Christmas
Rumblings from the Lyons Den
Christmas 2017, Cincinnati, Ohio
Looking Back…
- In
January, (and every month afterward!) we worked on renovating an apartment
beside us to double our living space, as we awaited an addition to our
family.
- In
February, we celebrated birthday month with a birthday bash- Ocean theme,
Jeremiah turned 6, Lydia turned 4 and Josiah 2.
- In
March, we went to Louisville for a winter retreat with the Senior High to
our old stomping grounds, Southern Seminary, and a visit to Faith
Community Church.
- In
April, we enjoyed the arrival of spring which means the start of campfire
season in our parking lot—the neighbors know we’re crazy...
- In
May, we welcomed Joel Isaiah to our family; he came Memorial weekend after
Erin almost had him while strawberry picking with friends.
- In
June, we were thankful (actually, desperate) for help with the four;
Erin’s mom came to stay and rounding up this crew was quite a chore.
- In
July, we decided our fish needed a place to swim and so we joined the YMCA
for summer pool time, while also Jeremiah and Lydia took lessons at CHPC Swim
Ministry.
- In
August, we enjoyed a visit with Erin’s family to northern Michigan. We
enjoyed a mountain resort, biked around Mackinac Island, and (endlessly)
heard Michael’s memories of Michigan as a child vacationing there.
- In September, Jeremiah began first grade with Mommy homeschooling, Lydia enjoyed Preschool and Josiah played at the train table happily.
- In October, Jeremiah enjoyed raking and playing in the leaves- some sweet friends paid the kids to haul black walnuts and they did it with glee! Jeremiah played soccer with the YMCA running off his energy each week. (He never ran out…)
- In November, we found that Michael’s dissertation could soon come to an end (possibly this Spring!), if he can just get some writing finished by the time January ends.
- In December, we are enjoying baking, caroling, lights and all that Christmas brings- getting ready to celebrate the birth of Baby Jesus. Can our little Joel be six months already?
- Year’s Reading Recommendations…
-
So, let’s just admit it: this is Michael’s favorite part of the letter. He sits anxiously trying to decide just which books to recommend…and if it were up to him, he would fill this whole letter with books. (Pray for Erin.) Here’s this year’s list:From Erin: Learning Contentment, Wilson; The Life Giving Home, Clarkson; The Charlotte Mason Companion (still working on this one!), Andreola; and all the books our kids read. JFrom Michael: The Vanishing American Adult, Sasse; Bunker Hill, Philbrick; Silas Marner, Eliot; One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, Solzhenitsyn; The Weight of Glory, Lewis; Uncomfortable, McCracken; Letters to Saint Olympia, Chrysostom; Wise Counsel: John Newton’s Letters to John Ryland Jr, ed. Gordon; Thomas Aquinas, Turner.From Jeremiah: every Sunday afternoon, Daddy reads The Chronicles of Prydain, Alexander, to him (we’re on book 3); Mr. Popper’s Penguins, Atwater; Charlotte’s Web, White; Owls in the Family, Mowat; Usborne Greek Myths, Amery & Edwards; Watership Downs, Adams; Homer Price, McCloskey; Henry Huggins, Cleary; Peter Pan, Barrie.
- From Lydia: Beatrix Potter: the Complete Tales, Potter (loves to listen to the audio books); Winne the Pooh (audio books); Aesops Fables, Winter.From Josiah: Corduroy- Freeman (he loves to read this book and hug his Corduroy bear afterward); Going On A Bear Hunt and any Richard Scarry booksFrom Joel: “People barely read to me- this house is so busy! Anyone want to come read to me?!?!”On Our Minds this Past Year…This year, we are thankful for a new addition to our family, baby Joel, born May 27th. We are thankful for God’s sustaining grace in raising these 4 little ones and helping us each day, giving us wisdom to know how to train them to love Christ above all else! We are also thankful that Michael’s dad graciously agreed to us expanding our living space to a joining apartment, giving us extra rooms and space for a school/play room and enabling us to host people more comfortably. The Lord has taught us more to trust Him, lean into Him and rely on Him this year. The Lord has been teaching Erin what it means to renew her mind daily and also to take every thought captive to Christ. God is graciously showing both of us the idols of our heart and stripping them away until we are satisfied in Him alone. He reminds us that when we are weak, He is strong.News from the Lyons’ Den…The Parents: Michael enjoys serving as the Minister of Discipleship at our church, where he teaches Sunday School and assists in preaching at times, while he supervises family ministries staff and adult discipleship. He also continues to teach adjunct at Hebrew Union College. At least once a week, he also plugs away writing his dissertation and tentatively hopes he may graduate this June (not certain, but hopeful!). Erin’s days became just a tad busier when little Joel joined our den in May. She spends her time homeschooling Jeremiah and Lydia this year, while trying to maintain order in the home. She and the kids enjoy co-op on Wednesdays where she teaches the Preschool Art class. In the midst of our busy family, she finds peace in running/walking, hiking, getting out with friends, hospitality, mowing, gardening and doing any yard work she can get her hands on (she would much rather be outside in God’s beautiful creation!). She enjoys studying James once a month with the Youth Girls and is in a ladies Bible Study this year studying the book of John.Kids: We once had great ideas about parenting. Then we had four kids. Now, we are daily humbled by the challenges in raising children. Leaning in on the gospel, we are relying on God and thankful for each of our precious children. Jeremiah is 6. He enjoys first grade as reading is beginning to come easier for him. He is very curious and loves exploring creation: e.g. digging (always) in Erin’s garden! His favorite class at co-op is Wacky Wild Animals and Lego club (don’t forget playing Sharks and Minnows with his friends!). Jeremiah loves people and makes new friends at any playground. He tried playing soccer this fall and is attempting to play basketball with Upward this winter. Jeremiah has a soft heart to the Lord and is very quick to help mop, wash dishes, vacuum and do various other chores. Oh, and Jeremiah loves to talk. A lot. Lydia is 4. She loves playing “house” and playing with dolls and princesses. She loves to dress up and look “beautiful.” And she loves dates with Daddy to get a donut (pink icing with sprinkles, of course). This year, she has become so helpful with baby Joel- we joke that Joel thinks she is the Mom. J Josiah is 2. He is potty training (didn’t you want to know that?), loves playing with trains and with his siblings (basically he follows along!). He also is a wrestler extraordinaire with Daddy. He loves to read, build things, and loves to sing as well (esp. a good rendition of “Goodnight Ladies…”). He has learned how to smile for pictures and his voice has transformed from a whisper to speaking sentences with a normal voice this year. Joel is now 6 months. Although he cried a lot the first couple months, he has now become a sweet, contented little baby. He loves to flash smiles at unsuspecting people, squeak like a squirrel, and pretend he is skydiving on the floor. He does not like to be left alone: the more the merrier, he believes. He also is in love with all the teen girls at church. He just learned how to eat baby food and is chowing down!Seeing and Savoring Christ in Christmas…Another Christmas letter has come to the end. Our lives keep moving on. Yet through it all, the Messiah Jesus remains sure, steadfast, immoveable. The great story of the people of God still culminates in the birth of Jesus, with the life, death, and resurrection transforming us all. This true story invites us in to see and savor the King, the one who is and was and evermore will be. Keep praying for us to cherish our King Jesus above all things…and know that we will be praying for you too.Treasuring Christ,Michael, Erin, Jeremiah, Lydia, Josiah and Joel Lyons5684 Colerain Avenue Apt. 3, Cincinnati, OH 45239
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