HSA Handicapped Scuba Association

I learned something new this week. Did you know that there is a handicapped scuba program? I didn't either. We went diving in Maui this week and had the privilege to dive with a gentleman named Michael who was in a wheelchair. I had no idea that there was a program designed for this. It is called the HSA handicapped scuba program. (You can read about it below, and here is the website.... www.hsascuba.com)

 I later noticed on the side of the dive boat that there was a picture so you would know that they are HSA certified. 

I spoke to him to let him know I thought he was amazing. His mom was named Jana and she told me about the program and how she was really afraid of water but wanted to learn to do this with her son. They go diving at least once a year. 
I was really impressed with watching him and how this program allowed him to see the awesome world in the water. 

Here's Michael diving.....

 Here are some pics of some of the fish we saw on our dive

 Here's some fun pics of Troy, Karlee and me...

 Here is the information from the HSA website. Enjoy!

The Handicapped Scuba Association (HSA) had its genesis in 1975 at University of California-Irvine (UCI) as a research program looking at self-image changes for scuba diving students 'with disabilities' learning together with students 'without disabilities'. Participants were required to perform all physical performance standards for Scuba certification, even if they had to do them differently. The results were amazing! Everyone, with and without disabilities, grew in ways we could not measure and went on to more full and exciting lives.

• Participant Larry Thompson, paraplegic, became an avid and skilled Scuba Diver earning his certification as a NAUI Assistant Scuba Diving Instructor.
• Participant Adolf Flores, paraplegic, said "when I did what my Doctors said I couldn't do (Scuba Dive) I knew I could go to College", something he thought he couldn't do. He earned his BA Degree in Counselling.
• Participant Jim Gatacre, paralyzed right arm, founded the Handicapped Scuba Association (HSA) 5 years after graduating from UCI. The HSA is now the world's leading authority on recreational diving for people with disabilities.
  

The Handicapped Scuba Association, HSA (USA with an H), was named in the parking lot of US Divers Corporation on June 22nd 1981 when Gatacre received the first equipment donation for the new organization. The donation was authorized by John Cronin, President and co-founder of the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), and marks the founding date of HSA.
In 1986 the Handicapped Scuba Association became an independent diver training and certifying agency. Our prestigious diver education programs for people with disabilities, Dive Buddy Course (DBC) and Instructor Training Course (ITC) are internationally recognized and unequalled by any other programs in the industry. These programs were developed in conjunction with two major certifying agencies, Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) and the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI). Our specially trained members form a worldwide network of over 5000 HSA Instructors and Dive Buddies located in 45 countries.
In 1984 the Handicapped Scuba Association conducted their first accessible international dive trip to the island of Bonaire off the coast of Venezuela. A group of intrepid divers with disabilities, and support divers, headed into the unknown not certain if the resort, dive boat or island facilities were accessible. The resort was very receptive to our needs and made adjustments to help increase accessibility. The dive boat was, by chance, accessible and the island businesses did whatever it took to get us into their establishments. It was a total adventure! And it set the theme for HSA Travel, which continued to far flung places such as Fiji and Papua New Guinea. Everywhere we went the people reached out to us, helping to make our trips not only exciting but also warm and friendly. Today divers with disabilities travel to these places, and many more, thanks to the HSA pioneers who dared to face the unknown!

Always be a Lego

Just a few weeks ago, social media got the best of me. A friend thought they were being funny and sarcastic and wrote a post about me. It wasn't meant to offend or bully, but it did. I felt judged, and lied about. I talked to my friend that wrote the post. This person didn't realize that others were not viewing it with the same eyes as it was intended. I had many people reach out to me that were concerned about my feelings. It was read by many and it was not taken as a joke, or something that was just funny. As humans we try to find acceptance while tearing others down. Words can be misread and misunderstood so easily. Social media is an interesting thing. Fake news is so real and such a big part of society today. There is a lot of bullying from behind a monitor, rude comments, judging, perspective taken out of context and the list goes on and on. 

We should all be a Lego. A Lego is a building block. The name Lego has a special meaning, "play well". On the Lego website it states that a Lego brick is the most important product because it is the foundation. The Lego brick is unique and offers unlimited building possibilities. Did you know the Lego is 82 years old? Are you wondering how you can be like a Lego? Build others up! Always make your Social Media experience something that is building others up. Be a foundation by being loyal and strong and supportive. Be unique. Be You. It's okay to just be yourself. I promise that when you are being kind and supportive others will naturally be drawn to you. 

If you want to stand out in this world, start to focus on building others up. I have a cute friend named Pam that always writes positive and kind things online. I was explaining one of her posts to my friend Linda. Linda had not met Pam in person but knew of her because they had many mutual friends. Linda would always read the comments that Pam would write. She said "Oh, is Pam the one who always writes kind things?"  How would it be if someone recognized you because of your kind words? This made a huge impact on me. I have tried really hard to be kind in everything I post and to be just like Pam. Moral of the story is to always be a Lego. Be the foundation that is unique. You have unlimited building possibilities. You are the uplifting force that makes someone's day.

 

Sportmanship learned from an 11 Year old

On February 11th there was a tumbling competition that our gym hosted. I had the honor of announcing the awards to all of the athletes. The hardest part of my day was pronouncing the names of each individual athlete correctly. There were all ages of competitors from 3 to18. There was a group of 11 year old girls that stood out to me. I started announcing their awards and they were all jumping and laughing and saying good job to each other. One of the athletes in the group cheered and congratulated everyone, and rallied the whole group to be excited for each other. This little girl received a 2nd place ribbon. When her friend received a 1st place ribbon, she was beyond excited for her. When the athletes saluted I had the audience give an extra round of applause for this group with amazing sportsmanship. When they walked off of the podium, the little girl hugged the 1st place winner. I told her she was my favorite athlete. I talked about her a few times during the day and later that night. Our coach found this picture of her, posted on her gyms Facebook site, and asked me if this was the girl. I was so excited that it was the right person. I found her Mom on Instagram and sent her a message to let her know that she was raising an amazing young lady. I keep thinking about how she was happy for others. What a great example she was to so many that day. 

 We've heard the call to Love One Another a million times already, but somehow we still need that reminder everyday. Life isn't easy for anyone, there are countless ways it can knock a person down. If we lift one another back up, we can make this world a kinder, better place. Today we may be the one who is standing strong and doing the heavy lifting. Tomorrow, we may be the one who needs the lift. I am thankful for the example of an 11 year old girl that was beyond excited for everyone. I am thankful I was able to witness her love for everyone. I hope we can all be a little more like her and lift each other up. Be happy for other people because it's true that we rise by lifting others. 

Find your purpose

Lately I have noticed that when someone posts about making a difference that people make comments about how it appears that the individual is bragging or trying to get recognition.  I love hearing about what you do to make a difference. There is opposition in all things, however, I have let those voices get in my head lately. We all have purpose and we all have a purpose. I have been focusing on sharing my purpose. I am pushing those voices out of my mind so I can push forward. 

 
For my birthday this year I wrote letters again. I have been thinking about this a lot and at first I wondered how I was going to be able to write 47 letters. It wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be. I could have written more. I might make it a tradition but I am getting older after all. Some of the letters I wrote were to the same people as last year and some were to different people. I so enjoyed reflecting on each individual and letting them know the things I admired about them. I hand wrote each letter and my hand was hurting, it took me  a few weeks, but it was so rewarding. I didn't write this blog post to get recognition or to brag. I wrote it because it is part of my purpose. Once you find your purpose, you need to share it. Find what makes you happy and share it with the world. I love acts of kindness, some are random and some are thought out and direct. 

 
 For my birthday one of my friends sent me a message that said she was doing an act of kindness in my honor. I had texts, and calls and Facebook messages all weekend. Kindness is free and it can make every person feel important. When you have an idea or thought to do something, send a text, write a letter, smile, hold the door for someone. You can do so many things that don't cost anything. 
The true way to be happy is to do something to add to others' happiness.

The Miracle of Forgiveness

Today for #lighttheworld I decided to tell my forgiveness story. I'm just throwing it out there because I hope that it touches at least one person. Forgiveness is hard! It shouldn't be but it is. Let's rewind 20 years. I was newly divorced from someone that was making horrible choices. I decided I didn't want to live that way and we should both go our separate ways, or so I thought. I truly thought it could be cordial, and that we could co-parent, and that it would be ok, I was so wrong. When there is anger, frustration, and hard feelings, there is no way to be cordial. Little did I know it would take years and years for that to happen.
There was lots of anger from my ex-family. It didn't matter what I did, I was wrong in their eyes. They took their sons side, like they should have, however they took all of his choices out on me. Needless to say I hated my ex and I hated his choices. I hated how he spoke to me, I hated how he hated me, I hated how he ditched the kids and didn't have enough energy for them. I was bitter and angry and it was literally consuming me. Ironically enough I ran into one of his uncles that told me that he had always been the black sheep of the family and that he was trying to forgive his own dad. He stated that he learned that you had to pray for the person you were trying to forgive for 21 days in a row. Well I kind of laughed because that is the last thing that I was planning on doing. I hated him and that was all there was to it. Months went by and i kept thinking about that conversation. I decided at the first of the year that I would start calling the temple and put his name on the prayer roll. I would have loved to be a fly on the wall, because the first time I called, I could barely say his name into the phone. I wasn't very happy and the hate was still consuming me. I called day after day. I couldn't call on Sunday or Monday but every other day I would call and put his name on the prayer roll. Slowly my heart started to soften. I was thinking about other things and not letting the hate consume me. I then started to put his mom's name on the prayer roll, then his sisters, and his dad, and his wife. I started to have empathy in my heart and the miracle of forgiveness started to work. I continued putting their names on the prayer roll for years and years and actually I still to this day continue. 13 years after our divorce, his mom wrote me a note that said "A lot of time has passed, a lot of feelings have left. I want you to know I love my grand-kids and that you are a good mom." It took 13 years for this letter to come!! That is the power of prayer and forgiveness. Do you want to feel peace in your life? Forgive....When you hold a grudge or hold onto those feelings, it is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die. I was guilty of this and it was not a good feeling. 

 

Fast forward 15 years to my daughters wedding reception. I seriously would have never thought that we could host an event together or ever be in the same room together. I always had this on the back of my mind. I wondered how his sisters would treat me, and how his parents would treat me. Would all of those years of them blaming me, and not looking me in the eye really be ok? My heart had been changed, softened and healed, but had theirs? I can truly say that the healing was on both sides. It started with the letter, and then it happened with his sister. She helped me decorate, and make decorations for the reception. She was an important key in this healing process. The night before the reception me and my ex decorated and it was fun. He was really helpful and it wasn't awkward at all. The night of the reception during the Dad-Daughter dance, my ex made eye contact with my husband and called him over during the middle of the song. He gave him a hug and told him thank you for being there when he couldn't be and turned the dance over to him. That moment made me realize that Heavenly Father is aware of us. He knows what we need and that we need time to heal. I did my part and then the miracle of forgiveness did the rest. Prayer is real! I promise from the bottom of my toes that if you pray for someone that has hurt you, betrayed you, or anything else to make you sad, you will find peace and understanding. You will be able to move forward and you will heal. 

If you want to call the temple and put a name on the prayer roll, here is the Ogden, Utah phone number 801-621-6880. Here is the Salt Lake City, Utah phone number 801-240-2640. Just tell them that you would like to put a name on the prayer roll, and they will transfer you to the correct person. There is power when you forgive. It is easier to let go of those feelings and you too can discover the miracle of forgiveness. 

 

The Gift of Being Broken

There are times I read an article and it just hits home. I think about it often, and can't get it off of my mind. The other day I read an article titled the gift of being broken. It starts off by saying "Sometimes I just feel broken". I related to that story and was intrigued by the title. Being broken is a gift?  I look at my life and see all of the ways I fall short....all of the things I said I would do, but I didn't, and all of the expectations I had for myself that were not fulfilled. I see my weaknesses and wonder if I am good enough. It's taken me my whole life to realize that the trails that made me feel broken, are actually what has strengthened me. I've learned how to forgive. I've learned to love others that have not been kind to me. I've learned to rely on my Heavenly Father. I have learned how to forgive myself. I've learned that it's ok to love myself. I've learned that I am good enough. I've learned to reach out to others and I've learned that we all feel broken sometimes.
Brokenness is a gift because it's what connects us to each other. Sharing our stories connects us with others and somehow through the process we both can heal. I am thankful for the title I carry of being broken because I am able to be my Savior's hands. I can reach out to others and make a difference. Are you like me and wonder if you can help someone else through life's journey?  I have times that I wish I wouldn't have had to go through a certain trial, or heartache, or disappointment, but because of those trials, I am strong and I can help others. You've been through hard things and that is exactly why you are strong too. We all need each other to get through life. Use your gifts.....Be the lighthouse in someone's storm.

Throw back to Jaws 1979 and a little encouragment

Shark week is next week and I saw a picture they were using for advertising. It reminded me of being in Universal Studios in 1979. Jaws was the big deal at the time and we went on the tour to see Jaws. We went with Troy's family. It was the Wheelwright's and the Thompson's.  We were sitting in the Universal Studios tour bus going through the park, first we went through the bridge and the sides fell down, and that was a big deal, and then we headed toward the water to see Jaws. We went through the middle of the water and it somehow parted for us to drive through and then here comes Jaws. He was heading right toward us. I stood up and took this awesome picture. The funny part about it was Troy was on the other side of the tour bus and he stood up to take a picture too. He took a picture of the back of my head. He was so mad at me. I felt bad but I printed a copy of this awesome picture and gave it to him. Another funny part of this story is that this picture is his copy. He still has it after all of these years. I'm sure if they still had a shark in Universal Studios it would be way better than this one, but in 1979 this was a big deal. Graphics have come a long way, right?

 

This van was supposed to be really lightweight and I was trying to lift it up but I couldn't. Troy came over to help me, but he just barely touched it and it lifted. You can tell by the look on his face that he thinks I am so annoying. 

I love the fact that I have known Troy my whole life. He has always been the person I have had a crush on. I love how hard he works for our family. He is always giving to everyone. What a great example of being selfless, and he always making sacrifices so we can have a great life. 

There are times in our lives when we feel strong and everything is on track  but there are times when we feel vulnerable and weak because life throws a curve ball at you. We need to look out for each other. Your example may be a great strength to someone whom you may not even be aware of. He or she may be experiencing a difficult challenge, and your friendship and prayers may make all of the difference. I hope you know that you are blessed and that love is something that can always get you through hard times. Always remember that you cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make. Reach out to others! #preach