Merry Christmas 2021!

Dear Family and Friends,

Early in 2021, we heard that it was 2020-won, as we were still living with the effects of the Covid-19 global pandemic. We have had our challenges, but we've also had many blessings. Here are a few highlights from our family:

Leonard is enjoying his new position at work, back at the UK and Ireland desk.

Jennifer is enjoying hiking each week with dear friends in the beautiful Gatineau Park in Quebec.

Kaleb is serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints speaking Portuguese in Toronto, Canada. He is waiting for his visa to Mozambique, where he was originally called to serve.

Noé is studying and playing at her beautiful school, BYU-Hawaii. She's majoring in Hospitality and Tourism Management, and minoring in Psychology, and the Hawaiian language.

Gavin has started high school (grade 9) and seminary. His favorite subject is geography and he loves playing Mario Galaxy and reading many books in the fantasy genre.

Teague is still enjoying middle school (grade 7). He enjoys math, phys ed, running fast, and creating characters for Papa Louie and many other games.

Hiram is in grade 4 and enjoys gym and recess the most at school. He also enjoys creating his own characters, but he prefers making Pokemon ones.

Ali is in 2^nd grade and likes reading and using the play-structure at school. At home she is always drawing and coloring. She is our artist in residence.

Macy is blossoming in her preschool program at the Children's Hospital. She's a little bit of spunk and a whole lot of pixie dust. She truly brings magic to our family.

We also heard that 2022 is supposed to be 2020-too. However, we have several hopes and dreams we anticipate for next year. How has your year been? What are your hopes and dreams for next year? Please send us a note and let us know! With all of our hearts we wish you a joyous Christmas season and wonderful new year!

Love,

The Reil family

Leonard, Jennifer, Kaleb, Noé, Gavin, Teague, Hiram, Ali, and Macy

Christmas Music

 "The Christmas song is a genre in its own right . . More than any other type of music, it spans and links generations with disparate musical taste buds." ~Ellis Rich

"The world may have changed profoundly over the last 50 years, but these songs have been part of the holiday spirit for generations. Part of the wonder of music is how it helps us continue to create real memories and traditions. These treasured songs are very special to so many people." ~Paul Williams

I adore Christmas music! I love that our local radio station plays it from the day after Remembrance Day until Christmas Day. However, I don't love all the DJ talk and commercials, so usually when I'm driving I listen to one of my 40+ Christmas CDs. At home I play Christmas stations on Spotify every day when I'm getting ready in the bathroom. I've created numerous playlists on Youtube that I play on my TV while I'm doing my daily chores. Last year I made Christmas Carol books for my family that we sing all throughout December and especially on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

I love finding brand new songs each year, or old classics I've never heard before, or songs I've heard for many years that suddenly become even more special and significant to me. This week on Facebook I'm going to be sharing a new song each day. I will share them here too, with a few bonuses. Enjoy!

1. Classic by Dallas Smith

2. Call Him Jesus by Ruth Elaine Schram

3. Noe! Noe! by The Tabernacle Choir

4. The Innkeeper (Let Him In) by Michael McLean

5. The Virgin Mary Had A Baby Boy by Robert DeCormier

6. Take Me Home For Christmas by Dan and Shay

7. Glittery by Kacey Musgraves

8. You and Me and Christmastime by Sheffield

9. Spirit of Christmas by Ray Charles

10. Peace, Peace...Silent Night by Colorado Springs Children's Chorale

11. In the Bleak Mid Winter by Sarah McLachlan

12. Gloria in Excelsis Deo by Antonio Vivaldi

Please share your favorite songs with me too!

Our Heavenly Father

 "(Our) loving God ... (is) not a God lacking in body, parts, or passions- the God of a man-made philosophy.  Rather, God our Father has ears with which to hear our prayers.  He has eyes with which to see our actions.  He has a mouth with which to speak to us.  He has a heart with which to feel compassion and love.  He is real.  He is living.  We are his children made in his image.  We look like him and he looks like us."

"He stands ready to answer the prayer of (our hearts).  Being the father of (our spirits), and having created (us) in His own image, knowing the end from the beginning, His wisdom faileth not and His counsel is ever true.  Make a friend of Him."

~Thomas S. Monson

"I recognize that, on occasion, some of our most fervent prayers may seem to go unanswered.  We wonder, 'Why?'  I know that feeling!  I know the fears and tears of such moments.  But I also know that our prayers are never ignored.  Our faith is never unappreciated.  I know that an all-wise Heavenly Father's perspective is much broader than is ours.  While we know of our mortal problems and pain, He knows of our immortal progress and potential.  If we pray to know His will and submit ourselves to it with patience and courage, heavenly healing can take place in His own way and time."

~Russell M. Nelson

General Conference

 This first weekend of April and October our church has a General Conference on Saturday and Sunday. These weekends are as important to me as Christmas and Easter are. We get to hear words from the prophet and apostles that the Lord would have us hear at this time and place.

Our favorite way to watch is via Youtube on our TV all cuddled together (with pens, paper, and snacks nearby!).

There are five sessions that the whole world is welcome to watch. On Saturday they begin at 10:00 am (Mountain Daylight Time), 2:00 pm, and 6:00 pm. On Sunday they begin at 10:00 am and 2:00 pm.

I'd love for you to join us for any or all of the sessions!

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/broadcasts?lang=eng&video=16339403840441677119&mode=watch

Testimony

 What is a testimony?  A simple definition according to Wikipedia is, "in law and in religion, testimony is a solemn attestation as to the truth of a matter."  Some synonyms to testimony are evidence, declaration, witness, and confirmation.

We had the missionaries over for dinner and they challenged each of us to write our testimony of Jesus Christ and to share it with others.  Today after church, we all sat down and wrote the sacred knowledge of our hearts.  I am going to share each of our testimonies here below:

Leonard's-

When I consider the story of Jesus, I am filled with hope and joy, and with a faith that I can become like him.  I believe that in Jesus the nature of Godhood is revealed to us.  That God loves us and came down to earth to live as a mortal.  That he suffered the pains of mortal life, as well as its joys.  That God did this to fully understand us, and to reach out in full love to lift us up.  I believe Christ is able to heal all our wounds, whether physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual.  And I believe Jesus calls us to join him in the Godhood.  I am overwhelmed when I think of how weak and imperfect I am, in comparison to his strength and perfection.  Yet I believe in his call to change, and that through him I can indeed change, slowly but surely, and become like him.  Jesus prayed to our Father to make us all one with Jesus, as Jesus is one with the Father.  And this call inspires me to be more loving, to reach out to the oppressed, the downtrodden, and the weak, and to try to lift them as I can.  Jesus' call inspires me to suffer, to bear with, be patient with, the weaknesses and imperfections of others, as well as my own, in the hope that through Christ we can overcome and be remade into the image of Christ.  I believe in Christ and in His love for us all, and that is what I strive to follow and emulate in my life.

Mine-

I have a testimony that God is my Heavenly Father and He knows me and loves me.  I have a testimony that I have a Heavenly Mother also.  I have a testimony that Jesus Christ is my Savior and He is the Savior of the world.  I have a testimony of these truths because I have learned them at church, and from the scriptures, and from the teachings of the modern-day prophets.  Ultimately, I have a testimony of these truths because the Holy Ghost has confirmed them to my soul.  How grateful I am for this knowledge!  I feel so blessed and lucky to have this testimony and I want to share it with others.  I have received many earthly blessings and I try to be generous with others.  The best thing I can share with others is that they are a beloved child of God and they are a part of His family.  Through the ordinances and covenants of the Temple we can have the most precious relationships with our spouse and family last forever.  I want to become a true disciple of Jesus Christ by loving God with all of my heart and by being obedient to His commandments.  I want to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ by loving everyone as my brother or sister and by helping them strengthen their own relationships with God.

Gavin's-

I believe that the Lord loves me and all the people on the earth.  I believe that Jesus Christ lived for us and died so humanity can be safe.  I also believe that the youth and the prophets are called upon by Christ.

Teague's-

I believe that Jesus Christ is our Savior.  I also believe that he is the Son of God.  Jesus gives things called miracles like the time he healed a crippled man and a blind man.  He fed a lot of people with a little boy's lunch.  And he was resurrected from the dead three days after he was killed.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Hiram's-

I believe that Jesus Christ is the beloved Son of God.  I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross.  I believe that Jesus Christ was resurrected.  I believe these things because my parents taught them to me.  I believe these things because I read them in the scriptures.  These things make me happy.

Ali's-

I like taking the sacrament at church because it reminds me that Jesus gave his blood and his body for me so I can be forgiven of my sins.  Jesus was resurrected and went to heaven.  Someday I will be resurrected and go to heaven too.  (And she drew a picture of her and Jesus partaking of the sacrament bread and water together.)

Day 4- Agriculture Museum

On Tuesday, we visited the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum.  It's a working farm in the middle of the city.

I loved all the new and old buildings.

Kaleb said he wanted to be a farmer until he remembered how badly animals smell, ha ha!

The animals all get outside time, but have cozy homes inside the various barns.

Macy was chagrined that Daddy didn't see the sign to not pet the animals, whoops.  Florence the donkey didn't mind though.

Ali and I liked these active sheep...

...and their great curls!

This horse was huge!

This alpaca was tiny.

You know I love roosters.

Sweet little lamb.

I can't remember what type of bird she was, but I love her name, Jessica Fletcher!

Check out the piglet in the middle, just stretching out and resting.

Cute baby cow.  I love the black and white spots and pink nose.

We may not be farmers, but are so grateful for them!

And the lovely food they raise for us to eat.

Fruits and veggies...

Meat and fish...

Grains and cereals...

And of course, sweets and treats!

(Do you spy the box from Junior's Cheesecake?)

I actually do dream of us living on an orchard and raising honey bees when we retire.  We could have a cute bed & breakfast open on the weekends with a darling gift shop.  I want to call it Bumble and Honey.  Will you come and stay with us?

Day 3- Aviation Museum

On Monday, we visited the Canada Aviation and Space Museum.

I have flown countless times in my life, but I hope I never fly upside down!

I'd love to go for another hot air balloon ride though.

I love the wooden propeller.

Check out this cool camouflaged paint job. 

Hey, let's build an airplane in our back yard.  Okay!

It would be cool to have wings.

Thunderbirds!

When I was 10 I had an astronaut Cabbage Patch Kid and really wanted to be an astronaut myself.  I still remember the heartbreaking day the Challenger spaceship blew up.

I would still rather rocket into space than hang glide though.  That is way more terrifying to me.

Isn't this helicopter cute?

I swear it has eyes, a nose, and mouth, and is just waiting to be made into a cartoon.

Macy got tuckered out, but had a nice nap with Daddy's head as her pillow.

Will someone please invent teleporting next?

Day 2, Part B- National Holocaust Monument

Elder Reil encouraged us to visit the Holocaust Monument and I'm so glad he did.  It's a very somber place with big concrete slabs set at jarring angles.  It evokes a very melancholy feeling that is only appropriate.

It's a reminder to teach our children to stand up against tyranny anyway that you can.

Pindigen Park is on the southeast corner of the Booth and Wellington intersection, while the Holocaust Monument is on the northeast.  Across the street on the northwest is the Museum of War, pictured above with the 14 flags of Canada.

In the southwest corner is the Lilias W. Fleck fountain which was unearthed while renovating Lebreton Flats.  In the late 1800s, this fountain provided water for man, horse, and dog.  It was such a hot day out, I wish it still provided drinking water!

Behind the fountain was this lovely field of lavender.

Back at home, Macy finally flashed the camera one of her gorgeous smiles!