And with it, comes changes big and small.

Holy moly! It's windy!

Whoa, oh my goodness! Give them to Mommy, Joey Joey.

Are you trying to hit that other rock? Yeah, we've been trying.

Been trying? Nobody can do it, huh? Ah, I did it!

You got it?! Yeah!

I love Spring in Japan — a time for old things to end and new things to begin.

A time to graduate to the next season in life.

This is how mommies stay warm.

[Life in Japan Theme Song]

I've got some flowers tonight! I'm going on a special date with one of my daughters.

So it was Anna's choice — where did you choose Anna?

Gusto's

Gusto's, that's where she wanted to go.

Alright, here we go!

It is really, really raining — with thunder, lighting—the whole thing!

What is going on? You're getting gloves on? What's happening?

We're making a snow man.

Snowman?!

Our neighbor brought some snow— snow!

Eh! Wow! Great!

Where did this snow come from?

It came from Nigata. Nigata!

At your house, about how tall is the snow?

About like this— my height.

Thank you, Ron for this snow.

Is it your snow? Did you make the snow?

No?

I'm going to throw this at you! At me?!

Alright, the snowman's coming together.

We didn't get snow here this year but somebody brought snow to us. That was so nice, wasn't it?

You guys are all done? Yeah!

What's the name of your snowman?

Snowy Snowy?

OK, let me see.

Oh my goodness—look at Snowy!

That's incredible, guys!

You did such a good job! Wow!

You guys are pros!

He just doesn't have a nose because he has a grumpy face now.

He has a grumpy face? Why!?

When you have a grumpy face, stuff falls down.

Ow wow, what a snowman! That's awesome!

Becca, take a picture OK, let's take a picture guys!

You get behind there, and I'll take one with you.

Alright, let me take my phone out and take a picture.

One, two, three, cheese!

What's going on?

A rainbow! A rainbow!

Really?

I saw it first.

Nate, it is just amazing!

I moved the clothes... Holy cow!

Oh my goodness...open the, open the window! I want to get a picture too.

Whoa! That is a full rainbow!

I can see the end over there too.

I can't see it.

I can't even get it all on my phone

Where's yours Nate?

Yea, mine gets it all. This one got it all too.

Did you get it? Yes!

There's an earthquake — everything is rumbling, huh?

Look at the light up there, huh?

It's still going. What a long earthquake. Rumble rumble rumble.

Tomorrow, Paz Church is meeting in person!! That means we're setting up tonight.

I walked out my door and what did I see this morning?

Snowy the snowman still hanging on. Wow! That's impressive!

We're back, in person! Awesome!

MONDAY

Yea, you're doing good, keep coming!

Wow, you did good!

I couldn't do it all the way. You couldn't do it all the way? You still did good!

Are we excited?

Do you guys know what's in here?

Yeah No

Yeah, no!

Yes, no, yes, no, yes, no

I know some of what's in there. What's something that you love to eat for breakfast?

Cereal!

Ah! This is what Sarah's been wanting! Oh my goodness!

Oh Sarah Bear!

These are cute. Do you want to see what one of these does, Joshua?

I know, can I try?

There we go!

Hang on, Grandma sent us a bunch of crafts.

These are cute for the girls.

It's another the same size? Yes! Cool.

Let's see what shirt this is. Me!

That's for you is right!

Whoa Dude! It's Super Dog to the rescue!

Which one is this?

For me?

No, this totally...looks like Sarah. Sarah!

That totally looks like Sarah.

Vanilla — essentials to baking.

Just in time for Easter! My goodness Yes

This is for you, Sarah Bear. Aw.

Joshua really wants a lot of stuff.

Anna Cakes!

Joshua... it's a cool athletic shirt.

Gonna try one, Anna? Let's see

Very nice.

This looks like for you. Oh yea, I like that.

Oh, white to silver. I don't think it really changes.

Oh yea, it does.

Another fun Grandma box!

Another Monday night... another date with another daughter tonight. Do you know which daughter tonight?

Where are we going Becca? Where did you decide to go? Kurazushi.

Which one do you like, Daddy?

What'cha making? Um, a bunny with some white on it.

A little preschool entertainment fun.

Decorating cookies? It's not just for preschoolers, is it?

No. Mommy, what should I do with this?

Eh, be careful!

I was being careful.

It looks like s Switch.

Sarah, what did you get in the mail? Go open it.

Whoa! You got a Joshua?!

Are we ready, guys? We're going to go enjoy a picnic.

What did you girls decide to get to eat today?

Melon Bread

Does it taste like melon? No.

No?! But it tastes good.

What is this that you got, Sarah?

Oh, you're going to read it?

Well guys, this is it.

What is it Becca and Anna? The last day of 5th grade.

Last day of 5th grade.

Wow — and Sarah for you?

The last day of 1st Grade.

The last day of 5th grade! The last day of 1st grade!

What are you most looking forward to in 6th grade?

To be in the same class as Becca.

You going to be in the same class? I want to be!

But you don't know yet? Yea.

Sarah, what are you looking forward to in 2nd grade?

To go in the same class as my friends. Oh yeah?

Nothing. You're not looking forward to anything in 6th grade?!

What about being the top grade in elementary school? Is that cool?

Eh, more work to do. More work to do!

The years march on, and the kids continue to grow up and progress from grade to grade.

Spring is a time when we lean into the new season of life while fondly remembering the highlights of the past year,

but saying goodbye is not always easy.

Hi guys! Welcome back!

5th grade's over! 1st grade's over!

Oh my goodness!

Awesome!

Sarah, no more yellow backpack cover!

No more yellow backpack cover, I forgot!

Was that all from 1st year? You got that back, huh?

So Becca, we were a little bit sad coming back home from 5th grade. Why's that today?

My teacher's going to another school.

Your teacher's going to another school. Oh.

You know what? In one year, you're going to another school too.

This is my 4th time.

One time my teacher went to a different class. The second teacher.

Yeah? That's right — that's already happened to big J.

So where are we going now guys? Sena's house!

Hey!

Congratulations on 6th grade!

Whoa, look at this feast!

Look at this punch! Fruit and Mitsuya Cider. Yum!

Guys, have fun!

Bye bye!

The Spring is the time of endings and beginnings in Japan.

We don't know all of what the future will bring, but the hope that we hold on to is that the best is yet to come.

It's a hope that reflected in the blooming of the Sakura every year.

One of the great parts about Spring in Japan? The blooming of the Sakura!

Oh boy, and it's happening!

Walking down our little trail by the river to see all the Sakura.

Whoa Joshua, what a good gig you got there, Dude.

Hi! Sakura baby.

Hi baby girl, hi!

Here's the Sakura, ooo so nice! Look at the bloom.

Look how pretty—whoops! Sorry.

Scary scary scary scary!

Sakura! Yea!

Was that on the ground?

What? Yea, it fell on the ground. It came right in front of me.

Anna and Sarah look at Mommy!

Aw look at my pretty flower in the pretty flowers.

Yeah, you're a pretty flower.

My pink. I'm pink too!

The pink Sakura flowers.

Oh my goodness. Here we go!

Last time Joshua got wet. I got wet.

But it's OK, it didn't go through.

You just need to get wet, like that, a little bit.

Joshua... That's a challenge.

Here, Becca help Joshua.

No! I don't need any help.

Are you sure Dude? OK, last time you got wet.

Last time he fell over there in the water.

Here they come...

Wow!

Oh, they're crossing the river.

I didn't got any wet!

You didn't get wet at all! Awesome.

Becca... I'm the helper.

OK

I didn't got any wet.

I didn't... say "I didn't get wet at all."

I didn't get wet at all. Yea! Way to go.

OK get on the bridge!

Joshua. OK.

Are you hot? Are you hot or not hot?

I don't think you're hot.

Tickle tickle tickle. Are you ticklish right here?

Not right now, daddy!

There's something rustling in the bushes here.

Joshua, what are you doing down in there?!

Whoa! It's an animal. No, it's Joshua. There he is! My goodness!

We're at the train tracks. We're going to wait for the train to come.

You can stay under the tracks while it comes. Oh my.

Are you waiting for the train to come? You're going to be right under it when it comes!

This side! This side guys! Over here!

Oh, over there?

It's coming!

That's scary!

OK, we're going to wait for another train.

Oh, here it comes! Over here!

Sit down! Where's Becca?!

Here it comes!

You got to unpause it!

OK let's go!

Both sides! It was from both sides at the same time!

It was both sides? It scared me!

Sugoi, perfect timing, huh?

What a pretty little garden here, huh?

I know, and they're selling stuff!

Spring is a beautiful time all over the world, so what makes Spring so special in Japan?

No where else in the world do I know of a place where the bleak winter gives way to the blossoms of Spring in such a dramatic way.

To me, it's a perfect picture of what happens when love blossoms in your heart

and nothing is more special than love.

Have you experienced true love?

The purest form comes from God and is a gift from Him,

and it changes the wintery places of your life into the beauty of spring.

Hello? Is Sarah Reutter home?

Oh, I have some flowers for a Sarah Reutter!

How about a special time with Daddy?!

And Sarah's choice was?

Gusto's! Gusto's.

Here we go!

Daddy's got his food, and Sarah has hers! Yea!

OK - here are the tickets for Sumo

Look what I have! I'm going to my very first Sumo tournament!