Holidays '08

Happy Birthday Jesus! Our church service in Illinois before Christmas was a wonderful and much needed reminder of what Jesus did for us by taking on flesh forever when he came as a baby. It's always hard to grasp why God would send his only son - but Pastor Bill pointed out a that it wasn't just so we could have eternal life but so we could have a relationship with Jesus. The more we learn and study about Jesus the more we can comprehend his love for us and for that I am so thankful.

Jesus - Teach us your ways and allow us to strive to live more like you everyday. Thank you for allowing us to learn even deeper what it took for you to come down to earth as a man this Christmas season.

Christmas day was spent with Tyler's parents in the morning, my family in the afternoon, and then the Klein extended side that evening. It was a fun day - so here are some pictures to capture that..

Merry Christmas!

We aren't sending out Christmas cards, but if we were - this is how I designed it to look! :)

Now snow is falling!

Our baby Christmas tree is a beautiful 1 1/2 ft. fiber-optic with blue, green, yellow, red, purple and orange colors! We went all out and decorated our window seal with one strand of red lights (as shown in the middle picture)..Tyler, my adorable husband, was excited to help decorate our apartment for Christmas..Doesn't he look happy!? Really it was fun!
On a more serious note - Tyler preached his first sermon/short message on Wednesday night at youth group and it was AMAZING!!!! God definitely spoke through Tyler and it was so uplifting. Tyler preached on exercising your faith and how we need to get off our spiritual couch and do something with our faith. It's so easy to go through the Christian steps, but not truly live for God. He handed out "faith fitness cards" that had an action for everyday of the week to help the youth live out their faith better.

It leaves me speechless to see how God is working in Tyler's life and through the lives of these kids at Youth group - he is incredible! We are anxious to see where God calls us to do youth ministry!!

Leaves are Falling!

Tyler and I experienced our first long and lonely weekend apart because I wanted to go visit my girlfriend at her Christian college in Kansas City. I couldn’t let Tyler be left alone in crazy Marion, so I sent over Paul from home. We had guys and girls weekends and overall it was fun! Kim and I went shopping – which was incredible! Tyler and Paul played video games, what else do guys do? I don’t think you can separate us for two or three days ever again! I missed him way too much, he’s my best friend.
School is going…We just want it to be Christmas break already! We get to come home for a week and spend time relaxing away from school work and our jobs. Tyler has an extremely busy schedule: several projects, a huge Inductive Bible study assignment (on Ruth), preaching his first 10 minute sermon from James (entitled - Exercise your faith) – I’m excited that he’s giving me a sneak preview this weekend! He’s also juggling work and me – I’m a full time job! Haha. God is in control and that’s the only way we can get through all of this!
I love my online classes (yes, all my classes are online) and I’ve made all A’s! The class I’m currently taking is a little more demanding of my time, but it’s worth it. Work is terrific, I can’t be happier with this job and the people God let’s me work with!
We’ll be in Illinois next weekend for my little brother (Zach) and Tyler’s sister (Jonica) high school musical. Hopefully gas stays under $2 before we hit the road for the first time this month!
We love you all!

Home for the Weekend!

John and Larissa (Far right)

Tyler and Jena

Jonica opening acceptance letter







Aunt Katie, Abby, and Ben at Vball game (Below) & Jonica and Mom at the Wedding on Saturday.
We went home (finally) after a month and a half. We made it back for Jonica's Senior night volleyball game (thursday night) and they won..We were also able to give Jonica her acceptance letter to IWU - hand delivered from IWU :)

While we were home we spent time with family, hair cuts at my mom's, finally spent more than 2 hours with John and Larissa, attended the Lahr wedding, and got to see our church family. It was definitely a needed trip to charge our batteries to make it to Thanksgiving.

Life is great in Marion. God has his arms around us and is taking care of us daily. Thanks for your prayers as we venture it out over in Indiana by ourselves. We know God has big plans in store for our future.

Surprise visit!

Mom and Jonica came to Marion about 2 weeks ago for about a day! We were going to go home and surprise them, but they beat us too it and joined us in Marion - it was so much fun and we missed them so much!

We ate at Mue Pueblo (as usual) and watched Ironman back at our apartment and relaxed.

Last night Tyler and I "hosted a table" at the Alumni Banquet for IWU aka we got to dress up and eat a delicious meal! We mingled with people at our table while enjoying chicken, rolls, and cheesecake :)

After the banquet was a concert by Fernando Ortego, which was so amazing - we both really enjoyed his singing and especially the piano. He also had a man playing the cello, which sounded beautiful. This all took place because it is homecoming this week at IWU - and it's been a blast.

God reassures us once again this week that we are where he wants us to be at this point in our lives. God keeps financially blessing us and this week Tyler was awarded a Scholarship for a good amount of money for this school year. Since this semester and next has already been paid for, the extra went on his student account, which will end up paying for books and the rest can go into savings! We are so blessed and thank God for reassurance during difficult times.






We also had friends over a few nights ago for dinner and to watch Tyler's new favorite movie "Ironman." Everyone loved it if they hadn't seen it before, and we then went to the bonfire for homecoming. The picture to the left is my friend Doreen and I, she is a photography major at IWU. The gang in the last picture are most of the guys that were Tyler's roommates last semester, and Steph (friend & Ben's girlfriend)...A few people on the right side got cut out of that picture - whoops.

It's been a fun weekend. Other than a busy past week, we really look forward to coming home in a few weeks! We'll get to see Jonica's Senior night volleyball game and hang out with family.

Thanks for your prayers & love and remember that we love and pray for you too!
-Tyler and Jena

Grandparent's Day at IWU!!

Indiana Wesleyan hosted Grandparents day on Friday and we were so excited that Grandma and Grandpa Rocke joined us in Marion for the entire weekend! I helped with the event in the morning (at the registration table) and joined up with grandma and grandpa for lunch and then once Tyler got off work we all headed to Taylor Unviersity to see Sam's volleyball tournament. That made the weekend even more exciting because Aaron and Megan came to town, and Joan and Allen joined us all for more games on Saturday. We went to Ivanhoes Friday night - it was so good!

Grandma and Grandpa taught us a new card game - Canadian Salad - it was fun and addicting..but most of the time grandpa won, but it was funny that he was so good at it! We enjoyed seeing family, because even though life is busy we miss all you guys like crazy! Hopefully we can make it another month before we make a trip home.

School is amazing, and Tyler and I are in agreement that we are really enjoying it. Tyler has an inductive Bible study class that he is learning so much in - he gets to really study in depth and loves the class and even the assignments (who likes homework?)! He has a busy work/school load, but as always he manages it and somehows gets ahead of schedule :)

Tyler studied this verse in one of his bible classes and then grandpa brought it up during Saturday morning devotions - we thought we'd share the verse:

Colossians 3:1-4

1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Summer Nights

Our summer is coming to an end and we both know that now that school has started for me and Tyler's starts the day after Labor Day. It was the most exciting summer of our lives, but we are eager to see what the future holds and are ready to move on in our journey.

Tyler's work load will really pick up in the next week once students get back to school. They call it rush time because for a week straight it's a mad house for students to purchase their books in the bookstore. Tyler has already been busy shipping out mail orders to the students who order online – it sounds as busy as when he worked on the farm, haha. But, nothing compares to that dad!

Last week we met some friends from IWU at Indiana Beach for the day -It was fun to see them before they get back to school and we all get super busy. We look forward to our friends coming back to campus so we can spend time with them and continue building those friendships. It's such a blessing to be surrounded by other Christians and a huge change from where we once were with past jobs and community college.

So, once again God has provided and taken care of us with the school situation. God blessed us with my job, which pays for my schooling, and will pay for Tyler's last year at IWU. So this year was the one year we would pay out of pocket for Tyler's school (and both of our school books) since we don't want to take out any college loans. We have continually asked God to get us through college with ZERO debt and not have anything stand in our way of going straight into the ministry. God did it again! I called the financial aid office to see if we applied for any free grant money and sure enough it was more than enough to pay for the rest of this year's schooling and God just made it the exact amount we'll need to pay for both mine and Tyler's books for our Junior Year! Next year is paid for by my job and our minds are clear to focus on God's calling and be ready for the ministry in a few years J YAY!!!! We give him all the praise!

Next weekend we are going home to Illinois!!! Tyler doesn't have off Labor day so we'll have to make it a short weekend, but 1 ½ months has been long enough without seeing our family and church family. At the moment Tyler is playing Wii fit and I'm laughing hysterically at him being a penguin trying to eat fish (it's a balance game on the Wii) – he's yelling "come here you dumb fish!" So, I guess I'll leave you off on that note!

A month and a half!

Man, life is flying by for Jena and I. It's only been a month and a half since the big day, but it seems so much longer ago. I am amazed at how you can amp up for one day, have it pass, and time actually go faster than that one day you were waiting for.

Jena and I are finally settled down in Marion in our little apartment, and are in the swing of things in our jobs.

My wonderful wife works in the Administration Building, AKA the big wig building, on the 4th story with Advancement Services, which helps every other aspect of the Advancement department. So they try to better the college and raise money for stuff and all that jazz. She loves the ladies she works with, and just got back from a retreat with her whole building on Wednesday. God has given us amazing insurance coverage, free school, and countless other blessings through her employment with the University. We both see now why IWU was voted the #1 Christian Workplace in the US. At least I think that is the right fact. If not, it should be.

We both work out 3 times a week, with the school's wellness program, which pays us to stay in shape. It is wonderful, and we both love doing it. She has been walking a lot, and I've been playing racquetball with my friend Dustin.

My job isn't nearly as awesome as Jena's, but I like it a lot. I have my own desk, responsibility, and it's a great mix of physical work and mental labor. Basically everything we sell at the IWU bookstore I open up, put in our system, and give to someone to display. I also ship out anything that someone orders from our website. I've been trying to get our website improved, so we'll see where that goes. But I'm happy where I am, it's a good job, and I like to work hard, so it's all good.

We've made some good friends in Tammy and Dustin, they are wonderful people, and though they're older than us we get along awesome. That may have something to do with our maturity, but that doesn't really matter. We love them, and we take turns cooking meals every Tuesday night. Tammy and Jena work out together and so do Dustin and I as I said before.

Jena and I have been growing closer and closer since we've been married, and though we're working through some little stuff, I feel that our love has been breathed straight into us from our God. There is no way I could do anything right to make Jena love me the way she does. We are both anxious to begin our ministry, wherever that may be.

It was so cute the other day, she was telling me how she knew when she was young that she would marry a minister, and that she never told me that when we were dating or anything. She showed me a letter to her future husband in her diary, and it did say she was sure that I, her future husband was going to be in the ministry. The letter was so sweet, and it meant so much, because everything that she promised in the letter, like love and complete devotion, has been exactly what I've gotten from my wonderful wife.

It made me think though. I didn't ever play to be a minister until 3 years into our relationship. God not only perfected our relationship that we would be married, but he was fulfilling her dream of having a husband be in the ministry by changing my heart not to follow my desires but his. He changed my heart to want to live for him, and as a result he blessed me with a wonderful wife, and a future full of purpose and joy living for him. What a wonderful savior, who does immeasurably more than just saving me from my own sins, but gives me such rich blessings.

I would rather have my life with Jena and God than ever making millions or being famous, or any of those earthly things. I trust that my Lord knows best, that his purpose is greater than mine, and that is the way Jena and I will live out our lives.

Just so you know.

We love you all, and miss everyone back in Illinois.

Wedding Pictures!

http://www.mpix.com/Customer/ViewAlbum.aspx?a=2228789&b=i5hz1rjdb2czxlzd4o0h

Click above to see our wedding pictures! We are excited that they are done, and look amazing!

Our little home :)

Our home is so cozy and all set up! It took a while to get unpacked, but we worked hard and now are enjoying every minute there.







Kitchen w/ new appliances! Our two person table ... the fridge/microwave is on the right.

Below: Our living room, which is on the right when you come in the front door.

Right: Living room and entrance into the kitchen.

Our bedroom - yes, it's small! Just enough room for our dresser, bed, and laundry in the right corner.

Hallway from bedroom to kitchen. Bathroom is on the left, and the pantry is on the right. (Tyler and Aaron :) )

God is SO Good!

Tyler and I have been praying intently for God to show us direction with a job for myself. We assumed we would finish college with my debt from the last two years at IWU and knew that would be something we would face down the road. It wasn’t until a marriage counseling session that Pastor Bill brought to our attention to just “ask God” for the money to go to school. Sounds simple, right? Well, that’s exactly what we did and God opened the door that allowed me to be accepted into the online program, which allows me to finish my degree through the internet. After this big accomplishment we knew it was feasible for me to get a full time job while being a student. God did it again J He blessed us with a full time job through the college that not only pays for the rest of my education, but the rest of Tyler’s schooling his senior year (or after a year that I have been employed) and this job also has an incredible insurance package! Wow – to top it all off, the job is literally across the street from our apartment, so that means we get to sell my car (which we were hoping to do anyway) and put that money in savings.
We don’t know how to thank God enough, but we do give him all the praise because we could not have done this on our own! I am truly thankful that God took care of us and all we had to do was ask.
Oh-my job is working in University advancement with data entry/event specialist stuff. Tyler is in the swing of things as the shipping/receiving manager with tree of life bookstore and really likes what he is doing.
Thank you for your prayers as we begin our lives as one with Christ as our center!
Tyler and Jena Klein

Just Married!!!

Wow! This is our first blog as Mr. Tyler and Mrs. Jena Klein!

Yes, we created this thing a long time ago, but we were just a little bit anxious to be married, so thanks for waiting. We will now write on this blog, hopefully on a regular basis once we hook up with internet in our apartment back home in Marion.

At this very moment Jena and I are about to go to Texas Road House in Gatlinburg. We are on our honeymoon right now, and are absolutely loving it. Our cabin is completely cozy and perfect, the weather couldn't be better, and we are surely starting our marriage to one another on the right foot.

It is still a little hard for us to reflect back on the wedding day, since it still hasn't sunk in, but we both know it was perfect. All those times that Jena begged me to go to Vegas and elope were validated when she was the star of the show in her beautiful dress.

No matter. We are now married, happier than ever, and are ready to begin our lives together. We want to include you in it, even though we may not be as close to all of our dear friends and family in IL. So if you want to read up on what's going on with us this is the place to be. Either that or call us after 7 o'clock Eastern Time, when our calls are free!

-Tyler and Jena Klein

May

May is here, and I am taking a class and working while Jena is working and looking for a full-time job. We both are praying for God to take care of her in that aspect, but it's hard, and I hate to say it but we are getting impatient with God. I know he'll take care of it in his time, but it's just hard.
We got Jena into her apartment for May, and it is really cute the way she's got our few pieces of furniture and possesions to look nice in a one room living space. In our first meal in the apartment we burnt our Papa Murphy's pizza because it was too wide for our oven, and it smoked so bad the apartment smelled for hours. Somehow it still tasted good.
I love Jena more and more the closer we get to our wedding, which is 43 days away. I think we both are getting a little impatient with the plans and the wait. I just wish all the silly details could be answered by someone else. Too bad we aren't made of money so we could just hire someone to do it. Jena is doing an amazing job though, I just wish I could help more. I simply stink at it, so I have to stay out.
Basically, we love each other and cannot wait until we can truely have a life together! God is amazing and has blessed us with so much I cannot begin to describe our thankfulness.

75 days :)

Yes, we are counting down the days! We are finalizing wedding plans and will soon send out the wedding invites. It has been such an exciting time in our lives and have enjoyed planning our big day, but we are ecstatic about starting our lives as one.
Tyler informed me that this blog is for once we are married, so you can now wait in anticipation for the next blog in June. We will then have the blog to fill you in on our happily married life in Marion, Indiana.
Love,
Tyler and Jena

Life at IWU

I suppose I will start the first blog here considering Tyler took the time to set this up! We made it to Indiana Wesleyan University and we both are excited to be where God has called us. We are both adjusting to dorm life - aka the life without mom and dad, or Karen’s cooking! My roommate is from New York and Tyler’s is from Wisconsin. We started classes yesterday and all I can say is wow! I knew it would be a change from our community college, but I have never experienced opening up class discussion with prayer – how awesome it that!? In the four days we have been here God has already made himself known in our lives more than ever, and we know that will only increase the more we spend building that relationship with him.We ask for your prayers during our transition here at a new school, finding new jobs, and a new church!
Love, Jena