Babies, Blessings & Bittersweet Break

Congratulations to Jason & Hannah Walker on the birth of their third son, Ian Thomas Walker!  Ian was born on Sunday, November 25th, 2012 at 11:59 a.m. weighing in at 8 lbs. and measuring 20 and a half inches tall.  Another proof that I am a great aunt!  Tom would be so honored to know his name continues on.  I pray that Ian will grow to be an amazing man of God just like his great uncle Tom.

Pops & Ian Thomas!

More babies are on the way...my niece, Emily and her husband, Travis are expecting their firstborn any day now and Hannah's sister, Abbie and her husband, Alan are expecting their firstborn in May.

Abbie at 16 weeks!

I am so thankful for the families that Tom and I both have that will teach their children to love Jesus with all their hearts and our Christian heritage will continue long after we are gone from this earth.

“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart

and with all your soul and with all your might.

These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.

You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house

and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up."

Deuteronomy 6:4-7

Andrew & Erin

Congratulations to my niece, Erin and her fiance, Andrew!  They were engaged on November 17th and are planning a June 1st wedding!  We think Andrew is a perfect addition to our family.  He comes from a home where Jesus is lifted up and I am so thankful he knows Jesus personally and will lead Erin as Christ leads His bride, the church.

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church,

his body, and is himself its Savior.

Now as the church submits to Christ,

so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,

that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

so that he might present the church to himself in splendor,

without spot or wrinkle or any such thing,

that she might be holy and without blemish.

Ephesians 5:22-27

Have I told you lately how much I miss my groom?  I'm so thankful for the Groom of Christ who is ever faithful in leading, loving and guiding me down these paths that are so new to me.  I'm learning how true His ever-present character quality is!  As we celebrated Thanksgiving (Tom-less) I was so thankful for Jesus' presence, family and friends.  Matt and I enjoyed mother/son bonding Wednesday evening and then decided to take an invitation to Doug and Carylee Meyers' home for Thanksgiving day.  I will put teaching Matt how to make a Thanksgiving dinner on hold for now.  We enjoyed our time with the Meyers' and appreciate their friendship and hospitality!

It is our Kline family tradition to gather at my sister's home for the remainder of the Thanksgiving weekend.  What a void there was this year...not only not having Tom, but my parents too.  I am so thankful that dad came through his partial knee replacement with flying colors and was able to leave the hospital on Thanksgiving day to go enjoy a meal at a friend's home!  He is receiving physical therapy at home and learning how to get back on his feet.  But I can't say how much they were missed.

It is a yearly tradition to shoot guns on the Saturday after Thanksgiving for the boys.

(L to R) Kody, Nathan, Zac, Andrew, Tim, Braden, Zac & Matt

(front) Dan, Terry & Travis

(Taking the pic: Mike)...(Missing: Tom & Papa)

While the boys were enjoying their activities the girls went wig shopping!  Whooo Hooo...I will be losing my hair 10-14 days from this Thursday.

Cheryl & Kelly with their picks!

A wig always sounds like a great idea unless you're the one who has to have one!  I'm hesitant to get one because the last time I went through chemotherapy I got a wig a never wore it!  I never know until my hair is gone how I will feel about a wig vs. a hat....continue to watch to find out!  I am so thankful for these two precious sisters to make the experience an experience to remember...love you Kelly and Cheryl!

Lauren, Erin, Morgan & Cassidy

(no these are NOT the colors...just a style!)

After wig shopping we met up with the cousins at David's Bridal to drive Erin crazy with all our opinions on wedding and bridesmaid dresses!  Thank you, Erin for enduring the organized chaos.

Kelly, Cheryl & Me...Bridal Consultants Extraordinaire

(okay, my hair is a little...ugh...I tried on a lot of wigs prior to this pic!)

Blessings this past week:

Willow Tree "Heart & Soul" from Cheryl

I know you're here for me...

Beautiful Pillow & Card...thank you, Karen Brown

"Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns,

and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"

Matthew 6:26

His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me....

All Natural Deodorant, Lip Scrub & Balm to use during treatment...made by Ginger Gibson

Thank You, Ginger!

Thank You, Judy Lanning for this book...

I will read it and anticipate God's voice...

Sweet Potato Pie...Thank You, Karen Dawson

(& Jason for putting me on "the list"!)

Through laughter and tears, Sarah and I made a trek to Menard's to select our 2012 Christmas Tree.  We didn't realize that the trees would be bundled and tied so you couldn't tell what it would look like, only how tall!  We decided to "go for it" and be surprised...it worked out...except the fact that Tom, Zac nor Matt were with us.  What a blessing Sarah's positive attitude is during heart wrenching times like this.  We listened to a Christmas CD on the way there and Sarah would continue to hit "forward" as each song brought tears, songs like:  "I'll be Home for Christmas" and "All I Want for Christmas is You"!

We decided our tree is beautiful and Tom would approve.

The most precious ornament this year!

Thank you, Anne Marie for the gift card to make this...love it, love you, love Tom!

Not only was I able to purchase the ornament, but this beautiful necklace too!

t & l

Prayer Requests for this week:

-Tonight Sarah, Zac & I will travel to Matt's last home game until after Christmas - please pray for safety and that Matt would have a game that honor's & reflects the Lord...

-Wednesday, Carylee will take me bright and early to OSU Medical Center for out-patient surgery to place my chemotherapy port (they say plan on 5 hrs.)...

-Thursday, Kelly will take me for my first chemotherapy treatment...blood work starting at 8:50, followed by oncologist visit, chemo, then a visit with the surgeon...long day (they said plan on 6 hrs.)