The NorthWest Difference

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."

Our very hard and emotional 1st week in washington

We have moved from our GREAT home in Lincoln Nebraska, it was sold. A sign that was not so welcoming on our broken hearts. Made this move more real and painful then needed to have been.



We Celebrated Caleb's 9th birthday. We went out for breakfast together.

We went bowling with Caleb.

We went to the movies with Caleb, and watched Toy Story 3. It was a hard movie on our hearts, too many similar feelings.

Then we gave and left our special gifts.

This last Saturday on the 26th, Liahona was baptized. She was very nervous but did GREAT. We are very proud of her and her choices to be more like her Savior. Liahona says she remembers when Caleb was baptized, he said "That was so much fun that, I want to do that again." We all laughed and chuckled at that one.... such a Caleb thing to say.


Though it has only been a week, it has felt like much longer than that. It has definitely been a VERY HARD emotional week for us.

Newest Graduate

Here is Eric on his graduation day, looking so happy, though he still has yet to take the HUGE Certification Exam! Which is actually scheduled for this Wednesday, so any prayers in his behalf would be much appreciated. =)


Eric and Montey after the Graduation Ceremony.


Eric getting smooched by his girls.


Family congratulating Eric with a picture.


Before the Big Gown Graduation, there was a small CRNA class graduation with Breakfast. So here we are getting a picture taken afterwards. Eric has been blessed with such wonderful classmates, teachers, staff, CRNA and MD's to work with over these past 3 years. We could not have asked for a better place to be for Eric to continue with his education. They have all been so supportive and helpful during these very difficult 9 months for our family. They surprised us with the most special and amazing gift, they set up a Scholarship Fund in Honor of our son Caleb Mathison. We were overwhelmed with so much kindness, that it moved us to tears. So if our eyes look a little red and puffy, that is why. We have been spoiled with much love here in Nebraska, of which we have been very blessed to have received. THANK YOU EVERYONE!


In case you would like to donate to The Caleb Mathison Memorial Scholarship Fund, which is tax deductible, read up more about it on Caleb's blog. At calebmathison.blogspot.com

Easter with the Mathison's

Our Reenactment in Remembrance of the First Sacrament.


Our display on our front window. It was pretty tricky writing backwards to be readable from the outside. It sure comes in handy to be dyslexic.


Our 12 days of Easter Baskets, with the egg of the day inside telling the story of Christ's last week on earth. However, we only made 8 baskets this year, we will be finishing the other 4 next year. The girls got all burnt out with basket making.


Couple of fun pictures preparing for the Easter Weekend. It makes dying Easter eggs so much easier if you put the egg inside a whisk. I wish I would have done this years ago, it would have saved a lot of stress from cracking eggs, splashing and spilling the color dye. Definitely a must do with little children, the whisk is perfect. =)



Easter was a bitter sweet holiday. We are definitely grateful to understand the true meaning of Easter. In remembrance of the First sacrament, I washed every one's feet. Remembering that even Jesus, the creator of all, still served others. Liahona said that next year she would like to be like Jesus and wash every one's feet. We are blessed with these great memories of Jesus Christ, and doing these small and simple things to be more like him. How grateful we are to know whom our hearts belong too. And we are not afraid to serve the Lord whom we love. =)

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? =)