Model Home

I still can't believe we spontaneously purchased a new home!  We were gifted with a nice Moleskine notebook, a fancy stylus pen, and a thank you card after we purchased our home.  This little black book has become my best friend as I have taken page after page of notes from the Design Center and other model homes in preparation of our design appointments.  Now that our design appointments are all done, I'm using it to dream how I want to decorate our new home when we move in later this year.

Soon after we purchased our new home we went back to the model to snap pics for future inspiration.  Our home is the same plan as this home with some slight changes though.

The first change is the exterior- our home will have two gables.

(I wish our front yard would be this big, but we are swapping more space inside our home for less space outside in our yard.)

The entrance to the sales center (which will be the garage), will just be a windowless wall only about a foot apart from our neighbor's, ugh!

The other side of our home, which will have about two feet from our other neighbor's.  We opted not to have a fireplace though, so that bump out will be smooth giving us a little more room to move our lawnmower from the front yard to the back.

The back of the house.  Again, I wish our backyard would be this big, but we do live in Canada where the backyard is covered with snow for 6 months of the year.  I really don't want to sound ungrateful, because I really feel like this home was made just for us.  I just wish it came with an acre-size lot too!

Into the house!

I wish I took a pic from the front door looking into the house, but missed it.  We've opted to remove this front closet.  Instead it will be a niche in the entry, where I hope to put a large bench and cozy decor.

The den...

we're hoping to put a desk in front of the window, with a sofa opposite on this wall.

The great room and heart of our home, so I want to show it from every angle...

as I mentioned earlier, we opted not to put a fireplace in.  We hope to have a large console between the windows to hold our TV.

I'm so excited to have space for all of us to comfortably gather to read the scriptures each day and for Friday family movie night! 

We are hoping to put in a large sofa and two large love seats in a u-shape, so all of us can fit.

I couldn't believe we found a family room large enough for all of us and then a dining room too!  We will tuck chairs at the ends and have enough space for our large family to eat at the same table!

I love how the family room, dining room, and kitchen are all open and connected to one another.

The only downside is that I will have less walls to hang art on.

Of course, this is the Chef's kitchen which would have added an additional $18 grand to our price tag.  We opted for the standard kitchen layout, so instead of the island it will be flipped 90* and will be a peninsula making our kitchen u-shaped (and slightly smaller).

We will still have the back wall with our pantry cupboards, fridge, and microwave, but only 6 cupboards across instead of 8.

One of the things I'm most excited for is a mudroom!  This will be how we enter our home each day- through the garage.  Ours will be slightly larger, since our kitchen will be slightly smaller.  We'll have lots of storage for winter boots, snow pants, coats, hats, scarves, gloves, and backpacks.

We opted to remove the door to the mudroom's closet, but we added a door from the mudroom to the kitchen to keep all of our winter gear out of sight.

You can see the entry way from here and the staircase.  We opted to have a banister on our staircase instead of a half-wall capped with mdf.

The main floor powder room is actually accessed from the staircase to the basement.  I love the privacy this will give.

Our basement rec room will be smaller in our new house...

but it will still be big enough for our kids to play in and for company to stay.

We opted to put a full bathroom in the basement, so company can feel more at home when they come to visit. (Hint hint, come and visit us!)

We will also have a utility room that will house our washer and dryer, as well as another storage room for the Christmas decorations and camping gear, etc.  They are smaller than our current storage rooms.  In a (small) way I'm grateful so much of our stuff got destroyed during the move back from India- less stuff to store now.

On to upstairs!

This will become our big girls' room.

This will become our baby girl's room.

The model has the laundry room upstairs, but we opted to move it down to the basement and have this space converted to a bathroom for the girls.  Our laundry will be in the unfinished utility room, so it will be nowhere near this pretty.  I still don't understand why Canadians don't finish their basements (bizarre to me).  Oh well, I'm grateful the boys and girls will have separate bathrooms now!

This will become our oldest boys' room.

Our floor plan comes standard with 4 bedrooms upstairs and a loft.  You could alter it two different ways.  The model chose one way with making the master bedroom's en suite into a spa escape.  We opted for the other way which will include a 5th bedroom that will become our youngest boys' room.

The kids' bathrooms will each have a simple sink,...

toilet, shower, and ours will have tubs too.

Our master bedroom will be smaller than what we have now, but I am happy to exchange that space for an extra kids bedroom!

I wish we could have this spa escape en suite, but our bathroom will still be nice with a double sink vanity, soaker tub,...

toilet, and a double shower.

Our bathroom may be smaller than this, but it will still be luxurious for us!

I didn't realize how accurate this drawing is.  But you can see how small our front and back yards will be and how minimal the space is between our home and our neighbors'.

This isn't our fantasy dream home, but it is our reality dream home!  When we bought our current home I said the same thing, because it had all 4 of my "must-haves" (4 bedrooms upstairs, a finished basement, a garage, and a fenced back yard).  I am thrilled that we will now have 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms upstairs, plus a lot of extras.  I feel like one incredibly lucky lady!

We visit the model home often.  We went back in July to take pictures of our family in front of it.

I can't believe our family gets to move to a new house soon!

Father's Day Gifts

I am such a lucky girl- not only is Leonard a wonderful husband, he is an amazing father too!

Here are some of Len's gifts this year:

I think this card describes the two of us well.

Kaleb!

Steak (bacon-wrapped) and eggs for breakfast.

Noé!

A dad's role is unmeasurable (cinnamon roll).

Gavin!

Super-hero juice box.

Teague!

Shirt and tie notes.

Hiram!

Coasters,

hand prints,

and card in French.

Ali!

(This shot captures her darling and silly personality well!)

Fortune tellers,

with hilarious jokes.

What did baby corn say to mama corn?

Where's POPcorn?

Haha!

And the newest little one to call him Dad, Macy!

2018

So here it is, the last day of 2018.  I am so far behind with our family history on this blog.  However, tomorrow is a new day and a new year.  My goal is to make one new post each day until I am all caught up again.  I hope you have had a wonderful 2018 and I hope 2019 brings you much joy and happiness!

Light the World!

Today we had a lovely Christmas sacrament meeting at church.  I played a small part and want to record the program and my talk here.

Opening Hymn:

#201 Joy to the World

Sacrament Hymn:

#196 Jesus, Once of Humble Birth

Il est né, le divin Enfant:	French Choir
The Living Christ:	Two Young Women
Away in a Manger: Brighten your life by Lighting the World:	Portuguese Ensemble 1st Speaker
Stars Were Gleaming:	Ward Primary
Congregational Hymn:	#203 Angels We Have Heard on High
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel:	Solo Performance
My favorite Christmas:	2nd Speaker
Silent Night:	German Duet
O Holy Night:	Ward Choir
Closing Remarks:	Bishop
Closing Hymn:	#209 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Brothers and Sisters we live very busy lives! I don't know about you, but I feel like each day is getting busier and busier and every year is going faster and faster. I feel like I am always running yet I am always behind. That's why I was happy to study and give thought on the topic: “Brighten your life by Lighting the World: how serving others lessens our own burdens at Christmas and throughout the year.”

My first thoughts led me to the story found in Luke 10: 38-42. “Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

As I read these scriptures again, the phrase, “but one thing is needful” really jumped out at me. What is the one thing that is needful, what is that good part that Mary hath chosen? Mary sat at Jesus' feet and heard his word. The one thing that is needful in each of our lives is to hear Christ's words and to develop a relationship with him.

My thoughts then turned to King Benjamin's words in Mosiah 2:17. “And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.”

Members of our church are taught early in our youth that when we serve others we are serving God. In a talk my husband recently gave in the Fallowfield ward he flipped it and said to be in the service of our God, we must be in the service of our fellow men. I like the emphasis that this flip gives.

My thoughts then took an unexpected turn to the story in Mark 12: 41-44. “And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.”

I have always been impressed with the faith of this poor widow. She gave ALL that she had! It has made me reflect, am I giving all that I have? I feel that in other seasons of my life I have been able to give a lot more than I currently have to offer. I was humbled with the thought that I only have 2 mites to give right now, but yes I am offering those 2 mites to the Lord, and I have hope that at another season of my life I will have more to offer, but the amount- 2 mites or 2 million doesn't matter. What matters is that I give my ALL.

For the third year in a row, the church has had its Light the World campaign. For the past couple of weeks, I have prayed every day for an extra opportunity to share light somehow. The very first day I prayed for this I went to meet our new family doctor. After I parked and was leaving my car to go into the office, a woman came out to the car parked right next to me. I heard her say, “oh dear, and she began wiping snow off her windows with her hands.” I told her to wait just a minute, so I could grab my window scraper. I was able to brush all the snow from her windows and scrape the ice off her front windshield in just a couple of minutes. She was most appreciate and kept thanking me. I felt even more gratitude that Heavenly Father had heard my prayer, and led me to park right next to someone who could use my help.

The spirit has guided me to seek out the lonely and offer my friendship. In our annual Christmas cards, we put invitations to the Stake Nativity pageant in those to our neighbors, Len's work colleagues, and the children's school teachers. The spirit has also guided me to realize that the things our family was already doing, count as lighting the world. Every year we give food and gift donations, and this year Leonard and I offered on social media to give a copy of the Book of Mormon to anyone who would like one. Leonard also gave a Christmas stocking to a homeless man that Noé and I made at our Relief Society's Christmas Extravaganza last month. We are planning to make this a new yearly tradition.

I am grateful for the gifts that President Nelson mentioned in the First Presidency's Christmas devotional that the Savior gives to us at Christmas time and always. They are: 1- the unlimited capacity to love; 2- the ability to forgive; 3- the gift of repentance; and 4- the promise of life everlasting. I am so grateful to love and be loved. I am so grateful to be able to repent and be forgiven and to forgive others. I am so grateful for the promise of everlasting life. My heart's greatest desire is to return to live with my Heavenly Parents someday with my Savior, Jesus Christ, with all of my family, with all of my friends, with all of you. I hope that that time is still yet a far way off and until then I desire to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ and hope to use my life giving gifts to others.

In the 1994 First Presidency's Christmas devotional, President Howard W. Hunter said, [“This Christmas, mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love and then speak it again.

Christmas is a celebration, and there is no celebration that compares with the realization of its true meaning—with the sudden stirring of the heart that has extended itself unselfishly in the things that matter most.

A life filled with unselfish service will also be filled with peace that surpasses understanding. The Savior said: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled: neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). “Ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you … that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1–3).]

Last week, my husband shared some thoughts on the song, “Joy to the World” and I just wanted to clarify that it is still one of my most favorite Christmas songs. I just think of it now as a Christmas song and a Millennial song. I'd like to close with another favorite song of mine. It's not a Christmas carol, nor a hymn, but it is a Primary song from the Children's Songbook.

Little purple pansies, touched with yellow gold,

Growing in one corner of the garden old;

We are very tiny but must try, try, try

Just one spot to gladden, you and I.

In whatever corner we may chance to grow,

Whether cold or warm the wind may ever blow,

Dark the day or sunny, we must try, try, try

Just one spot to gladden, you and I.

I say these things, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

We wish you a Merry Christmas!

Dear Family and Friends,

Last year we moved back into our home on Gavin's birthday, eight days before Christmas. Six days later, Kaleb and Noé joined us after finishing their semester of school in Las Vegas. Our best Christmas gift was having our family reunited under our own roof back in Canada after having lived apart in India and the US.

2018 has brought us tremendous joy and immense sorrow. We have been surrounded by earthly angels who have loved, supported, and comforted us in our many challenges. We are so grateful for them and wanted to express our thanks. We also wanted to share some highlights from another year that has whizzed by.

In January, our sweet Macy was born bringing with her tremendous joy! She has Down syndrome, which has added a new depth to our family. We all love our precious girl with all of our hearts! Gramma with Blue-eyes got to visit and helped hold down the fort while we were in the hospital. We also marked the 20^th anniversary of Leonard's parents' passing. We think of them every day and are still so grateful for the influence they have in our lives.

In February, Gavin got to go on many wonderful, winter field trips including tobogganing, ice skating, and riding the ice slides at Jacques Cartier Park. Our dear friend Crystal from Taiwan also came for a visit!

In March, Macy had to go back to the hospital for a week after catching a bad flu. Hiram got to go on a field trip to Cosmic Adventures. Kaleb and Noé turned 16 and had a super sweet party with their lifelong friend, Emma and 25 other youth. Grandpa with Green-eyes came to spend Easter break with us!

In April, Teague turned 9 years old and celebrated by having his friends over to make homemade pizza. Kaleb got to go with his high school band to Florida for a week. They got to visit all of the parks at Walt Disney World- the Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, as well as go to the Kennedy Space Center (no, his mom is not jealous ;).

In May, we celebrated our 21^st wedding anniversary. We were 21 when we got married and can't believe how fast the time has gone! Kaleb and Noé participated in the National March for Life on Parliament Hill. Gramma with Blue-eyes came again to help out with our kiddos, while Macy had open-heart surgery to repair her AV canal defect. She was in Dr. Maharajh's very capable and caring hands. She spent a total of 37 days in the hospital this year and we sure hope she never has to go back! Ali turned 4 and celebrated by having her first birthday party with friends.

In June, our family had our Stake President and Elder Carl B. Cook (of the Presidency of the Seventy) from our church visit us in our home. Len celebrated his 43^rd birthday with a date to see the new Han Solo movie, Nando's for dinner, and dessert from dear friends. After dreaming of building a new home for years, we visited an open house for a new neighborhood being built nearby and spontaneously purchased one! Next year our Christmas cards will be sent from our new address. We got to visit with Leonard's “Uncle” Riley, “Aunt” LaReata, and “Cousin” Daneca Workman. After starting the school year in Las Vegas on August 14^th, we finally reached the last day on June 28^th and enjoyed our traditional ice cream for dinner.

In July, Noé got to go camping with the Young Women from church, then Kaleb got to go on a canoe trip with the Young Men. Our wonderful friends, the Cannons came for a visit when they picked up their son, Spencer from his mission in Montreal. Leonard first met Lincoln and Dorothée when the three of them were serving missions in Marseille, France. Len got called to the Stake High Council and was ordained a high priest by his father's cousin, Lloyd Spencer. Jen's brother, Wyatt was in a serious motorcycle accident sending him into a coma.

In August, we got to travel to Indiana to see Grandma and Grandpa with Green-eyes (who had just moved there) and lots of family. Jennifer celebrated her 43^rd birthday there and had the best day serving in the Indianapolis Temple and visiting with Wyatt. After nearly four weeks in a coma, Wyatt's body succumbed to the injuries from his accident and passed away leaving us with immense sorrow and grief. We miss him so much and we ache for his wife and three sons, but we have faith in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and know that our family will be reunited one day.

Kaleb and Noé attended a Youth Leadership Conference at the University of Waterloo. Our whole family traveled to Montreal for a special devotional with Elder Randall and Sister Shelley Bennett, Elder Neil and Sister Kathy Andersen, and President Russell and Sister Wendy Nelson. It was an awesome experience hearing a prophet bear his testimony on the reality of God our Father, His son Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost, and our divine purpose in life. Our sweet friends also threw a surprise birthday party for Jen. Our whole family also had a fun day at Calypso water park.

In September, school resumed for Kaleb and Noé (11^th grade), Gavin (6^th grade), Teague (4^th grade), Hiram (1^st grade) and began for Ali (Junior Kindergarten). This is always hard on their Mama. Ali struggled at first too, but is now enjoying school alternating her days between English and French-immersion classrooms.

In October, Len began working in the Defense and Security Relations division at Global Affairs Canada. He is enjoying his work and the people he works with. Teague built a diorama of the plants and animals found on the Hawaiian coast. He worked hard doing research and creating modeling clay miniatures. His hard work earned him a perfect score! Noé made her school's first ever cheer team, and has become a 4^th generation cheerleader in our family tree! Noé also earned her Personal Progress medallion and Honor Bee charm in the Young Women program at church. Hiram turned 7 and followed in his big brother's footsteps by having a party with his friends making homemade pizzas. After three years, our family thoroughly enjoyed carving Jack-o-lanterns for Halloween again.

In November, Jennifer hosted her monthly book club. Jennifer and Noé participated in a Christmas Extravaganza at church with the Primary Activity Day girls, Young Women, Relief Society sisters, and women from a nearby senior residence. All the women joined in different workshops sewing blankets for Project Linus, making Mats for Humanity, creating Christmas stockings and cards for the homeless, assembling cat-scratchers for the Humane Society, and preparing food for compassionate service needs. A luncheon and beautiful musical number brought everyone together at the end. We had a mini-Thanksgiving celebration and dreamed of spending the day with our extended Lee, Pittl, and Reil families.

In December, we're looking forward to celebrating Gavin's 12^th birthday with a magical Harry Potter party. We are also looking forward to celebrating Christmas- remembering the birth and life of our Savior Jesus Christ, and remembering all of the wonderful people we get to share our lives with!

We love you!

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

Christmas Gift

I love Jesus Christ. I love the glorious Christmas season that we celebrate Him. He is the gift!
Watch THIS VIDEO to get into the Christmas spirit.

"The Bible is the Testament of the Old World; the Book of Mormon is the Testament of the New. One is the record of Judah; the other is the record of Joseph, and they have come together in the hand of the Lord in fulfillment of the prophecy of Ezekiel (Ezekiel 37:19) Together they declare the Kingship of the Redeemer of the world and the reality of his kingdom." ~Gordon B. Hinckley

"It (the Book of Mormon) is a book of God. Reasonable people may sincerely question its origin; but those who have read it prayerfully have come to know by a power beyond their natural senses that it is true, that it contains the word of God, that it outlines saving truths of the everlasting gospel, that it came forth by the gift and power of God to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ." ~Gordon B. Hinckley


If you do not have a copy of The Book of Mormon and would like one, Leonard and I would like to gift one to you this holiday season. Please email me [reil(dot)fun(at)gmail(dot)com] your mailing address and we will send one to you. Merry Christmas!