LET IT SNOW!

On Tues night the snow began and didn't end until Wed. afternoon! We got a foot and already had some on the ground! Below are pics of that snow from the back deck! This year we have almost broke the record for the most snowfall in January...just a few more inches are needed! :)

Life in Cleveland

Week 22-she continues to grow and is moving a lot now!



Hello from snowy Cleveland! :) I think we are getting more settled in here and adjusting well. As many of you know we sold our truck when we moved because we didn't think it was necessary to have 2 vehicles anymore, just wanted to live more simply. With public transportation now, that's what Chris would use. But, what we didn't consider was when we initally got here we would have one vehicle and Chris would be 25 minutes away from me with it all day, every day. Our lead minister and his wife had been saving for a new 2nd vehicle for a long time and were going to purchase in June but saw a need for us to have their present 2nd vehicle right now...so they gave us their car and bought their new one! What a blessing this has been to us at this time! Really, it's just nice to know I have something in case something were to happen...no, I don't go crusing all day long :)
I'm really missing our kids from Calumet and New Horizon! But, I'm thankful for the time we did have together and thankful for the internet so we can keep in better touch! I look forward to seeing the high schoolers when you come for your missions trip and excited that you will get to meet Nataleigh as a newborn!
To keep updated on Velocity (prayer requests, pictures, videos, etc.) go to: web.mac.com/rupps
Love to you all!

only 19 more weeks!

Wow!! 19 weeks til we hold our baby! Where has the time gone? As far as the pregnancy goes, I've been feeling pretty good. Sometimes I don't even remember that I am pregnant.
We spent this weekend at a church in Southern Ohio presenting about Velocity. We were very blessed by them and thank God for this time that we could share with them!
One of my favorite parts so far about church planting is not knowing where the money is coming from. This is really stretching me in my faith.
One specific thing I'm going to ask you to join with us in prayer about is buying a house. Please pray that we would be open to hear what God has in mind for our living situation and patience as we wait. We are SO blessed to be living with his parents for the time being, but we are driving 25 minutes (one way) every day and sometimes twice a day to our target location and it's tough to build relationships when we don't live there. Our launch date is now April 5 and our baby is due June 6. So, ideally we would like to be in our target area before we launch. Just please keep this in your prayers!
Love to you all!

Beginning of 20 weeks!

Wow! I can't believe we are half way there to holding our precious little girl!! Time is really flying!
Each day is more of a reality that we are here...to stay. It feels like just yesterday when we were dreaming of this and to actually be here is surreal! I'm adjusting to not working, not having a vehicle during the day, feeling this little one kicking like crazy, meeting new friends, adjusting to the weather (hooray for snow!), penny pinching, adjusting to church planting.
Chris is adjusting to living his dream, church planting, being a daddy, driving 25 min. one way to work, meeting new friends, and many more things I'm sure.
Please continue to lift up our church plant in your prayers...here are some specifics:
1. Lost people in South Euclid, Lyndhurst, Cleveland Heights and surrounding areas
2. Our ministers: Scott, Dave, Chris
3. Our ministers wives: Vanessa, Jessica, Jessica
4. Our launch team
5. Our Church Financial Support
6. Our Individual Financial Support-raising our full salary for the first 2 years

I hope you have a wonderful day!

A...

BABY GIRL!!!
She is healthy and measuring her exact due date, June 6!!! As many of you know Chris and I have thought this whole time that we were having a boy so we are VERY surprised and VERY excited!
Also, I had to change doctors since we moved and he is wonderful! Today has been a day packed full of blessings!

my baby picture-

Update

Top 10 things that we want to update you all on:
1. Jessica is in her 19th week! Praise God for a healthy baby!!
2. Jessica has been feeling the baby move!!
3. Jessica sees her new doctor this week, last appt. was 6 weeks ago so we are
excited about this appointment!
4. We had a wonderful time with our families during the Christmas season!
5. We are all moved and blessed to be staying with his parents until we decide on
permanent housing in S. Euclid.
6. We have jumped right into our new ministry here in Cleveland. We got to meet
everyone who is part of the launch team last night at the launch team meeting!
7. We are SO excited to see what God is going to continue to do with this church
plant! We are constantly reminded every day that this is exactly where God
wanted us.
8. Support is coming right along but still have a ways to go financially for the
first year.
9. We miss all of you very much.
10. You are loved.

Please continue to lift us up in your prayers as we embark on a new part in our journeys.