-man for an overnight outing to celebrate our anniversary.
• In November, we traveled to PA for Michael to go to some academic conferences, while Erin visited family, throwing a Retirement Party for her dad with her family.
• In December, we are enjoying the lights and time with family- and choosing to focus on Christ- the Word became flesh as a tiny baby.

Year’s Reading Recommendations…
From Michael: Out of the Silent Planet and Perelandra, Lewis; Life Together, Bonhoeffer; The Trellis and the Vine, Marshall and Payne; Future Men, Wilson; Ancient Near Eastern History and Culture, Stiebing; From Paradise to the Promised Land, Alexander; On Marriage and Family Life, Chrysostom.

From Erin: When Sinners Say I Do, Harvey; Desperate, Mae and Clarkson; Mimosa, Carmichael; Fit to Burst, Jankovic; Toilet Training in Less Than A Day, Azrin and Foxx. *We also have enjoyed listening to Focus on the Family Radio Theatre: Chronicles of Narnia.

From Jeremiah: A Treasury of Curious George, Margret and H.A. Rey; Favorite Parables from the Bible- Butterworth and Inkpen; The Big Picture Story Bible, Helm; Green Eggs & Ham, Dr. Seuss; Richard Scarry’s Cars and Trucks and Things That Go.

From Lydia: Any book I can put in my mouth right now…

On Our Minds This Past Year…
This year, we thank the Lord for his many blessings in giving us a sweet daughter, Lydia, and giving us grace to adjust to a new baby. We are thankful for how God has provided for us in innumerable ways. School: In May, Michael finished his last bit of coursework at Hebrew Union (HUC)! Since then he has been preparing for “comprehensive exams” which take place May 2014. These exams include 3 all-day exams in Hebrew Bible, Ugaritic, and Akkadian. God willing, after he passes those, he will then devote all his energy to his dissertation alone. We especially would ask for prayer as these exams come closer. Pray for wisdom too as he narrows down his dissertation topic. Jobs: Michael is still employed at the HUC Library, but this fall he has also taught a graduate Hebrew grammar class at HUC. In addition, he enjoys working part-time at our church, Evangelical Community Church, in the areas of discipleship and Christian education. This fall he has worked on preparing a new small group ministry at the church. Erin remains “working” at home with Jeremiah and Lydia and enjoys watching Katy (a friend’s daughter from HUC) two days a week. Church: Aside from his job responsibilities, Michael has enjoyed teaching this fall a class on how to read and apply better the Pentateuch as Christians. We both have enjoyed growing friendships within the church and loved our Sunday evening fellowship gatherings this summer and fall. Erin helps in the nursery and enjoys attending the Thursday Morning Moms group at church as well. This fall she enjoyed hosting different people from church a few times a month as well as the small group leaders twice a month. Children: Jeremiah will soon be 3 in February! He has become a very busy, energetic little boy. He loves reading books, especially Curious George! He enjoys playing with his trucks and trains, even having them “talk” to each other now. He loves to run, jump, play with friends, sing and dance. (He loves singing, the “Doxology” and “Jesus Loves Me,” at the top of his lungs.) He likes building train tracks and wrestling with Daddy, as well as help Mommy cook. And he is beginning the stage of questions, like asking “What is that?” to everything he sees. Lydia is 10 months. She loves to watch her big brother and tries to grab and reach things, but still no crawling yet. She loves to chew on everything- but still no teeth yet. She loves to smile, babble “dada” and clap her hands. Though at times she lets us know what she thinks, she is a sweet happy girl!

New Ways God May Grow Us This Upcoming Year…
We thank the Lord for His blessings to us this past year! We praise God for sweet Lydia and the joy she is to our family! We are praying for Michael as he prepares especially in the final months before his comprehensive exams in May, while having a lot to balance in life. Pray for Erin too as we go through this stressful season of exams, as she nourishes and cares for our children each day. As we inch closer to the final phase of our time at HUC, please join us in praying for whatever might lay ahead after HUC. In our broader family, we are looking forward to a new nephew sometime in May as Erin’s sister is expecting a baby. We praise God for his help in providing for our every need and praying He will continue to guide us in this coming new year for His glory!

Seeing and Savoring Christ in Christmas…
Writing and reading Christmas letters are often a time of sharing together in the brief selected moments that our families want to share. It is far too easy to paint a picture of how we want our family to be perceived by others. Perhaps it’s time to admit that life does not always go the way we envision or project—year after year we face new (or old) struggles within our families and within ourselves. This Christmas, join us as we celebrate the fact that the gospel announcement of Jesus was meant for real people like us—not those plastic pictures we paint of ourselves in letters or posed pictures. Join our family in cherishing the great news that God is working in Christ to make us new, while also working to restore his kingdom through Christ to make the entire world new. It is to that day our family is longing for, hoping in, and persevering with the rest of the people of God. Join us in this hope as we strive together each day to be more and more satisfied in the glory of God in Jesus Christ. Pray for us in this endeavor, as we are praying for you too.

Treasuring Christ,
Michael, Erin, Jeremiah and Lydia Lyons