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