Whoa! What's going on here?!
Birthday. Birthday?!
Yours?! Yeah.
Sarah bear! How old are you?!
10 10 years old!
Oh my goodness! Somebody's here!
Come in! I know you're Izzy.
[Life in Japan Theme Song]
Life is full of defining moments.
These can be good or bad, but the best ones leave a positive lasting impression in our identity and character.
Well hello — well look it!
Where'd your teeth go?!
You lose them just like Joshua, huh?
They went "boom" when you guys were in Singapore.
I guess so, huh? Cool.
Well, look at the princesses arriving to the party.
Wow! So very nice. What an entrance.
I remember this dress!
Remember? Uh huh.
I wore it on my birthday. Do you remember? I think I was turning six.
OK, this is where we're at. We're at the Paz Coffee Shop.
Soon after our team opened Paz Coffee Shop, we held a huge birthday party for Sarah there.
It was a blast getting all of her friends together for this special day,
and it just so happened to be one of the earliest episodes of Life in Japan.
[Singing Happy Birthday]
We invited her whole class and her whole class came!
It was one of those life-defining moments.
However for Sarah’s 10th birthday, we’re doing something smaller in our house,
but in whatever form they take, we like a good birthday party.
It’s a great way to create a life-defining moment that builds a positive identity.
Oh my goodness!
Oh wow, look at that!
Whatever could that be?!
What do you think that is?!
This year Vovó got to celebrate with us.
The cousins and the presents started to pour in and we were ready to go.
It's fun. Oh yea, I thought so too.
[Singing Happy Birthday]
It’s not just about celebrating a birthday — creating these moments for our kids is an important part of being a parent.
Look at this new hairstyle he has now!
Walk around, let's see.
Look at that! Oh my goodness!
But it didn’t take long before Sarah was opening her gifts.
At 10 years old, she is turning into a beautiful young woman, but is still a kid. What a fun age!
Wow Sarah, that's pretty.
This thing's fancy!
You're growing up,
You get clothes now Sarah, you don't get any more toys!
That's how you know you're growing up, right?
You get clothes.
Everybody look!
This is like a Christmas present!
That's so big! It's giant!
Oh my!
You're still a kid. That's right.
You're still a kid, you got a unicorn.
The day came to a close, but the next day Sarah actually turned 10
and got to experience a new Reutter family birthday tradition for the first time — breakfast in bed.
Let's go.
Oh boy.
Sometimes it’s the smallest things done in love that leave the biggest mark.
[Singing Happy Birthday]
Careful with your hot chocolate, OK?
Sarah chan is 10 years old today! 10 years old!
Oh! So bright.
Breakfast in bed on your 10th birthday.
Do you feel older, wiser? No.
Thanks for answering for her!
She's eating. She has her mouth full.
She sure is. We'll let her eat.
Life-defining moments can come in many different shapes and forms.
What's up, Dude? Is it beach time?
Yep. How cool is that?
Essentially every moment that builds identity in a family is life-defining by nature.
The trick is to recognize them and make space for them.
They said there's water soon! There's water? What?
Water!
Floaties, do I have the floaties? Yeah.
Are you ready for the floaties? Yeah.
You're like "Give me the floaties!" Give me!
Everybody's getting ready to go in and swim.
A wave a wave! Here comes a wave!
Here comes a wave, whoa!
Ah! Wave city, Sarah, wave city!
Hey, do you know what wave city is?
It's wave city, see? I'm waving.
Oh, hi!
What did the ocean say to the beach? What did it say?
Nothing, it just waved. It just waved!
That's a good one.
Move to where the waves are! Move to where the waves are!
Oh here comes a wave. Look at that wave!
Alright!
Yeah! How about that one?
Oh look at that big one shaping up!
Oh yea it is!
Big wave big wave! Whoa!
Momma chan got that one!
You have to be up by the beach to get it.
Oh here it comes!
Whoa wave city! Whoa Dude!
You got a mouth full of sea water!
Here comes some big ones! Look at that one!
Oh my goodness!
Not only does this family love the ocean, but we love catching a wave and going for a ride.
Everyone's here, ready to catch the big wave when it comes!
Oh, big one!
The big kahuna! Whoa!
Of course some attempts of catching waves are better than others.
But even the bad ones can be a learning experience.
Were you recording?!
But with a little bit of patience, you can get a good one.
Yeah! Alright!
Awesome Dude! You did it!
You got some sand on you! You can wash off.
Way to go!
Do you like water and beach? Our family sure does, and Japan is a great place to enjoy such things.
Oh my goodness, that was a big one!
It came all the way up to the sand castle!
But of all the life-defining moments we’ve had so far this year, the best one was still a few days away.
But it wouldn’t happen on a beautiful sunny day, nor would it happen near a beach,
but it sure would involved getting completely dunked in the water.
What do you think Anna, how does it feel? Freezing!
Is it? Let's see, let's put our toes in and see.
Oh my goodness!
Oh no, Becca!
This isn't cold.
Seven teenagers, their families and friends gathered together for a life-defining moment like no other.
For nearly 2,000 years, many millions of people from all around the world have shared the same experience,
and on this rainy day, the girls are about to do the same thing — get baptized!
They're going to get baptized! It's amazing!
Walking by faith is a key aspect of our family life, and everyone was involved in making this happen!
How very special this day is, rain and all.
Do you believe that Jesus Christ is God who became man,
died on the cross for your sins and rose again? It's going to happen!
Yes.
Have you received Jesus personally as your Lord and savior, Anna? Yes.
Do you promise to follow Jesus for the rest of your life? Yes.
In the name of Jesus - are you ready?
I baptize you
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit...
All in all, seven teenagers took the life-defining plunge and came up out of those chilly waters super excited.
Normally this area would be packed with people, but because of the rain we had it all to ourselves.
Afterwards it cleared up, and we got to enjoy the river the whole afternoon.
How is it? Whoa Sarah!
Sarah tell me... What?
What's the breaking news?!
The breaking news?
Becca and Anna got baptized?
Yeah! And now what? It's party time?
Party!
Do you have a life-defining moment you want to share?
Leave it in the comments and we’ll see you next time on Life in Japan!
OK, I have to go get rid of my phone first, OK?