End of 17 weeks

Tomorrow begins week 18!! Where has the time gone? I guess since we have been so busy that's where it's gone! In a couple weeks I will meet my new doctor in Cleveland! I'm very excited!
This pic was taken Christmas day. (should have put my hand a little lower...it covers up part of my belly)

We are moved!!!

So, this will be a quick post...WE FINALLY MADE IT...I say it that way because Monday was our moving day and we were to leave at 8:30...Chris went to start the moving truck and it wouldn't start...come to find out it wasn't starting because it was SO cold 3 degrees and our engine was a diesel...so the lines were frozen and the battery was dying from us trying to start it so many times.
Anyway, a mainetence guy came out from our rental company (he didn't get there until 1:30.) We finally got on the road then about 2:00 and got into Cleveland at 12:30am. We had great weather the whole trip but got into Mentor (Chris's parent's hometown) to see they got about 8 inches of snow (yippie) but this would be crazy to try and unload in. Yes, that night the plan was to still unload at his mom and dad's and then to the storage unit! His parents are in TN for Christmas...we had the help though of our wonderful friends and lead minister at Velocity came to help! We couldn't have done it without them! Chris finally got to bed at 3am but I was already in bed (taking care of this little one growing inside of me).
We were to be to my parents Tuesday (3 hrs. away from Cleveland) and didn't know if we had the stregth to get up and drive again...so we played it by ear. We decided we were rested up enough to make the trip to we left at 2pm and made it for dinner!!
So, we are to our final destination and can finally enjoy this time of year!
Merry Christmas everyone!
Thank you for your prayers!

3 more days...

Well, life as we know it here will be over in 3 days. Packing is coming right along. All week I've felt pretty nauseous...doesn't help with the packing...but it's getting done. When I begin to think about all of the changes about to happen it overwhelms me...so I try not to think about it too much. One day at a time, right? :)
We are sure going to miss everyone here very much, but have a huge peace that this is what God wants for us. We could use your prayers...
1. We could finish packing, cleaning the house
2. Our friend David traveling today from Cleveland to help us move
3. Saying goodbye to everyone here
4. Traveling Monday...good weather
5. Keeping our sanity through this crazy time of our lives

Thank you for your love and support!

Beginning of week 16

Well, we are to week 16! Time is flying! Still nauseous, but much better than the 1st trimester! I will have my first doctor's appt. in Ohio on January 8. It will be since Thanksgiving week since our last doctor's appt. so we are really excited to see this baby again :)
Here's a pic taken yesterday (the beginning of week 16)

My last day at work

Well, it's been a very sad day, my last day of work. I work at a Christian school as their school secretary. Today at the end of chapel they surprised me with a collection of baby advice from all of the kids along with baby name suggestions, cards, a money tree and gift cards. They also asked Chris to come and be there with me. The best part was all of my hugs that I got from EVERY student!!
I'm really going to miss this place!
Here are some pics...

Chris Singing in "Four Tickets To Christmas"

This is a video of Chris singing "Silent Night" in German in our musical...I know he doesn't want me to put it up here but this is for his mom :)

"Four Tickets To Christmas"-our musical at church

This is our musical we did with our church last week on Thurs, Fri and Sat nights. We did free desserts and coffee at intermission and had it set up with round tables. We had a great time, sad that it's over, though! Chris was the director and also played a part as the german director, Victor. I was the wife, Lucille.
>

more exciting news!!!!

We are happy to officially announce our new addition....
We are having a baby!!!! The due date is June 6. I have completed my first trimester! The baby's healthy, we had the joy of hearing the heartbeat for the first time in my 6th week!
Please keep us in your prayers as you know this is a very crazy time in our lives right now. We have a little over 3 weeks before we move and I still have 2 weeks left of work and our music program is this week...so needless to say we won't have much time to pack.

Thankful for...

1. My Savior
2. Life, breath
3. My family
4. My friends
5. Our opportunity in Cleveland
6. Our friends FINALLY getting to adopt their children from Peru!!
Hooray Team Gans!
7. The many, many, many blessings (no matter the size) each day

I catch myself complaining more than thanking way too much. This whole year has been a season of both huge ups and downs. And as I go through these different times it's been awesome to reflect on how both the ups and downs have strengthened me and encouraged me. 2008 has been probably the craziest year so far for Chris and I individually and together. But no matter what we continue to find joy along our Journey because our trust and hope is in a God that never changes.

If you are reading this know that you are a treasure not only to me but to God.

What are your Thanksgiving plans?
My brother and his family are coming to our home! We are very excited to spend this time with them!

Please visit Chris's blog!

In my last post I shared about the move Chris and I are about to make.
Chris is much better at writing than me and I would like for you to check out his latest post at www.hopeforthedying.blogspot.com
I hope this finds you all well today. You are loved and missed!

Following The Call

God has called Chris and I back to Cleveland, OH. As many of you know, Chris and I have had a heart for Cleveland and for urban ministry ever since we were in college. After much prayer, fasting, thinking, conversing , asking for advice and finally visiting the site of the new church plant we have made the tough decision to bring our ministries at both Calumet Street and New Horizon to a close. We will be returning to Cleveland to reach a city full of darkness and take part in a brand new church plant, Velocity Christian Church.
We consider ourselves as "native missionaries" here in our own country, ministering to a city in which only 3 out of every 10,000 people attend a New Testament, non-Catholic church on Sundays.
We have had the privilege of sharing in many wonderful things and sharing with even more wonderful people here in IL. Our love does not change for any one here even though we will be miles apart.
We are asking that you please join us in prayer for Velocity Christian Church, and the city of Cleveland. We will be moving December 22.
Later on I will be more specific in my posts about what you can be praying for.

Love overcomes fear and God IS love

This was a great encouragement for me today...

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
-1 John 3:18

Advice from a good friend-
God is good . . . when its His will - things usually fall into place - we are the ones that always throw fear in the mix & keep ourselves nuts - remember LOVE OVERCOMES FEAR & GOD IS LOVE

I love fall!

I love fall!! It's been so beautiful here in So. Il.
This weekend we did some fall things: had a fall festival at the church on Friday and on Saturday went to the Halloween parade with our friends. On Sunday it was such a beautiful fall day...63 degrees, sunny and the perfect breeze to air the house out.

Generations of Musicians-Lincoln Brewster is sweet!

This is so awesome! Thought I'd share with you! I've enjoyed his new CD! He's a wonderful musician! Make sure you watch it all...it gets REALLY cool towards the end!

New Blog

Hello, friends. This is our new blog...I kinda messed up the other one and decided to just change everything. The site name has changed from candjrupp.blogspot.com to lifewiththerupps.blogspot.com