My Grandmother

Last week my last living grandparent passed away. My Grandmother was 84 years old. We affectionately referred to her as Grandma Helen. She was a special lady. It makes my heart glad to know that according to her Pastor she accepted Christ as her Savior about a year ago. This was the first funeral that my children had attended. Shockingly it was actually pretty easy to explain it to Hannah. Hannah was still a little emotional, which is understandable. However she spent the majority of the day comforting PawPaw. PawPaw is my dad and it was his mother that had passed. All in all it was a good trip to NC. I got to see family members I hadn't seen in years and spend some time with my immediate family. Everyone seemed to be at peace and grateful that Grandma Helen was no longer suffering. I just want to say thank you to all those who sent cards, words of encouragement, and condolences. It meant a lot to my family.





Here is her obituary and her picture...

Name:
Helen Solley Crutchfield
Date:
December 15th, 1924 - March 19th, 2009
Obituary:
Mrs. Helen Solley Crutchfield of Winston-Salem passed away on Thursday, March 19, 2009 at Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home. She was born December 15, 1924 in Sylacauga, AL to the late Corrie Ray and E. M. Solley. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph L. Crutchfield and a sister, Corrine McClure. She retired from the Veterans Administration in 1989. She enjoyed playing Bridge and was proud of being a member of the American Business Women’s Association for over 30 years. She was a member of College Park Baptist Church. She is survived by three sons; William W. (Gloria) Lucas of Adel, GA., Dr. Jimmy R. (Edie) Lucas of Lewisville, NC., Louis H. (Georganne) Lucas of Dale City, VA.; seven grandchildren. Jowjie and Felma Lucas, Jennifer Thoburn and Matthew Lucas, Tara Gonsorcik, Jesse and Scott Lucas, seven great grandchildren; two sisters; Marie (Daniel) Boone and Berta Sharp. The Funeral Service will be conducted 3:00 pm Sunday, March 22 at the Forsyth Memorial Park Mausoleum Chapel officiated by the Rev. Ramon Smith. The Family will receive friends from 2:00-3:00 pm prior to the service in the Mausoleum Chapel. Memorials may be made to Hospice of W-S/Forsyth County, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103 or to College Baptist Chruch, 1701 Polo Road, Winston-Salem, 27106. Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel is assisting the Crutchfield Family.
Memorials:
Memorials may be made to Hospice of W-S/Forsyth County, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103 or to College Baptist Chruch, 1701 Polo Road, Winston-Salem, 27106.

First Sunburn of the Year...

Well Ladies and Gents on Monday I was so excited that the weather was in the upper 70s and the sun was out! It was a nice welcome to our little family. I decided there was no need to be couped up in the house to do our homeschooling math work. So I drug the kids outside and had Hannah grab the chalk and we did math problems on the driveway. Then I let the kids play. We were only out there for about an hour...when we came back in for nap time I noticed that my skin was starting to hurt! Could this be? Did I get a sunburn? Oh you bet ya I did! As the day continued on I was going from white, to pink, to lobster red! From my shoulders to the tops of my hands, the v-shape on my neck, my forehead and nose, and from my knees to my ankles I was burnt! Moral of the story....It is Thursday and I still hurt! No matter how long you are going to be in the sun please put on sunblock! I learned the hard way according to my 7 and 4 year old who done nothing but remind me of this all week! But at least I can say I got the first sunburn of the year out of the way! ....I am trying to be positive! =) I would love to post some pics of my sunburn but I just haven't gotten around to documenting in photos my humiliation!

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.