Our Family has a Firm Focus of which side we are on. Especially at this time of year, the focus on our Saviour Lord Jesus Christ, has ever so increased. What a wonderful time of the year this is, for us to pause from our busy lives. To refocus and align ourselves towards the shinning star, in reverence and in remembrance of his 1st coming.
Our family prays for the continued success of the missionaries all over the world, to find all those who still have yet to hear of this Good News. That people may know where and who to look towards when life is given unwanted experiences that cause pain and heartache. I have come to really understand that no matter what the trial and hardships we are confronted with, they ALL have the same goal for us... To point our lives and help us focus on the Lord. Our Mortal bodies are not strong enough to carry these burdens on our own, but through the Lord Jesus Christ, there IS a way. Our mortal eyes can NOT see very far, but with our spiritual eyes we CAN see the bigger perspective of life, and life yet to come... Blessed be the Lord. We are grateful that our family understands this truth. We will always hurt physically, from the loss of Caleb's presence, but spiritually we know we will forever have peace and have strength to continue living each day of our lives.
Our Family's accomplishments this year:
Montey of 20 months: loves to sing and march with his siblings as they would memorize their scripture verses, and the articles of faith. He is very good at folding his arms for all prayers. And will keep them folded throughout the duration of the whole prayer, usually.
Tamara of 5: loves to read, and do her math work. She has 11 articles of faith memorized and enjoys singing them where ever she goes. She has taken a couple of ballet classes and could dance the day away with her new found talent.
Liahona of 7: loves to create with arts and crafts. She has also reached up to the 11th article of faith, and has them memorized to the "T". She could sing them but would rather just recite them. Her favorite PE activity is swimming, she past many levels of swim classes and is a confident swimmer now.
Caleb of 8: Accomplished so much!
His whole goal before he was baptized was to become a good swimmer. He practiced and worked ever so hard on his own and in his swim classes. Passing a couple, and passing a swim test to get a special wrist band to go down the slides at the "Y", did gain a strong confidence for the water right before he was to be baptized. He accomplished and overcame his fear of the water.
Caleb had a huge love for the scriptures, the words of Christ. He had up to the 6th article of faith memorized and could sing them in song. He would sing with much power at home but at church he was timid. He accomplished and overcame that fear by sing a solo with his sisters in Primary, the 4th article of faith.
Caleb loved sports, but to play them made him nervous. He played spring soccer and summer baseball. With baseball being his first season experience he went from not knowing anything, other than the basics; you hit the ball and then you run-- to knowing just about everything. He was by far one of the most improved players on his team. He accomplished and overcame his fear of learning new things and gained a new love for playing sports.
Caleb loved being with his family, and would have to do the things that his sisters would do, even if it was scary to him. He had a fear of heights and we went apple picking the morning of the accident. His sisters would climb the ladder to pick the apples, and Caleb though ever so nervous would do it too. Then I had the girls one at a time climb to the tip top of the apple tree with me and got a picture taken by Eric from the ground. Caleb though scared, climbed to the tip top of that apple tree and got his picture taken with his mom. He accomplished and overcame his fear of heights.
Now, Caleb's Goal of all goals, he worked hardest to achieve through his obedience, has now successfully accomplished his ultimate goal, to return back to a Very Loving Heavenly Father, of which he never had a fear of, but only a strong love learned through a great life lived.
Our Family Prayer for you, our wonderful family and friends, that we may all be more like Caleb... willing to step outside our comfort zones to overcome our fears, by trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ. Looking to him with pure love, and simple faith as Caleb and you will find the Savior reaching out to you. Because he will help you in all things. We know that Christ Lives! How wonderful is this news, share it with everyone, tell them how much they are loved by our Sweet and Wonderful Savior who was born, to save us all.
This our Prayer in the Name of Jesus Christ Amen, Love The Mathison Family Eric, Tanya, Caleb, Liahona, Tamara, and Montey
