Dallas TX- Joseph & Amber Proctor's Wedding

Also in Dallas Texas the beginning of August, we were able to visit Dallas Seminary and drive briefly into downtown Dallas.  We were in Dallas mainly to celebrate the union of Joseph & Amber Proctor who were joined in marriage on August 7^th.  Michael enjoyed being the best man for Joseph who was our best man in our wedding.  The wedding was beautifully honoring to Christ and it was neat to meet Amber for the first time.  Out trip to Dallas, would not be complete without going to Texas Roadhouse one night and then visiting with Jeremy & Bethany Williamson.  Bethany made us an amazing brunch on Sunday morning.  We enjoyed our HOT stay in Dallas but we definitely were glad to be away from Dallas’s crazy roads.  The highway system was out of this world- we were definitely glad to leave Dallas and their roadways.

 

The Lyons' Cub- Baby Boy!

We found out on Tuesday, September 14th that God has graciously blessed us with a bouncing baby boy!! I am about 19 weeks and was so thankful to see a healthy developing baby on the ultrasound! My due date is February 6, 2011. After my miscarriage a year ago, with this pregnancy I have proceeded with great caution trying to be careful that I do not place my hope in this child but that my hope would be in God! We are so thankful to the Lord for this blessing knowing that He forms life and He can choose to give and to take. We hold this child loosely in our hands knowing the Lord is giving him to us for a season and we pray that He would grow to love and serve the Lord. As it is hard to know what we were to expect- Michael & I both are thrilled but also challenged at the responsibility in raising a son. We pray that God would prepare us in the next few months to be godly parents and that we would love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength! Pray that the Lord would help to prepare us!

Psalm 139:15-16- “My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in the secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them.”

Visiting Friends in Dallas

Well, I am still updating about our Dallas trip last month-  we arrived in Dallas and visited our dear friends Josh & Amy Jensen and baby Becca.  They graciously made us a wonderful meal on Thursday night and we enjoyed talking with them and seeing baby Becca for the first time.  Josh & Michael enjoyed talking about their linguistic aspects and different areas in Scripture- I couldn't keep track of all they were talking about.  We praise God for how great baby Becca is doing after Amy delivered her at 27 weeks of her pregnancy.  Erin was also able to go back on Friday while Michael spent time with Joseph and have some more time with Amy! 

Here in Cincinnati- we are still praying and trusting that the Lord would give us jobs and teach us during this season more about trust.  I am realizing how easy I can wake up thinking about worry and jobs and what I could do for a job when I need to be reminded of the faithfulness of God and how He has and He will provide for our needs.  Just this Saturday as Michael was helping a lady move- they found a vaccume for $5.00 at a yard sale and all that is broke is the belt- which is $5.00 and it is a $300 Hoover wind tunnel!  Praise God as we did not even have $100 to fix this vaccume or buy a new one.  :)  The Lord really does provide even for little things!  Thanks for praying for us in Cincinnati land!  :)

Trip to Branson, Dallas & Memphis- Beginning of August

As I am still going back in time- we tried to pack all our belongings in our little apartment before we headed to Branson, MO for vacation and on to a wedding. My aunt and uncle own an amazing condo in Branson, MO and so we headed there for a brief vacation amidst all the packing and moving plans. We were surprised to see them when we pulled up to the condo and had a great visit with them that evening. One word to describe our time in Branson- HOT!!!! We could barely go outside it was in the 100s and Michael had a bad case of poison ivy so he was told to stay in the cool. I did venture to the pool in the mornings and we went to some shops but we decided the shows were a little too pricy for us. It still was a quiet relaxing time together. I was able to read through the book- Baby Wise. I have never gotten so many comments sitting at a pool on this one book from moms everywhere- it was very comical.

Dear Friends

And before we left we got together with a few special friends.


Justin & Bonnie Myers invited us for dinner one night and it was soooo good! Bonnie is an expert cook and her meal was so delicious. I already miss seeing her at work every day.


Greg & Julie Schwab also had us over for dinner with baby Addie of course. We have been so blessed by the Schwabs and their humble servant’s heart and love for the Lord. The Lord graciously laid on their hearts a year ago to give away their car and we were the glad beneficiaries of their Honda. We think of them often when we drive the Honda and though Julie and I only saw each other once a month- I already miss her sweet encouragement and challenge to me to be more like Christ!

Saying Goodbye to our Small Group & Faith Community Church

Well, we already miss these dear people sooo much but here are some pictures of our beloved Small Group at Faith Community Church before we left. Even now we are praying that the Lord would provide for us a body of believers in Cincinnati that we can be a part of. We are so thankful that the Lord allowed us to grow with this group for nearly 2 years.




We have been visiting a few churches in the area but are still praying for wisdom to know what body to be a part of- that is one of our big prayer requests right now in Cincinnati.

We also were privileged to have dinner with our pastor and his wife- Aaron & Stephanie Wojnicki. We miss them so much and realize being away from Faith how thankful we were the Lord led us to go with that church plant. The first Sunday we were going, I wanted to go grab some children to sit on my lap as Kate Wojnicki would always sit on my lap or sit beside me at church and I miss her.

Back in Time

As we are unpacking and getting settled I feel like I have not blogged so much of our moving adventure.  So I am attempting to go back in time to when we moved and even before in Louisville- the friends that were so gracious to us.  We had 2 different work teams- one was co-workers from the Seminary and others was our small group from church- how thankful we are for these people!  Both teams helped us paint and clean and get the apartment ready to move in!  After moving all our boxes, I am so glad we do not have to paint now!  We sure do miss these precious friends in Louisville!!!

Thanks to co-workers Matt & Erin Joiner, Jessica Gardner, Anne Marrs & Ken & Mary Jo O'Barr & Jim & Susan Williamson!!

You guys are sooo great and worked so hard and every day I am so thankful for all your help!

Packing Up the Old Apartment

I am hoping to post some pictures from our last several weeks as I have been very behind on the blogging world.  Here are some pictures of our packing before we left...

A Few Things Friday...

We have almost lived in Cincinnati for one week now and I wake up each morning thinking what I am doing in this city.  My mom spent Sunday to Thursday visiting and helping me unload all the things we have collected in a one bedroom apartment.  She was a great help and I enjoyed her company.

A few things I have noticed about my new home...
1.  Trash seems to find itself everywhere.  I am continually picking up Cheetos wrappers and other items off our front lawn- how oh how do they get there?
2.  The other morning I went walking with my weights and a woman stopped me on the street and insisted on trying my weights- I hesitantly held onto them thinking she might steal them and then slowly let her hold them- very interesting experience.
3.  There ar eso many different areas of Cincinnati- I just can't keep track of all the different "communities" in this city.
4.  We had our first experience with the Jews- Hebrew Unionites- most being rabbis.  They all were very nice and have quite a community there but have interesting cookout options- Hebrew National hotdogs and Kosher hamburgers.  Thankfully Michael did not bring any ham sandwiches with him to lunch- he does not want to offend them. 
5.  Michael passed his Hebrew exam today!!!  I am so proud of him- it was by a professor that is very intimidating- the downside is when Michael told some graduate students the four language classes he was taking this semester- their expressiosn were not too positive- oh I hope I get to see my husband this semester!  :)  Or will I loose him to the world of the Jews. 

I'm hoping to pick up the blog again soon and will post more pictures of our move and our new place. 

Moving Week

It is moving week here in the Lyons' Den and that means we are packing up our little one bedroom apartment and headed to Cincinnati (across the river) on Friday, August 13th.  It is hard to believe we only have 2 more nights in our dear little home.  We will miss our apartment and Louisville so much. Erin is busy finishing up and training her replacement at work and helping with Orientation one last time and Michael is headed up on Thursday for some interviews to Hebrew Union.  Friday we will pack the truck- anyone in Louisville is welcome to help at 10am.  And Saturday we will unload at the same time in our destination- Cincinnati.  Move pictures to come but our apartment is a mess.