New Site!!

I have a new Website I'm trying out. Click here to see it. I think you guys'll love it. Much more info and pics and sound (to come) that is a lot easier to do than with blogger. Enjoy!

Toofers

Our boy's got his first toofer! That's right: we're the proud parents of a little boy with a tooth that just broke through the surface this evening as we were visiting our parents. The lower left toofer is ready to dig into all that comes his way. (His left of course). Now we're just worried about his mommy. Not too sure if she's as excited about the tooth as I am. The only thing he's biting on my body (to this point) has been my finger.(The Above picture is absolutely terrible. Tried to get a picture of his toofer.)

In some ways it's kind of sad. No more putting my fingers into his little "gummy" mouth. From here on out, there's always going to be something that pokes. And eventually it's just plain going to hurt. On top of that... His mouth is going to start stinking like everybody elses on the planet. On the other hand, I'm so excited to watch him grow into a little boy. I don't want to miss a single moment of his life and by no means to I want to keep him small. Kristine and I agree... we want Jamie to grow up, but we want to have little babies to carry around as well. So we're just going to have a lot more. ;-)

Here are some pics from our new camera. The whole month of September we couldn't take any pictures cause the camera was broken. Okay, I know: lame excuse. We could have borrowed a camera or bought one of those disposables. We didn't do either so we're the only ones to blame. Enjoy the couple pics here. If you want more there's loads.

By the way: Fall began here a couple weeks ago. Almost all the leaves have fallen off the trees. Yesterday, we set the clocks back an hour. Wow!

Passion for my family

I got to hold Jamie today for quite awhile. We even fell asleep together! In the last couple days I've felt a great closeness to my family. Keep watching Jamie get bigger and bigger. I watch my wife as she goes through the process of becoming a teacher. (It really is a process). I'm excited for her.

What all is she going to experience? She's already the head of the English department at her school and people are amazed at her composure: so young and not even nervous about the first day of classes. I think she's going to amaze people. God has made her one of a kind. She's the genuine deal and that comes across to the people she's around. I just hope she doesn't let some old bitter teacher steal her passion. I know she's in Good Hands though. Our Daddy is watching out for her and is ready to carry her through everything. I'm glad I get to be God's instrument in her life sometimes.

My thoughts about Jamie are similar. I realize that there is so much we can put into each other that bends and molds our view of our world around us, either for the better or for the worse. I know I do both. I could never do enough good to outweigh the bad. (None of us could). I just hope that Jamie grows up with a mommy and a daddy, who never stop forgiving each other because they know of the forgiveness they received.

I love you Kristine. Thanks for journeying with me!

We're back

The North Sea was absolutely wonderful. Not so much for the great beach or big waves; more just because we were finally able to get away and be more or less alone. We haven't had a vacation together for five years. It was much needed time.

Jamie is such an easy baby. He doesn't cry much and he smiles all the time. It's funny...we're able to go out to a half-way romantic dinner together, take Jamie with us and he sleeps the whole time at the table, on two chairs next to us. (Evidence right)

We went to an American Harbor in a city called Cuxhaven. There we visited a museum dedicated to all the people who began immigrating to America and Canada starting around 1867. Cuxhaven was one of the major ports from which transcontinental liners would set sail. They would start in Hamburg go to Cuxhaven and then on to London before touching down in Ellis Island, or as with some better-known vessels, in the middle of the Atlantic.

There's so much going on. God is really blessing the youth group. The young people are learning a lot about prayer on their own. The Holy Spirit is really moving through them. I'm thankful.

Good to be home looking at my wife across the room in our own living room.

Bodensee

So we were at Lake Constance. It was a great time with Andy and Moni
Föhl. Hope to have some pics to post in about a week or so. It was
kind of unfortunate. I was so excited about taking a bunch of
pictures so I could post them on the blog and when we got there I
realized I had forgotten the camera. ;-) Andy took some pics though,
so as soon as we're back from the North Sea I'll post pics of both
excursions.

Really noticing how Jamie is growing. He talks all the time and at
night he sleeps a lot more. Other than that he's also starting to get
pretty decent at drooling...

Hope to check mail and post some stuff from the North Sea but you
never know. It's more my priority to get away from computers while
we're there. Not like I post here very regularly.

Kristine and I just had a good visit with a young woman who I believe
God is going to use mightily and already does. It's a shame to see
though, how much the opinion of other people can shape and change a
life so much and often so wrongly. Often the hidden treasure that God
has placed within never gets discovered, because of our inability to
see what God sees in us.

Jaden Paul Schüle and the North Sea

Well, it is my pleasure to be able to pass on to you some pictures of the second child of some really good friends of ours. Siggi and Elina Schüle just had their little baby boy, Jaden Paul Schüle. He's a cutie. Of course there will always be the one who is cuter...sorry Siggi but you know where my heart is. ;-)

We're packing up our things this morning and getting ready to go to Bodensee (Lake Constance) for the weekend with some friends. We're excited. We haven't done anything that even looks like vacation for 5 years. Looking forward to relaxing.

On Sunday we're coming home and then we're leaving Monday Morning bright and early again to drive to the other pole of Germany to the North Sea. Both Lake Constance and the North Sea are huge. Of course the North Sea is considerably larger. If you want more pics ask Google. Looking forward to getting out with Jamie. Hope the weather starts to improve. It's been raining almost this whole month. I don't really mind until I start thinking of the long months till next Spring.

Through Thick and Thin

Recently we were coming home from taking our Grandma to see our Grandpa in the hospital. (He's been having strokes). On the way in our apartment we ran into our neighbor outside in front of our garage. She looked at Jamie and was just really excited to see him. I made a comment that he is the best. Then I corrected myself and said, my wife is the best. Jamie is second best. She just said really dryly..."That'll change".

Now you have to understand. She is currently either in the middle of a divorce or she's already divorced. Nevertheless, it drove a stake deep in our hearts. We are experiencing a great time with each other right now. We are getting to know each other all over again and really enjoying it. The time with Jamie hasn't been as terrible as everyone said it was going to be. We're really happy together.

I held Jamie last night and prayed to God that He would take my life as a sacrifice to Him, that I would lead my family in His truth for as long as I should live. That means that for me and my family there can be no separation. I'm not worried about saying these words. I know that the future holds a lot of surprises. But my house and me are going to serve the Lord.

God's Spirit must be our identity, otherwise the beauty of marriage cannot truly be unlocked or grasped.

Once a month

Well, so much for regular blogging. I think it's actually a great idea. To be able to post messages to the www, keeping people who are interested in you, up-to-date on what's going on in your life. To bad I don't ever use it like that. I've always had this inner necessity to write alot or nothing at all. I really need to work on that.

Here a recap over the last four weeks or so. My mom was here in Germany visitting us. Good times. Jamie really enjoyed being held by her...so much so that we had to reaquaint him with reality after she was gone. Not to say that we don't love the guy like crazy. We just weren't able to put him down afterward.

And now he's just smilling all the time. I've never seen such a small baby be so happy. ... Truth is...I've been rubbing his libs with rum twice a day. Works wonders for the temper. And everybody was wondering why Jamie is such an easy-going baby. Daddies do know best. ;-)

Going to see the Fisies (sic)

Today we went with our little family to see the fisies. Don't worry I meant to spell it like that. We were trying to imagine how Jamie is going to say the word Fishy, as soon as he's old enough to speak. Considering most children have trouble with sounds like "sh" and "ch" we figured: why should Jamie be any different. So we replaced the "sh" shound in Fi(sh)y with just a single "s". We came across Fisies. Which most parents have probably heard their child say. We amused ourselves for a couple minutes with the precious thought of Jamie speaking such words. (That means daddy (me) went around saying: "Look Jamie, more Fisies..." and "Fisies with Rainbow stripes" etc...



We're so excited to be a family and are looking forward to the days to come. I think I will throw caution to the wind and say...hah, whoever said parenting was difficult? ;-) I think I'm allowed to make this joke as the bags under my eyes are starting to form. Nevertheless, it truly is much easier and harder than I ever imagined. Maybe I'll explain more of what I mean in a later post. For now, I'm content just loving my family and loving being part of my family.

The little spud is on his way to never never land now. Kristine and I are going to finish watching L.A. Confidential (never seen it) and then we're hitting it too.

God and the world

Just wanted to say that such blogs like the last one I'm going to be posting to my other blogsite from now on. It's more a blog designed for Jon's ranting and raving anyway. So if you want to follow the conversation on churches and what not go to the other site.

I'd like to keep this blog a family one, with pictures of Jamie and his lovely mother. I know...it's not very post-modern (separating everything in easy to understand segments). What can I say? I guess I'm so "post-modern" that I can have a good conscience even while using a little bit of the modern. That is after all post-modern.

You follow? Good. You're not supposed to. Go to the other site. ;-)

If you haven's figured out how to get there, just click on this sentence.

church

Everyone's talking about church. I'm thinking about church a lot too. My generation and those coming after me find themselves in a black hole of sorts when it comes to church. They really don't know where they fit in. We're just sure that we don't fit in where we're at. (I know...there are exceptions).

Myself and some other young pastors over here are thinking about starting something new. Something Emergent Church style. A church that everyone can associate with but no one can really describe. Something I've been thinking a lot about over the last 3-4 years.

In this vein I'm thinking of giving up my studies. I've had a small feeling ever since I started studying again that I was really only doing it, because I wanted to be comfortable. I've felt guilty about it almost everyday since. I really enjoy what I'm studying but I feel a calling in my heart to launch full into the work that I'm currently only doing half-time. I want to make myself available, to show people that this work, this new idea of church, is something to take seriously. God is moving here. We don't know what He's doing. But He's at work.

Shout out to God for us as I will be making some serious decisions in the next couple days.

The Good Life

I'm sitting here enjoying a glass of wine, while behind me the best and most beautiful woman is sitting with our small son nursing.

I can tell you...there's nothing sweeter than writting a blog to the sounds of squeeky door noises and monstrous farting from the creature my wife and I have been blessed with.

Ernest & Julio...You never tasted so good.

Walking...

We went for our first walk yesterday. I should say our first walk without any real goal. We stopped by some friends and then came home.

Today, we went shopping together as a family. I have to say: there is something about looking at Jamie, which constantly makes my heart either want to cry or shout for joy. Not looking forward to going back to school and work next week.

A Father's Joy

Is there a greater joy for a father's heart than just to "be" with his child?!
In these moments Abba, Elohim, Adonai, the great cosmic Daddy is closer and more tangible than ever.

Thanks to The Daddy of all daddies!

Sex matters

Just wanted to let everyone know that...

Jamie Nathanael Ross is a boy.

If there are any uncertainties please see picture below.

More manly pictures to follow.

The Ross's are back

Well we're home and have started a new life together with our little (big) Jamie Nathanael.

We're stinken excited and hope that you enjoy these pictures as much as we enjoy living with this little guy.

Here ya go... More to come later.

Jamie Nathanael Ross

At 5:04 on Wednesday the 31st German time, Jamie Nathanael Ross came into our world and threw us off our rocker.
Thanks for all the messages and phone calls! We feel supported and loved.

We'll be in the hospital till Friday afternoon. Till then we wont be calling anyone. It's just family time for the next two days and no one belongs to that family except: Jonathan, Kristine and Jamie Ross. ;-) So if you're not in the "in" crowd get out da pictcha foo'.

A new Ross family is born. Please pray for us in every way. I am aware that this statement can be understood in a many different ways. We thank God for this new life and trust Him to give Wisdom and Humility in every aspect of raising it. We know that this child belongs to God. Thats why He gave it to us. In order to love it with all we are that it may see the face of God in us. Pray that we would do this.

I'm going to get back to the hospital now. Sorry no pics, I forgot to bring the camera with me to load the photos onto the computer. You'll just have to wait.

Here's the specs (you'll have to be smart enough or google savy enough to convert if you're up on the metric system):
- 52 cm long
- 3,790 grams

We love you Jamie!

We're back...

And as all you experienced folk can imagine...without a baby. Yeah, it was good we went to the hospital. Funny though. By the time we got to the birthing room there were no more contractions. They started coming again later but then iregularly.

We had a good visit with the doctor on duty though. She said it really could start any time now.

We'll keep you posted. For right now, we're going to get some shut eye.

Okay I think we're leaving now

Contractions are under 5 Minutes apart. Although it's not very dramatic (no screaming and stuff) I think I'm going to make the rational decision to drive to the hospital. At least be on the safe side.

More to come...

7 Minutes Apart

It's 2:20 in the AM. Got to get back to Kristine. Just getting a bite to eat. Around 5 Minutes apart we're going to the hospital. An exciting time.

Maybe it'll stop and they'll send us home. But the contractions have been getting more frequent for the last 6-8 hours.

I'll let you know.

Still no sign...

Well, as you may have guessed...we're still waiting. Thanks for the comments and the eMails. We are perhaps more informed than it may seem by reading the blog. I tend to not mention the most personal information here as it would be a little too much info.

It could very well go on like this till at least the 6th of June. That's the baby's second due date. Of course we are hoping that it wont be another week. Everyday there's a little bit of something that's new that happens. We're happy to go through these new experiences together and are excited to receive this gift of God to us.

We here from a lot of people that we should enjoy the time together. And the nights. But to be honest, we can't wait to hold him in our hands. Of course we'll be dead tired and wish we could put him back in just as soon as he's out. But that's normal. We can't get around that. So we're enjoying being excited, expecting him.

It's nice to get tips from people. I know that way that people are thinking about us. Just don't feel offended, if we act like we've already heard your tip. Chances are...we have. But don't let that hold you back from saying it too. It's just hard to always put on the smile ;-) and make it look like it's the first time we've heard it. That doesn't mean we're ungrateful for it.

Other than that. I'm here at the University and am having a horrible time at concentrating. I keep waiting for a phone call even though I know it might take another week. I think I'm the most excited, anticipating father to be that ever was. Okay, with that I am expecting to hear some "father to be" stories. How was it for you as you were awaiting your first child? Fathers...

The comment boards are open.

Hours feel like days

So everything is still the way it was before. We hope tonight will be the big night. Kristine has been having the "Senkwehen" (contractions moving the baby down) for the last three days or so. But no "real" contractions yet. It's especially bothersome or difficult for her. She's always wondering, "when is it going to start?" Nevertheless, we're enjoying these precious moments together.

Still contracting...;-)

As of yet we are still waiting for the little sucker to move his fanny. On the other hand, we're happy that he feels so comfortable that he doesn't want to come out.

Yesterday the dialation had already began, but as everyone knows...that doesn't mean much. Kristine is enjoying being home and has begun cleaning like something else. I think about what it's going to be like to hold that little guy soon and I already get light headed. (Well at least I'll be in the hospital already. Just in case I hit the floor.)

Contractions

Well the first contractions have set in. They're still irregular but the doctor says the baby should be here between now and this weekend.

I'll keep you posted. Sorry no pics.

"Good Friday"

As opposed to "Bad Friday". No but really, it was a great Friday. Being together with Family and friends of all ages was a great relaxing way to spend good Friday. And to think. I talked so bad about all the stress surrounding religious ceremonies during holidays. Okay, the religious ceremonial part did have a bit of a forced feeling. But the family relaxing with one another was a great thing.



We went for a walk with Mom (Larissa) our brothers (Gerald and Edgar) as well as Grandpa (Alfred). It was really a great time. Aside from the constant querling between the two brothers, which even provides a bit of humor, it was a great walk in the a mid-April "shower".



Our Grandpa recently had a few strokes. Those he's not lamed in any physical way really, we do notice that he can't get around like he used to. He's not longer as sure of himself or of the situations he finds himself in. We don't mind though. We love him all the same and try and let him know that he is loved and cared for just the way he is. It's hard for Grandma though, because she's always had a husband who's done alot for her and with her. It's a precious thing to walk with the elderly as they get close to the door of eternity. Looking forward to the days to come.



Our apartment is becoming more and more a home for us. It's funny how prepairing for a child will do that. I look around at all then things we are no drilling into the walls and new Furniture we're setting up in the baby room and I'm amazed at how happy I am here in these walls. God has really blessed us, and we take the blessing gladly. Of course we'll probably have to move again. At the latest, whenever another child comes. But till then, this is our home.



After family left yesterday some friends of ours came over. Siggi, Elina and their daughter Joela. (Sorry no picture) That was just great. My heart was touched to be able to enjoy their company. We draw so much from our friendships here. It is a wonderful community.

After those three left we had some more friends come over. Maggi and Makai. Makai is an American Armie Idiot. He's been stationed in Afghanistan the last year and has lots of stories to tell. Needless to say, he's not very impressed with the US way of dealing with the sitaution over there. Interesting guy. He's dating our cousin and they are a sweet pair.



It's a good life. I'm learning at this stage as if for the first time, what it means to lose myself and all that I have, in order to gain that which I could never lose. It's interesting how this process is never once and for all learned and then locked away. Pride and Self-Righteousness are of such a character that they always seep through in each new aspect of ones life. Before I know it, there I stand all alone with only myself, my pride and my hopelessness. God then shows me once again that it truly is necessary to lose all, even the things I hold most dear (family, friends, etc.), to which end I might gain everything.

By that I mean that God shows me how these things, which are so important to me, are meant to be enjoyed and lived out. He makes all things new, well and perfect. And He does it in such an unconventional way.

So, this ones for all the short people. Short people out there...hit the comment button or else...

Be Free

Tonight was youth group. We talked about Galatians 4 and what it means to be free to live out your faith in the way God has called you to do. Whether or not your faith ends up looking like the faith of the contemporary church or not. Christ does some crazy non-conventional stuff with people who are willing to step outside the doors of their churches to do ministry.




In my opinion it was a great evening. Though I am biased: I'm the one who leads it. I thought Martin (the guy on guitar) did an excellent job leading praise and worship. I've really been getting a kick out of seeing God reveal gifts in people in the last few months. It's hard because, believe it or not, some people don't want to allow themselves to do the thing they are really good at. Kind of like: if I'm having fun it can't be godly. Nevertheless, this group of young people is kicking some serious booty and takin' names for Christ in big ways. I'll post some pics of us helping out with the children's play mobil some other time.



I wish I had taken some before and after pics of our apartment, because the last two days have brought about a serious makeover inside our 4-walls. We've been moving stuff around and building new shelves for the "little sire". Yep, he's gonna have it good. Just hope he can stop kicking mommy long enough to let her breathe regularly. I need her behind the oven. ;-)



Kristine is doing really well with the pregnancy. She's been helping me with the youth group alot as well. Tonight she wasn't able to come. Tomorrow is Easter Friday and we've got family coming over. She did an all out cleaning operation with her mother this evening at our place. They were getting our apartment ready for the people to come over tomorrow. It's really not that many. Grandparents, parents, 2-brothers, Kristine and myself. Don't worry though. That's enough for our apartment.



I'll post ya'll some pictures tomorrow night of the festivities. We have a church service tomorrow morning from 10am to about 12pm. I'm not up on the whole, "lets squeeze in a church service on every big holiday of the year" thing. Why not relax and just eat together and have a good time. Why always the extra church service? (Easter, Christmas, New Years...)

Goodnight! My wife just called and she's wondering why I am. It's already 12:37am here.