♥ He Carried Me ♥

Footprints in the Sand

       One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.

In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was one only.

This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints, so I said to the Lord,

“You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”

The Lord replied, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.”

---

Mary Stevenson, 1936

         I was reminded of this poem today and I began to really think about these words. It is so easy when during this life everything seems to be going just right to forget that God is there for me and rarely do we cry out to Him at this time in our life, but how easy is it for me to cry out to Him during the hard, difficult times in my life and forget that He has been with me throughout it all. I find it very comforting to know that God is there through the good times and is there to carry me through the hard times. What an amazing God I serve. ♥

Hitting The Pavement

    

     Well, I am really enjoying training season. I am definitely a cool weather runner. I love summertime but towards the end of summer I find myself longing for the cool crisp Fall days and evenings. I am super excited about my last run. On Sunday, me and my cousin Trina went down to the beach and went for a run on the boardwalk. We had made a plan of running 3.5 miles, but that was soon over ruled! We made it to 2.5 miles and decided to push for 4 miles. By the time we had reached our new goal of 4 miles we had already determined to run a full 10K, 6.21 miles. Well lets just say that goal soon changed as well!! We ended up sprinting and yes I mean SPRINTING towards our 7 mile goal with 6.9 miles completed. It was the BEST feeling ever!!!!!!! We had such an awesome run finishing our 7 miles in 1hr 17minutes. I must say I could have probably put out another 6 miles to finish a half marathon. The weather was in the high 60's low 70's and it was overcast as well. For me this is the perfect weather to run in. I am so excited to know that in 1 month I will definitely be ready for our Wicked 10K!! Team Glitter will be going on a 4 mile run this weekend and I cannot wait! We are all so excited about our first team 10K this coming up October :-) WE GOT THIS LADIES!!!!!!!

Adding another lil gymnast to the house ♥

    Well Saturday was a big day for Avery, it was her very first day at Gymnastics! She has been wanting to go for almost an entire year now ever since Hallie started so she was definitely ready. Saturday morning I woke her up to get her breakfast and dressed for her big day. She could not wait to put on her gymnastics leotard and boy did she look like a cute little gymnast in it ☺ Once it was time for her class, she took Hallie by the hand and they both walked out into the gym for their class. I could not believe how well Avery did. She listened so well to each coach and was already learning certain skills. I was shocked she was able to already do some things on the bars that I know it takes little ones her age and alittle older alot more time to accomplish and this is her first day. Sometimes I have to take a step back and say to myself , "Tara, she is still only a 2 year old." It's like there are times I really think she can pass for an older 3 year old. I am just so proud of her and I know she had an absolute blast out there on the floor. Love watching now both my little princesses during their gymnastics class. Excited to watch them both start learning and accomplishing more and more at each class!!!

She was very excited to be starting her first class!

♥ They sure do love each other ♥

Avery did such a fantastic job during her first class!



♥ Hallie's 1st day of school ♥

     

           As Hallie woke up this morning, Tuesday, Septmeber 6,2011, I think she was nervous and excited to go to school for her first day. She kept informing me this morning she was not big enough to go to school and that she did NOT want to learn!! HAHAHA! She soon became more excited to be going and got dressed in her school uniform that was only complete with her new shoes :-) As we were leaving the house this morning I kept looking at her and thinking I just cannot believe this is happening! I mean didnt I just bring her home from the hospital???? Didnt she just have her 1st birthday???? Well wake up call, she is 4 years old and ready to go to school! The car ride to school was filled with excitement as Hallie just couldnt wait to get there. We finally arrived at school and now its time to walk her in. Hallie puts on her new Jessie the Cowgirl bookbag and off to her class we go. Hallie went to her Mimi's classroom first to show off her new stuff and then she was able to see her Nana and Aunt Jessica! Watching her walk down the hallway to her classroom made my eyes start to water. I knew no matter what I could not be the first one to cry! Well as Hallie sits at her seat I know she is not going to shed a single tear and is so ready for this day to start. Looking at her made me want to just wish she could be little forever and I really wanted to just stay with her but know that is not an option and plus she is so big she wants to be on her own at school. We said our goodbyes and she was still all smiles :-) I remained calm and had a smile on my face the whole way back to the car, but then I became super emotional. I just busted out crying!!! Josh turns to me saying " Are you being serious??" I just told him I am just sad because she is growing up so fast. I told him too I have every right to cry she is my baby!! LOL! As I picked Hallie up today from school she was so happy to see me but was so happy to be at school! She had a great first day and the first thing she tells me when she sees me is that she wants to go home and cut something with scissors!!! hahahaha!!!! I know she is very excited to continue to go to school and I am very excited to watch my little girl in this next chapter of her life. ♥

Gotta Love a Bargain!

      For Hallie's first day of school I told her she could get any shoes she wanted and I thought she would say like any 4 year old that she wanted purple or pink shoes, but I was wrong. She informs me she has been wanting Twinkle Toes!!!!! Yes these ever so popular and might I add expensive shoes are very cute and I sure did want to get them for her but I just couldn't see me spending more money on her little shoes then I would spend on shoes for me so I started looking for a "look alike". I spotted some that were so adorable at Payless but unfortunately Hallie's size and even Avery's size shoe had been sold out. I called my mother-in-law and she let me know that if I went back to that store and had them look up these shoes in the system to see what store did have them I would be given a coupon for these!! Well that is what I did and to make a long story short I was able to get both the girls these "twinkle toes" shoes for the small price of.........drum roll please............$7.00!!!!! And no this isn't $7.00 per pair this is $7.00 for BOTH pair of shoes!!!!!! Original price $20.00 a pair so I saved $33.00 on new school shoes!!! My girls are two very happy campers today as we laced them up and had fun watching them light the way!!!!! Boy do I love me a good bargain!!!!! Here's to happy school shopping!!!!!!

Exciting Times Are Just Around The Corner

          Cant believe tonight I just took my 4 year old baby girl to see her teacher and classroom for this upcoming school year! I still cannot believe she is already a 4 year old much less she is starting school. Hallie is super excited to start school though so this makes it alittle easier on me.......I think.  It will be I'm sure a little more quiet around this house during the day when she is not here with me and her little sister. I just cannot wait to pick her up after her first day of school and just let her talk and talk about her first day :-) The next few days will be us taking her to get her school supplies and the one pair of shoes she has been asking for...Twinkle Toes. Wish I could hold onto her forever but I know this is a new yet exciting chapter in not only mine and Joshua's lives but in Hallie's as well. LET THE FUN BEGIN!!!!!