Happy Thanksgiving 2014!

We enjoyed a great time with family today and are looking forward to my parents coming out to visit tomorrow!  We are so thankful for God's gracious hand which we have seen this past year!  Happy Thanksgiving from the Lyons' Den!

Tygart Lake Delp Family Fall Outing...

A month ago, we went on a Fall Family Outing with the Delp family to Tygart Lake in WV.  

We were desperately trying to find a place halfway that we could meet and enjoy some family fun!  The 2 cabins we stayed in were perfect and the setting was just what we all needed!  Even my brother's girlfriend Kelly came to join us!  We had lots of outdoor fun and relaxed and enjoyed each other's company!  It was about 5 hours for us and 4 for them and it was fun.

Lydia loved having her Pop-Pop around again- she misses him a lot!

Leaves...

Flashback Week:  This week I am trying to catch up on a few posts that I did not write or finish.  We are quickly moving from Fall to Winter and we wonder if it will be another rough winter!  Here are some pictures of the kids in a pile of leaves I raked up in our backyard.  Today it is windy and warm but the temperature is dropping.  In an attempt to take a walk with the kids before it turned cold- I checked the radar and headed out.  Needless to say- we caught in a HUGE downpour with winds very strong!  We were thankful to make it back but we were all SOAKED- guess I picked the WORST time of the day to take a walk- oh well!  I tried...

Thanksgiving Turkey...

Every year, we have tried to do a "Thankful" Dinner for our own family.  This was our 10th year making a turkey and sharing it with some friends.  This year- we invited two couples from our community group and it was a great evening.  Though it is a lot of working cooking a turkey all day! ;)  Jeremiah and I made little hand print turkeys in the morning and little pumpkin breads to give out to some of our friends and neighbors that we are thankful for!  We are trying to make a Thankful Tree painting and writing on the leaves the things that we are thankful for.  I  have struggled this year to feel "on top" of things- in fact, I don't feel on top of much at all!  But God's grace is sufficient allowing us time to do a few activities when we need the reminders!

This morning Michael preached at a church in our city and I decided to take the kids to our church- so we would not disrupt another congregation.  Our Sunday mornings usually are CRAZY.  Jeremiah is almost shouting out in the service- Lydia is screaming for something that I can't figure out and no matter how many activities I bring- they are not what Jeremiah chooses to do in the service!  So thankful this morning for sweet little girls to help me manage my 2 kids- not even that many!  At the end of the service- I found Jeremiah eating a Sunday lunch in the fellowship hall- someone had given him food and I had not planned on him staying for this particular meal.  At least we made it home in one piece- once we caught Lydia who now thinks it is funny to run from us.

 Our family night this week on Friday night consisted of playing a fishing game I had found at a yard sale- fun times!

Painting Pumpkins...

Snow in November?

 We woke up Monday morning to Snow- in November?  Jeremiah was so excited!!!  And Lydia well, she gets cold quickly!  She made me laugh so hard in her little suit- she looks like a little munchkin.

 And what do you do after you go sledding and play in the snow and all don't feel too well with colds- you sit with a snack on the couch and watch a show with Daddy.  

Happenings...

This year we have been so thankful for our Museum and Zoo passes!  It has been great to be able to take the kids out with friends to these two fun Cincinnati places!

After a long weekend with Michael planning a Fall Conference with Dr. Bruce Ware at our church- he took the day off yesterday and we headed to the museum as a family and to visit a friend who just adopted a little boy!  

It was refreshing to be together!  This weekend, the Lord worked to refresh both Michael and I on the teaching of the Glory of the Son!  We loved thinking about the Exalted Risen Son and how he came as an incarnate baby by the power of the Holy Spirit to conquer sin on our behalf so we can conquer sin by the power of the same Spirit Christ's used to conquer sin!  And it was amazing to think of the Son coming again in judgment to rule the nations and to execute judgement and to think that some day ALL will bow the knee to Christ!  We need these reminders for our day to day lives!

So I have to brag on Michael a bit- he did a great job organizing this conference- he took care of Dr. Ware and his family well- even sending flowers to his wife (who couldn't be with us.)  Dr. Ware told Michael that in all the places he has spoke- he had never been treated so well and for that we are thankful!  

Hiking...

Winter is coming... I feel the impending doom and gloom in the air- so what do we do?  Try to take advantage of these beautiful days by being outside, picnicking, having fires in the back and hiking!  

We have a nice little park near our home called Mt. Airy Forest that is perfect for an hour hike before dinner as it is just 5 minutes away.  Thankful for these few times we can hike together.

A Girl, Her Gooey and Cowey...

Lydia has 2 main possessions that she LOVES- her gooey as seen above- yes that is what she calls he lady bug pillow pet- Gooey... She sleeps with it, carries it around and it brings her much comfort when the day is not going well...

Her 2nd love is Cowey- cowey we won this summer when we dressed like cows at Chick-fil-A.  We won a basket with a huge cow- she loves it- she sleeps with it and carries it around.  What would we do without cowey...

And the third may be her pacifier- yes, she is pretty addicted.  We are trying to only let her have it at naps and bedtime but she would take it any moment of the day.  

That's Lydie and her 2 main loves at 20 months...