Easter- The Season of HOPE

At this Easter time it brings us the most HOPE of all as it says in the Bible, Matthew 28:6, "He is not here, for he is risen." Every time we go to visit Caleb those same words come to my mind and heart full force, "Caleb is not here, for he is risen!" We are so thankfully for this Easter time that brings us out of our nightmare into the reality that our HOPE is REAL! Hope: This word is so small and yet so little, But it's meaning gives us a whole lot more. What is this Hope that is so important, It is through Christ that opens that door. And out come the blessings that flow, Bringing the very thing we need into our hearts. Brightness shines through where it once was dim, Refreshing, reviving into all our inner parts. Easter touches us in such a way and manner, That one can never deny it's inner power. As we celebrate this Easter Season, Remember Christ with each gift, sweet, and flower. ~Happy Easter To ALL Our Dear Friends and Family.~

Cumorah Rose

This Sunday we went to church to bless this sweet little girl, and the Lord agreed on her name. It is official, she is our Cumorah Rose, our meaning: One who is dedicated to God.

BirthDay 12/28/12

1 Week Old

1 Month Old

Blessing Day 2/3/13

In the Arms of LOVE

Our New Normal

Blessings are a very important part of our beliefs. So why do we bless babies when they are born in The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints?

It is a time for God to bless the child that he has sent to mortality- to the very family that he has chosen for them to learn and grow in him. It is a time when the Earthly Father, using the Priesthood Authority of God, lays his hands upon the head of his baby and gives them a name and a special blessing.

This blessing is almost like a Little Baby Guide for the parents: to know how to help, to care, to raise this child of God. It is a special scared moment that is not something to be taken lightly or in a casual way.

So as the world becomes more Causal with their Lives, we are grateful to continue in being steadfast in what we feel and know to be of value and worth; for our family, and especially for each new baby that God sends in our care.

WE Welcome "Officially" Cumorah Rose to our Eternal Family!!

The Change...

Our Family Mission Continues and goes deeper then ever before...

As of December 28th at 5:55 am the veil was thinned and Caleb ushered sweet Cumorah into our lives and into our eternal family.

We are in a new chapter, we have come to a new wave... a place that we have never before been or expected to come.

Caleb prepared the way for Cumorah by his perfect example and we will continue and serve with him on his loving mission in teaching of Jesus Christ. It is our joy and honor to have our own avatar to the spirit world, aka Corah. 

So what is the purpose of a Mother? I have fully come to better understand the most important work and contribution we give to the world is in our children- Raising: Honest, Hard Working, God Fearing, Responsible citizens. There is nothing more needed or more valuable then this very thing... these attributes are a dying breed. And without these attributes being taught in our world, well it too will die as well.

And a Mother does not just raise her child or children, she is raising and setting the standard for each generation line through each child. This is an amazing responsibility and work given to us Mothers- to teach, to love, to serve these that are entrusted to our care.

So our Family Mission Continues and goes deeper then ever before....

We WELCOME Cumorah Rose to our Eternal Family!

Thank You Caleb for preparing Cumorah for her arrival, we will take over and add to what you have already shared.

Christmas With the Mathison's

Christmas Season is upon us all,

Tis the time to show our love both big or small.

We say 'Happy Days will come to you,'

Wishing we can push and chase away the blues.

Tis the season to think of the way,

That our Savior was born on Christmas Day.

Knowing that through his life we can be blessed,

With happiness, peace, and success in this test.

How Thankful our hearts are as we look upon him.

To grant us hope, strength even when things look dim.

We let our tears shine boldly in the lights,

Not being afriad for we know joy comes after the sleepless nights.

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Eric's work in Everett is going well,

When he sings and smiles it is easy to tell.

Liahona is becoming quite the beautiful cowgirl,

In her horse ridding lessons she is shinning like a pearl.

Tamara is the queen of soccer moves all about,

As her legs, feet, and body are growing tall and stout.

Montey's speech is coming around rather well,

He wants to be a missionary like his brother to share and tell.

Tanya and Baby are growing closer to each other each day,

We are all praying for the day for her to come out and play.

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We are so thankful for our friends and family dear,

And wish you were all closer and near.

For us to let you know,

How much you mean to us so.

Merry Christmas,

Love The Mathison Family

Fall Brings Falling Emotions...

Fall is Brown, 

Fall is Cold,

Fall is everything new beginning to unfold.

Fall is all Around,

Fall is Future unknown,

Fall is time for more of us to moan.

Fall is Quiet,

Fall is Still,

Fall is wishing you were Here.

Trying to do the typical Fall traditions, it is easy to get depressed and to loose touch of reality and slip into my world of the past.... wanting, dreaming, longing anything but living in the present.

Last Sunday I was tremendously blessed with the humbling experience to lead my first discussion at church in the Relief Society with the sisters in my ward from the words of our Prophet Thomas S Monson, 'Consider the Blessings.' 

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/consider-the-blessings?lang=eng

Our Prophet presented a good strategy for helping us 'Consider the Blessings' in our lives. Something that I have not been very good at doing these past 3 years.

This is what he said, "As I have reviewed the past 49 years, I have made some discoveries. One is that countless experiences I have had were not necessarily those one would consider extraordinary. In fact, at the time they transpired, they often seemed unremarkable and even ordinary. And yet, in retrospect, they enriched and blessed lives—not the least of which was my own. I would recommend this same exercise to you—namely, that you take an inventory of your life and look specifically for the blessings, large and small, you have received."

I decided to take on this challenge in this Reflection Exercise from our Prophet, to help improve my perspective in life during this difficult Fall Season. I have been trying to look for specific blessings both small or big that I have received lately. Trying to keep in mind that they may not be extraordinary but may be pretty plain and simple yet still enrich and bless my life.

. Crunching leaves under my feet make me feel like a kid.

. Bright color trees and leaves all around places a quick smile on my face.

. Smiles and hugs from my children each morning as they say, "Hi Mom, good morning."

. A comfortable and warm home as the cold weather approaches.

. Memories to review, to read and relive.

. My children praying on their own for the Coming of the Savior to be soon.

. Listening to talks new and old from Prophets and Apostles.

. Reading the words of God, and receiving Personal Guidance.

I hope that you can improve your Fall Perspective by taking a moment to do this Reflection Exercise too. That Fall can bring that added cheer to you and your family.

Happy Fall.

Love, The Mathison's

The Piercing Pain of Reality

Our Nebraska Trip was one of several emotions at once. To pin point how it went??... Well that is almost near to impossible to put into words, however, the highlight of what meant the most to us was to see and visit with our Nebraska friends that we call Our Nebraska Family. It was such a joy and delight to go to a place of Friends; that have been an amazing support to us since the day we arrived to the unknown Midwest back in 2007. We tried to target our trip with visiting our favorite (positive) memories that we have with Caleb. However as we went to all these places almost ALL were under construction, that was very difficult to see. Didn't think within 2 years there would be so much change, not what we thought we would see, it was a piercing pain. Our hopes of visiting that past was slashed, and we are now living a painful reality that we can never go back, not even to Nebraska to find home. But we would still move back for the people... Oh how we love those Nebraskans!

Then

Now

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Boys Out Numbered

Liahona and I had the vote of the baby being a Boy.
Eric and Tamara had the vote of the baby being a Girl

For Eric's birthday, on the very day we had an ultrasound which was his only birthday gift. I walked in dragging my feet because I was the only one that didn't want to do this, Montey didn't really know what was going on so he could careless what we were doing. But ultimately I had to bring my physical body to the appointment for this birthday gift to be given... it took a lot from me emotionally to allow this.

Here we are at the appointment.

From this appointment Montey finally will answer, "Yes" when asked if there is a baby in my tummy, because prior he would always reply with "No".

Though I was slightly disappointed that we are not having our 2 boys and 2 girls that I am used to, and know how to do, I was yet slightly relieved that we are getting a girl. But I do not know how to raise 3 girls and 1 boy. This is completely weird to my mind, I am still having a hard time grasping this new change. I am hoping that by knowing the gender now that I will be more prepared when she comes in Dec to join our little family.

Successful Make A Difference Day

(Copied from calebmathison.blogspot.com)

We cannot thank you all enough for your teddy bear donations. Especially to you 21 families who were able to take the time to send a few our way. We received a total of 71 which was way over our hopeful goal of 50.
We are excited to deliver these to the children at the hospital.
For those of you who would have liked to donate teddy bears but were not able to this year and decided to do a family or individual service please feel free to share with us your success. Our hope is to touch as many lives as possible for good with the Love of Christ this Friday and Saturday the 24th and the 25th.

(Teddy Bears have been Delivered and Received, because of everyone's donations over 70 children will be blessed with cuddly animals to bring them warm fuzzies in their hearts and put smiles on their faces.)

Half way there!!

26 Bears in Counting towards Our Make A Difference Goal of 50...
Thank you so much you wonderful families that have taken the time
to Help Our Family Make A Difference, we are grateful for the opportunity
to deliver these to the Children's Hospital here in Seattle next week.

3rd Annual Make A Difference Day

Hi Our Wonderful Friends and Family,

Our 3rd Annual Make A Difference Day is coming up this month on the 24th and 25th, and we are wanting to do something different this year, but we are going to need your help if you can.

We are starting a Teddy Bear Drive, hoping to collect at least 50 new teddy bears to give to the Children's Hospital here in Seattle on Caleb's Angel Anniversary the 24th-25th.

I can imagine the added joy and smiles that these sweet cuddly teddy bears will bring to the children who are needing something to hug and squeeze to escape the unfun realities that they are facing at the hospital.

Here are the hospital guidelines with donations:

Restrictions

For safety and infection control reasons, please donate only new items that are washable, nontoxic, and not easily broken.

Then please mail them to us at our address, so we can deliver them all at once.

(If you do not have our address you can either email us at mathisonfamily@gmail.com or you can send us a friend request on facebook and we will send it to you.)

We would be more than appreciated if you could help us out. If you are unable to financially at this time, that is okay. Instead, we ask if you could do some sort of service to just help Make A Difference with us on the 24th-25th.

Thanks again everyone for supporting us and helping us out again this year... It's a tough knot to swallow this year, but then again when is it not!?

**Please forward this along to your friends and family. All help, Any help would be so appreciated.**

=) Love The Mathison's