A Beautiful miracle from God




On Sunday, around 6-8 PM, Thomas James Wilson Hughes was born. The newest addition to our church family


He was born to Carolyn and Raymond Hughes. (they are one beautiful family, huh? :) I think so)



We went to see the new little Hughes family this evening and I'm still pumped from seeing him! (even more pumped then the Colts winning the super bowl this morning - for us. I've had an exciting day! :)) He is a gorgeous baby boy and I know, with the help of our Lord, Caz and Jonah (nick names) will be wonderful parents! And I can't wait to get to know this little guy more and more in the days, weeks, months, and years ahead! He is a little bundle of joy and blessing- for Carolyn and Ray, for Tony and Norma (Carolyn's parents), and all the other family, And for our church and my family! He is a little miracle from God. :)

No more sleepen' in :(

Yes, once again the dreaded school year has started. No more summer break (but its still summer for another 2 months). Its a pity. And Alas, I'm in Algebra..... Can you say "CONFUSED TAMARA!!!", 'cus that's what I am. Actually its only Algebra 1/2 and this week has been supper easy (the first lessons are always easy!), but I'm just waiten' for the dreaded weeks and months ahead.


(for those of you who are wondering, C is not in Saxon maths 87- and I'm not in Algebra 2, we were ganna switch but C freaked out when she saw how easy mine was and I freaked out when i saw how hard hers was. The print was WAY smaller!)
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In other news....

It has just been a lazy Friday night. Pizza and a movie, session meeten' with my dad and the elders. James G. is over for a "sleep over" (or whatever little boys call it) for Ben's birthday. They have been playing on the Xbox for 6 or so hours. Then tomorrow we are going rock climbing.

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Some modeling shots us girls took before Church last Sunday night.




Maria and I in a tree.


Squinting because of the sun. I have two beautiful sisters don't I. God blessed me. :)

"The Reason"-hoobastank

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

They're Gone again,

Once again my brothers are gone, but this time I watched them walk away, instead of them watching me walk way. Yesterday at 11:20 (iss) they walked though those airport doors and *snaps fingers* just like that, they were gone.
I didn't really cry at the air port, all of yesterday I was actually reasonable happy (I'll tell you why in a minute), Wednesday was the killer. I guess I got all my tears out Wed night, cus' boy-oh-boy did I cry. Silently on the way home from the Glovers (at 9:45. our last car ride with just us 5 older kids for awhile), then when we got home I cried and cried for about 5 or 10 minutes alone in our dark living room. Then with my sisters a little after that. It was good though because I got all my tears out so my Brothers didn't see me cry.

I'm sure more tears will spill over later when it hits me that they are gone, but for now I'm ok. So Jono And Lou Blakston and their 4 kiddo's met us at the air port- before that we had breakfast at Jono's parents house- then after the goodbyes they came back to our house for lunch *laugh*, it was a lunch that turned into afternoon tea, then a game, then dinner, then a movie, then showers for the kids, then at 9:30 ish they left. :-) I was good to have them though, it made us happy. But when they left I hit the bunks, 4 hours of sleep made me very tired. But i didn't go to sleep right away, I heard the phone ring at 2:30 am- the boys calling to say they had made it safe- then I went to sleep till 9 something.

So, They left on a jet plane, and Lord willing they'll be back again in less then 5 months, But oh babe, I hatted to see them go.

A big thanks to Zachary!

my dear brother, For helping me get the Rose thing back up and helping me out with my blog. Ok so I've got a pink blog.... is that to wierd? Well I can mess around with it still, not anymore right now. I'm sick of messing with this blog, but I hope you like it. Thanks again Zach!

Two more days till christmas. Are you ready? I'm not, Ive got all the gifts and everything i'm just not ready for this Christmas, everything' to wierd. But it does feel more like Christmas now then it did.
Welp God bless and have a very Merry Christmas all! (and if there is any, through a snow ball for me :))

~from the girl "down under"

Ok right now I'm very frustrated. Maria decided to help me upgrade my blog and it destroyed my old template... :( I'm very sad and annoyed. Oh well I'll work on it later. I don't think I can get my old template on here, so maybe later (with some help from my family) I'll mess around with this and make it pretty. Maybe Charity can help me again and make another pretty blog.

~later
"last kiss"- Pearl Jam

lalalalalife is wonderful

10 reasons why my life is wonderful!

#1. I've got my whole family here for Christmas.
#2. Saturday I went lazor taging and bowling with the bedfords
#3. I had a great run yesterday night
#4. I've got the best sisters in the world!
#5. I've got the greatest Brothers ever!
#6. Its warm.
#7. we have a beach 5 minutes away.
#8. I've got the best parents you could ever ask for!
#9. My church family loves me and I love them!
#10. My God has blessed my with great family, friends, and home, and He's always there!


:) Those are 10 reasons why I have a wonderful life!

thanks to Ruth for the great song!

"life is wonderful"-Jason Mraz

This ain't the Christmas I know.....

It's supposed to be snowing. We are supposed to be getting our warm clothes out. We are supposed to be making snow angels, making hot chocolate to warm us when we come inside with clod hands and noces. We are supposed to be sitting 'round the fire. Thats my Christmas is supposed to be.

We aren't suppose to be waiting for rain 'cuz its so hot and dry, our summer clothes aren't supposed to come out for another 6 months. We aren't supposed to be laying out in the sand, drinking ice cold lemonade to cool us down we we come inside from the blazing sun. We aren't suppose to be sitting around a pool! This isn't my christmas, its not the way its supposed to be...

I miss waking up, looking outside and seeing how calm and white everything is. The first snow, getting all excited, getting my snow suit on and running outside and loving that first mouthfull of snow.

We should NOT be waiting for the first warm day, getting our bathers on, then running down the ocean, and getting our first splash in the face of salt water.

The days are suppposed to be getting shorter and colder, not longer and warmer. Where are the coats and scarves? Not shorts and flip-flops. Where has my Christmas gone..... But I guess Christmas really isn't about all taht, maybe I should focas more on Jesus's birth, and less on the seasons. It really isn't that big of a deal weather we have sand or snow under our feet.
Christmas (in my eyes at least) is a day to be with our family and friends and celabrate Christ's birth. And maybe, even though I miss my white Christmas, I should try harder to see what their Christmas season is all about. See it there Their eyes.

A Christmas on the beach won't really compair with a white christmas, but maybe, just maybe if I give it a chance, I might even like it. :) Besides I've got my 5 siblings with me and my parents. Can't ask for much more. :) Plus I've got all my new Ossie friends. Don't get my wrong, I miss all you guys like crazy, and miss my white Christmas, but I love my new second home and I'm willing to give this Christmas a chance.

Pictures From our vacation in Nhill

actaully these our of our stops on the way there! :) good fun

(a post Lord willing will come later... maybe, and then a post about our adventure at Kennet River will come after that. Charity has a great lovely long post about out adventure in the country on here lovely blog and Zachary has some GREAT, MUST SEE pictures on his websigh! They really are great! Enjoy)

More pictues...

Pictures

these our from Hanging Rock. Make sure you read the post below!

what's new in my life

Well... Its a new month, we have two new Elders in our church (3 including my Father), and we had a new exciting LONG weekend.

A Blakston weekend!
you can't get much better than that.
Friday night was the installation of my Father, Tony, and Matt. Afterward us girls went to Lynsey and karin Blakstons for the weekend. We got up around 9:30- 10:30 (hey we didn't get home till midnight the night before) at 11 we went opp-shopping then we went and had a picnic at Hanging Rock. We took the walk up to hanging rock which was only suppose to take 50 min, but because Maria and I were all over the place (I just couldn't resist climbing on all the huge rocks!)! :-) It was so much fun. And Karin, Lynsey were right behind us. So 2 hour later we got down and went and got some ice-cream and went on another walk to see this huge Cross, that wasn't as long but by the time we got in the car I was So tired out! That night we watched the movie Picnic at Hanging - which I advise non of you to watch! It had no ending! There were some good and funny scenes in it but it was pretty dumb! :) Then they took us to church Sunday morning.

Then after evening church we had Jono and Lou Blakston (Karin's Son and his family) and their kids over to spend the night- the live in Geelong and came down for the thing on Friday- and all day Monday. We went to a park and ate lunch with them and the Glovers and that was good fun, then we came home and later some of us went to another close park and played before we went to the Bay. That evening Us kids stayed home and watched their kids while the adults went out to Tea. Then the sad goodbye came and they went about 8.

Yesterday we got school off again for the Melbourne Cup ( the only horse race that they say "stops the whole nation". How sweet a two minute race and you get the whole day off! :)) and first I went to the Glovers to help finish up the fence for the goats then at 3 our family went to Ralph Blakstons-Lynsey's brother- which was great fun! Then we had bible study they night.

They Blakstons are a way-cool family (and their are more of them) and you really can't get much better than spending a long weekend with them! They are great!

Two weekends ago Matt organized a trip to this place called Walla-halla. I will try and put some pictures up of it so I won't tell to much about it. A gold-mining little town. That was really fun too!

Now tomorrow we leave for Nile- some place in the middle of know where. :) I'm excited... Well not to thrilled about the 8+ hour car ride in our 8 pasenger, but it should be fun! I'll tell all about it when I get back home next Wednesday!

God bless all,
~Tamara Rose~

this song is dedicated to my Hero- aka my Oldest brother Allen!

I'll try and put pictures up tomorrow, they aren't working for me tonight. Sorry.