Mama Lisa & Jacob

Mama Lisa & Jacob
Mama Lisa & Jacob Thomas

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Catching Up

After a week of vacation we came home (or at least I did) fairly exhausted!  I do believe we are caught back up on our rest and back into our quiet routine.
(L to R) Doug, Morgan, Joel, Ike, Carylee,
Papa (Lowell), Granny (Barbara), Lisa, Sarah, Zac & Tom
Last Sunday evening we had the wonderful privilege of going to our dear friends, Doug and Carylee Meyers for a family picnic.  It was so special they included my parents who decided to come to Ohio after our family vacation for a week.  What an enjoyable evening we had together eating, laughing and reminiscing over our lives since college days!  It was very special getting to meet Joel, Morgan's "friend" she met while working at Beulah Beach Christian Camp this summer in Vermilion, Ohio.  What a great guy who loves the Lord and is serving Him in a neat camp ministry.  We certainly missed our youngest boys, Jess and Matt...we'll have to do it again when everyone is accounted for!
Thanks again, Doug and Carylee for a special night.
Monday Tom had another Avastin infusion that went very smoothly and we were home in record time.  It is so nice to know a wonderful meal would be delivered to us after a day at the hospital.  We are so thankful to Mindy Barlow, who has delivered many wonderful meals to us over the past 18 months, and she was the "slot" filled for Monday.
Salad...
Chicken & Rice, Broccoli...
AND warm Banana Cake!
Thank You Mindy...it all was so delicious.
Tuesday Tom was thrilled to know Margaret Paparella would be coming to give him his massage!  What a delight Margaret is and we are all becoming fast friends/family as she serves as Tom's therapist...not just a Christian massage therapist, BUT more importantly as a friend who brings much cheer, joy and laughter to our home...which makes her a "heart" therapist for both Tom and me!  While she was here the previous time I was dismantling my electric knife that wouldn't "spit" the blades out.  After getting the blades out and replacing them, they were stuck again.  After dismantling it another time I realized a piece of plastic that would push the blades out was broken I tried to "jerry rig" it to work with hot glue and a toothpick...only to realized my quick fix wouldn't work!  When Margaret appeared at the door she was holding a new electric knife!  What a gem she is...thank you Margaret.  Now when Thanksgiving rolls around I won't have to carve the turkey "manually"!
My "new" Electric Knife
De, Melissa, Susan, Nightingale & Lisa
Back in 2004 I had the privilege of leading a small ladies Bible Study on "The Age of Opportunity" by Paul Tripp, a biblical guide to parenting teens.  There were eight ladies in this 12 week class that instantly bonded and drew closer to the Lord and each other over our time together on Thursday mornings.  Sometime in July I was asked if we could have a "class reunion" and what date worked best for me?  Well, that date was Thursday evening and five of us dear friends reunited for a delicious meal and fellowship in the beautiful home of De Davenport!  How fast our time went as we enjoyed sharing what God is doing and has done over the past eight years.  Several of us have watched a child get married, one becoming a grandmother, all of us watching children leave for college, several adjusting to "empty nest", dealing with aging parents, losing a parent, dealing with life altering situations and job changes...life.  Each of us agreed that this life, with Christ at the center, is "an age of opportunity", and we are so thankful for the encouragement God, His Word and each other bring to the different life stages we are in.  Thank you De for the amazing hospitality and for each of you sweet 'sisters' who bring joy to my heart...I love each of you!
Not only did we enjoy sweet fellowship, but sweet treats after an amazing meal of salad, rolls, bread, and Chicken Parmesan!
We were blessed with amazing fresh peaches from our dear neighbors
John & Lois Hildebrand...
Thank You!


Sunday, August 12, 2012

Happy Birthdays to Jason & Brinley!

Jason...with his two sons, Kyle & Max...#3 son on the way in November!
Jason & Kyle ready to tube!

"I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well."
Psalm 139:14
Hannah & Jason
Jason's birthday was actually yesterday...August 11th, however with the vacation timing I wasn't able to get his special "post" until today and thought I would link his birthday with his niece, Brinley since her special day is today!  Thanks Jason for understanding!  Uncle Tom and I pray for you often and give thanks for your love for our Lord, your beautiful wife and your precious family.  We pray that the Lord will continue to bless you as you serve Him at the Christian school in Elgin, IL.

Today Brinley celebrates her 4th birthday!
We are so thankful for the short visit we had with Brinley this summer.  We pray that she will continue to grow with Jesus and allow Him to shape her into a godly young lady who will serve Him like her mom and dad.  We love you Brinley and pray for your safety and readjustment to life back in Madagascar!
Brinley tubing with her dad...not sure she likes it!
Lake Keowee, SC...family vacation 2012
Makenna, Aunt Leah & Brinley sporting their shades!

Pelotonia 2012
Over 6,000 Riders!
Jake & Chris
Jake, Chris & Carrie
"Team Tom"
While on our vacation I received a text from Dr. Chris Houts (riding for Tom in Pelotonia)...while training for this weekends ride he had a biking accident which sent him to the hospital overnight with several fractured ribs!  He said while he was in bed at the hospital the Lord put upon his heart to ask Jake Custer (WCHS Alum, graduated with our Sarah) who is an avid triathlete to ride "proxy" for him on Saturday and prayerfully Chris would be well enough to ride the Sunday portion!  I received a text at 6:40 a.m. this morning "Romans 8"...I'm assuming that Chris is riding today!
COLUMBUS -- The largest charity bike ride in the U.S. rolls out this weekend, when Pelotonia 2012 kicks off downtown.
More than 6000 cyclists will participate in the weekend ride, which has raised more than $25 million for cancer research since 2009. Pelotonia organizers say 100-percent of rider-raised dollars goes toward the effort to find a cure for the disease.
2012 participants will begin at 7:00 a.m. Saturday at Columbus Commons, and will make stops in Pickerington, New Albany, and Gambier during the 180-mile ride.
More than 1800 volunteers will support riders by providing snacks, beverages, first-aid assistance, and bike maintenance.


Saturday, August 11, 2012

Kline Family Vacation 2012

We praise the Lord for His hand of protection, provision and peace that we experienced while on our annual Kline Family Vacation to Norris Lake, Tennessee this past week.  We want to thank you for joining us in prayer as we stepped out in faith on this journey of the unknown.  The rental home that we had stayed in for many years had become too small for the 25 of us, so we ventured away from "Barefoot Landing" and God provided a beautiful new rental, "Pure Fun II" which fit our family nicely and accommodated Tom's wheelchair too.  It was so nice to have Tom "hang out" on the deck within ear and eye shot of the dock where the majority of us spent much of the week.  We are blessed with a family who made this vacation possible and we want to share just a sampling of our week in pictures with you.
8 BR & 7 1/2 BA + 25 people = priceless vacation
Tom enjoys sights, sounds & skipbo partners from the upper deck!
The double-decker boat dock with double slips, picnic tables, lounge chairs & grill fit our needs (wants) with easier access to the house...nice!
A stocked pantry on "day 1" brings much delight to Matt!
Boat #1...
Boat #2...
A Jet-Ski...
A Fishing Boat...
Several Tubes...
Conquering Skiing Feats...
Matt, Cassidy & Dan...Sea World "Wanna Be's"...
Papa still ski's...
A baby for us all to love on...
Brittany, Declan & Dan enjoy the water...
Uncle Nathan, Declan & Aunt Aubrey look very natural with a baby...
Aunt Emily gets "practice" with Declan...
Travis & Emily will have Annie Grace join our family in December...
We look forward to having another baby to love on next vacation!
Aunt Cass & Declan...
Uncle Zac gets "Declan Time" too...
Papa T & Nana can't get enough Declan snuggles...
Gigi (Great Granny) & Declan...
Lauren & Declan...
Erin & Declan...
Morgan & Declan...
Braden & Declan...
Zac & Declan...
(I personally like this...what is to come...hopefully soon!)

Matt & Declan...
Great Uncle Mike & Declan...
Great Aunt Cheryl & Declan...
Great Uncle Tom, Declan & Great Aunt Lisa...
A Highlight...Tom gets to drive again!
Our last day, 4 strong, strapping young men carried Tom (in his wheelchair) down 3 flights of stairs, a massive amount of stone stairs outdoors, onto the dock and into the boat!  Never thought it could happen...he was quite happy to have the adventure.  We started out this adventure in beautiful sunshine and ended the adventure...
...soaking wet, wrapped in garbage bags as we returned home in a rainstorm!
Notice:  Tom is still smiling!
PRICELESS
"He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be shaken.
On God my salvation and my glory rest;
The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.
Trust in Him at all times, O people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us."
Psalm 62:6-8

Monday, August 6, 2012

Happy Anniversary Ben & Ashley

Ben & Ashley
June 2012
Today we honor and celebrate the anniversary of our nephew, Ben and his bride, Ashley.  What a treat to have them home for furlough from Madagascar for the past 8 months.  We are so thankful for their servants hearts and desire to see the Gospel go to the utter most parts of the world.  What heart's they have for God and His people.  They are a blessing to so many and we pray for their safe return to Madagascar as they return to their "home" with their three precious daughters the end of this month.
We are thankful for the short visit we had this summer and pray God's continued blessing on their ministry.
"But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself,
so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry,
which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God."
Acts 20:24
We love you Ben & Ashley!

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Safe in TN...ready for vacation!

Monday evening after Tom's Avastin infusion, Lisa Cunningham brought us a wonderful dinner:
Flank Steak, Twice Baked Potatoes, Corn & Black Bean Salad
AND
Lemon Blackberry Tarts!
Thank You Lisa...
In the flurry of getting ready for vacation there were some photo opportunities that were missed the week before we left...
On Tuesday Tom was so thankful to enjoy a Chipotle lunch with good friend, David Petrel...Thanks Dave for sharing time with Tom...
Tuesday was Tom's Uncle Raymond's 80th birthday...we "shout out" to him a very blessed day...
 Because of Uncle Raymond's special birthday celebration, Tom's other Aunt Jenny & Uncle Carey (from) Minnesota were in Elyria, OH celebrating with Uncle Raymond's family and were able then to drive south to Columbus to visit with us!
Thursday I missed a special photo opportunity when Tammi Evans brought our dinner...the four precious Evans children visiting with Tom...so sweet!
Then I proceeded to forget to take a picture of the delicious dinner:
Chicken & Noodles, Green Beans, Amish Applesauce and Fresh Fruit
Thank You Evans Family!
Friday morning we were headed south by 10:30...Tom was anxious to go and woke up earlier than normal!  I am so thankful to Matt and all his help getting the yard work finished before we left and then packing the car and being such a help on the drive to Tennessee.
We arrived in great time and Tom did awesome.
We are acclimating ourselves to the new home and adjusting to vacation with a wheelchair.
What a joy to share this beautiful home with such a special family.
This morning Zac was able to lead us through a time in God's Word and then Dan lead us in a sweet time of prayer.  What a beautiful place on the deck to worship an awesome God!
Tom, Mike & Papa enjoy fellowship on the deck...
Pure Fun II
Norris Lake, TN