Giving Thanks for Answered Prayers

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR: Healthy births for two first-time moms, L and D. S’s beautiful family, sweet new baby, and her new apartment. T’s healthy new baby, and her new apartment.   L’s safe transition to the Shanklin’s house. A’s transition to her own apartment through the Welcome Project. The Affordable Housing Trust Fund, created this year in the city of Cincinnati. All the generous donors that allowed Lydia’s House to acquire a building & develop affordable apartments.   The great success of the Women for Women event, and the ongoing friendship of the Krzeski Family. The enrichment provided by

Family Camp at Procter Center

We’d been talking about it for weeks. When Anne first suggested it at dinner back in June, every hand shot up: Yes! We want to go to camp! We filled out health forms. We pored over the packing list (yet still forgot a couple things). And then, last week, the day finally arrived. The minivan was fully loaded with duffel bags and campers. We took off! But first, we had to stop for lunch. For weeks, S had had a powerful pregnancy-craving for Chic-Fil-A. So that’s where we stopped. Gosh those fries are good. At the green and spacious Procter Center,

Field Trip to Gorman Heritage Farm

Here are some of the highlights from our excursion to Gorman Heritage Farm generously hosted by Kathy, a friend of Lydia’s House and one of the farm’s volunteers. Look at that!  One-year-old resident of Lydia’s House points to one of Gorman’s goats – a new mother of twins. Ever wonder where apples come from? Chickens might be a little scary when they’re not on your plate… …but rabbits are cute and fuzzy.  Can we take it home? Before we take a break for lunch, we stop to feed the little lambs. Our tour concludes with a riveting game of tic-tac-toe

Snapshots from the Summer

So far this summer, there have been several celebrations at Lydia’s House – multiple birthdays, as well as celebrations marking important milestones. We were thrilled to ring bells and offer affirmations of belovedness, recovery and moving forward. Of course, the celebrations meant the awarding of badges, including one with a Harry Potter theme. Our long term guest hit age 22 with a bang and we gave her the honor of “prefect” for all the ways she’s helped other guests learn the ropes around here. We also celebrated Sam Eilerman’s 4th birthday with carrot cake delivered from our local farmers, Erin

Welcome, Baby Jacob

On April 16, we welcomed Jacob Walker Eilerman at 9:50am, born via emergency c-section at Mercy Hospital Anderson. He weighed 8 pounds 3 oz and was 20 ½ inches long. When Jacob is a little stronger, he’ll have a regular place at the Lydia’s House table, and for a brief moment (before our next guest has her baby in mid-May) he’s the newest member of the Lydia’s House community. For the time being, I’m taking maternity leave, which means I’m editing the newsletter from home, fielding the occasional intake question, ruminating over bigger issues with Meridith over lunch, breastfeeding hourly,