Monday, December 26, 2011

Our Existence is Still A Story

“The supreme adventure is being born. Our existence may cease to be a song; it may cease even to be a beautiful lament. Our existence may not be an intelligible justice, or even a recognizable wrong. But our existence is still a story.” 
- G. K. Chesterton

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Merry Christmas from the Reichs


Here at the close of 2011 we’re still reeling a little at all the change and adventure that one little year has brought to our lives. January found us crossing fingers and toes as Keith’s job search continued plodding along and we contemplated the possibility that we could end up, literally, anywhere. Meanwhile, we were deepening our already extensive roots in Waco and living a wonderful, rich, full life.

In April Keith accepted a job as Assistant Professor of Religion & Philosophy at Chowan University in Murfreesboro, North Carolina. A frenzy of activity followed as we navigated all the joys and pitfalls of moving across the country: selling a house, finding a new one, packing furiously, and of course, saying “farewell for now” to life in Texas.

August was the month of the move. Keith left Waco in a giant moving truck with four cats and everything we owned at the beginning of the month. I stayed behind to see a few work commitments through and followed him out a couple weeks later.

Since then, we've been busy building our new life in a quiet corner of a quaint and quirky, pine-studded town in northeastern North Carolina. We’ve been blessed with some wonderful new friends and we’re enjoying the peaceful-yet-constant hum of a very friendly and very active and very small town. Keith absolutely adores his new job and I couldn't be happier continuing to work for Waco-based Golden Acres from my new office in our home.

We’re winding up the year by (finally) slowing down (a little) and preparing hearts and minds for the joy of Christmas. We hope the year has brought you as many rich blessings as you can handle with even more to come in 2012.

Wishing You a Very Merry Christmas,

Brooke & Keith

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Almost Christmas in Murfreesboro, NC

It's really.....


almost.....


Christmas!


Really...


No seriously....


It is!


I can hardly believe....


we're leaving North Carolina tomorrow....


and flying to Texas....


just in time for Christmas Eve!


But before we go...


 I wanted you to see our Christmas-decorated new home.


It really is the most wonderful time of the year!

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

A Very Special Book for a Very Special Girl

Keith's niece Marilyn is in second grade this year. But she's reading at a fourth grade level. And she really loves books. Keith and I decided it was time to pass on a special love to her this Christmas. We hunted all over for just the right version, and finally settled on this...


And on the inside, we're writing this note...
Dear Marilyn,

With this book, you are about to start a magical adventure that may just last your whole life. It did for us. And when you meet Edmund and Lucy and Susan and Peter, and Eustace and Jill, and Aslan (especially Aslan), well, we think you’re going to have some new best friends.
 
The books in this volume are set up chronologically, but they were first written in a different order. And we think that’s really the best way to read them. So when you start reading, don’t start with Book One. Start with the Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and then follow our list from there.

1. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
2. Prince Caspian
3. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
4. The Silver Chair
5. The Horse and His Boy
6. The Magician’s Nephew
7. The Last Battle

This book, or really series of books, is full of some of our favorite stories of all time. They’re very special to us, and we wanted to share them with a very special girl like you. We love you so much!

Merry Christmas 2011 from
Aunt Brooke & Uncle Keith