By Happy New Year! We had a very busy Christmas season here at Lydia’s House and much merriment was had by all. We launched into Christmas with our annual Christmas Party. This year we hosted at the Red Balloon Cafe and Play Space in Pleasant Ridge. It was great to gather with former guests and volunteers to ring in the season! We started the night off with some lively Christmas carol singing and filling our bellies with delicious Mazunte tacos and desserts. After dinner, the kids were able to enjoy the play space and the adults had fun playing Christmas themed
Christmas Card Making
Warm Holiday Greetings from the Lydia’s House Community! It has been a special season of Advent at Lydia’s House. Amidst sneaky shoe filling on St. Nick’s Day, weekly Advent themed story telling, candle lighting, and prayer. We are happy to share that we also made some time for community crafting. This year we got craftsy with our Christmas Card, giving the kids a special chance to share their creativity with you! Our fingertips in a flurry, we let them sprint over the tops of Christmas cards in assembly line fashion. Gold here, purple there, a touch of blue between, with
Second Annual Trip to Family Camp
In early August, a group of 19 Lydia’s House guests, staff and family members journeyed north to London, OH to attend Procter Center’s family camp for the second summer in a row. Procter Camp is a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio and offers a place for kids and families to grow in faith, learn, and play together. For many, it was a first “camping” experience and offered a chance to try new things, escape the city and enjoy peaceful farmland scenery. We started each day with music and a daily story led by the Chaplain and
A Lydia’s House Christmas Party
Survey the scene: grown-ups, children, Chipotle, presents, desserts of all shapes and sizes. It’s a joyful occasion, when former guests, current guests, volunteers, and staff come together to celebrate. Behold the joyful melee! Baby’s first Christmas! Delight! We ate our fill, played games, and gratefully received gifts. This child was screaming with happiness about the shoes she received, but we couldn’t get a picture of it. Use your imagination! This Starbucks giftcard will be put to good use by this coffee lover (the adult, not the toddler!). A sassy play-mat for a juicy baby! Stayin’
Waiting with Joy: Advent Crafts!
December evenings may be chilly and dark, but Lydia’s House is glowing with holiday cheer. I’ve never heard so many spontaneous outbreaks of caroling! We have been observing the season of advent by praying together, lighting candles, and making holiday crafts. ORNAMENTS I bought some pom-poms, raided the craft closet, and opened up many pinterest tabs on my phone. It was ornament-making day! But once the kids got hold of the colored paper and tacky-glue, all plans were abandoned. And, of course, their creations were delightful! They made little books, abstract sculptures, and yarn puffballs. The children at work.