Alma 37:37

So, since this is one of my last blogs before I head out, the layout is changing to make it easier for my little Rie to keep updated. :)

Alma 37:37
Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; jea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

This single scripture changed my life.
For those who will be at my Farewell this Sunday, you'll recognize this line in my talk:

For those of you who know me,

you know that my actions are solely based on my promptings from the Spirit.

Before I act on anything,

 I always discuss with my Heavenly Father what He would have me do.

2 Nephi 32:5 says:

For behold, again I say unto you t

hat if ye will enter in by the way and receive the Holy Ghost,

it will show unto you all things what ye should do.

 

 

I strive daily to have the Holy Ghost with me. He is my constant aide and companion, my Patriarchal Blessing reminds me always.

Every major choice in my life is directed by the Holy Ghost after much discussion with my Father in Heaven.

 

The gift of the Holy Ghost is the single most important gift that I have received from my Heavenly Father, next to the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

I know that my Heavenly Father loves me because He has never caused me to go through this life alone. The Holy Ghost is a constant best friend, member of the Godhead, and He is my gateway to my Father in Heaven. He is the soul communicator, and for that I am forever grateful.

 

I have been asked by close friends why it seems so easy for me to withstand the temptations of the Adversary-- My Answer: The Holy Ghost

He constantly dwells with me. I know when I am in a situation I shouldn't be when his absence is felt.

 

I have been struggling a lot lately about whether my mission is truly for me. If the circumstance of my life when I started my papers, which has completely changed, if that was the source of my desire to serve. I have had doubts in what my Father in Heaven really wants of me. The answers I have gotten have sometimes coincided with my desires, sometimes they haven't. But I have faith that whatever happens, my Father in Heaven will watch over me. He will intervene into my life (like He always does) if my plans do not coincide with His plans.

I know that there is a plan for me. And although I may not always understand it, I must simply trust in His will.

 

7 Days. 7 days until I am set apart as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

7 days until I prepare to depart on the biggest adventure, biggest sacrifice, and biggest blessing of my life.

7 days.

 

Boy, how time flies.

 

Sister Olivia Rodriguez
South Dakota Rapid City Mission
February 2013-August 2014

 

Reasons

My Inspirations...

• The Distric videos
• Reassuring Conversations
• Merry Go Round by Kacey Musgraves
• Preach My Gospel
• Missionary Letters

 God has a way of putting things in your life.

Obstacles.

People.

Words.

Experiences.

Emotions.

Feelings.

Promptings.

Doubts.

Fears.

Comforts.

Escapes.

Answers.

"We are dependent upon the Spirit of the Lord to aid us and to manifest to us from time to time what is necessary for us to accomplish under the peculiar circumstances that may surround us."

-Pres. Lorenzo Snow

 

 

 

I believe that God has a way of promptings us to persue tasks that He has previously set out for us. He has always made it very aparent that He has His own plan for me, and my life.

 





"Patience is tied very closely to faith in our Heavenly Father.

Actually, when we are unduly impatient,

we are suggesting that we know what is best--better than does God.

Or, at least, we are asserting that our timetable is better than His"

Neal A. Maxwell

 

I've had times where I have felt as though I am wandering, lost, unsure of what my Father in Heaven wants me to do. At times like these, He will always provide. Crossroads have appeared in my life. I can't help but to sit and watch as other's lives fall into place while mine is spinning, not necessarily out of control, but certainly not planned.

God has a funny way of showing you that He has things in control, and it will all be okay.

The past several months of my life the unexpected has happened. I have had situations, thoughts, and circumstances thrown my way that have raised great question in my mind that maybe the answers I interpreted from my Father in Heaven were intended for different actions. I have now learned that patience and faith are the true virtues that I am to aquire.

 

 

Although I have had several doubts about my mission,

especially lately,

I have never been more sure of it than I am now.

I know there are people that need my specific testimony,

my specific experiences,

and me, specifically

to bring them unto Christ.

I know there are people that I need to learn from,

their specific experiences,

and them specifically

to bring me closer unto Christ.

 

God works in mysterious ways.

Our prayers never go unanswered.

We will never walk alone.

 

Be strong and of a good courage;

be not afraid.

neither be thou dismayed,

for the Lord thy God is with thee

whithersoever thou goest.

Joshua 1:9

My Savior Lives

My Inspirations...

• I Know That My Redeemer Lives by Mormon Tabernacle Choir
• I Need Thee Every Hour by Mormon Tabernacle Choir
• Priesthood Blessings
• Answered Prayers
• Hard days
• Crying to those whom you know care for you

 Sometimes, life has a way of turning itself completely upside down.

Sometimes, life decides to throw things in your direction.

Sometimes, you get blindsided by the inevitable.

Sometimes, things don't go as planned.

Sometimes, things are hard, and bad things happen.

Sometimes, things are easier to endure.

There is always beauty and goodness. Everyday.

 

 

I know this to be true.

We chose our trials.

We chose what we would experience.

The infinte love of our Savior is our guide,

our light,

and our way to endure this life.

 

"And now, after the many testimonies which have

been given of him,

this is the testimony, last of all,

which we give of him:

That He lives!

For we saw him,

even on the right hand of God;

and we heard the voice bearing record

that He is the Only Begotten of the Father

That by him,

and through him,

and of him,

the worlds are and were created,

and the inhabitnats thereof

are begotten sons and daughters of God."

D&C 76:22-24

 

 

 

 

My Savior is my best friend.

He has carried me through the hardest, darkest times of my life.

He has celebrated with me, rejoiced with me.

He has cried with me, hurt with me, and comforted me.

He has laughed with me, smiled with me.

His embrace is truly the most remarkable touch I have ever felt.

I know that my Redeemer lives.

I feel His presence in my life daily.

I know that my Savior loves me.

His Priesthood is one of the greatest gifts we have been given.

I am a disciple of Christ.

I always will be.

 And in 24 days, I will have a badge that says so.

 

To all who suffer--to all who feel discouraged, worried, or lonely--I say with love and deep concern for you, never give in. Never surrender. Never allow despair to overcome your spirit. Embrace and rely upon the Hope of Israel, for the love of the Son of God pierces all darkness, softens all sorrow, and gladdens every heart.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf



Be. Happy. :)

My Inspirations...

• Wanted by Hunter Hayes
• Love Was Easy by Jason Aldean
• Long Hallway With A Broken Light by Thriving Ivory
• A Summer Song by Chad and Jeremy
• Mrs. Robinson by Simon & Garfunkle
• Spending time with a cute boy

"Now and then,

it's good to pause in our
pursuit of happiness
and just be happy."

It is impossible to explain life.

So in this journey of life, just remember.
Be happy.
 
 
It's okay to be happy.
I was always afraid to let myself be truly happy.

Finally I have.
And it has made all the difference.
 
Let someone like you.
Like someone else.
Watch good movies.
Pray your heart out.
Read your favorite scripture. Every day.
And let yourself like you.
 
 
Life is too short, but it's long enough.
Make it count.
 
 


2012. In a nut shell.

My Inspirations...

• Fast by Jason Aldean
• Days Like These by Jason Aldean
• The Book of Mormon
• Try by Pink
• If I Didn't Have You by Thompson Square

January 1, 2012

I had my friends.
I was going to school at Snow College.
My family was good, in good health, and still crazy.
I had ambitions of losing weight, hugging everyone, and documenting my journey with pictures.


February 2012
I made better friends.
School was great.
My goals to lose weight and hug everyone went down the drain.

Fast forward to May 2012.
I finished my first year of college.
I was preparing to go home to work to return in August.
I was leaving behind my home of 9 months, and moving away from the best friends I'd ever had.

I moved back home to have my life crumble before my eyes.
I faced the hardest trial I have experienced yet.
My family came together to help my dad to battle Stage 3 Metastesized Tonsil Cancer.





I have had to learn how to live my life without my dad. He is still here physically, but mentally, my dad has been missing for 8 months.
I learned to love my dad the way he is, and not for what I wanted him to be.
I also learned the value of time, and how it passes so quickly.








July 2012 I had my galbladder removed.
I got my job at Horizon Credit Union.
And I made one of the hardest decisions of my life thus far.
I chose to stay home instead of returning to Snow College for my fall and final semester.

August 2012
I spent time with my friends that I knew would be soon leaving.
I learned a lot about myself.
And my dad finished cancer treatments to begin the long process to healing.

I turned 20 years old in 2012.
I fell in love, then fell out of love, mostly with myself.
And fell in like with a boy.

I was at the largest crossroad in my life, trying to decide what to do in regards to school, love, life, and who I am as a person.
I received the greatest news of my life thus far as well.
All of my plans for the next year were changed with a few simple words.

I spent months preparing and received my mission call.
I learned so much about myself, about the church, and about my testimony.
I learned patience.
I said see you soon to many friends who departed on their missions.
One of them was my best friend of 7 years, who left the same day I received my mission call.
I was called to the South Dakota Rapid City Mission.
We welcomed a new family member into our family.
And prepared for the second baby to come right after 2013 rang in.

I went through the temple to receive my endowment.
I have never experienced as much happiness in my life as I have since I went through the temple.

I gained friends, I lost friends, and I maintained friendships.
My hair grew, my weight fluxuated, my health had its ups and downs.
I am still a normal person.
I am still the Olivia that I always have been, just equipped with more knowledge, experience, patience, and understanding for others and for my Heavenly Father.
I've learned to love while I can, and that there is never time for hate.
I learned to forgive, and how to forget.
I have a love for myself that I have never had before. And that has made all the difference.
I learned that life doesn't go the way I've planned it-My Heavenly Father has an even greater plan for me.
He is in every aspect of my life. And my life will change according to the plan that He has for me.
And I learned to have faith in His plan and His own goals for me to achieve.
My prayers were answered in ways that I never dreamt they would be.
I learned that time changes things, and it truly heals.
I learned that there are much greater things in life than things.


I love my Heavenly Father.
I love my Savior.
I love the gospel of Jesus Christ.
These are things I have always had a love for.
But this past year has given me a greater understanding and greater respect for them.

2012 was a great year.
2013 will definitely be full of adventures, the unknown, experiences, and I will grow even more as a person.
My only New Years Resolution for 2013:
To center my life around Christ.
Every. Single. Aspect. Centered. Around. Christ.

(There were so many more pictures, but they wouldn't load.)