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.)