A year ago today....

I was stepping on to Australian soil for the first time. I was in Melbourne, Victoria air-port for the first time. I was confused and tired. I was surrounded by people I didn't know. I was embarrassed in kisses and hugs from people who didn't know me. I was in a strange place with strange people. I was beyond hipper. I had so many feeling and emotions, that I thought I'd explode! :) I was amazed by everything! I had major jet lag. I was bouncing on my bed. I was thinking these were the sweetest people I had ever met.

A LOT of things have changed sense then, and a lot of the weirdness and strangeness has warn off- but one thing will always say the same, and that is how much i love these people and how amazing and sweet they are! I love them so much, and my love grows for these people every minute longer I'm with them! And to everone who said (before we left the states) that the time would fly (yes, all yous who i got SO annoyed with)- You were so right! The time has flown by, but its also seemed like we've been here forever, in one sence! But i'm learning to enjoy and love life as it comes, and not to long for the future or dwell on the past. And to quote my bro Zachary-"Everything is not good, but God is, and it's gunna be, so I'm going Great." :-)



[The mission team, some of my church family, and my family at Surrento back beach.]

P.S. Happy birthday to Ben (well yesterday)- He finally turned 11! :) Ok well i guess he's 12, but sense he skipped his birthday last year, I don't think he should be aloud to be a year older. Oh well, Happy birthday lil bro.

Verse of the post: 2Th 2:16-17 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.

"I don't want to miss a thing"- Aerosmith (thanks to Tricia for this song)

Some of those wonderful, amazing people who i love SO much!



Some of my wonderful church family at Walhala! I love these guys!!

Its over...

*sigh*... I made it through yesterday and made it to tomorrow, which is today- Praise the Lord.
I didn't thank I could get through with it, but with, and only with, the Lords help and strength He got me though- and a lot of other people though- Muriel's Funeral yesterday. It was a a very difficult day, but I think, with Christ, my dad preached the message clearly. My father is a strong man. And we are praying that we can fine some good out this tragic death. Its has been a very long week.

A week ago Thursday I really felt my heart break, for real, for the first time- so I can't even imagine what the family, what Robbie- Muriel's dear husband of 43 years- is going though. Please keep praying for Robbie, his two sons and two daughter's in-law, and the grand children, other family members, our church family, and me and my own family. Your prayers are needed and appreciated.

Memory's of Muriel burns: Muriel taking us girls to Chocoholics and buying us milkshakes. She always wanted to know how you really were. She was Always caring for people, and showing her love for Her savior by loving others. :) She was an amazing godly example to me, and a great friend (to me and many others). She will not be forgotten. And I loved her dearly.

And Robbie... Robbie amazes me more every time I see him. He blew me away when he told me he loves me like a daughter. He really lights up my life and I love and think he's about the sweetest man I know! God bless Robbie. So Please, Continue to pray for Robbie - especially as other people return to their normal lives and his "normal" is no more.


With hope in Christ, for with out Him we have non, But with Him we will ALWAYS have hope!
~Tamara Rose

Robbie and Muriel Burns- Valentin's day, 2006.


Exodus 15:2 The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; My father's God, and I will exalt Him.

Psalms 18:2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalms 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?

Some crazy pictures from my life. :)



Before my hair was done. Me with Mr. nut craker



me in Joshy's chair before..... *dun dun dun* it HAPPENED!



Allll the action! Even though I looked worried, I have full and complete trust in Justine...



And that's when I finally found a mirror..."OH MY GOODNESS! YOU DIDN'T TELL ME IT WAS RED!!!!!"



I guess it's okay. James, Joshy, and Beth still love me!



Justine's payment for doing my hair. :)



It was too hot for coffee, so we just decided to use the coffee table for the next best thing: our feet!



We were laughing too much to pose...can ya tell??



For some reason I kinda like that girl...not sure why.



Lovin' the hair...lovin' the hair. ;)



What are YOU lookin' at??!



Me at the Park (Charity was having some fun with the camara. we love taking pictures... if you couldn't tell ;))



Charity got a hold of the camera again...and, of course, grabbed me for a shot. *sigh* If we keep up this posing together, people are gonna start saying things. :-j



We're cool. We're posed. We're on wood. Yeah.
I'm up in a tree, as usual.
...and Charity's still on the ground, as usual.
(Maria likes to call this one "A Monkey and a Princess" hehehe)



Pretty much, this is just a cool picture. Period.
(Too bad the most beautiful sister isn't pictured there....HAH! But who would take our picture??)


This was actually on the way to the Glovers'.... we had to stop and make a quick call. *sigh* C just can't stay away from the phone. :-P



So Charity pulls her long jean skirt out of the closet on Sunday morning. Maria protests, "You can't wear that! I'm going to wear mine!" Then I come out of my closet and say, "Hey...I was going to wear mine, too!" *sigh* What were we to do?? (Allen says we look like Baptist girls who aren't allowed to wear anything but skirts...humph. I think we look purty! :))



The three newest members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Australia! Maria, Ralph Blakston, and me. (This is a little blurry, but still cute.)

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Well I hope you enjoy looking at some fun moments in my life. :) Enjoy the pictures everyone and enjoy life my Friends. God bless you all!

Song: "Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol

C got their new CD after Christmas and we love it! :)

Life is a Highway...

I wanna ride it all night long.
















us kids all together one last time (for awhile)















doesn't that just make you wanna cry? :'( it makes me sad.
















now this is happy- all together again at last! I was SOO happy- Overjoyed!!

















Us with the Blakstons at the Melborne air port before they (Allen and Zach ;)) left.















Our last family picture with them for awhile.
















Us five older kids together for a snap of a picture, then they were gone.

*sigh* how life goes on.... 'tis a very crazy highway.... But by- and only by- My Gods grace have we made it this fare- through the ups and Downs. Its curvy and dark sometimes, but He's ALWAYS looking out for us.
Statement:
I LOVE MY FAMILY!!!!

Well Lord willing we'll be back again together before to long. *sigh*... I hate the air port. Except for when I'm picking up.... so just dropping off, those trips about kill me! But God is good!

Quote: (Ben Blakston said after the boys left) "I'm going to pretent to be Allen today so the Blakwoods won't be sad. And Harry can be Zachary."

"life is a highway"- Rascal Flatts
inspired by- watching Cars- great film, a must see! :)

hot, sweaty, and happy

Its around about 92-95 F degrees today (32-35 C). And the sun was just a'blazen' down. Rule: when your in Australian Sun ALWAYS were sun screen! But today was pretty good, so i'm pretty happy.

Anyways, its cooling down now this evening, which is good and Tomorrow until Tuesday are supposed to be a little cooler, which will be nice.
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A big happy birthday to Justine G today. You are SO sweet. I love you!
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Well I'm hopefully am going to have pictures on here soon (the ones of us at the air port, my hair, New years day, just good times.) but right now I'm going to go in and watch "Fox and the Hound".... oh boy, that brings back memories.
Have a fabulous weekend.

"forget it"- Breaking Benjamin

Thanking God for each breath

As I think of the new year ahead of me, I have think Him for the year past, and how amazing He has been and how gracious, Almighty, and sovereign He has been to me and my family. I shouldn't just thank God for that at the end of the year and the beginning of a new one, but i should every day, every breath I take should remind me to thank Him for being my God and giving me strength. But most of the time its not till after something really good happens that i thank Him. But the truth is He gives me EVERYTHING I've ever had or have now. And I should thank Him for the straggles and the good times. Not just the good times. Well just some random thoughts of mine. :)

We spend New years eve Lunch with Friends of ours from Kahoonah (sp)- John Taylor and his wife and two adorable kids. Mr. & Mrs. De Jong and there song Peter- and with Graeme and Alison Heart. The Hearts spent the night (Graeme preached in McKinnon) and we stayed up till the new year with them. It was really great spending it with them. Today we spend the day at sorrento beach with Jono and Lou Blakston, The Glover's, The lumleys, Ralph Blakston, and the Stuarts. It was a great day. Almost perfect..... but we were missing two very special people. But I still had a great time.

So I could make a list of How good God has been to me this past year, but that would take way to long! So I'll just say a couple of things I'm very thankful for that's happened this past year.

1. That I moved to Australia
2. That I had my family all together with me for Christmas
3. That God showed me how be content.
4. That God will never give up on me or fail me.

Well that's 4 of about a 2000 # list. But last year-2006- was.... the best and worst year of my life. The saddest and happiest year. Full of lots of hello's and many goodbyes... to many Goodbyes. I've felt overflowing Love for my new family in Christ, but also so much heartache for the one I left back home. Not being able to deside whats home and whats not. Having to go though all that heartach that comes with having two homes, but also feeling so much love in each home. Its been full of so many ups and downs, its like a roller coaster. But Gods always been there watching over and never left. With him I'll never surrender even when life gets tough.
So this year, instead of making new years resolutions, I'm going to try and live my life with Christ shining though me and thanking God for each breath.

So happy new years everyone and May God bless each one of you in this new year He has given' to us.

Psamls 150:6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.

Song: "white Flag"-by Dido