9months... it's been a Very Hard Labor!

Dear Caleb,
Nine months........ I remember getting so anxious for you to arrive and join our family. I remember playing on a co-ed soccer team with your dad while being very pregnant with you thinking that it would help me go into labor, so we could get you here sooner, but of course it didn't work... You came exactly on your due date.

Montey just turned 2, Tamara just turned 6, this next month is going to be even harder... You and Liahona, My Irish Twins, will both be 8. Liahona had to make a very hard decision just recently, she had to decide to either be baptized here where you were, or to wait to have friends and family join us when we move. And though the choice was hard, she was slightly disappointed that she had to choose between the two. Yet from all of this, it has caused her to be more wise and mature for her age than most 7 years are suppose to be. She decided that she would wait, so that family and friends could come and be with her at this very special and important time in her life, plus she said it would be easier for you to come too.

The first of May Dad accepted a job offer in Washington to start work in July. We have been looking and searching since Dec of last year. Funny how the Lord tests our faith in him to the very last minute before we receive an open door. So we have an opening of a whole month and a half to figure out where we were going to move too, pack, clean, move, and have dad take his BIG Certification Exam. Just one of these alone could cause one to be full of stress. And we have 5 BIG things right on top of each other, but it is no big deal to us. We actually won't start packing until June 1st. Which will only give us 2 weeks to pack everything up. The moment we moved here, I would have told you that I was going to start packing January of 2010, four months before Dad even graduated. Now, we can't bear the thought of moving and leaving all of our fond memories with you. It hurts. The pain is too deep to even describe. It is our last temper tantrum that we will get to throw by delaying everything because we will have to face the inevitable soon... Oh Too Soon!

It amazing how one trial as ours can cause such deep pains, that cause such huge ripples, that cause such a HUGE change in oneself, and in our family. The struggles and pains will most likely always be there, but to know that life from here on out will only be but a cake walk for us Mathison's. Packing, Cleaning, Finding a place across the country, Moving, starting a new job in a new place.......... seriously NOT a big deal. Does not even compare to what we have already been through as a family.

Though I am not a direct descendant of the amazing Mormon Pioneers, I gain much strength from these strong individuals as they accomplished the impossible. They traveled by wagons and handcarts walking about 1400 miles from the Midwest into the West. They faced so many hardships of sickness, fatigue, persecution, and having to face loosing many of their loved ones. Having to bury them and leave them behind... and so much more. "I KNOW THAT WE ARE IN GOOD COMPANY." I am proud to carry the name Mormon in their behalf, carrying their legacy and banner of "H"ope and eternal perspective that will not die with me, nor my children. WE KNOW WHO WE ARE. WE KNOW WHY WE ARE HERE. AND WE KNOW WHERE WE GET TO GO HERE AFTER. And how blessed we are to know such things. So what one pioneer did was not just for their family, but for us all, to build and gather to Zion. A place of one heart and one mind. Now it is our turn, as the gathering is still in full effect, it is everyone Else's' job to STRENGTHEN it! Keep the banner waving, letting everyone know where they truly can find peace and "H"ope which will not ever come from here, but from our Loving Father in Heaven. I know these things to be truth...Oh how grateful I am.

Caleb we will see you soon. We pray for that day to come quickly. Keep up the great work you are doing. We can't thank you enough. Love you Buddy boy. Love Your Mommy

Memories:
Tamara remembers how Caleb loved to bite on his straws from the drinks that he would get at restaurants.

Liahona remembers how Caleb said, "All of our friends and cousins have vans. I want a van because they can go faster."

Mom(Tanya) remembers how observant Caleb always was. One time while driving in the van as a family he said, "Mom, all the girls are on one side and all the boys are on the other side."

Dad(Eric) remembers how Caleb liked to use a hiking stick to walk with on our family hikes. And how he also liked to use it to whack things that were in his way.