When Spring arrives in Japan, people move to new towns and begin new careers or start a new school.
It is the turning of a page and beginning of a new chapter, a new phase in life to embrace.
Oh Izzy's like "I got a good deal here!"
That's so beautiful. That's so beautiful, huh Dude?
You like it? Yeah? Yep.
Of all, yellow is my favorite color.
When you see the cherry blossoms about to bloom, you know changes are just around the corner.
[Life in Japan Theme Song]
A beautiful season is starting, and that's the season where it's getting lighter earlier,
You can get out before most people are out and up, and the traffic's not bad at all; you can get around just fine.
And there's beautiful places that are a little further away that I still have never explored and I'm looking forward to doing so.
As the cherry-blossoms start to bloom, Sarah too is heading off for the end of a chapter.
Well alright!
Let's go!
It's Sarah's last day of school!
You've been going to school all this week, huh?
And this is your last day of what grade? Second.
What are you looking forward to in 3rd grade?
Ummm... P.E. (Physical Education)
Alright, congratulations Sarah.
This room is always a scary place...
So I am putting an end to that!
And buy an actual shelving unit to go over there
That will look good, from there to there, all white, right? Yea, it will.
With bins — I'll buy white bins too. I want all white.
There we go
I just helped my sister move, and I want to get organized in case I have to move.
When the Sakura blooms, change is in the air, and now we’re adapting the kids room to better fit their phase of life.
Oh cool.
I should have known when Ruth said "Let's take a quick trip to IKEA, I know exactly what I'm going to get..."
I did!
It's my superpower. It is.
Oh- wow! It's looking good.
It is, my goodness.
It's a store - ha ha! Dude, awesome.
Oh yea, that's awesome, I love it.
There's even one on the side.
Sakura usually blooms in Tokyo in late March or early April, but there is only a small window of time when the blooms are just right.
Yokota Airbase has a Sakura festival and this year we’re checking it out
only one problem: the cherry blossoms here haven’t even started to bloom!
Oh, should we do a picture?
Here we go!
The Sakura's not quite ready yet, but still a lot of fun. Look at this.
So Ruth, we came in and what's the first thing that happened?
Someone said "We like your YouTube channel!" Really?
Yep, really.
Tents and booths filled with food and games line the main street.
Everything looked so good that it was hard deciding what to do!
Momma bought her first purchase! Oh my goodness, what did you get?
Oh wow, brownies, huh?!
Brownies!! The girls are like "Yea!"
Oh! That looks good.
How is it?
Oh my! Good?
Mmm hmm.
We're almost up!
Here goes Anna.... Oh!!
Almost!
Yea, you did it!! Oh! Or did you?
Yea!
So you came up to me and said...
I've been watching your YouTube channel for years
I saw you guys walking
And I was like I'm going to have to say "hi!"
Thank you, Well thank you! What's your name?
Aiya Yes I did it!
Oh! Yea!
So in May we have another friendship festival, it's way bigger than this.
So hopefully you guys will be here?
Ah, well cool! Well if we can, we'd love to come!
Whoa, common Sara-bara!
You're a natural - wow!
Wow Sarah, that was so fast!
Look at this, Daddy!
You having fun?
The Sakura festival was a surreal mix of Japanese and American culture, and it was a lot of fun.
I just kept thinking how beautiful it would be in another week!
Look at that! It's brat time!
Brat time! I got mine.
Alright, that was fun, wasn't it? Time to go back to the car.
Heading home and it sure is windy!
But that was the Sakura Festival this year
The Sakura was not out yet, but it was still a lot of fun.
And tons of people that knew saw us there. We got pictures. That was a lot of fun meeting a lot of you.
Five people — five! Five people, huh?
Yes, change is in the air, no matter how windy it might be,
And back at Paz Coffee Shop, we were making preparations for a big change of our own.
Alright we're out to coffee shop, tomorrow is a very exciting day
Paz Church is starting back up —we've had a long break during this semi-quasi emergency that's been going on,
But tomorrow we're getting back together, 10 AM on Sunday at Paz Coffee Shop. Let's do this thing.
OK, we're getting ready for a game of UNO!
Alright. Oh Sarah, yes! Shuffle again so we can see it.
Ah! So satisfying!
UNO!
Me? Yea, I was almost going to attack you, Anna.
Wait, it's not me. Don't attack me!
It is you, put it down! No it's not, it is me.
Guys, why isn't Daddy playing?
Because you're already out! You finished, stop bragging!
I've been on a big winning streak ever since the video where we played a big family UNO together.
And what does the winner win? He wins a chance to tickle all of the other Reutter kids.
So coming down, going to find them.
They're going to get tickled!
[laughing]
Tickle me more!
Even with the cold, wet weather, the sakura would not stay dormant.
The morning light revealed what we had been waiting for all along: the blooming of the Sakura.
The transformation happened seemingly overnight, as the winter gave way to spring.
This is the most magical time of the year in Japan, in my opinion.
The sakura starts blooming.
It was so stormy last night but then it got warm, it's clearing up
Today is going to be the most beautiful day yet that we've had this Spring.
Getting ready for the services here with some mic checks, some sound checks,
And in about an hour- 10 o'clock we're going live here in person and online!
I believe that God wants us all to walk in joy.
We're back, we're back, we're back!
The question is how come a lot of us don't sometimes?
Ah! It's gorgeous! Gorgeous.
Gorgeous and cold!
Oh, that was pretty cute!
Look at that! Look at that!
What did you get, Sarah? Did you get a special treat?
Uh huh. What is it?
It's a grape candy.
Oh I got this.
Oh you got... you love that, don't you?
Yeah, it's Mario.
Should I get down on the other side? You guys wait here for a moment.
Want to do the train one more time?
There was one train that was really loud, like more louder than I could scream!
Oh yeah?
They're all ready for the train crossing here.
La la la la la, it's coming!
Yeah! OK, let's keep walking!
She's just... oh my goodness! Lu Lu is just loaded up!
This is all connected!
Take a picture of you. OK look at Mommy.
When Sakura blooms, it’s a new season with new hope.
If you enjoy our videos, than please take a moment to like it and subscribe to our channel.
Then take a look at what we’ll explore next week, as Spring Break in Japan continues.