After CBA, I spent one school year at Hesston College and then 1½ yrs in LPN training. Although I got my LPN license, I did not pursue that field. I really did not know what to do with my life. Up until CBA graduation, it was pretty much decided for me. I discovered that the medical field wasn't what I wanted to pursue but didn't know until many years later that I should have gone into the teaching profession. I was married May 8, 1971 to Roger Rupp who was at that time working for Missionary Aviation & Repair Center here in Soldotna. Our first child, Robin, was born on September 14, 1972. Our second, Neil, arrived Jan. 21, 1976, and our last child, Reuben, was born September 22, 1979. After moving around a bit within Alaska, we settled down on my parent's homestead several miles out of Soldotna. The airstrip running down the middle of the original homestead has proved to be a great asset since Roger now has his own aircraft repair business. Customers fly their planes in to be worked on and then fly them back out. We built our house & hangar next to the airstrip. Alaska is the perfect place for an aircraft related business. Many Alaskans own small planes & use them for both business and pleasure. I had been a "stay at home" mom until our youngest was in high school. Then I started taking classes at our local community college. (We live about 4 miles away!) I started out with Algebra because I wanted to see if I could conquer it. When I was in high school I was too timid to ask questions so I didn't receive a very good grade. I enjoyed taking Algebra at the college because I had an excellent teacher & now as an adult felt more confident in asking for clarification when I didn't understand something. I amazed myself with making straight A's up through Intermediate Algebra. Much encouraged & excited about taking college classes, I slowly added the basics for an eventual degree. My sister, Naomi, was the "wind beneath my wings" and kept me going. It makes a tremendous difference when someone believes "You can do it!" After playing around with taking classes & slowly adding to my repertoire of conquered courses, I graduated last year with an Elementary Teacher's Certificate. Okay, so I was 50 years old. It takes some of us a while to reach our goals. I am now a teacher's aide for a 3rd grade at our local Christian school. (My dad helped start this school & our children attended it.) I love being an aide and working with the children. (Don't tell my boss, but I would volunteer even if I didn't get paid!) Over the years, I have used my musical abilities to play the piano in churches for congregational singing, small groups, individuals, and with other musicians. I desire to pass on my love for music to my granddaughter, Courtney, as I teach her to play the piano. It is fun to see that she has an "ear" for music. When we sit down for a lesson, she often has a new song from church that she has figured out how to play. Although Courtney is only 7, her "octave" reach is almost equal to mine. I have great hopes for Courtney, not only because she does well musically, but because she also loves our Lord. Currently, here is the status of our children: Robin is married to Duke McGee. They have 2 children & live a few miles down the road from us. Courtney just turned 7 & David just turned 5. Either I don't have as much energy as I did when our kids were young, or these grandchildren are simply more active than ours were. Robin & Duke are very involved in a Baptist church & school. Robin teaches the kindergarteners in the school & they both are teen leaders. Neil is now living in Antioch, California and has a job in electrical maintenance. He has achieved a pilot's license in both small aircraft & helicopter. He is not married but ever hopeful! Reuben has left the nest a few times & is working at establishing a body jewelry business so that he can be permanently on his own. He also loves snowboarding, playing the guitar, & freaking out people with off-the-wall antics. Okay, so you can't imagine my having a son that is into body jewelry. Neither could I back in high school. One never knows the twists & turns life will take. I actually think you'd like him if you met him. Here is the status of our pet population: After years of owning horses, dogs, rabbits, cats, fish, & a parakeet, we now have streamlined our menagerie to one Alaskan Husky dog (perfect for cold weather) & one rather unpredictable gray tabby cat. Both critters are animal shelter rescues that our son & his girlfriend brought home. This dog & cat were the only two they could not find a home for. During the night, Reuben & his friend check the cages at our local rescue shelter. They have brought the dogs/cats home & fed them while trying to find people to adopt them. It has been interesting. Although I appreciate their tender hearts, having 7 cats in a garage can be quite undesirable! However, we do love the Husky pup that has ended up keeping the name Puppy. Each year brings new opportunities to learn more about life & about our great God & Savior. Life definitely is a journey & I'm glad that Jesus Christ has promised to never leave me as I travel through it. The most important thing I have learned is that it is our relationship with God that is of utmost significance, not the accumulation of what has become religious duties to perform "for" God. It warms my heart & overwhelms me to think that God desires fellowship with me above anything I could do. What an awesome God! I hope all of my former classmates experience the joy & freedom of fellowship with Him. Ruth "Gaede" Rupp Back to Biography List