Christmas Newsletter for 2009

Season's Greetings to All our Family & Friends...

Another year has come and gone and we would like to share with you some of the things our little family has experienced throughout the year.

January 09 brought about the numerous birthdays once again...Hannah turned 7, Lilly 4 and I turned 29! Hannah experienced her very first sleepover! Lilly had a nice little family birthday with her "flower" cake that Mommy made!

February 09 brought our son Lucas to the age of 2! What a big boy he is getting to be! February also brought the Awana Grand Prix! The kids had fun making their derby cars with Daddy! It was a great family experience watching their cars race down that track!

March was filled with sorrow and joy. My beloved Grandmother (Grandma Helen) went home to be with the Lord. We made the trip to NC to attend her funeral. While we were there we took advantage of the time and spent it with family and visited some museums as a homeschool trip.

April 09 wrapped up the Awana year - Hannah finished Sparks 1st grade, Lilly finished first year Cubbies, and Lucas ended his Puggle year. We also took a trip home for Easter. We enjoyed spending time with family and friends. We also took the kids to the White House Easter Egg Roll. It was a good experience for us and the kids. Also while in Virginia my mother and friend threw me a baby shower for the impending arrival of baby number 4!


May 09 was a busy month! Wayne’s Dad came down to SC to visit the weekend of Mother’s Day for Lilly’s Dance recital! We had a great time watching Lilly dance and visiting with Papa John. We also took the kids to the air show! However the weather did not hold out for the whole day and the show was cut short! Some friends and I went to the Women of Joy Conference in Charleston, where I had the pleasure of meeting Kirk Cameron! We ladies had a blast! As usual in May, we found ourselves at the beach, pool and our favorite ice cream shop downtown! Wayne had a birthday and is now 35 years young! We spent Memorial Day Downtown watching daddy march in the parade!

June 09 was filled with all kinds of excitement! We did our annual camping trip at the beach with Tara’s Family! (Yes, even me at 37 weeks pregnant!) It was the hottest week of the year & we were tent camping! At the end of the week I had the pleasure of taking my dad to the HM Birthday Celebration downtown! I would have taken my husband but I am proud to say he was the one who organized and planned the event! He did a fantastic job! Just five days after the event, June 18th 8:04pm, our second son, Hunter Anthony Gonsorcik, was born weighing in at 9lbs 7oz 20in.

July 09 was spent getting to know our newest blessing! We also spent the 4th of July at Parris Island! Hunter did not seem to mind the fireworks! Hannah, Lilly, & Lucas all took swim lessons! They love the water and it shows!

August 09 the kids and I spent most of it traveling. Wayne stayed home, busy with work with & a few rounds of golf and met us in Ohio for the weekend! The kids and I went to Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky! We visited family, went to a wedding, visited the Creation Museum, and the Cincinnati Zoo!

September 09 started our home school year! Hannah is now in 2nd grade! Lilly is doing some pre-k work! The new Awana year began as well! Hannah is in 2nd Gr Sparks, Lilly is in 2nd yr Cubbies and Lucas is in 2nd yr Puggles! Hannah started cheerleading and Lilly started soccer! Hannah and Lilly are also doing the children’s choir at church! We also learned that we had orders for the Spring of 2010 to move to Norfolk, VA. Wayne is headed to the USS Iwo Jima.

October 09 was filled with activities! The kids and I took a quick trip to VA. While we were there we went to the pumpkin patch and apple orchard! Lilly had her first choir performance! So cute! Hunter decided to cut 3 teeth! Lucas decides it is time to start potty training!

November 09 began busy and ended busy! I was busy preparing for the Christmas Musical at church! The kids were busy with their activities and Daddy was busy with work! We took our annual Thanksgiving Day trip to VA to spend with friends and family!

We hope that everyone had a great December, a great Christmas, and the happiest of New Years! Please know that each of you are in our hearts and prayers all year long!

Amazing isn't it?

Doesn't it just amaze you how fast a child grows in just a few short years?

We bring home a new baby with hope and anticipations of who they are and who they will become. We love to hold them and feed them. We get excited when they get their first tooth or when they start reaching all those milestones. Sometimes it seems like we hurry them through each of those milestones...I have come to realize after having my fourth child that I find myself saying stop, wait, no don't grow so fast. Hunter is already 4 months and moving right along and I have enjoyed each of those milestones he is hit but at the same time I know each stage doesn't last long and I want to savor it as much as possible.

Lucas, my first son, my how you have grown. Such a sweet natured little baby to such a big boy!
Here he is just a few weeks old, so tiny and new.
Here he is soon to be three in February...


He went from tiny babe to a potty training big boy who likes to: hug and kiss...sing Jesus Loves Me...talk to everyone...wave to everyone...just full of personality...slow to boil but when he does watch out! I can only hope and pray for him as he grows that he will continue to have such a loving spirit and that he will come to know Jesus and share Him with that loving spirit.

Some good friends of mine, Sandy & Diane, threw me a baby shower while I was pregnant with my second son, Hunter. They gave me a book "Bless your Children Every Day" by Dr. Mary Ruth Swope. The book is a compilation of blessings which the author put together as she blessed her grandson. I have enjoyed reading the blessings and using them to bless my own children in the different areas of their lives. What I enjoy most about this book is that there are scripture references to go along with the blessings.

So today I will write the blessing from the book that I prayed for my son Lucas today and maybe it might just encourage you to pray and bless your own children and grandchildren.

"In the Name of Jesus Christ: I bless you with the deep desire to love God with all your heart and with the will and the ability to do so all the days of your life. I bless you, too, with the deep desire to love both your parents with true affection for as long as you live. Loving God first and your parents next will undoubtedly lead to your loving yourself and your neighbors as yourself. I bless you with this kind of love. I bless you with the understanding to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ for you. Today I flood you with the knowledge of how precious you are to God, to your family, and to your friends. Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 6:5; 10:12, John 3:16;15:10, Ephesians 3:17-19, Romans 8:38-39"

Where have the past 4 1/2 months gone?

I really let time get away from me...So much has gone on in the past 4 months and the last thing I do is update this blog! I guess in the age of facebook most people already know what the coming and goings of my life are...but for those of you still following let me update...

As of July, my last post, we have spent a lot of time getting to know the ins and outs of our newest blessing Hunter! God has truly blessed us with 4 amazing children and each one of them very different in their own special and unique way. Hunter is a very laid back baby and so observant of the things around him. July 4th we spent with friends at Parris Island! Hunter did not seem to mind the fireworks! We also spent the July days at the pool for Hannah, Lilly, and Lucas' swim lessons! They love the water and it shows!

The kids and I spent most of August traveling around! We visited with friends and family in Virginia. We took in the beautiful scenery of Sideling Hill in Maryland! The kids got to see their Great Grandma Victoria in West Virginia. Then we traveled the country roads of West Virginia and Ohio to go to a cousin's wedding in Dayton. The kids got to spend some time with the Gonsorcik side of the family! After the wedding we drove to Kentucky and went to the Creation Museum! That was a lot of fun! It was cool watching Hannah put together the pieces of History according to God's Word that we spent learning about in her 1st grade year come to life. After that we drove back to Ohio to visit the Cincinnati Zoo! We had loads of fun feeding the giraffes! We continued our journey back to Virginia then back to good ol' SC ! Daddy missed all of us! He did get to play some golf while we were away!

In September we started back up with all our seasonal activities! Hannah began her 2nd grade school year! Lilly started doing some Pre-K level work! Awanas, Kid's Life, CBS and Children's Choir began! Also this month Hannah started cheerleading for the county and Lilly started playing soccer! Our days and weekends began to fill up! Hannah enjoyed cheerleading and Lilly has found that maybe soccer isn't the sport for her! Both girls are doing an amazing job at learning and memorizing God's Word through Awanas! Hannah is loving the art and home economics class through Kid's Life! And Hannah and I both are discovering so much as we walk through our lessons in Revelation at CBS! Lilly is loving Genesis Choir! She loves singing and music and it makes my heart melt to hear her lifting to praises to our Almighty God! Nothing could be better than to her the voice of a child praising the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! On another note...it was also in September that we learned that we would be taking orders to Norfolk, Va in the Spring of 2010. Wayne is to be heading to the USS Iwo Jima. This brought a lot of emotions in our household. We are very touched that Wayne is headed to this particular ship because it holds many memories of person we lost just a little over a year ago. We also struggle with the idea of leaving a place and the people in that place that we have come to know and love dearly! This is where we built our lives and have grown but on the other hand God is moving us for His Purpose and His Glory and I hold onto that for comfort. It is also nice that we will be a lot closer to friends and family. That 8 hour drive one way was beginning to take a toll on our van!

October began just as busy as September. The kids and I took a quick trip to Virginia to attend a 1yr old costume birthday party! While we were there we visited the pumpkin patch and apple orchard! We beat feet back home and Lilly had her very first choir performance! Mommy and Daddy are super proud of her! Hunter continues to grow by leaps and bounds and has even cut three teeth! It is hard to believe that he is four months! He isn't the only one growing...Lucas is becoming such a boy! He is potty training and doing quite well! We have just really enjoyed spending time together as a family! Wayne and I went to the Navy Ball and had the opportunity to meet Philip Brashear. Philip is the son of Carl Brashear, the first African American to become a Navy Diver. October was filled with many activities and fall happenings!

Now we move into November and our schedule begins to fill up again. The adult choir has really begun to prepare for the Christmas Musical, Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and before you know it it will be Christmas! I continue to reflect on God's Work in our lives. I am reminded that God's Hand is in everything and I should do all things for HIS Glory! I am not perfect and never will be and apart from God I can nothing but I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

So I leave you with this...

Philippians 2:1-18

¹Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,

²make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

³Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;

4do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

⁵Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,

⁶who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,

⁷but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

⁸Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

⁹For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,

¹⁰so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

¹¹and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

¹²So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;

¹³for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

¹⁴Do all things without grumbling or disputing;

¹⁵so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,

¹⁶holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.

¹⁷But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.

¹⁸You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.

2 weeks old already???

Yes, 2 weeks old already! Hunter has been in our family for 2 weeks now! It is amazing to me how fast time flies. We have spent the past 2 weeks growing as a family with one more little member. We are a family of 6! I look at Hunter during feeding times and all the emotions of each and everyone of my kids come flooding back! I still remember when we brought Hannah home over 7 years ago, and how Hunter's cheeks look just like Lilly's when we brought her home 4 years ago, and how elated I was to bring home a son when Lucas was born 2 years ago. God is so good! He gave Wayne and I 4 little blessings that have been worth every moment. I look back at Hunter's sonogram pictures and then to the pictures from today and think "WOW" to go from a tiny little cell made up of bits of me and bits of Wayne with God's handiwork to this baby boy I hold in my arms is just amazing! I pray for each day that he grows and I pray for the future that God has in store for this little man. I pray for the relationship that my kids will have with each other as they grow. And as always I pray for the guidance of God to help me raise these two girls and two boys the way He wants me to. Also I pray that God continue to bless this family and my marriage.

Philippians 4:6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Hunter is here!

Hunter Anthony

June 18, 2009

8:04pm

9lbs 7oz 20in

Well, a little back story...yes we still went camping! In my 37th week of pregnancy my family came into town and we headed out to the beach for our annual camping trip! It was sooooo hot and humid, but we still had a good time, especially the kids! During my 38th week of pregnancy, Thursday, June 18th, 2009 I woke up to some very light contractions at about 5am. I didn't think much of it b/c I had been contracting on and off for about 2 weeks. However as the day progressed the contractions remained but were sporadic in time. Wayne, bless is heart, was just coming off of duty and still had to move his office from one room to another and was calling every hour to check on me to see if he still had time or not to finish up things at work. At about 1pm we made it to the hospital and they hooked me up and checked me out but reminded me that they would probably send me home because I was still sitting at 5cm (which I had been for a week) and my contractions were still very irregular. So I waited for an hour and all of sudden the nurse came over and said I think I better check you...yup just what I suspected...she noticed on the contraction monitor that I was picking up in consistency. So after she checked me she said I was 7cm and the baby had come down some...but I wasn't really feeling any of this. Wayne and I were reading the newspaper and cutting up jokes. So they moved me to a room and my doctor came at 4pm said lets break your water and get it moving. Well little did I know that our hospital was a packed hospital! So by the time my doctor could actually come and break my water it was 7pm! So from 4pm-7pm Wayne and I talked, watched TV, joked around some more...etc. So 7pm the water was broke, no epidural, and by 8:04pm our 9lb 7oz 20in son Hunter Anthony was born! The doc let my husband deliver the baby! It was so cool! He handed Hunter over to me and as I oogled and googled over my son he also got to deliver the after birth! It was a great birth experience!

While at the hospital Hunter developed jaundice so we had to stay an extra day so he could remain under the lights. We are home now and Hunter is such a great baby! He looks a lot like my firstborn daughter but has the temperament of my second born daughter. All the kids just love him! We thank God every minute for everyone of the blessings he has given us!

Me...waiting...joking...and still waiting

Daddy & Hunter

Mommy, Daddy, & Hunter

Hannah, Mommy, & Hunter

Lilly, Mommy, & Hunter

Mommy, Lucas, & Hunter

James 1:17 "Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above..."

Updating - Month of May

It is pretty sad that I have not updated in awhile...and every time I say that on here, I usually blame it on the time I don't have or I how busy I am...and well I will do it again. I have been busy but there have been plenty of times that I will think "I need to update the blog...I have time...but I will do it later" and then low and behold I put it off. Why do I do this to myself? Why do I procrastinate? This may explain why I feel so overwhelmed sometimes. Do you ever do this? I know I can't be the only one! Well onto the updating...

Lilly's Dance Recital

Papa John came into town to see Lilly dance in her second dance recital ever! Let's recap on her first dance recital...she was so scared that she just stood on the stage watching everybody and maybe did 3 of the moves! But this year was a different child...Lilly did the whole routine and loved every minute of it! She was so cute! We are so proud of her! It is amazing how much can change in a year! She is such a big 4 year old and her joyful spirit is so amazing! Wayne and I are blessed to see the little girl she is becoming!

Mother's Day

Mother's Day fell on the Sunday after Lilly's dance recital. So we got up...I had cards, flowers and coffee waiting for me! We got ready for church and then proceeded out the door with Papa John and headed to Golden Corral for breakfast! It was yummy! It was also nice that I didn't have to cook it or clean it up! After breakfast we went downtown and took some snapshots to document Mother's Day! After our family pic we loaded up the van and drove back home so we could say goodbye to Papa John! He had to head back to VA for work the next day. We said our goodbyes and loaded the van back up and headed to church! Church was very nice. At the end of the service they had a slide show of pictures of moms in our church and I enjoyed seeing a pic of me and the kids pop up on the screen. I almost cried. After church we came home and Wayne made me and the kids a light lunch and we all took a nap! Very relaxing! Then we got up and made our way to Outback for an early dinner. It was cute...Outback had a craft table set up for the kids to make cards for their mommy's while we waited for a table, so each of the kids made me a card with Daddy's help of course. Then we had a relaxing dinner and made our way back home. For desert I was given a heart shaped cake baked and decorated by my wonderful husband and 3 children. It was a yellow cake with chocolate frosting! My favorite! I am so blessed to have a caring and appreciative husband and 3 outstanding kids who make being a mommy worth every minute.

Women of Joy Conference in Charleston

I had the privilege of going to the Women of Joy conference with two very special ladies for two days! Brenda and Amanda and I are all in choir together at church! I love these ladies, they have been such a blessing in my life. There is nothing like having friends with such a similar spiritual mind set. They are definitely good at bringing joy in my life and lots of interesting moments. Last year the three us went to Atlanta Fest and endured some interesting challenges that God saw us through...so this year instead of going to Atlanta Fest again (mostly due to the fact that it was too close to my due date) we went to the Women of Joy Conference and we were slightly expecting some more "challenges". But God is Good...the weather was fairly cooperative, we got to meet Kirk Cameron, we had funny moments, good seats, Casting Crowns, and enjoyed some Dunkin Donuts! It was also nice to hear the spirit convicting me of some things that had been on my heart lately and so I came home from the conference refreshed in spirit and with a renewed joy.

MCAS Beaufort Airshow

Well we attempted to go to the airshow on Sunday. We enjoyed about an hour of it and then we were greeted but a thunderstorm which canceled the rest of the show. However, we made the most of it! We still had fun! The girls enjoyed it! Lilly did not enjoy the noise though! So I got some shots of her in her earmuffs! So funny!

Wayne & Softball

Wayne is playing softball with a group from the Naval Hospital. We have been going out to the fields to watch and support him! The kids love going! I love going because it gets us out the house and still spend some time together as a family. We really enjoy seeing Daddy do something that he enjoys doing.

Memorial Day Weekend

We had a good Memorial Day Weekend! Friday evening after Wayne got home from work, we went shopping for some new beach toys! The kids loved picking them out! We got up Saturday morning and had a hearty breakfast which Wayne cooked! We packed and loaded up for the beach! Once we got there we were surprised that there wasn't to many people there! I think most people stayed away because of the weather that was supposedly going to be bad. It really wasn't bad...it was a little overcast but still nice. It was fun watching the kids play in the tidal pools, look for shells and shark's teeth, and just enjoy being a family. While we were at the beach Wayne and the kids found a little crab. It was cute, Hannah got to hold it! We had our lunch out at the beach and even brought some old bread to feed the birds. It was a good time! On the way home we stopped by the Gay Fish Co and picked up 2 lbs of shrimp! Yum! Wayne and I ate all of it by ourselves! So good! Then we had some friends of ours from the neighborhood come over for some cards! Sunday, we went to church and then out to lunch at a Japanese Restaurant! Once we got home we hung out in the yard and played. Then we had some friends over to hang out by the fire and eat s'mores! Yum! Seems like all we ever do is eat, doesn't it? On Monday we all got up and ready for the Memorial Day Parade downtown! Wayne always marches in the parade with the Naval Hospital! After the parade we made our way to Southern Sweets (our favorite ice cream shop)! We sat and had some delicious ice cream! Afterwards we made our way home took a brief nap and then went to the pool! While at the pool we endured a quick storm followed by beautiful weather! Once we got home we got everyone cleaned up and cooked out on the grill! Hamburgers, Brats, & Italian Sausage on memorial day! There is no better way to end the weekend! We reflected on all the men and women who have served and died for our country's freedoms. I am forever grateful for the freedoms I have, especially the freedom to read the Bible and teach my kids about God and the relationship that each and everyone of us can have with Him. I loved the song we sang in church on Sunday - Blessed is the Nation whose God is the Lord.

Wayne's Birthday

Wayne's Birthday is usually around memorial day, and this year it was the day after. Daddy had to go to work unfortunately. But the kids and I made sure we had the house decorated for him. The kids picked out the cake. I made him is favorite dinner - meatloaf. So we had dinner and cake and let Daddy open his gifts! The kids handmade cards for him. Hannah even wrote a little book for him. We all wore green since it is Daddy's favorite color! We love him very much and wanted him to feel special on his 35th Birthday! Thank you God for giving us such a great husband and awesome daddy! Happy Birthday Luv Bug!

Well...now I believe we are all caught up! May is almost over and we have been busy making our June plans! Some of which include camping with Tara's side of the family, having another baby, and the kids have Vacation Bible School & Swim Lessons! There is never a dull moment in this household!

Colossians 3:14-16

"Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God."

32 weeks! 6-8 weeks Left to go!

Sorry I haven't updated in a while but things have been crazy around here! I am 32 weeks along in this pregnancy! Only 6-8 weeks left to go! I am so excited! My hospital bag is packed, the baby's bed is set up and ready to go, diaper bag is packed, clothes washed and waiting! Now here is what is left to do on my to do list...get the carseat out of storage, get the infant swing out of storage, and few other infant items out of storage...that will have to wait since we have family coming into town for Lilly's dance recital this weekend! Also, trying to finish up the last couple of weeks with Hannah's homeschooling! I can't believe my first baby, Hannah, is almost done with 1st grade! Where did the time go? Anyways, I think we have finally decided on a name for this little boy who continues to grow and stretch inside my tummy! But you will have to wait to find that out! In the mean time I want to thank my mom, my best friend Liz, and my brother's girlfriend Jamie for throwing me a great babyshower! It was very nice and I enjoyed getting to spend time with friends and family I do not get to see very often!

Me & Liz

Me & Mom

Jamie, Me & Liz

Hannah's 1st Grade School Picture