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.

Manila Mini Marathon!!

What could be better than running with friends and first graders??

The Manila Mini Marathon rocked! 

Happy 1st Birthday, Kellan!!!!

Kellan turned ONE on September 27.  We had a fun family party a few days before that.  I don't know who was more excited....Kellan or his sister, brother, and cousins!  Kellan is such a sweet and happy boy and I am so happy I get to be his aunt.  I love you Kellan!!!!!!!

Gotta Love Cowboys!

Tim McGraw and Luke Bryan
August 7, 2011

I have to say it....those are two hot cowboys! Aside from the beer that got spilled on me, it was a way fun night and an AMAZING concert. Thanks, Andrea!

13.1 Miles!

I did it! I ran the Timpanogos Half Marathon and I'm still alive to tell you about it! I ran it this morning with my friend Jenn and it was amazing. I ran it in 2 hours and 23 minutes which is about 20 minutes faster than my practice time so I am very pleased!

The course was beautiful! It started up AF Canyon at Tibble Fork Reservoir then came down the canyon, through Ceder Hills and AF, past the temple, and finished at AF High School. It was beautiful running through the canyon next to the rolling river.

I never thought my body would allow me to run 13.1 miles. But that's why I did it...to prove that I'm in charge...not my back...not him...or him...or anyone else...but me! And with my Heavenly Father's help, I can do anything I put my mind to. :)

Beach Babes

I spent this past weekend in California with my friends Andrea and Brittany. We had a blast! I think I really am a California Girl at heart. We stayed in Huntington Beach. We spent Friday riding bikes from Huntington Beach to Newport Beach and back. This was way fun and a good workout! Then we played in the ocean and worked on our tans....or our sunburns! Oops! We ate at Ruby's out on the end of the pier which was really yummy.

Saturday we went to Los Angeles. We ate lunch at this delicious crepe place then we went shopping in the Fashion District in Downtown LA. The only way I can describe it is it was like an outdoor market you see in other countries...only for fashion. It was kind of scary but really cool. And I got a cute sundress. :) We then went to Santa Monica which was a really beautiful beach. We hiked to the top of the cliff and watched some weird performers in the park. Then we drove back to Huntington Beach along the Pacific Coast Highway. It was fun to drive through the beach towns and see the fun houses and people.

It was a way fun trip with two way fun friends!!!!!

Camping

Fourth of July Weekend Camping Trip:
Palisades

We had so much fun camping this past weekend. All 13 of us plus Grammy, Karen and Ron, Patty and James, Justin and family, and Jamie and family were there, so it was like a big family reunion. It was fun to see family members we don't see very often. The lake and mountains were beautiful but it was very hot. It was a lot of fun playing with McKenna, Tanner, Kellan, Eli, and Ava. It was also fun playing with Ryan, Becky, Nathan, Jem, Liz, mom, and dad. We played cards, water balloons, and toys. We walked around the lake (I also went for a run along the lake which was fun). We had McKenna and Tanner's 1/2 birthdays. We ate lots of yummy food and had fun relaxing and visiting. I did McKenna's hair to match mine which she thought was pretty cool.

Aside from 2 mishaps, it was a great weekend. The sprinklers came on in the middle of the night and soaked Justin's tent. It was sad and funny all at the same time. Nathan got sick and fell out of the trailer which was scary. Luckily, I have an amazing dad, brother, and uncle who where around him withing minutes giving him a priesthood blessing. I love the gospel! He is doing much better now.

I am so thankful for this beautiful world and country.

Happy Fourth of July!!!!!

Mermaids and Greasers

June 12-15, 2011: Our St. George Adventure

Mom, dad, Nathan, and I spent a few days in St. George and the surrounding areas. We had a blast....and just one small mishap with the van. I would tell you what it was, but my dad would kill me! Haha!

The Beaver Rocking Chair and the Van Mishap

Eating Delicious Food

The St. George Temple

Tuacahn: The Little Mermaid (absolutely amazing!) and Grease (fun dancing!)

Zions....Spectacular!

Cove Fort

Disneyland!

In case you didn't know.....I LOVE DISNEYLAND!!!!! My mom, brother, and I had a blast this past week as we left our worries behind and let ourselves be kids for a few days. We ate TONS of good food, screamed and laughed on the rides, enjoyed the shows, and experienced the new Little Mermaid ride. It was a perfect way to kick off the summer!

Catch Up

It's time for a little catch up! Forgive the randomness of this post!

Easter 2011

Our Last Day in San Francisco:

Muir Woods

The yummiest hamburger ever, the bridge in fog, Ghirradelli Square and yummy ice cream

Bay Cruise out under the Golden Gate Bridge...WOW!
(and a random picture of me laughing in the elevator! Haha!)

Kindergarten Field Trip to the Schow Farm

Thanks for putting up with my randomness today. Here's another random thing for you:

I just ran a 5K without stopping! It felt so good and was exhilarating! I feel more like myself than I have in a long time. My new goal is to run the Red Rock Relay next year cuz RaeAnn just made it look so fun!

Ok...Last random thing:

Thanks everybody for putting up with me and my craziness lately. I never would be able to keep going without all of you. I am feeling a little better every day and I know everything will work out...QUICKLY!!!