Christmas is Finally Over...For Me That Is....

I have finally finished Christmas of 2008! But you say...Tara isn't March 5th, 2009? Shouldn't you have been done as of December of 2008?


Well, the past 5 months have been kinda hectic for me! In October my best friend Sara got married! (Also the same day...magical moment...)! We raced home after the wedding and it was back to life...Homeschooling, Church, extracurricular activities. At the end of October we found out that magical moment we had resulted in Baby#4 which explained my lack of energy and constant nausea! At this point we move into November of 2008 which Hannah's progress report was due, getting ready for the Christmas Musical with the Choir, and Thanksgiving! So much to do, so little time and thanks to my first trimester so little energy! The first part of December was race back to Va for my brother's wedding which I was the photographer for. Once that was over it was race back home and get caught up on the days of homeschooling we missed. By now the morning sickness is at its worst! Also when we got home we discovered that our computer was acting funny! So we took it in and come to find out we had tons of trojans and viruses! So needless to say we were without our computer for 3 weeks! SO by the time I had a chance to breathe it was Christmas! Papa John and Uncle Dwayne were in town! I literally shopped for them and the kids on Dec 23rd! Christmas came and went and then New Years came and went. Then it was time for Hannah's B-day, then Lilly's B-day, then Lucas' B-day! Now we are already into February! So now its time to work on brother's pictures of his wedding. Finish that and send to printer! In the mean time my husband has given me some projects to do for the Naval Hospital! Did I mention this is all going on amongst the daily task of homeschooling and extracurricular activities? Oh and then I started watching the neighbor's kid on Tuesday nights! Then it was time to work on the kids Awana Derby Cars! That race took place this past weekend! Which was March 1st! So today is March 5th and I have finally mailed off the rest of the family Xmas presents and the wedding pictures and the 100 Xmas newsletters/Xmas cards! Christmas is now over...YEAH!



Guess I better start working on Christmas 2009 if I continue to go at this rate...Oh wait did I mention that I have for the most part finished my Christmas Card for 2009...Hey maybe I am getting back to my old self again! We will see how long that lasts especially when that "magical moment" arrives in June!



Here enjoy some pics from Christmas....

Lucas Xmas Morning

Lucas & Hannah Xmas Morning

Our Christmas Card (Below in another post you will find our newsletter)


Lilly, Hannah, & Lucas Xmas Morning!

Spring Cleaning

I know it's only February still, but I can't help myself! The weather has gotten a bit warmer here and I see spring flowers beginning to poke up out of the ground. I am encouraged and motivated to start cleaning and get ready for this baby and many other things. The realization that we are moving in about a year and that our 4th child is due to arrive sometime in June or July has me wanting to go through everything! I have the urge to purge! Declutter time! Questions like, do I really want to pack this stuff up only to open it later and find that after quite some time I never really used it or had a need for it? Or, why am I hanging on to this? So now I am cleaning and purging and donating!

For some reason I felt the need to share! Maybe it will motivate others to do the same!

Its a...........

Well, Yesterday I had another doctor apt for baby number#4! We had gone to the sonogram apt last Monday the 9th, but much to our dismay our little one was not cooperating! WE couldn't even see it's face! I left that apt sad and with no picture of baby! Wayne and I had originally decided that we did not want to know the sex of our little one. But as the week went on we couldn't help but wonder.....so after our apt yesterday with the doctor, myself, Wayne, & all three kids walked down to radiology for another peek....while we were there we learned that our little one was still stubborn and using my placenta as a pillow....but this time we got to catch a glimpse of the face! All of us were excited to see this little one moving its mouth and everything! Then it came time for the big moment! The verdict was in...Wayne, Lilly, & I all thought it was a girl. Hannah thought it was a boy. And Lucas well he just turned 2 so he didn't know what was going on. So who was right?

Our Newest Little One is a ......

BOY!

Hannah was right! And she loved every minute of it! We couldn't be more thrilled! Now we have 2 girls and 2 boys!

Another Year Older!

Happy Birthday!!!!

It is so hard to believe that my kids are as old as they are. I still look at them as babies! I remember the days we brought each of them home. In a span of 1 month each of my kids had a birthday! My precious daughter and first born, Hannah, turned 7 years old! She had her very first slumber party. Wow! That is all I can say! This house was full of little girls! They had fun and Wayne and I survived!







Then just 11 days after Hannah turned 7, our little Lillian Grace turned 4! Yes, 4! It is scary to think that next year she will be starting Kindergarten! Yikes! Lilly's one request for her birthday was a flower cake! Wayne and I did a team effort and made her our rendition of a flower cake! She liked it! But I think she liked the Hannah Montana guitar she got from Papa John even more!



Two weeks after Lilly turned 4, our only Son and youngest child, Lucas, turned 2! He's not a baby anymore and the little man is talking so much and developing such a BIG personality! He was thrilled to see his elmo cake and the elmo edible arrangment his Gamie sent to him!

So the past month has been such a reflection of the wonderful blessings God has given to Wayne and I. We continue to be amazed at how the kids are growing and learning. The kids are amazed at how Mommy's belly continues to grow with the newest sibling due to make its arrival sometime late June or early July!

James 1:17-18

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.

Our Family Newsletter
Happy New Year from our family to yours!

We hope and trust that everyone had a great 2008 and a wonderful holiday season.

Our 2008 started like every other year, Birthdays galore! In January of 08 Hannah turned 6 and Lilly turned 3. Lucas followed suit and turned 1 in February! In February, Hannah made the decision of accepting Jesus as her Lord and Savior! We are so proud of her.

We spent a lot of time talking to Daddy over the computer and counting down the days until he would return home! Daddy returned home from Iraq in March of 08 and we couldn’t have been happier!

In May, Hannah graduated Kindergarten! We were very proud of her and Daddy was very proud of Mommy for completing our first year of homeschooling! We also enjoyed our annual camping trip to Hunting Island with Tara’s family.

In June, we sadly made a trip to Mississippi for Tara’s grandfather’s funeral. Jack H. Lucas lost his battle with cancer June 5th, 2008. We thank the many of you who sent cards and lifted our family up in prayer. Also in June, Hannah attended horseback riding camp and gymnastics camp! She had lots of fun!

In August, we started our second year of homeschooling! Hannah began 1st grade! Some of our other activities began this month as well. Lilly began her second year of dance. Hannah began her second season of soccer! Hannah also moved up to the Sonrise Choir at church for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders!

In September, Wayne was promoted & pinned to Chief Petty Officer! We are so proud of him! Tara’s parents and Wayne’s parents came down for the pinning ceremony!
The rest of the year brought many travels. Two of Tara’s closet friends got married in 2008. Tara was a bridesmaid in both weddings and Hannah and Lilly were flower girls in Sara’s wedding.

In October, Hannah began her piano lessons. On October 28th, 2008, we found out that we are happily expecting baby #4 July 1st, 2009! Hannah, Lilly, and Lucas are very excited to have another sibling although there is debate on who wants a girl or boy! I guess we will find out once the baby makes its arrival.
We spent thanksgiving at our friend’s home in Hilton Head. We were very grateful to have been invited and it was a great time of food and fellowship.

In December, we made a quick trip to Virginia for Tara’s brother’s wedding. Scott & Kristin were married on December 12th! Hannah and Lilly were once again flower girls. We are very happy to welcome Kristin to our family! Wayne’s dad, John, and his brother, Dwayne came to South Carolina and spent Christmas with us! We really enjoyed their visit! We spent a nice New Years Eve home and had some friends come over for food and games!


We hope and pray that every one of you have a great 2009!
With many Blessings,

Wayne, Tara, Hannah, Lilly, Lucas, & Baby Gonsorcik


Isaiah 26:4" Trust in the LORD forever, For in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock.

A Light Has Gone Out

Dear Family & Friends,

It is with great sadness and joy that I write to you this hour. My grandfather, Jack Lucas, has finished his battle with cancer. We are saddened by his passing but relieved that he is no longer in pain. Thank you to all of you for all your kind words and loving support. Please continue to pray for my family's peace and strength. Please also pray as my family and I travel to Mississippi to be with the rest of our family.

Prayer for My Grandfather

Grandpa w/Hannah & Wayne April 2008 1 week before being diagnosed with cancer.
Grandpa re-enlisting Wayne April 2008
All of us w/ Grandpa @ Wayne's Re-enlistment
Wayne w/ Ruby, Friend, & Grandpa April 2008

Dear Friends & Family,
Many of you already know that my grandfather is sick and has been diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. He is not doing well at all and now all of his organs are shutting down. Please keep him in your prayers as he draws nearer to his final days on this earth. He is in a lot of pain. Please pray for strength, peace, and comfort for Him and my family. Thank you. Below you will find the news article printed today about him.

Tara

WWII Hero Marine Fighting for His Life
By CHRIS TALBOTT,
AP
Posted: 2008-06-03 15:24:26
Filed Under: Nation News

JACKSON, Miss. (June 3) - A World War II veteran who received the nation's highest military honor when he was only 17 is in the fight of his life, battling cancer, his biographer said.
Eighty-year-old Jack Lucas, who lied his way into the Marines at age 14, was nearly killed when he used his body to shield his fellow Marines from grenades on Iwo Jima in February 1945. He was just a few days past his 17th birthday at the time.He received the Medal of Honor from President Truman later that year, becoming the youngest Marine to receive the award.D.K. Drum, whose book "Indestructible" tells Lucas' story, said Monday that he is in "grave" condition at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, where family and friends are staying with him 24 hours a day."He is fighting very hard, very hard," Drum said. "It's probably his hardest fight, but he's not giving up." Lucas did not have the energy for an interview Monday, Drum said.A native of North Carolina, Lucas was already eager to join the Marines at age 13."At 14, I told 'em I was 17 and joined up," he said in an Associated Press interview in October 1945. "The Lucases are all tough fighters."In February 1945, shortly after his 17th birthday, he was with Allied forces that landed on the beach at Iwo Jima. While in a trench with three fellow squad members, he spotted two grenades on the ground, covering them with his body.He was severely wounded when one grenade went off and survived multiple surgeries and months in the hospital.Over the decades, the colorful Lucas became a symbol of patriotism and has been sought out by many to tell his story. "Indestructible" was written for a seventh-grade audience to reach as many people as possible."If he has a chance to say one thing to people, it's to never say `I can't,'" Drum said. "You don't know what you can do until you try."