Serving For The Greater Good

Dear Family and Friends,
Here is our Christmas Letter in a poem this year. It is called 'A Sleepless Night,' written by Tanya, and edited by Eric. May your hearts be filled with love from whom it swells freely from- Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I know it would have been a sleepless night,
For me and you and all that would have been tucked in tight.

Thinking that we should be asleep,
For our bodies knew that our faith was too deep.

Staring at the stars in the sky,
Knowing that our Lord would be coming from on high.

The excitement would be in the air,
We would feel the energy all over and into our hair.

"The Lord is coming tonight,
Everyone get up and see the light."

How could we sleep on such a night as this,
Or would it be a moment that would be amiss?

Tossing and turning we thought, "No how could that be?"
For we knew that the time was soon, for we could clearly see.

We could not let this night pass us by,
We got up and followed the star in the sky.

Knowing that we were not as worthy as we should be,
We knew he would love us, and would help set us free.

As we came to his side,
We felt something that we could not hide.

It was the feeling of a redeeming love,
That made us look into heaven above.

With reverence and awe,
We knew what we saw.

We knew what we felt,
It was as though our hearts had melt.

All the unpleasant and unkind feelings were gone,
And were replaced with a redeeming love song.

We have been trying with all our might,
To hold on to sing that song to never loose sight.

As we remember this sleepless night,
Let us always be a witness of that Incredible Light.

-Merry Christmas 2010
Love The Mathison Family

(Our New House)


(The Backyard)

Dear Family and Friends,
We are full of appreciation for all your love and support that you have given to us this past year. It has been a long and difficult road- a road that was not made to be passed through like other trials, but one that we get to live with for the rest of our lives. This trial has been very tearing on our hearts, making it difficult to heal.
Eric's dear classmates from BryanLGH started a Scholarship Memorial Fund in honor of Caleb. Our wish is to help get this scholarship endowed, to help keep Caleb forever in the memory and hearts of all who knew and loved him. Once we get his scholarship endowed we will be able to award and bless the life of 1 person each year from the BraynLGH School of Health Sciences. In helping us get this scholarship endowed, it will bring more healing to the hearts of the Mathison Family; in achieving a permanent memorial for our son, Caleb, to always be there in Nebraska- the place we have grown to love. As you help us get this scholarship endowed, it is ALL of us who will be giving and blessing the lives of many in the long run.
We do not want this to be a financial burden to anyone, especially at this Holiday Season. We just ask that if you could, please send $5, $25, $50, $100, whatever to help us in our Holiday Wish. Through the help of Eric's classmates, co-workers and many other great people, we have reached 1/3 of our goal. We could greatly use your help as we work together in accomplishing to endow this scholarship to reach 100%.

It is to be sent directly to this address:
BryanLGH Foundation
1600 South 48th Street
Lincoln, NE 68506

Make checks out to the BryanLGH Foundation,
and include a note stating that the donation is directed toward The Caleb Mathison Memorial Scholarship.

We can not begin to express what our tender hearts feel for all of you.
All we can say is "Thank You" from the bottom of our hearts, and may you feel the tender mercies of love back.
Love, The Mathison Family

The Mathison Kids gutted, scraped, cleaned, and carved their own pumpkins this year with very little help from Eric, (minus Montey of course, who still greatly needed assistance.) They did a great job.

Montey Working

Montey's Finished Work

Tamara Working

Tamara's Finished Work

Liahona Working

Liahona's Finished Work


We took their hard work to show Caleb, and left a pumpkin and a spider balloon for him.

We had a little carnival fun.




We Celebrated our 10th Wedding Anniversary, and made an offer on our new house that very day, so it was very fun.


We had a little ice cream fun.

We had a little water fun.



And that sums up our First Summer in Washington. We are appreciating the opportunity we have to be closer to extended family, though we still greatly miss our home in Nebraska with our great friends there- we are hoping to make a visit in the near future.

So catching up with our 1st Summer Fun here in Washington. It was great Summer weather.... no humidity. Ah, that's how I like it, just dry heat.
We did a little rock climbing.




We did a little camping.


We did a little miniature golfing.




We did a little parade watching



And look who is riding a 2 wheeler.... Eric, isn't that great! =) Okay, well Tamara, she is a bike rider now that's for sure, she is super fast too. It took Eric just 2 days to help her and off she went. Bummer the rain has started up again, cuz her and Liahona were always wanting to go on bike rides. (Look at her riding with a skirt on. She is super funny, cuz that is ALL she ever wants to wear. So different then Liahona who only ever wants to wear shorts.)

So after living in a rental house for 2 1/2 months we moved into our new home that we just purchased. Being just outside of the church ward boundaries, placing us in another new ward. So there have been new adjustments everywhere for the Mathison Family. But then again it wouldn't be called LIFE without them. I officially sat and counted up all of our moves and this one was....Drum Roll Please..... Number 11! Being our 3rd time moving from a rental house to another house within 2-3 months from each other. We are totally wiped out from moving. It is exhausting both physically and emotionally. We are happy in our new home. The funny thing is, is that this was the ONLY house that fit our criteria when we were looking for homes to buy. And it just so happens to have the same floor plan and look very similar to our house that we bought in Salem Oregon....... talk about being lead by the Lord. So thankfully it was not that weird awkward feeling with moving into a new home, it felt like we were just coming home. We love the half an acre back yard. There is so much room for the kids the run and play, now we have no more excuses about not having enough room for a dog. The house came with a riding lawn mower and Eric enjoys getting his big machine out to mow the lawn. Those things are amazing, it cuts the work time in half. Liahona finished reading her first long novel by herself in July "The Secret Garden" and now she wants to make her own. So we are making plans to create our own secret garden, we will post pictures as we progress with our work. Unpacking has been a pain, but that is to be expected. We keep finding things that we thought we gave to people, or sent to people, or things we thought we just gave away.... I suppose moving twice back to back can do that. SO if we have things that we said we were sending or things that we were giving to you we apologize for the extremely long delay, and we thank you for your Patience with us.
We will post pictures of our home soon. =)

So Eric and I with help from a friend (thanks Michelle) got us some tickets to go see this game, they were great seats. In honor of Caleb we sported his team with wearing RED, and cheered as loud as we could at times, "GO BIG RED," and "Husker, Power." Super fun game, we had a good time, something that we haven't had in a long time, it was very good to go.
We sat among a lot of purple, but thankfully they were super nice.

Teams running onto the field with the fog blowing in their faces.

Nebraska family, which Nebraska friend do you think this is? I felt like a stocker taking pictures of him. It was so great to see a familiar face at this game. We went over and said hi to him at halftime. Our team worked him good with all that running and waving the NE flag.

They looked so good, Go Big Red!

Here is Crick, he did great.

Herbie Husker doing his tricks. This one on his head was our fav.

Boats were achored and partying out on the water outside the stadium, it was great fun to look at there from our seats and see a Nebraska flag being hoisted up high.

Our Nebraska friend took this picture and yes me being a little stocker did too. I thought how funny, look at our great USA Sailors getting their pictures taken with the Nebraska Cheerleaders....and wondering hmm, How many of these are married? =)

And of course it wouldn't be a football game without at least 1 picture of Bo Pelini.

And here is the final score on the big scoreboard. We were hoping that it would be a closer game and not a complete shutout.

That was our super fun outing out. It was weird that it was just Eric and I spending time together alone the whole day without any kids jumping all over us. Thanks to Eric's parent coming up to our new home to watch the kids. We owe them big time, thanks Mom and Dad. =)

Thanks a Million to our Greatly Missed Nebraska Friends. How much we appreciate your support with our Make A Difference Day. Thank you for gathering at Caleb's Corner, and sending off balloons with testimonies and positive messages attached to each balloon. Our hearts have been greatly touched by your wonderful act of service for Caleb's Day. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you ever so much. Much Love to you guys.
And once again THANK YOU to ALL our Friends and Family for supporting and helping with our 1st Annual Make A Difference Day.
Love, The Mathison Family

10 Baskets full of goodies + 24 bunches of lollipops = A great time serving and making memories with Caleb.
The kids knocked on all the neighbor doors and delivered the 24 bunches of lollipops. Eric and I knocked on 10 more doors and delivered the baskets. Our thinking cap for next year is on, for the countdown has already begun. The kids are anxious to serve with Caleb again soon.
We wanted to take a moment in Thanking Everyone who took the time to Make A Difference with us and Caleb. Thank you for looking for ways to serve those around you, in sharing your time, talents, and means with others. Our hearts were greatly strengthen during these very difficult days by you all; from your many prayers, emails, phone calls, and letters. Thank you for sharing with us of how you and your families were supporting and standing by us, as you served others. I know in the long run that it is in the smaller things that make the biggest difference of all. Thank you again with all our hearts in Making A Difference with us. Much Love to you all, and may the Lord continue to bless you, as he continues to bless us by sending us such great family and friend like you all. -Love The Mathison Family

To All Our Family And Friends,

We are requesting your help in our 1st Annual Make a Difference Day on Aug 24-25. Our Goal to is to get as many people as we can to help make this Tragic, unfun day; into a purpose and reason to be happy. By making a difference with us, as we make memories with Caleb on his Angel Date. With him serving and working hard on the other side of the veil, this is our chance to help in his great efforts to build and strengthen Zion here. We would love for you to share your accomplishments on how you were able to "Make a Difference," on Caleb's blog at calebmathison.blogspot.com Please email us your address and we will like to send you a little something from our family for Caleb to say, "Thank You." Or you can leave it with your post. In case you are thinking I would love to do something but I don't know what to do? Here are some ideas for you, to help do something to make this world a better place:

Give someone the benefit of the doubt,
Smile when you get cut off in traffic instead of cursing,
Let someone go in front of you in the line,
Pay for someones meal behind you in line,
Hold the door open for someone,
Send off special letters or packages anonymously to someone who needs a special cheer,
Visit a nursing home and sing them some songs,
Donate money or time to a special charity cause,
Sign up for a charity marathon or just go to help out,
Make a personal goal to work on something to be a better person,
Call up an old friend to see how they are doing,
Write that letter to that long lost friend or family member that you have been meaning to do for sometime now,
Call a children's hospital and see how you can help as a volunteer,
Slow down your pace in life and try to recognize those who you can help..... and reach out and help us "Make A Difference."

What we hope to accomplish as a family: To buy many BIG bags of lollipops and attach a piece of paper to each that say, "The Mathison Family and Friends Annual Make A Difference Day 2010." And knock on all of our neighbors doors to share love and kindness to others. Starting out with something simple but just as profound, since the kids are still little. Wanting to help them know that they too can help and serve and make a difference with Caleb too. And as they get older we hope to make it more elaborate and give more of our time.

Thank you for taking on this challenge with our family, it will give us much strength to bear such a difficult day knowing that we have many friends and family standing with us to help us Make A Difference with Caleb.
Much Love to you all, The Mathison Family

Crab anyone?? We were hunting for our Crab dinner the other day after a nice hike. We found baby crabs that we would pick up and hold.... to BIG crabs that we didn't dare touch, because they were very mean. Then again you can't blame them for being mean as people would touch, poke, and squish them throughout the day. Montey kept picking up rocks and attempting to pick up baby crabs... those guys are fast.






Have you ever been starfish hunting? There were so many starfish laying around on the shore from the low tide, that it was going to be too late for these starfish before high tide came in. So we searched, and gathered, and saved about 40 Starfish. We threw them back into the ocean, making a Starfish City.





And This is what we do when we are not hunting for crabs, and saving starfish, we are a family of leisure. Just laying around, getting in those extra snoozes, before Eric starts work officially next Monday. Much later then what we originally thought, but better then no job at all..... and so we wait. Hmmmm.... that seems to be our family's current status always, "And so we wait."