The Reichanadter Journey

We had a very full, fun-filled Thanksgiving weekend in Elkhart...two delicious turkey dinners, wonderful time with family, breakfasts with friends we hadn't seen in forever, and the Turkey Stampede 10K that Jeff and I ran on Thanksgiving morning. My grandma Marge had a "Tacky" party on Black Friday. Here are my cousins and Emma and I dressed in our tackiest attire. We also had a pretty intense corn-hole tournament going on. Austin shows his determined look. The little boys watched from inside.Clay and Max played in the woods for hours. He would love to have a dog someday, but for now it's very fun to get to have days to play with one at someone else's house! At Jeff's parents' house, the guys cut firewood on a pretty afternoon. We ate our "First Breakfast of Christmas" on Saturday. Yum...

The guys put up lights outside, and Hudson got some ideas about climbing a ladder.

When he came inside, he wanted to show his ladder-climbing skills...

As I think over this last weekend, I smile. So much to be grateful for. Happy Thanksgiving!

Some college friends of Jeff's, Dan and Susanna, recently adopted Emmery from Mississippi. Susanna and children stayed with us for a few days on their way back home to Ohio. Emma loved holding a newborn, who looked just like a doll! Our kids enjoyed raking leaves and jumping in them with their kids. We laughed a lot and are so thankful for good friends! Dan and Susanna, we are praising God with you for this new little life. My eyes teared up a few times as I was holding Emmery and thinking about the life she has been rescued from, and this beautiful family she has been given to. Adoption has so much symbolism for us as Christians too. We also have been rescued and have become sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father. What an amazing picture this was for us!

We are thankful we got to experience just a bit of the journey God has taken our friends on.

Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans... -Isaiah 1:17

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice. -Prov. 31:8-9

And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. -Matt.18:5

Grandma Rack came to stay with the kids last weekend while Jeff and I were at a retreat with some teens from church. We are so grateful! Before she had to leave, we took her on a hike at Holliday Park.
Clayton noticed this "walking stick insect" on a rock. I had just walked right past it and didn't even see it. God is so creative in the things He has made!
I think Hudson has eyes like his Daddy.

We went trick-or-treating with our neighbor friends. (Their 6 kids+ our 3=9!) The kids had a blast going from house to house and then running back saying, "They gave me TWO pieces!" Or, "That house had sour gummies!" Our costumes this year consisted of a dress from our dress-up drawer for Emma and a monkey sweatshirt for Hudson. Clay came up with his "lifeguard" outfit right after dinner on Halloween night! Clay wore those sunglasses the whole night, even when it got dark out.
Jeff and I loved walking with them and admiring the pretty homes on these tree lined streets. We stopped to talk to people we knew and I started to realize that this really feels like home. We love it here in this neighborhood.