3 Simple Words

For the past little while I've really thought a lot about these 3 Simple but profound words, 

I LOVE YOU.

What do the words "I love you" even mean?

Love can be defined in many different ways. 

The world likes to tell us that "I love you" is thrown around way to carelessly BUT that is an utter lie. 

Those three Simple words truthfully aren't used FREQUENTLY ENOUGH. 

I don't care who you are, everyone needs a little love.
Love is better expressed in ways other then words.

Love is a choice as much as it is a feeling or a decision.

When you promise to love, you promise your life.

There are important and frankly necessary ways to tell someone you love them, but there are also personal ways people like to be told they are loved.

The 5 most important ways to let someone know you love them is by the following:

1. Tell them everyday or as often as possible

2. Express gratitude to them. Tell them you are thankful for their presence in your life. Let them know you are grateful for all the things they do for you in your life.

3.Set aside time for them everyday. Good personal quality time is one of the greatest ways to express Love. Put away all distractions so you can truly listen to each other.

4. Always offer an act of kindness, or give service to that person without their knowledge (ex. make the bed, do the dishes, clean up)

5. Immediately be forgiving.

The 5th way is more important then all the other reasons.
We are all human beings, we all make mistakes; none of us are perfect.
Sometimes being forgiving can be so difficult, especially when you feel someone has wronged you or hurt you.

I can think of no greater example of this forgiving kind of love then the
Only Begotten, our Lord and Savior, and our  brother Jesus Christ.

When I think of the Saviors Love I think about the Crucifixion. He suffered for each one of us because he loves us so deeply.
The part of the Crucifixion that amazes me most is even after being whipped, spit upon, nailed, crowned with thorns and hung on the cross, Jesus asked the  father to forgive those who persecuted and crucified him.
That is the moment you know Jesus forgave those people.
That is also the moment that you know Jesus Christ loves all men.

The ultimate form of love for God and men is forgiveness. 

There are times in our lives when we wish we would have said "I love you" just one more time, don't let that time be today.

I love you is important in our everyday.

"Love isn't what makes the world go 'round, Love is what makes the ride worthwhile."
-Franklin P. Jones   

The Day That Changed My Life Forever

On May 31st 2014 

I woke up in the morning unbelieving that today was the day my life would change forever.

Slowly the hours went by,

Slowly the minutes went by,

Every second felt like 1000 seconds.

I stepped into my car,
I could feel the butterflies flapping in my stomach.

I watched as each building past us by,
there it was...

The place I would walk in as Savanna Westberg and walk out completely changed.

As I entered those doors I became extremely nervous.
"Am I ready for this?"
Of course I am.
This is everything I have ever been preparing for.

In Eric walked, looking just as nervous as I did.
"Is it normal to feel this way?"

Of course it is!
After-all we were about to make an eternal decision.

Heavenly Father had guided us right to each other and we were exactly where he wanted us.

Hand in hand we walked the hallways of the temple, door through door we entered.

We finally made it into the room where all our family and friends were waiting for us.
As soon as I looked around the room and saw all the chairs filled and people standing in this crowded room I knew that what I was doing was absolutely what I needed to be doing and my nerves were calmed.

After what seemed like an eternity we knelt across the alter, hand in hand, looked into each others eye and with so much love said yes to being an Eternal Family as Mr. and Mrs. 

There we stood outside those lovely temple doors ready to take on the world as Eric and Savanna Mckay.

This was just the beginning of our Happily Ever After

Dreams Do Come True.

It was nothing short of beautiful. 

Holy Crap I'm Getting Married

It has been way to long since I have written on here. 

I have been so busy since I got engaged.

Anyone who has been here, knows how it goes. 

A week after we got engaged we took our engagement pictures, then a week after that, we ordered our announcements, sent them out a week later, finished our college semester a week after that, and have been working like mad dogs, and finishing up all the details for our special day. I can hardly believe there are only 13 days left. 

This is so surreal. 

Last Friday, I was able to enter into the house of the Lord and receive my endowments. After my interview with the Stake President and Bishop, I cried when my recommend was handed to me because I had just been given the greatest accomplishment and the thing I have been preparing for my whole life. 

The temple was absolutely beautiful and everything I have ever dreamed of it being. 

If there is one thing that you do in your life, ALWAYS be worthy of having a temple recommend. I promise you will not regret it. 

Being worthy to enter into the Holy House of the Lord means the world to me and I can't wait to continue attending the temple frequently, individually and with my soon to be husband as we continue to prepare on a daily basis to be blessed with a Happily Ever After and an Eternity with one another. 

Here are some long over due posted engagement pictures: 

A Conference Weekend to Remember

What a beautiful weekend it was in the Arizona Mountains. 

We have a family tradition of going up to the mountains during General Conference weekend where we get to sit and relax and enjoy the company of each other and listen to the beautiful words of the prophets. 

Not only were the words spoken during the conference inspiring and motivating but something life changing happened.

It was a lovely Sabbath day at Bison Ranch. The Weather was beautiful and I had a handsome man by my side. What more could I have asked for? 

Eric and I took a walk with my little sister down to a pond they have. The whole time we hadn't taken any pictures so I mentioned out loud that we needed at least one picture to capture the moment of the weekend. My sister without hesitation shouted "Can I take a picture of you guys?" We accepted, and what we thought was going to be one picture turned into a whole photo-shoot of her telling us what to do and how to pose. 

After a while Eric goes "I have an idea for a pose." So he positions Ginger, tells her where to stand and asks her to just keep taking pictures. Eric comes and stands behind me with his hands on my hips for a minute and then steps back and tells me to keep looking out on the pond. 

A minute later he grabs me by the hand turns me around and there he is on one knee. 

My Heart Stops. 

Music rings in my ears as I hear the sweet melodious "Savanna Brook Westberg, will you marry me?"  

Of course, I said "Yes!" 

We were both so caught up in the moment. 

As we were walking back Eric stops and goes "Wait! Did you even say yes?" 

We laughed, and enjoyed every minute of that very moment. 

Ever since I was a little girl I dreamed of the day when the man I love would get down on one knee and ask me to be his forever. 

That dream of little Savanna has come true.

  

Let the fun and excitement of wedding planning begin!!

Shall I Falter or Shall I Finish?

Our challenges and trials are given to us to help us succeed. 

Sometimes the weight of the world can become a lot to handle and we begin to feel like we should give up. 

Giving up should never be the answer. 

"When life gets to hard to stand; kneel." 

Heavenly Father truly answers prayers

The adventure of the race starts once something goes wrong, and we must give all that we have to offer. 

We can draw closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ as we study our scriptures daily, and kneel in prayer frequently. 

We weren't sent here to start the race, we were sent here to finish the race and ENDURE TO THE END. 

The Tides Have Turned

A lot has happened in the last little while. 

In Fact, things change daily. 

It seems to be that when you think you have your life planned out, something always gets thrown in the way. 

When something gets thrown in your way, change has to happen. 

But... Change is good, because change means you are learning and growing. 

Oh how the tides have turned. 

The only explanation I have to give can't be simply done in words...

10 Ways to Succeed in Life (Elder Richard G. Scott)

1. Establish principals to guide your life

2. Don't make exceptions to your standards

3.Be loyal

4. Live so that the Lord can guide you

5. Serve others

6. Smile

7. Don't complain

8. Always have a Church assignment.

  "Wherever you go in the world, wherever the Lord takes you, always offer your service to the presiding authority. Leave it to the authority to decide where and how" 

9.Worship in the temple

10. Follow the Savior's example

Busy? Who Said Anything About Being Busy?

Do you ever complain about being busy and then someone tells you "Oh, wait; it will get worse."?

I have people telling me this day in and day out. 

I can't possibly imagine my life getting busier then it is this semester. 

I am a full time college student taking 21 units, Working part time, dating someone seriously and on the Linger Longer (food) Committee for my singles ward.

How do I do it without driving myself completely insane?

The answer is simple: I make time for the Lord.

Being busy is never a bad thing unless you start to forget what matters most. 

Throughout this semester I have learned that as we put the Lord first everything else falls into place. 

How can we put the Lord first in our busy lives?

Here are a few suggestions: Attend the Temple weekly, Read the Scriptures Daily, Magnify your calling, hourly, Pray both morning and night and Serve Frequently. 

Last but not least, PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE :)

Gilbert Temple

Yesterday I had the opportunity to go through the Gilbert temple open house. It is such a beautiful building from the inside out. The spirit I felt there was so strong. I love the temples. I love what they symbolize and I love the things that are done inside of them. Families are Forever. Now is the time to PREPARE to enter those doors with the person I am meant to spend forever with. 

The Worth of my Soul

"You cannot sink farther than the light and sweeping intelligence of Jesus Christ can reach. As long as there is one spark of the will to repent and to reach out, he is there. He did not just descend to your condition; he descended below it." -Truman G. Madsen

Why is the Worth of my soul great?

*It has the ability to be crowned with Glory and Honor

* My redemption is precious (according to the Savior) 

*More precious the fine gold

*Christ comes to save me when I get lost

*Christ gave his life for me

*The Heavenly hosts rejoice when I repent because I am loved.

*God loves me so much he gave his only begotten son, so that I may have everlasting life. 

*I am given knowledge 

*Angels are sent to help me 

Discipleship and Dating

"Do you want capability, safety, and security in dating and romance, in married life and eternity? Be a true disciple of Jesus. Be a genuine, committed, word-and-deed Later-day Saint. Believe that your faith has everything to do with your romance, because it does. You separate dating from discipleship at your peril. Jesus Christ, the light of the world, is the only lamp by which you can successfully see the path of love and happiness. How should I love thee? As he does, for that way 'never failtheth' (1 Corinthians 13:8, Moroni 7:46)" -Jeffery R. Holland 

Dating isn't always as fun as it is cracked up to be, but it's through these experiences that we come to know what our heart truly desires. 

Recent Discovery: Someone can have all the qualities you could possibly want in an Eternal Companion and still not be right for you. Sometimes you just don't feel it. AND THAT IS OKAY. Last night I went on a date with a guy who seems to have everything going for him and has all these qualities that are great, but I just wasn't feeling it and all is well. 

Dating is so important for the reason of experiencing all the different kinds of people that are out there so that you can discover the perfect person FOR you.  

In the February 2014 Ensign is an article titled Discipleship and Dating. 

The article gives four ways to ensure a positive dating experience. If you haven't already read it, I suggest that you do. 

The four suggestions they give are:

*Honesty

*Humility

*Forgiveness

*Uplifting Speech 

To read the article just click the link above. 

HAPPY FEBRUARY!

"If we are ever tempted to be less than our best selves with those we date, let us remember that righteous behavior in dating forms the foundation for successful relationships and marriage, both in this work and in the eternities."  -Jared Whitley

If You Just Believe

When I was 5 I believed I could be anything I wanted to be. 

I also believed I was good at everything. 

When asked if I was cute the respond "yes" would follow. 

"Are you good at dancing?" "Yes" 

"Are you good as swimming?" "Yes" 

We all know or have a 5 year old just like that in our lives, in this very moment.

We all used to be that way until... we grew older, and reality set in. 

"I can't..."

"I don't..."

"I'm not good at..." 

We lost belief in ourselves. 

How can we gain that same faith we once had in ourselves again? 

Our greatest dreams in life can become a reality if only we are willing to work and have faith in our abilities and talents. 

We shouldn't let people tell us we can't do something.

We can learn and be taught anything we set our minds to.

Am I a disciple who is capable of accomplishing great things?

Of course I am!! As long as I believe in myself and the abilities that I have. 

If You Just Believe...you CAN accomplish wonderful things. 

"It's never too late to become who you might have been"

How do we become who we were meant to be?

How do we create a Christ-Centered life?

The answer is truly simple: Make the right choice, at the right time, in the right place.

We aren't perfect people but we can strive to be. 

How else might we strive to have a Christ-Centered life?

Regular temple attendance perhaps? Although that might be simple, there are even simpler things we can do. 

Daily Prayer and Daily Scripture Study.

What if you slip up and miss a night?

 What caused you to skip your study and go straight to bed?

Maybe it's time to re-prioritize and make commitments. 

We can show Christ that our lives are centered around him by committing to ALWAYS read our scriptures and say our prayers no matter how late you get home from a date, no matter how late we stay out with friends, no matter how much homework we have. NO MATTER WHAT make scriptures study and personal prayer a priority and commit to never missing a day. 

It's the little things that help us become who we are meant to be. 

Through Jesus Christ we can become who we want to be. The lord has time to help each and every person. If the Lord has time for all of God's children shouldn't we have time for him?

We can't be perfect, but as long as we are trying, that is enough! 

The Lord see's past our imperfections and see's the GREATEST good  with in us. 

How can we learn to see the good in ourselves?

How can we forgive our shortcomings?

How do we see ourselves as the Lord see's us?

Believe that Christ see's nothing but the good in us. 

Believe that he loves you more then imaginable.

Believe you can be who he wants you to be and eventually you will be just that. 

The first step in becoming who we are meant to be is to change and in changing we will begin to recognize the lord and understand our worth in his eyes and we will turn our lives over to him. 

It's easy to feel the changes when we first make them but as life goes on and we become caught up in the moment,  and sometimes we forget what prompted us to change.

"The answer from making the change and then for keeping it, is to testify of the Lord's hand concerning the change all the rest of our days.(Freeman)"

"If ye have experienced a change of heart, and felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so NOW? (Alma 5:26)" 

When our Journey includes the lord and we recognize our worth within his eyes, we begin to realize it is never too late to become the person the lord wants us to be. 

It's never too late to make Christ the center of our lives!!! 

Preparing for Eternity, not waiting for it. 

Preparing not Waiting: what it's all about

What is this blog all about?

     Preparing not waiting; when I first came up with the title it referred more to my missionary and how I'm waiting with out you know, waiting. 

As the months have gone by I've realized that it was inspired. 

It's not about waiting for a missionary.

It's about preparing for my future spouse, whoever he may be.

It's not about waiting for opportunities of service to come my way.

It's about seeking and preparing myself to recognize when and where service is needed.

It's not about waiting for an answer.

It's about preparing myself to be spiritually ready to receive the right answer.

It's not about waiting for someone to make the choice for me,

It's about preparing to make the right decision on my own.

It's not about waiting for my troubles and trials to pass by.

It's about preparing for trials to come my way so I may endure them well.

It's not about waiting to be picked for the right team. 

It's about preparing myself to always play on the right team even if the other team looks quite enticing.

It's not about waiting for the bridegroom to come.

I'ts about being prepared for the bridegroom to come. (The Parable of the Ten Virgins)

It's not about waiting for Christ to knock on the door. 

It's about preparing to let Christ in before he even has to knock. 

It's not about waiting till the day your forever starts to begin preparation.

It's about being prepared before,

being prepared now,

and being prepared after.

Enduring Well. 

Always Preparing never Waiting! 



Think Eternity; the big picture

At the end of the day you're laying in bed just thinking away

Tears stream down your cheeks 

then a smile spreads across your face.
Instead of sinking down below, you look up to find a picture of the temple.
Written upon it are two simple words; Think Eternity.
Suddenly you remember that life is more than what's in this little moment and you dream of mansions up above.
 

Uneasy

Uneasy you can feel from your head to your toe

High in the sky or far down below.

Feeling so uneasy you might just throw up.

Hurry and fall asleep before it's much to late. 

Feeling uneasy and you can't pin point why.

Maybe it's time to pray to the one who can ease it all.

Little Moments

Music is something to be appreciated.

Music always comes from somewhere.

Music comes from a persons true emotion and real experiences.

Music is not made up.

Music is true.

Music is the expression of something that's to hard to say.

When life is hard, when life is good, when life is lived in-love, when life is lived through the gospel,

there always seems to be a song to describe the way we feel.  

What song describes your life today?

I love music because music is my escape.

I'd live my life with music playing 24/7 if I could.

Music isn't something to be played as background music; it should be something we do. Listening to music should be a recreational activity because taking time to study the music you listen to brings so much more appreciation.

The other day I had to do a project for my Rock music and culture class and I spent hours and hours researching one song. I looked at the background of the song, and the band and what the band intended the song to mean and what the song meant to me. The appreciation I felt for this particular song was shocking. I will always listen to that song with more intent.

Music brings out emotions in us that we didn't think were possible to feel. We relate certain scenarios to specific songs. Music is probably the biggest part of our human existence.

 It always been, and it always will be.    

 If I was to pick a song to describe my life right now it would be...

Little Moments by Rob Thomas

Why this song?

Maybe if I explain what the lyrics mean to me then you'll understand.

Don't let what people say effect you. Let it roll off your shoulders and don't think twice about it. Don't you know the truth? The leading point to this "trial" is over and that was the hardest part. Let what you know will happen take over and have faith in it. When it's over, you'll forget how hard it was and only remember how it felt. Life is short and time goes by quick. Take advantage of the time you have because the moments will pass by and they will be the ones that count. Don't worry about the hurt and the pain it will only make you stronger. Turn to the people who you love and confide in them because they are the ones that will help you get through the hard times. Talk to the people who know how you feel. What really matters is what's deep in your heart. Our lives are meant to feel like this. The little moments are the ones that matter, make the most of them. Even though this time seems forever long, it's only a small fragment and the troubles will fade. Focus on the feelings you felt before and don't let go. Keep them close to your heart because they are the moments that matter. All of what I regret will go away because the feelings I feel right now are real and have made it possible to change. Every moment in my life has made me into the person I am today.



Dating

Life is a Journey Worth Living!

For all my readers out there, you know that my blog is all about me preparing to be the best me I can be for my future eternal family and also for me to prepare for my own eternity!

As you can tell, I am a missionary girlfriend. My missionary is someone I adore very much and I wouldn't trade these experiences I get to have with him along this journey for anything.

Although I have a missionary, I decided long ago that I would date other people and keep living my life.

I've kept that decision; Living My Life, and Dating is exactly what I'm Doing.

With a lot of thought, I've decided I would share my dating experiences and all other things going on in my life right here.

Saturday night (November 30th) I went on a group date with my cousin and some of our friends. We had a really good time! We went to I-hop for dinner, played Hide-N-Seek in Bass Pro Shop, went to the temple lights, and got Hot Chocolate. It was a success!!

My date was quite the gentleman. I have had a lot of experiences in the world of dating and this was one of the best dates I have been on in a really long time. Not because of the things we did but rather because of the way my date treated me. Always give everyone a chance because everyone deserves one. But also never lower your standard and stick to what you know and believe to be true.

Cody and I

 Josh and Kirsten

Andrew, Audrianna, Josh, Kirsten, Savanna (me), Cody
(As you can tell, Cody doesn't like to smile for pictures)

 Cody, Savanna, Josh, Kirsten, Audrianna, Andrew, Hunter, Sydney

 Hunter and Sydney

 Audrianna and Andrew

 Sydney, Hunter, Kirsten, Josh, Andrew, Audrianna, Cody, Savanna

 Cody and Savanna
(I had to post this one cause it's one of the only ones he is smiling in)

Josh, Kirsten, Sydney, Hunter, Andrew, Audrianna, Cody, Savanna