The Reichanadter Journey

This spring we've had many guests in our apartment, and have enjoyed practicing our "hospitality skills." One thing I've done is to have a basket of goodies in our bedroom. I keep it stocked with lotions, water, granola bars, cotton swabs, a book called "Breathe, Creating Space for God in a hectic life" and some brochures of fun things to do in Pasadena. I got the idea from a Country Living magazine.


What do you do when you have guests come to stay?

Today we took Clay to the Rose Bowl to learn to ride his bike. Jeff ran alongside him, and Emma chased after them. I came last...running to try to get a picture. I'm sure we looked funny to any passerbyers.
A Clayton-style celebration! He was able to ride without Jeff holding on, but his bike is still a bit big for him, so it's hard to stop since his feet can't touch the ground.
Emmy is waiting for the day when she can ride a bike too.

For our Easter decor, I used some of my favorite vintage looking pieces. Silver, old books, a teacup, and a sign I made out of scrapbook paper and glitter.
This bunny was from the 99 cent store--California's version of the Dollar Store. I guess I can't say everything is more expensive here.... Isn't it cute?

We love you, Grandpa Dave and Grandma Jan!

We're having a great time with my parents and sister Audra this week. We drove to San Diego and spent a day at Sea World. Clay and Emma loved the animals and shows. We even saw Jaws... Here we are trying to look like movie stars in our big sunglasses... Amanda, we are missing you!
That night ended with a sunset at Mission Beach. The next day we visited 120 year old, Victorian Hotel Del Coranado on Coronado Island. We ended our time in San Diego at Balboa park, seeing a museum and the beautiful Spanish architecture there. I'm so thankful for my family being able to come out to see us!

On Sunday, we went to Mosaic. Erwin McManus said, "It's not that God needs us to give Him everything, it's that we need to give Him everything so that we will not be owned by anything." At the end of his talk, he said:

"Most of us here have more shoes than we have feet. But there are some people who have more feet than they have shoes.... I'm wearing my most comfortable shoes and I'm going to take them off and give them to someone who needs them more than I do. I invite you to do the same."

Honestly, my first instinct was to look down at our feet and think, "We weren't prepared for this!I wish Jeff wouldn't have worn those shoes...those are his favorite flip flops. I don't want him to give those up." But I was so convicted about even having those thoughts. Why wouldn't we give up our shoes so that someone else who has NOTHING might have something to wear?!

So, hundreds of people filed up and we all took off our shoes and walked out of the church barefoot. It was such a beautiful thing to see a huge pile of shoes all lined up on the stage. We found out they were donating them to homeless people all over L.A. Who knows, maybe this summer we'll run into a homeless person wearing our sandals. That would make me smile.

I want to live a life of sacrifice... "This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." 1 John 4:10

May we be people who sacrifice so we are not owned by anything.

We love you Britt!

Each week at playschool, Emma paints a picture. I love watching her paint on the easel in that little green smock. Here is the final product.

"Do not quench your inspiration and your imagination; do not become the slave of your model."
--Vincent Van Gogh

My favorite snack to eat lately has been avacados. I love to eat them with a dash of garlic, salt, and cumin. I use it as a dip for tortilla chips. Even Emma eats this with me!

What's your favorite snack?

Yesterday we went to a birthday party in the morning at a park, and another in the afternoon at a different playground! Clayton enjoyed the two Lightening McQueen pinatas and all the candy that fell from them...