Lydia Joy was born at 5:31 p.m. on Monday, March 23rd. She weighed 9 pounds, 5 ounces.
We couldn’t have asked for anything different with a wonderful home delivery (we’re grateful for our amazing midwife). Mommy and Baby are doing great!
Anna Marie and I spent a lot of time talking and praying about Lydia’s name. For me, talking about baby names has been something enjoyable these past few years when a little one was on the way. Anna Marie, on the other hand, so enjoys thinking about baby names she has been doing it since she was a little girl. We love the name Lydia Joy for a number of reasons. First, Lydia in the Bible was a woman who loved God, worshipped Him, served Him, worked hard, and was hospitable (Acts 16:14, 40). A literal translation from the Greek for Lydia means travail, implying hard work. Joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit that should be prevalent in the life of a follower of Jesus, and we felt it was a perfect middle name for Lydia. And as many of you know, she does share a middle name with her cousin Susannah Joy who, eight years ago today, entered into the fullness of joy living in the presence of Jesus Himself!
Our prayer is that Lydia Joy will be one whose joyful spirit is a testimony of her love for Jesus as she diligently works at the tasks the Lord gives her.
“Serve the LORD with gladness: come before His presence with singing.” (Psalm 100:2)
Thank you for your prayers, and we covet your continued prayer support as we seek God’s grace to raise these little ones in the nurture and admonition of the Lord! Parenthood is delightful, amazing, fun, and challenging–we’re loving it!
Rejoicing in His mercy,
Christopher and Anna Marie



“And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple,
of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us:
whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended
unto the things which were spoken of Paul.”
Acts 16:14
Beautiful baby and beautiful name! I am blessed by the thought and meaning that went into choosing her name … and also by your description of parenthood. 🙂 Congratulations!!
Aww! She is precious!! And I of course love love love the name! It is such a wonderful name! 😉 Praise the Lord for Lydia!!
She’s just beautiful and I’m so happy that you were able to have her at home as you desired.
Many blessings to your family!
We understand talking about names a lot. It is often a topic of conversation around our dinner table.
Congratulations again.
Congratulations on the safe arrival of Lydia Joy!
You choose beautiful names!
She is adorable and has a beautiful name! Congratulations to the whole
family!
Congratulations Christopher and Anna Marie!!!!!! May God bless you as you teach Lydia the word of God and as she grows that she will become a servant for him!!!!
Serving him for his glory,
Jolene
What a beautiful baby! Congratulations to you and praise to the Lord for a healthy baby. We will continue to pray for Anna Marie’s recovery and for Joshua and Ruthanne as they adjust to their new sister.
I know another Lydia who often wears purple as a reminder of Lydia from the Bible. May your little Lydia grow to bless others just like her namesake!
Awwww, congratulations! She is beautiful and her name is just lovely. The boys are getting outnumbered in your house! Hope Anna Marie is being pampered and recovering well and that Joshua and Ruthie are thrilled to have a baby sister! Parenting is such a rewarding journey!
Yay! Congratulations, Christopher and Anna Marie! That’s wonderful. Can’t wait to see more. God bless. Rebecca K.
Praising the Lord for a safe delivery. Beautiful, God-honoring name for a lovely little lady. She has her own little look, and she is precious.
Beautiful baby, beautiful name! The anniversary of our oldest son moving to Heaven was yesterday. Both of our daughters, the one on earth and the one in Heaven, have the middle name Joy.
Congratulations! She is beautiful.
Congratulations!!! God bless you all!
What a doll! I imagine that Joshua and Ruthie are so excited!
Thank you for updating! She is so beautiful, the Lord is good and His love is so evident in new life!
What a beautiful name, thank you for being faithful to the Lord.
Praise God!
Very blessed!
Congratulations!
Love those chubby cheeks and her beautiful name. I’ve always loved the name Lydia but, sadly, we don’t hear it much anymore.
Prayers for Lydia as she grows (and big brother and big sister too!),
Lea
We are rejoicing with you in God’s goodness and mercy. Lydia Joy is a lovely name. Thank you for sharing the reasons you chose it. We echo your prayers and hopes for her life. Can’t wait to see a group photo with Joshua and Ruth-Anne.
Congratulations! A beautiful girl and a beautiful name! (She was born on my Birthday 🙂
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Happy birthday!
So precious!! I have a handsome son and two beautiful daughters. Children are God’s gift and we are so privileged to be recipients of this ultimate gift from our Lord I pray Anna Marie will enjoy this beautiful time with beautiful Lydia! Look forward to all the photos!!
With love S
Look at all that hair! So cute! Congratulations again to the whole family 🙂
What a sweet blessing 🙂 She is just precious! Congratulations!
Lydia is very cute! Her bow is so adorable! Hope Anna Marie has a good recovery.
Blessings,
Anna
Congratulations to Anna Marie, Christopher and family!
She is so sweet and has a very lovely name!
What a blessing! To God be the glory!
Congratulations on your new little blessing from God! The name is beautiful and full of promise. We have been praying for your sweet family and are so thankful for all the ways you encourage us to pursue the Lord.
In Christ,
W
Congratulations and praise the Lord! I guessed her name would be Lydia when I saw her initials last post! We rejoice with the entire Maxwell family!
With love and prayers from New Jersey!
Lisa and Family
So excited to see pics of the new little Lydia Joy. How precious. Glad Anna Marie is doing well. She must be one tough cookie after giving birth to 3 babies that I believe were all 9+ pounds. WOW!
God Bless You all! Joshua, you have two little sisters to watch over now. I know you are the best at being a big brother!
Congratulations to the entire Maxwell Family.
Johnna
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Joshua loves his new little sister ;).
Congratulations Christopher and Anna Marie! Lydia is just beautiful!
Congratulations. She is beautiful and fits her lovely, inspiring name. God bless your little family. Praying for rest and healing.
Congratulations!!! My guess of her name (given the initials) was correct! Our fifth is named Lydia, and another of our girls has Joy as a middle name. I love the combination of the two! Enjoy her!
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Good job on the guess ;).
She is precious! God bless!
Such a blessing that she has arrived safely, and I pray for your new, extended family. The choice of names is delightful and may she bring delight and joy to all around her, and to God. Prayers for recovery for Anna Marie and some sleep for everyone!
Congratulations! She is so precious!
So beautiful! Praise The Lord!
Love her name. What a sweet little lamb. Congratulations!
Congratulations!
Congratulations!!! God bless you all!
Congratulations!!! She’s just beautiful!
Yea! Congratulations!!!! Lots of beautiful,dark hair! 🙂
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The hair is amazing! 🙂 It’s gorgeous!
Congratulations!!! I love her name!! My middle name is Joy as well! 🙂 I really like how Christopher and Anna Marie pick their children’s names and put together the meanings into one prayer/statement for the child. Lydia has such beautiful hair (and lots of it)! It is so fun to watch the Maxwell families grow from afar! 🙂
Congratulations! She’s beautiful.
I am so happy that this precious baby has arrived, and her name is beautiful. 🙂 Congratulations to Christopher and Anna Marie, and praying that Lydia Joy will always be blessed.
Love, Mrs. Patti
How special and heart warming.
We love her name.
Praise the Lord.
Well, we both have a Joshua, and a Lydia Joy!
Our Lydia (12) truly is a joy as well. We are so happy to rejoice with you in the Lord’s blessing!
Congratulations to all of you! Beautiful name for a beautiful girl! What a blessing from God!
Congratulations! We are so happy for you! She is beautiful! By the Lord’s grace, may she become all her name means.
It’s always a delight to hear of another miracle born into the Maxwell family! Praise God for your daughter/grand daughter/niece etc. I know she will be raised up for the glory of God and will make an eternal difference in this world. Beautiful name as well!