I Love to See the Temple!

I did it!  I took a step forward and I went to the temple today to receive my endowment.  It was an amazing experience, especially because I was surrounded by so many people that I love.  Thank you to everyone who came to support me (including those who sent texts or facebook messages saying they wish they could have been there!).  I felt the spirit strongly and know I was where Heavenly Father wanted me to be.  I have felt His and my Savior's love a lot lately, and for this I am truly thankful.
 

Lady A Owned the Night!

Valentine's Day 2012 was awesome!!!!  I spent the day with 27 cute and excited first graders who spoiled me with Valentine's.  Then I went to the Lady Antebellum concert with Hannah and Andrea.  They were AMAZING!!!!  They sounded great and the energy level was so high.  Their opening acts were Thompson Square and Darius Rucker who were also amazing.  I was a little deaf and exhausted the next day, but it was totally worth it!!!!!

 Thompson Square

 Darius Rucker

 Lady A

Merry Christmas!!!!

Christmas Eve

 

 Christmas Morning

 

 Christmas Day

Merry Christmas From the Myntti Clan!!!

 

A Gathering of Shepherds

Instead of gathering at the stable, these Shepherds gathered to Mt. Pleasant for the annual Shepherd Family Christmas party.  It was a great day spent with family playing, visiting, eating, singing, reading Christmas stories, opening gifts, and having a wonderful time.

Happy Thanksgiving! (just a few days late!)

  
I had a wonderful Thanksgiving surrounded by friends and family.  I started off the day with a nice, brisk Turkey Trot with Shandy and Anna.  It was fun and felt fantastic to run 3 miles with good friends before stuffing myself!!

Then I ate a delicious and guilt free feast with my wonderful family.  We had a great time eating, visiting, laughing, and playing.  My favorite foods were the yams, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie!  YUM!!!!  After eating till we couldn't eat anymore, Jeremy, Liz and I had our second annual "Exercise on a Stuffed Tummy without Barfing" contest.  Haha!  It was so funny and painful and great.  Unfortunately, Jem won.  But I beat Liz!!

Now bring on Christmas!  Mom and I stopped to smell the Christmas trees with was funny and great!  We always say we need to, so this time we did!
 

My house is all decked out and ready for Santa for to come!  Happy Holidays everyone!
 

Top Ten Thankful List:
1.  My Savior, Jesus Christ and his Atonement and love for me
2.  The Gospel, Plan of Salvation, etc.
3.  My amazing family
4.  My wonderful friends
5.  Living prophets and apostles
6.  The scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon
7.  My fantastic Bishop and Bishopric
8. Temples
9.  The priesthood
10.  My home, car, job, health, etc.

Thankful

I just had an interesting experience.  As a ward missionary, I was asked to go with the full time missionaries to visit an investigator.  It was fascinating to listen to this young man talk about his life without the gospel, the mistakes he's made, and how he is trying to find God.  I mostly just listened, but I was able to bear my testimony on repentance and the Atonement.

It made me so thankful for my knowledge of the Gospel.  I am so glad that I know who I am.  I am a daughter of my Heavenly Father who loves me and I love him!  I am so grateful for my knowledge of my Savior.  I would be so lost without the power of the Atonement in my life.  I know my Savior loves me and is anxious to forgive me when I repent.  I am so thankful for the knowledge that God has a plan for me.  And because of this knowledge, I know that when things seem crazy, all I have to do is hold on with faith and things will work out.  I am thankful for a family who is always there to help me and support.  I am thankful we have been sealed for eternity.  I am thankful for the scriptures, particularly the Book of Mormon which I know to be the word of God and which is a constant source of truth and light and direction in my life.  I am thankful for living prophets and leaders who speak the word of God for today.  I am thankful for the Holy Ghost to lead and guide me.  I am thankful for the priesthood, for temples, and for everything else the Gospel brings into my life.

To sum things up, I am thankful to be me because I have the Gospel in my life!!!!!

Happy 1st Birthday, Ava!!!!!!

Ava turned one year old yesterday.  We had a fun family party and she was so adorable and excited.  I am so lucky to have her for a niece!!!  It is hard to believe that it has been a year since our family was blessed with not one, but two adorable new babies.  It has been an interesting year, but watching these two angels grow has made it a wonderful one.