for just an hour before getting home our car broke down on the highway, leaving us stranded

This is not how I saw today ending, but you know...

and when we did finally get home, we had the biggest surprise yet.

Even our pretty rose tree, bam! On the ground!

That means we're going to MOVE!

[Life in Japan Theme Song]

The morning after returning to Japan.

People of my heart, good morning!

When did everybody wake up?

We never really went to bed.

We never went to bed?!

Sarah did and woke up at 5:00 AM.

I've been up since 3:00. I laid down and never really slept.

Last night it was so exciting to get home, use the bathroom, yes the toilet- oh! So wonderful.

And then I get here today and look what's waiting for me...

It's my coffee cup.

And the girlfriend actually made the coffee...

Well, I got it ready, she hit the button.

So what are you looking for Anna?

House.

Houses?

And the unpacking has commenced, huh? Yes.

All my souvenirs

Got some books to read.

Alright guys, do you know what we're about to do?

Yea, we're going to see our new tiny car.

Yea, the rental car we're getting while our car is the shop getting fixed, right?

Yea, poor car.

Poor car. But it's going to be all better.

That is tiny!

What in the world?!

What in the world, huh?

There's only four seats.

But at least it's something we can get around and buy stuff in

And then when our car is done, we'll have it back.

And look what they did to our backyard while we were gone.

They killed our backyard!

We knew as soon as we saw the backyard in this state that something big was happening.

We just didn't know what or when.

They just cut everything down to the roots it looks like.

OK, we got our little baby rental car that we all just drove in

And now we're going to have sushi, right?

And we're going to try a new place, right Anna?

Hamazushi. Let's see what it's like.

OK Sarah got some ramen this time, huh honey?

Look what I got

And Joshua...

Six tuna rolls

Six tuna rolls, and you already ate one. Was it good?

Good.

Oh, Daddy's fried chicken came, yum!

I've been working here on this massive video but the ladies are having a rough time adjusting to this new time zone.

Well here we go. Anna's practically sleep walking.

We're trying to stay awake and we're going to go have dinner with the family

It's going to be fun to see them.

A whole month is too long!

It's too long!

Did you see Anna, look — she's barely awake.

We had a fun dinner with family and stayed awake as long as possible, and then headed back home.

The next day school would start for the kids, so we were trying to get back to normal,

but with our dubious housing situation, it was difficult to know what normal was.

Soon we would find out more. For now, it was time to rest.

Oh girls, it's early but you went to bed early and how long did you sleep?

8 hours.

Oh, that's good!

Up at what time? 3.

How about the Momma chan last night?

So, I got up about 10:30 PM...

About 10:30?!

And I came upstairs and I sat

Because if I listen to my audible it will like knock me out,

So every thirty minutes I would wake up and turn it back on.

Well, it's time to get back into the morning routine so I'm going to go out to do my morning walk where I pray.

Firing up the rental car.

Look, they have the cupholder right in front of the vent so the vent cools off my coffee! What?!

Well, it's not my Toyota Noah but here we go, it will get me where I need to go.

The first morning back [walking], let's go see the sunrise, it's coming up right now

And it's beautiful. Oh yes, look at that.

I really do love to travel, but I'll tell you what

It's so nice when you get home, because I miss my routine while I'm traveling.

And routines are what make you or break you.

Whatever small thing you put into your daily routine will become a big thing in your life

And so just by managing the little things in your life that you day every day, you can determine which way your life goes.

First day back to school.

It's the first day back after summer vacation.

And we're still jet-lagging.

Now what? Are you excited, is it a little sad?

I'm excited to see my friends.

Yea?

But not excited that school started.

Yea. It's a happy sad, huh?

It's not fair. In America there's three months of vacation, no homework.

In Japan, one month of vacation and a lot of homework.

I know. That's not so cool, is it?

Well who knows. Maybe at some point you'll be in a school like that.

Right? Yeah.

[Singing] This backpack's so light, light, light.

The little Reutter kids also headed off to school, and then I headed to a meeting with the realty firm that manages our property.

Things were about to really change.

Well, I just had a meeting with the realtors

And I'll call Ruth and let her know what's going on.

Hello.

So what happened?

So they're officially asking us to move, they'll give us all of our deposit back

Whatever the cost is to enter into a new house, they'll pay for that

They have a number of options for us to look at.

They want us to get moving on it as soon as we can.

With the official word in, it was time to really get serious about finding a place.

Is this from the inside of it?

That's the back side of it.

That's all they know.

Is it a nice side yard? It looks like a nice size yard.

It's a small living dining.

What is it Joshua? What did you get today?

It's so hard!

I really want a very very very very very clean pianika again.

But we never use pianikas anymore.

You don't?

Once we move, I'm hoping I won't miss the view.

Because this view we have here is awesome.

Thinking of moving after living here over 8 years was not easy, but soon got some news that made us feel better.

Well I just found out our car is done, our Toyota Noah is fixed

So it's time to drive this, take the rental back

It's been fun driving this little car and navigating down some small streets I haven't been able to before,

But it will be nice to get our van back too.

All that space is missed.

Having these keys where you just push the button to start the car...

Without using your key, you just keep your key in your pocket, that is very cool.

We decided to celebrate our car's return with a quick outing to one of our favorite parks in all of Japan, Showa Kinen.

Girlfriend, how many times have we done this?

Oh, so many. It's so fun.

It is so fun. This is one of the best parks.

And kids are free!

Kids are free, yes!

So guys, what happened right over here?

We have Life in Japan, the first thing The intro

Right here.

It was down that hill.

Was it down that hill or was it down right over here?

I think it was down over there.

Oh, momma chan remembers better.

Let's see if we can recreate it.

It's not right there.

And Uncle Paul was taking the video.

Uncle Paul was taking the video, so we don't have him here today, but that would be very helpful

I don't remember walking down here.

I think it was further over there.

Maybe it was.

OK so are we doing it?

No, no, we can just go.

Today we're renting bikes and they have these amazing trails that go all around.

And it's just been a long time since we last did it, so it's going to be fun.

Yea, this is my first time going on my own bike.

Yea, for you! Your first time on your own bike.

So Dude, are you excited for this?

Yep. Yea?

It's my first time having these.

Yea, it's your first time with a bike that has speeds (gears) on it, huh?

So we're going to see how it does here.

It looks like we need to fix your helmet though.

Oh here comes an uphill

We are working our way back to the kids favorite: the white bouncy domes

And they're back at the other side of the park.

How is it, Becca?

Good. Good?

Where should I put this?

Just leave it, I'll deal with it.

So of all the parks here in Japan this is probably the one that you would say that we come back to most?

Probably.

What's the best part?

There's so many different activities for the kids and it's not that far from our house.

So that's nice. I mean it's far, but it's not as far as some.

Joshua

It didn't take long and everybody got tired and hot...

I'm hot. You're hot.

Our house is older now and has too many issues to fix, so it's easier to have all the tenants move out and tear it down.

I completely understand, still it's a bit sad to think about.

Getting out today helps us get our mind off of all the changes for a bit.

What in the world? Look at that tongue! It must be Kakigori (shaved ice)

Shaved ice, let's see!

You got some pink tongues there, huh?

Everything is so pretty and green today.

Even though it's September.

Sometimes there's smoke out there.

I know, it's cool when smokes in here and it just fills this whole area.

You can play tag! Yea.

Whoa! Whoa, can you do it Sarah?

We're ready to ride the rest of the circuit heading this way, oh boy.

Our approach towards life can be summed up by something Jesus said

“I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear."

"Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow."

"They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are."

Can you see these orange flowers over here?

Yea, they're so beautiful.

Oh, let's see if we can find a parking spot to go see them.

Here we go, it's close!

We'll park there — oh! And then come up there. That's awesome!

Daddy, I don't think that's a parking spot...

It's not parking? Oh, I think you're right, I need to back up a little bit, don't I?

Oh look at this! This is awesome, that's what this is!

"And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you."

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live the right way and he will give you everything you need."

It's too hot!

You're too hot? Well, we'll have to go get back...

Here, Daddy will get in it.

We don't know where we'll move to, what schools the kids will be in, or even what the near future holds.

But we do know that it will all work out for the best, and that gives us hope moving forward into the unknown.

The Sakura trees are already changing their leaves.

They're the earliest to bloom and the earliest to lose their leaves.

We made it!

Well, it's a little crazy getting back home and thinking we're not going to be here much longer.

Well I have to say, it's been a real good run at this house. No regrets here.

By the way, if you haven't checked out our online store, it's for Japan residents only

But it's full of sweatshirts that we've been wearing recently, just in time for the fall.

Amazing jackets, bags, some other awesome things.