Friday 1 August 2014

Family Dive Adventures // Kids Sea Camp

Kids Sea Camp has been part of my life as long as I can remember
My mom provided the opportunity as publisher for Sport Diver Magazine
I started going when I was 6 years old
in Curacao
then Bonaire, Grand Cayman, Fiji, Honduras, Costa Rica & Belize
then Palau and Little Cayman
So many times at each location
every summer & some Thanksgiving breaks 
Each one teaching me new things about who I am and the underwater world

I started as a Sassy, ages 6-7
mini scuba gear, mini scuba tank, permanent flotation
endless fun for that age group

I moved up to Seal Team, ages 8-9
practicing with real, full sized scuba gear
in the pool and in confined/pool-like ocean areas 
Going 6-9ft under water with scuba gear on.. 
the absolute coolest thing for that age

I graduated with my Jr. Open Water certification, age 10 - Grand Cayman
then came Adventure Diver, specialties: Fish ID, Scooter, Underwater Photo
Advanced Open Water, age 16 - Belize
Rescue Diver, age 17 - Grand Cayman
Dive Master, age 18 - Grand Cayman

I've grown up with KSC, scuba diving & the Peyton family
Margo Peyton started Kids Sea Camp 14 years ago
She and her husband Tom & two kids, Rob & Jen, are like family
Through the years, we would plan with our camp friends where to go the following summer
and then hope our families would go along with our plans
Friends I made as a Sassy kid, I still keep in touch with and meet up with today.

People ask me what my favorite KSC location is
that is such a hard question to answer
My favorite camp memories are based on the friendships more than location
All of Kids Sea Camp's locations are so insanely beautiful, 
peaceful, fun, and full of life, 
not to mention incredible diving...
My favorite locations have been the ones with meaningful, wonderful, lasting connections
People from all over the country & world! 
Nebraska, Oklahoma, New Orleans, Ohio, California, Florida
Singapore, South Africa, Bermuda, England
and so many other awesome places
I can now visit these lovely new friends all over 
while traveling and exploring the world!

When I started college, three years ago 
I began working at Kids Sea Camp and fell in love with it even more
Having the opportunity to introduce young kids to scuba diving
 treasure hunts, pirate nights, island tours, beach days, boating excursions, 
donkey farms, iguana farms, turtle farms, diving & more
showing them the incredible world under the sea that we get to explore
I couldn't imagine spending my summers another way!

Kids Sea Camp has taught me:
that I want to spend my life working with children,
teaching them different ways to live their lives, 
that traveling is one of the most important things you can ever do,
meeting people and experiencing cultures is invaluable,
family vacations are still cool as you transition from childhood into adulthood, 
divers come from around the world to these beautiful islands, 
and they all have the best stories to share about the world. 

Turtles, sting rays, manta rays, eagle rays
hammer heads, reef sharks, bull sharks
ship wrecks, plane wrecks
barracuda, countless fish & endless coral reefs 
I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life exploring the rest of the ocean! 















Wednesday 19 March 2014

Rest in Love & Peace

Lauren Langrell had the most incredible impact on my life 
I don't think I could ever express it in words

I'm sitting here, 2am on Wednesday morning 
to a message that I've never heard before:
"I know she was a dear friend to you, our sister in Christ passed away yesterday"
I can't even process
How can I sleep tonight? Or study tomorrow?
when all I want to do is fly to Australia 
and be with the Langrell family

When I met Lauren in August, we became instant friends
Bonding over coconut hot chocolate and girly things
but most important our love for God and desire to honor Him
She helped me strengthen my relationship with God
I had the honor of taking part in a beautiful mass, with Lauren, that was in remembrance of the unborn
She tried to convince me to go salsa dancing
I never would.
I wish I had.

Lauren and her family came out to celebrate my 20th birthday with me
After all my other friends had gone home
They stayed
dancing me around the bar,
sneaking on stage to pretend we were part of the band, 
having life chats into the night,
and singing me birthday songs all the way home. 
It was a perfect night.

For my birthday Lauren gave me a book of Love quotes and passages
She wrote a beautiful message to me in the front cover 
She signed it- Lauren L. Your Aussie Sis!
I miss my Aussie sis
& I will cherish this priceless book for my entire life

We planned on going on a girlie roadtrip
to this cute little homey bed & breakfast in a country town outside the city
we were going to run around in the fields of flowers
read books in their library
dress up for breakfast in fancy dresses, because we could
and stay up late playing games & talking about girlie things
We never ended up going, but it was so much fun to plan

While I was studying in Aus
Lauren had a few months of an internship in LA
It's crazy to think of how much she changed my life 
When I was only physically with her for a couple months

Lauren was incredible with advice
She helped me decide to go on the Christus Rex Pilgrimage in October
She gave me boy advice once I left Aus and was back home
We had life talks that I will never forget 

I especially remember how the way she spoke about God & the mass
I don't think I had ever seen someone speak with such love
She was an inspiration
the most beautiful soul I have ever met
She told me she tried to make it to daily mass every day
"Of course I can't make it every single day, but I try to as best I can"
I've never talked to anyone who was so dedicated to their faith
She inspired me to start going to daily mass
I'm far less than she, I only make it occasionally
but I am becoming such a better person for knowing her

I have grown in my faith an immeasurable amount because of Lauren
I never saw her without a smile & it makes me so happy to remember her in that light
I am so privileged that I was able to meet Lauren and know her for even that short time
She is forever my Aussie Sister in Christ

My time in Australia would have been drastically different if it wasn't for Lauren
Through her I met all my other wonderful Aussie friends & family
I am eternally grateful for her entire family for taking me in 
inviting me to everything from surfing, movie nights, dancing, dinner, mass, you name it
They are all such beautiful people
They inspired me every day that I lived in Sydney and every single day since

My life is changed because I met Lauren Langrell
My memories of her are nothing but pure joy, happiness and love
She taught me how to love and open my heart to Christ in a way I had never known
I am sad to know we can't have any more girlie chats here on Earth
but I am happy to know she is with God and He has welcomed her into His Kingdom

My prayers are forever with the Langrell family
Lauren helped me become who I am today
I love you all more than words
God willing, I will see you in Heaven
Rest in His love and peace forever