Day 6- National Gallery of Canada

Our next museum- was the art gallery.  I could visit this gallery weekly and never tire of it.  I love art!!  I also have grown to love this spider, Maman.

I love all of the beautiful buildings downtown- the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica is a great example of the beautiful silver-spired churches here.

Don't mind the construction cranes, but don't you want to grab a snack under one of those red umbrellas beneath Parliament?

Here you can see the US Embassy, the CRA (IRS equivalent), and Fairmont Chateau Laurier, as well as part of Major's Hill Park.

Now to all the beauty inside!

This lovely young lady had me missing my Noé.

Long before cameras, mamas loved capturing the images of their precious children.

Macy's great-great-grandmother was from the Cherokee tribe.

I love this painting of a mother, her two daughters, and hydrangeas. 

These murals were from an actual room inside the museum.

I don't know how they constructed it, but it was really cool to visit inside.

Macy was being cranky, so I took her and the younger kids home, while Leonard and Kaleb stayed to explore the whole gallery.  I love these charming old homes downtown near where we parked.

They have so much character.

And charm!  Please can have I have this one?

Day 5- Canadian Museum of Nature

We drove downtown to see the "castle"...

AKA the Museum of Nature.

It is such a beautiful building, truly a castle.

I'm glad the only thing left of dinosaurs are their bones.  Scientists, please don't bring them back, did you see Jurassic Park?

Public Service Announcement:  Caribou are Reindeer.  My husband grew up in Canada and had no idea that they are the same animal.

We also learned there is a real Pika mouse, he must be the inspiration for Pikachu.

I want to see a living Puffin someday.

And I'd love to see this blue-billed duck.

I'd rather swim with this cute little turtle though.

(The museum has many living animals as well as stuffed.)

I hope I never swim with this scary guy.

And if I'll ever swim with these crabs or worms, just kill me now, because I would for sure have a heart attack.

I wouldn't mind walking the beach and tossing these guys back into the ocean.  I call them sun-moon-and-star-fish.

I'd love to live in a butterfly garden.

The kids wouldn't mind living in a cave.  I like this safe spelunking.

Cool stalactites and stalagmites.

And beautiful crystals!

I want something made out of this cool rock flower.  A dress print, a necklace pendant, artwork to hang in my home.  I love it!

I also wouldn't mind adding this to my rock collection.

Meteorite, wow!

The 10 year-old in me still wants to walk on the moon someday.

For now I'm grateful to walk on this amazing earth!

Whenever we can, we drive the backroads home.  Can you blame us?

Macy doesn't mind, she's comfy in her throne.

Welcome 2022!

I love reading different versions of scripture. In one of the Christmas cards we received this year it said, "I will bless you...and you will be a blessing." ~Genesis 12:2 CSB

I have been so blessed by our loving Heavenly Father. My goal is to be a blessing to everyone I encounter in this earthly realm and to be a blessing to my God.

2022, let's make heaven on earth!

I also have a goal to get caught up on this blog.  I'm clear back in last July, so here's hoping I can do one post a day until I'm caught up again.

 

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