Make A Special Easter Family Tradition!!

I cannot help but notice that there are not many special traditions that families do at this very very Special Easter time of year. For it is right there next to Christmas, and we need to, as Christians to reach higher than on the easter bunny level. We take so much time preparing and getting ready for Christmas, so why don't we do the same for Easter? I have been guilty of this myself. And for me I have realized that I cannot afford to be casual about this holiday anymore.... because it is more than just a Holiday, it is a blessed Miracle the gift of Resurrection and Eternal life through Jesus Christ.

As Easter is arriving, I ask you to PLEASE try to reach above the Easter Bunny Level and try to find that very special Easter Family tradition that will bless you and your family for years to come.

This is our first year doing this, but we are excited to make this our Special Easter Family Tradition.
We will do the 12 days of easter using a plastic egg with a scripture and a message for each day from the last week of the Savior's life. On Palm Sunday we will be having a special feast to remember Jesus' Last time with his apostles and how he taught them (and us) of the sacrament of how he broke the bread and blessed it to remember of his body, and to drink of the cup and remember of the blood which has been shed for all. We will use grape juice, because we do not drink wine. Then on Saturday, the day before easter, we will do a small easter bunny thing, and dye easter eggs. Something that I grew up with that I have learned to pull more and more back from, seeing that it can take away from the "real" reason of this glorious season 'Of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ'. Then on Sunday we will attend our church worship services, and open our last egg together, as this one will be "empty." Because the tomb that Jesus Christ was in was empty, for he was resurrected. And we will talk and discuss about what a wonderful thing he has done for us, that because he was resurrected we will be too. Then my little ones will watch a very well done child-friendly cartoon video made by the Nest Family Company, expanding on what we previously talked about of how Jesus Christ was risen from the tomb. Then to finish that great Easter day, we will have a nice family dinner, taking turns saying what we love about Easter time.

I Hope everyone has a Blessed Easter Season, May the Lord be merciful and bless you and your families at this great time of year. Please remember the "REAL" reason of this season. We are so blessed to have it, to remind us and our children. =)Tanya

Infinite-Power-of-Hope

Here is an uplifting message that we found to be of much strength. And for you that may be suffering with us, we hope that this too will bring you some comfort as well. Life is hard now, but we know that soon our days will be filled with much JOY. -Love The Mathison Family
Infinite-Power-of-Hope

Our Last Christmas in Nebraska

There are many mixed feelings in our family about leaving Nebraska and moving away from all the physical reminders of Caleb, and having finished our 3rd and last Christmas here in Nebraska was very hard!! A VERY HARD thing indeed. Something that I have longed to come to pass, since the day we arrived so long ago, until now..... And now that it is staring me in my face, I can't bear the thought to leave, however it is inevitable and must come.

Some of Caleb's Favorite Christmas decorations.





Helping Caleb open his gifts.

Caleb's Gifts from under his tree.

Who's on the Lord's side Who?

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

The Eagle's Nest

So After school the Girls decided to make an Eagle's Nest in our living room. Which required the use of ALL the sheets, pillows, blankets and pillow covers that filled my linen's closet. The closet was bare, not one thing was left. The old me would have freaked out, but we are welcoming the new ease in life... Why be so uptight about things? Even when they are as simple as cleaning out the linen's closet to play with? Not a big deal, seriously. They had fun and worked together, so I snapped some cute pictures to share with you all.

Liahona getting ready.......

Liahona baby eagle flying so high.......

Landing in home sweet home!

Tamara getting ready.....

Tamara baby eagle flying.....

Perfect Landing into the Eagle's Nest!


*BY THE WAY: You all were right with which Pooh is Who. Caleb was the 1st picture, and Montey was the 2nd. Good Job!!!

Which Pooh is Who?

All of my kids have been Pumpkin Pooh at the age of 18months for Halloween. However I have taken Montey's picture the same way as I did for Caleb. Can you guess Which Pooh is Who? =)

All Hallows Eve

Our Halloween Party Last Year.


Carving Pumpkins last year


Carving Pumpkins this year.


Halloween Last Year


Halloween This Year (Caleb would have been a transformer, Optimus Prime.)


Last Year my kids talked me into doing a haunted house for them in our downstairs room. And of course how Halloween used to be my favorite holiday I said "YES!" It was a fun time, wished I would of had strength to do it again for this year, but I was unable too. Instead we just hung out with the Drapers, our Nebraska cousins. We had a strobe light, black light, fog machine dance party after some fun trick or treating. The weather was the best, simply a beautiful fall evening and night.

October Snow

Snow at the beginning of October, who has ever heard of that, crazy! Yup it snowed for my birthday, something that has never happened before, who would have known? Hey does anyone know if there is a brand that makes "manly" strollers? Montey loves to push Tamara's old baby doll stroller, but it's so girly......

Going Down Memory Lane

There are many things that we are going to miss about our Caleb. We can't help but want to just back in time to relive these fun times as a whole family. So we have posted some of his best qualities to share with you......

1. Our little sports-aholic boy. He loved playing any sport, and enjoyed having us play them with him.


2. He had a greatest sense of humor, and was very funny and super goofy!


3. The best big brother our kids have ever known. He was always helping someone.


4. He made it to the guppy level at our local YMCA, and when he wanted something he worked really hard to achieve it. Of which he became such a great swimmer, and swimming buddy.


5. If anyone pushed themselves to overcome their fears it would be our Caleb. One who was afraid of heights climbed an apple tree with his mom and stayed there long enough to get his picture taken for proof.


We love this boy so SO much! What a great example he was to us. It is truly hard for us to believe that our time with him is up. How much it will hurt with his presence gone, until that great day we will be reunited as a WHOLE family again.

Returned Home

Caleb Luccas Mathison, 8, of Lincoln, returned to live with his Heavenly Father early Tuesday (8/25/09) with his parents by his side, after sustaining injuries from a car accident. He was born on (06/23/01) in Rexburg, Idaho, to Eric and Tanya (Brooks) Mathison. Caleb was a new member of the boy scouts and was riding with his mother on Monday as they were searching for the Boy Scout office in Walton to purchase his scout shirt and Cub Scout book. He was a very happy, active boy and had just finished his first year in baseball through the YMCA, where his dad helped coach his team. He loved soccer and played two seasons in Lincoln with Capital Soccer Association. Caleb was proud to have passed his swim test at the YMCA and spent many hours swimming with family and friends. When he wasn't playing team sports, Caleb enjoyed challenging his mom and dad to games of soccer and baseball in the backyard. Caleb was a helpful, obedient big brother and son, and his big smile found a place in many hearts. While his experience on this earth was short, Caleb's spirit will live on with those who love him most, as we know families can be together forever.

Survivors: parents, Eric and Tanya Mathison; younger sisters, Liahona Pearl Mathison; Tamara Jade Mathison; little brother, Montey Jaycob Mathison; grandparents, Don and Christine Mathison; Keith and Nancy Brooks; a large extended family including many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Funeral services will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday (8-28-09) at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3000 Old Cheney Road. Burial: A family burial will be held in Washington. Visitation: Friday (8-28-09) one hour prior to services at the church. Memorials in lieu of flowers: donations may be made to the "Caleb Mathison Memorial Fund" at any Wells Fargo Bank location. Online condolences at www.lincolnfh.com