The Reichanadter Journey

We have some budding fashion designers in the house. Here are the hottest trends of the season: For Clay, it's anything "armored." Monkey wears a cape and carries a sword, Mousey dons the helmet and green cape, and Doggie has armor that actually fits over his tail! Emma designed Piglet's armored "paper plate" skirt. Lovely.

The kids play with their creations and make new ones for hours on end. I never know what they'll come up with. Makes me smile.

Last year we started a tradition and the kids won't let us forget it! We tuck them into bed one evening in December, and then after about 10 minutes Jeff turns on their light and says, "All aboard! Tickets please!" (Like the Polar Express conductor.) Then we whisk them away in their jammies and Santa hats to drive around and look at lights. We end up downtown at the Circle, and finish the night with some Chocolate LaSalle, the amazing mint hot chocolate at the South Bend Chocolate Factory. This has become such a fun time for all of us!

We have a yearly tradition of making a gingerbread house and having it as our centerpiece throughout the Christmas season. So, the other night, we got out all of our old Halloween candy to use as decorations. It's a good way to use up the candy and not eat it all!

I was the baker, Jeff was the frosting extraordinaire, and the kids were the decorators. I liked their lampost lollipop, peanut cobblestone path, and corn chex roof. For the grand finale, we dusted it with powdered sugar snow. Now our creation sits in the middle of our table, and every once in a while I catch the kids trying to take a little nibble... Clay and Em decided they would LOVE to live in a real house like this one!

A friend of ours, Kristin, took some photos for us recently. Here are some of my favorites...

And our hutch in the dining room, with garland strung across the top.

I tried to keep the decorating simple this year. With so much begging for our attention during this season, I really want the focus to be Jesus, not the presents, or the stuff, or the food, or the stores. I want our kids to remember a happy, but peaceful home for the holidays.

May you find Jesus to be real, present, and bright in your life this Christmas season.

So much to be full of thanks for...clean water, hot showers, shoes without holes, a warm house, cozy beds with pillows, a full tummy, freedom, wonderful friends and loving family, and a God who is full of love and grace, with mercy that is new every morning. Great is His Faithfulness!

One afternoon this week the children and I were snuggled on the couch under a cozy blanket, reading the children's classic, Old Yeller. It's a sweet story about a loyal dog and his master, a little boy named Travis. In the end, they had to shoot Old Yeller because he was sick (I hope I didn't just spoil it for you if you were going to read it! :), and Travis was having a hard time with it.

When I read what his dad told him, it struck me, like he was speaking it to me. His dad said, "It's not a thing you can forget. I don't guess it's a thing that you ought to forget. What I mean is, things like that happen. They may seem mighty cruel and unfair, but that's how life is a part of the time. But that isn't the only way life is. A part of the time, it's mighty good. And a man can't afford to waste all the good part, worrying about the bad parts. That makes it all bad..."

We've had some things in life lately that I tend to get distracted by...paying bills, taxes, a silly notice from a tollway violation, insurance, paperwork, waiting in lines, being put on hold for a long period of time while trying to speak with the right person and explain my case, etc. When I read what Travis' dad told him, it was a great reminder to me. Adrienne, don't let the little things of life weigh you down. Trust them to Jesus and let Him carry the burden. Focus on the other parts of life that are "mighty good."

And may we not waste all the good part, worrying about the bad part. Life is way too short for that.

Last Saturday I got to spend the day with Jeff's mom and sister, Melissa, in magical Brown County. It was a beautiful day, and we had so much fun going to the quaint little shops. This store was nearly covered from floor to ceiling with pretty things. Everything was decorated for Christmas. I thought this ribbon display looked pretty. And this little guy was our shopping buddy. He did pretty well and seemed to enjoy all the lights and things to look at.

(I edited these photos on a free site called "Picnik." It's very fun and easy to use.)

Yesterday Clay went outside to play.

He does this often and usually I just peek out to check on him every few minutes or so. When I looked out the windows and didn't see him anywhere, I poked my head out the door and gave a quick scan over the yard.

No Clay.

Backpack hanging on the tree, but no Clay.

Then before I could even start to worry, I heard a little voice say, "Helllllooooo down there!" I looked up, squinted into the sunlight, and this is what I saw: Our 7 year old child was up in this tree that has some some branches barely strong enough to hold him! I later asked Clay about what gave him that idea, and he said with a smile, "I was like Jack and the Beanstalk!" I wonder what the neighbors would have thought if they had seen him climb and climb and keep going higher...Call me crazy, but when Daddy got home we made a limit of how high he can climb on that tree.

Jeff is on to the next house project fixer-upper and this is the state it was in last week:The house actually started like this, but since Jeff likes to restore these old homes, he decided to have the vinyl siding removed since there was the original wood underneath. He has said to me a few times, "Ade, I'm in over my head." I smile and say, "You're gonna do great. It's going to be beautiful!"

This home is only three blocks away from ours, and there's a great sense of satisfaction in beautifying the neighborhood and restoring these 100 year old homes. Several neighbors have stopped by to thank Jeff. I am so proud of him, and his perseverance and hard work.

This week the painters are busy working, next week Jeff will install landscape, and hopefully the house will be transformed soon... I can't wait for the "after pictures!"

We had such a fun time trick-or-treating with our neighbors. Clayton probably said five times that evening as he ran in between the houses to get more candy, "Mom, this is awesome!" We weren't super creative with our costumes this year. Clay had a soccer game earlier in the day and just decided to stay in his soccer uniform and be a "Brazilian soccer player." Emma wore the flower girl dress from a wedding she was in last month and she was a princess. And little Hud Bud was a pumpkin.
We finished the night with a visit from the cutest little pea pod ever, cousin Brayden. We love that little guy, and we love being able to see him lots!

This week I got out Clay's pumpkin costume that he wore when he was a little guy. And now, exactly 7 years later, we have a look-a-like brother. Only this time, Clay gets to sit behind and be the "spotter" in case Huds takes a dive.

Clay has been interested in reading detective books lately, and decided to start his own business. His handwritten papers and signs make me smile. So far, he's 2 for 2 in solving his cases. Whenever he and Emma lose things (such as a walkie-talkie or silly band), he writes them down. Then they go looking, and he makes an x over it when it's found. Sounds easy enough, huh? So, if you lose something and need a detective, look no further. Clayton to the rescue!

My friend Debbie makes the most amazing salsa. She gave me the recipe and I just made it yesterday. It actually has no tomatoes, but tastes very fresh, like something you'd get at Baja Fresh. Make it according to taste:

Yesterday we went to Brown County and tromped around in the crunchy fall leaves. The kids mostly ran ahead and led us down the trails. It was a beautiful fall day and fun to be together as our little fivesome. Hudson helped Jeff read the map. Clay bravely crawled across this log...