On the cover of Reuben's first recorded diary, he drew images of a maple leaf and a beaver. These symbols are considered to be national symbols of Canada. Because these are the images Reuben chooses to place on his diary's cover,  which is arguably the most important page, showcases how meaningful these images must have been to Reuben.  By extension, we can conclude that the idea of home and home country must have been of importance to Reuben as well. 

This is the cover of Reuben's 4th recorded diary.  Again, some sort of signifier that refers back to home is present on this cover. We can see that Reuben's home and the community of his countrymen were meaningful to him because of the inclusion of his battalion on the cover. The presence of the pallet also illustrates how painting was another important part of his escapism and offered him meaning as well. 

This is the title page of Reuben's Diary 7, created in October 1918. Note that the margin on the left-hand page is not in the diary itself but was hand-drawn by Reuben, as evidenced by the ink that was printed on the opposite page when the diary was closed before the ink was dry. This hardcover book-like style of page border decoration was clearly recalled by Reuben as part of his old days at home.

This is the cover of Reuben's 9th recorded diary. We can again see symbols of Canadian pride that invoke a sense of home added to the cover. The maple leaves are given special attention even among the other symbols of various countries. This illustration also has direct mentions of World War I battles, including the battle that is ever so important to Canadian history: Viny ridge. Once again, this cover has images that invoke an idea of home, further showcasing the importance of the idea of home for Reuben.