Christmas 2010

IT was yet another difficult, emotional Christmas, of which we only expect to have from here on out.

Our Christmas Morning.


Here is Caleb's Tree, with all his presents.


Gathering around Caleb's tree to help him open his presents.

Christmas Chocolate Making

The girls and I got to make our 1st batch ever of See's Chocolates this year, with MUCH help from Eric's sister Jaime- who has made them for 10 years now. It was fun, and thankfully, hopefully it has stopped me from liking chocolate. I have gone about 3 weeks withOUT eating any thing chocolate, including having hot cocoa. I got up to drinking 3 big mugs everyday, and now i have no desire. It has been amazing.... me without chocolate? Have you heard of anything more unreal? If you want to put an end to your chocolate and sweet in-take make chocolates. =)

A Sleepless Night

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)

The Caleb Mathison Memorial Scholarship

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

Our First Washington Fall

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.

Summer Fun#2

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.

Summer Fun

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.)

Another Move, and yet not the last......

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. =)

Huskers VS Huskies Game

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. =)

Just One Event Out Of Many.......

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