My Rescue

Well guys. I have been itching to write a blog post, and I have got a couple drafted out... but none of them felt right. Until now. So here goes nothin'

Jesus Christ.

What a guy.

I love this man with every part of me. He is my Friend. He is my Brother. He is my Rock.  He is my Savior.

This man, who lived 2000 years ago, knows me intimately, completely, and unconditionally.

He walked mile after mile; healing, teaching, consoling, expounding, and setting the perfect example for me. He is meek, gentle, understanding, humble, and perfect in every sense of the word.

I cannot describe how grateful my heart is to this man who so willingly came to a corrupt world, to be rejected by His own, to suffer indescribely, and to have nails driven through his hands, wrist, and feet for me. I love Him so much. I stand a witness that He is the literal Son of God. I stand as a witness that in Him there is healing, hope, peace and redemption. I stand as a witness that miracles are working amongst the children of God.

I will forever stand as a witness of Jesus Christ.

You want facts? Well here they are.

Jesus lives. He is real. He is alive and active in the lives of those He died to save.

Come unto Him. He loves you, He is waiting for you. His arms are open. Come.

See You in 18

The time is finally here.

Tonight I will be set apart as a full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. And I couldn't be more excited.

It has definitely been a journey to get to this point, but there is nothing to stop me from wanting to work my very hardest.

I wanted to give a heart-felt "thank you" to those who helped me to get to this point. Thank you to those who were there when my testimony was shaky. Thank you to those who taught me essential gospel principles, seminary teachers, institute instructors, Sunday School instructors. Thank you to those who helped me financially in school, and in preparing to serve. Thank you to those who taught me important life principles. Thank you to those who made life fun for me. Thank you to those who loved me at my worst. Thank you to those who helped me through my incredibly awkward stages. Thank you to my teammates and my friends who pushed me to be the best that I could be. Thank you to my family who has seen the ugly side of me, and loved me anyway.

To all you amazing people in my life, Thank You.

I am beyond excited to serve the people of Utah. To be in the "Celestial Kingdom" as some of my Utah friends say. If you want to get a hold of me my email is savannah.uri@myldsmail.net

I have an unwavering testimony of Jesus Christ, that He lived, atoned, died, and was resurrected for the salvation of all mankind. And that is the sole reason I am serving a mission. He has issued the call, and I must go. I'll see you in 18!

I Didn't Want to Go, But I am Called to Serve

 So- I started writing this blog post in July of 2016. I've been working on it for months leading up to this point.

Yes, I really am going to serve a mission.

No, I wasn't that girl that always knew I was going to serve a mission. For me, it was a process. So this post is for those who never thought they were going to serve, and those who are struggling to accept the Lord's need for them to serve.

Now guys, brace yourselves... (I feel like I say that too often in my blog posts...) Anyway, I am about to let you into the very personal part of my life- the following is snippets and pieces from journal entries within the past year.

January 10th, 2015:

"I have began to seriously pray about serving a mission. I don't know if I need to serve one, but I am feeling a sense or urgency for my life... like something needs to change. My heart has definitely become more open to the idea... I just need an answer about what the Lord wants me to do.."

February 12th, 2016:

"For the past couple weeks I have been praying whether or not I should serve a mission."

"I want to be the type that does what the Lord asks me to and does not hesitate for one second."

At this point I was probably getting a subtle answer- but I wasn't listening quite enough to get it. 

February 21st, 2016:

"I heard a talk and a quote stood out to me. It said, 'Make the choice to do what God has asked us'... I have made the choice that if the Lord wants me to go and do something, I will do it." (I guess I didn't know what I was getting into when I said that;)

Again, I am recognizing the Spirit, but I don't think I was quite ready to listen to what He was trying to tell me. 

March 28th, 2016:

"Yesterday I had a meeting with the bishop. So I walked in his office and we talked for a second and he asked what I wanted to talk about. I told him, 'I have received the answer to a prayer that I need to serve a mission, but I know that I'm not supposed to go right now because I am supposed to be here next semester.'"

I knew that I still had things to do out at SVU, but at this point I couldn't deny that the Lord wanted me to serve a mission. And it scared me. A lot. 

June 5th 2016:

"I know that I am supposed to serve a mission. I am not doing it for anyone. I am not doing it because of a broken heart. I know without a doubt that I am supposed to go. It just feels right. It feels as right as SVU. I know the Lord's timing is perfect and I need to pray and fast and stay receptive to the Spirit."

Shortly after this I told my mother and my older brother (only a couple of close friends knew before that) and my moms stunned reaction along with my brother's tears were moments I won't forget.

                                           

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My WHOLE life, I never planned on going on a mission. Not that I didn't have faith in the Lord's plan or anything... I just had several somewhat logical reasons. Among some of those were:
1.)  I have schooling coming out of ears. I wanted to get that done, finished and out of the way.
2.) I have never felt prompted to go (despite the nagging and harassment from my older brother... love you Brandon), and lastly....
3.) I didn't want to go. 

Yes, you heard that right. I had absolutely no desire to serve a mission. Even when I got the firm and undeniable answer that I was supposed to go, I still wasn't convinced that I wanted to.

There was absolutely nothing inside of me that yearned to serve a mission. Not because I didn't think that a mission would be a good decision, but because I always saw my myself in school. I was going to get my degree, get into medical school, get married, be a doctor and work with kids for the rest of my life. I simply didn't see a mission fitting into my plans. You see, that was the problem though, they were only my plans. Of course I had prayerfully considered the path I should take regarding school and all of that... but... a mission just never fit in.

I had asked several times in the past if I should serve, but I never asked being open to the possibility of a "yes". And I fought it. Let me tell you, I fought it hard. I wasn't receptive to an answer, but only because I had closed myself down to the possibility of a "yes".

Anyone who knows me knows that I don't like change. I'm stubborn and proud and I like things the way that they are. Especially if they are good. When the idea came that I might actually be supposed to serve, I didn't like it because it meant a lot of things would be changing.

As you can see, coming to this decision was a process for me. A very spiritual "come to Jesus" process. And it was hard. I had to face parts of myself and my past that I didn't like. I had to face parts of myself that I tried to ignore. Through this whole process I feel like I have been willingly putting myself into the refiners fire. It's uncomfortable. I am being heated, stretched, pounded, and molded into a destined daughter of God. And I have got a long way to go. That being said, I know that this is the best possible thing I can be doing with my life, because it is what the Lord wants me to do.

Fast forward: November 6th, 2016. I still know without a doubt that I am supposed to serve a mission. Although I thought I would be leaving this winter, I know I am supposed to be out at SVU this spring for one last semester. Something has changed inside of me. I am excited to go and serve. I am excited to grow in ways I never expected. I am excited for the people I will meet and how they will impact my life. I am excited to learn, and to dedicate my life fully to the service of the Lord, so that others can have the same joy, peace, comfort and love that I have in my life.

Fast forward again: January 3rd, My mission papers are nearly completed. The peace I feel in my life at this moment is beyond comprehension. I have absolutely no doubt that the Lord is guiding my life- and that He wants me to serve a mission. I know that all my experiences the past year have helped me come to this decision.

January 11th, 2017: Nearly a year after I had the prompting to serve, I had an interview with my bishop. My papers are so close to being submitted. I have felt a closeness to the Savior that I have never felt in my life. I feel His strength feeding into me as he approves the path that I am on. I know without a doubt that His hand is actively guiding my life.

Yes, this journey has been a "Come to Jesus" journey, but oh how I have loved coming closer to Him. I cannot wait to share with others the love that I feel from the Savior. I cannot wait to testify of His restoration, and the reality of the First Vision. I cannot wait to bear testimony of the atoning sacrifice of the Redeemer, and how I know that he can heal, comfort, and forgive.

The Lord has guided me this far, and He hasn't let me down yet. So I'm choosing to trust in Him and trust in His timing.

 

~Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work.~ D&C 4:3

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Stay tuned to find out when I get my call to where the Lord needs me to serve

When I'm Drowning

I fail.

A lot.

I make the same mistakes over and over again.
I say things I regret.
I think things that I shouldn't, and I am constantly doing things that disappoint my Savior.

And let me tell you. The burden of sin is so real.

I felt like Peter. I felt like I was walking on water... and then I faltered in faith and action. The only difference is that I had put an anchor of sin around my neck and I was allowing it to drag me down. I was drowning. It got to a point where I felt my lungs were filling with water and there was no turning back. I had built a two layer brick wall around my heart and every time the Spirit or the Savior tried to tear a brick down, I just put another layer up. But let me tell you something.

The Savior dove in after me. He swam to the bottom and extended his hand towards me- desperately wanting me to reach out to him.

But I had to let him grab me.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said in this most recent general conference: "It matters not how completely ruined our lives may seem. It matters not how scarlet our sins, how deep our bitterness, how lonely, abandoned, or broken our hearts may be. Even those who are without hope, who live in despair, who have betrayed trust, surrendered their integrity, or turned away from God can be rebuilt... There is no life so shattered that it cannot be restored."

He DOVE in after me! Why me? What was so special about me? Why did I... a sinner deserve any of  it? It took me a while, but I finally realized that I am a daughter of God, and only Jesus Christ understands the love that my Heavenly Father has for me because he suffered for and in that love. He did it because he loves me. I am loved by the Great Shepherd. And I could rejoice from the top of my lungs knowing that fact.

The power of prayer is so real.

It all starts with prayer and a want to change. Praying desperately. A literal wrestle with God as I tried to right my wrongs. Crying on my knees to Him because of my shortcomings. Crying to Him in gratitude for his love. Crying in love to Him for willingly diving in after me. He already suffered. He already paid the price. A debt that I could not repay.

I rolled out of bed in the mornings and muttered that half-awake but heartfelt prayer. I collapsed on my knees in the evenings and plead to the Father to feel his love and forgiveness. I was actually trying to maintain a relationship with the Savior and my Father in Heaven. It made all the difference.

Later in that talk by President Uchtdorf he says, "The joyous news of the gospel is this: because of the eternal plan of happiness provided by our loving Heavenly Father and through the infinite sacrifice of Jesus the Christ, we can not only be redeemed form our fallen state and restored to purity, but we can also transcend mortal imagination and become heirs of eternal life and partakers of God's indescribable glory"

Indescribably glory.

What does that even mean? Oh man but do I want that! I want to be joyous in Heaven surrounded by family and My loving Older Brother. I can have that! The atonement makes that possible. He can and does restore us! We can have all of the blessings that the Father has in store for us. We just have to put in the effort. I am a living testimony!

Scripture study came next. Along with the desperate longing for answers to prayers, my understanding of the scriptures increased immensely. I no longer saw scripture study as a burden. I started to see certain verses stick out and it seemed that for the first time-- they actually applied personally to my life. It was wonderful.

I always loved institute, but now-- it started to make a difference in my life. Phrases of action would stand out and the Lord was showing me the things that I needed to change.

I had never felt so excited for general conference.

 I had made a change in my life. All because I decided to humble myself and accept the gift and sacrifice that my Savior had already offered for me.

How could I let his already paid sacrifice be in vain?

The atonement is real. Prayer is real. Scripture Power is real. The Savior wants to forgive. Do the things that will allow the Spirit to be present in your life. Draw near unto Him, and he will draw near unto you. He loves us so much! All we need to do is repent and do our best to keep his commandments. Confess our sins. See your bishop if you need to. Pray for the atonement. Pray for a testimony. Do what you need to in order to have a relationship with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and we will feel that love and comfort.

"Remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea his shafts in the whirlwind, yeah when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." 

~Helaman 5:12~

A Couple Extra Dollars

Recently I have been given the opportunity to make a few extra dollars by sweeping and mopping the gym floor in the Arena here at school. It's only two nights a week and it never takes more than an hour and a half. It isn't a ton of hours, but I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity I have to add a little more to my bank account.

I go Monday and Thursday nights. On Thursdays I start at 11:00 p.m. That's late for someone like me. (I am a grandma) I am awake at 6:00 that morning, and I finally make it to bed around 1a.m that night. (After I shower/brush my teeth/read my scriptures/etc). I am then up again at 6:00 the next morning to prepare for my day and get ready for my 8a.m. class.

Although grateful... I dread my Thursday nights. I'm usually exhausted, and I'm never very excited to go and have a party mopping. Mopping a huge gym floor isn't glorious, especially when late night college students are playing basketball on the court while you're mopping. I show up, I put my headphones in, listen to general conference talks, and ignore everyone while I get to work. And I usually work up a sweat.

 It's moments like these where I have learned some of the greatest lessons in gratitude.

My mother.

My mother is an angel.

She is the strongest woman I know, and I am so incredibly grateful for her faith and example... Let me explain.

When I am analyzing the marks in the floor I have just mopped, I think of my mother. I think of the countless times I have gone to work with my mother cleaning houses and pushed a mop around someone else's floor. I think of the hours I have spent with her, bonding, and learning how to work hard while I watch her do some of the most unpleasant manual labor. I think of the times we have laughed, had lunch dates, talked about serious life issues while we both slaved away just to make a couple extra dollars. Except, for my mom.. it isn't just a couple extra dollars.

My mother doesn't mop floors and clean toilets because she enjoys it. She doesn't do it because she just gets a thrill from plugging in the vacuum. My mother does it because she has to in order to make ends meet. And although she doesn't like it, I know she is so grateful for the opportunity she has to have work and to be able to provide.

Being her own boss, she is able to attend our soccer games, wrestling tournaments, state fair, etc. She knows how important it was to us that she was there to support us. So not only was she working full-time, but she was grocery shopping, fulfilling her church callings, attending sports games, cleaning our own house, cooking our dinner, and now attending school part-time.

Like I said, my mother is an angel.

My mother works her butt off. I don't know a single person who works harder than she does.
And I am so incredibly grateful that she has done everything she can to ingrain her work ethic into me.

The few hours a year that I go to work with my mother are nothing compared to the hours and weeks that she spends working her butt off to clean another persons living room. Or to make another person's bed.

So I just wanted to say that I gained a little perspective by pushing a mop around, just to earn a couple extra dollars. 

So mom, thanks for everything. Thanks for building my testimony. Thanks for teaching me how to work hard.

P.S. thanks for birthing me too... I guess that is kinda important.

Love you mom.

Squad

Friendship is real.

Adventures are real. 

Adventures with your best friends make for some of the best memories. 

Hiking through the mud and ice, talking about our futures, admiring the woman who was hiking with a prosthetic, blazing our own trail and almost dying (thanks Sierra, you're welcome Kadee) and having the time of our lives. 

I love these people.

18 credits, four squad members left, and DETERMINATION to adventure hard this semester. 

Surprise Visits

Holy Smokes. Christmas Break.

 Christmas is my FAVORITE time of year. Ask my friends... they know. Oh MAN do they know. They knew that I was watching Christmas movies at the beginning of November. (And between you and me, I may have even watched one before Halloween). And they still loved me anyway. 

That's how you know you have a quality friendship.

Getting home from school was great. I needed a break. My brain needed to rest. And I missed my family. It was so good to be home for my brothers engagement. It was so good to be home and spend time with my brothers and my amazing mother. It was so good to be home.

That being said, I hate not being busy. Being home, I had way too much down time on my hands. (I'm sure my mother will tell me that I couldn't helped out a little more with the chores  I was going a little crazy.  But I knew that the last week I was home was going to be crazy fun. We had a lot if activities planned. We were going to go to the zoo lights, we were going to stay at the beach for a few days, and have a pinochle party. It was going to be SO FUNNNN!

So imagine this. I am sitting at the computer (I actually got ready for the day [put on make up] because my mom told me that we were going out for lunch), and my mom comes in from "work". I look at her and the next thing you know, MATT WALKS IN!! One of my closest and very best friends was here to visit! I couldn't believe it. Especially because my mom and I had talked about driving down to Utah to surprise him and his family! He was in town for a wedding of some of the members that he taught on his mission, and he was staying with us. Whoop whoop!

This is the face you make when one of
your closest friends shows up at your
house as a surprise.  

And this is what happens when you have to say goodbye

Something I've learned... if you're going to get your trash kicked in a snowball fight, at least do it with a smile
on your face. 

And this is what happens when you get tackled
for taking too many pictures... you take another
picture of getting tackled just to tick him off hahaha

That tiny human in those pictures down on those rocks... yeah that's Matthew. 

Holy Moly I love and adore his boy

Our trip consisted of going to the beach, climbing on cliffs, freezing our butts off at the zoo lights, attempting to play soccer in the freezing cold, kicking their trash playing football on the beach, late night movies, sliding into a ditch (TWICE) at 11:30 p.m., a wedding, hanging out with the elders, and so much more. It was so much fun. Sorry not sorry for monopolizing all of your time bro.

Definitely bonded with this kid over the break. He's hilarious, super witty,
hard-working and a freaking stud!

Is it a Donkey, or a rabbit?? (Comment your opinion  please. Also,
look at the back legs...)

Holla out there for best friends and surprise visits.