Jumping Out of Airplanes

Just a few weeks ago, I blogged my bucket list with the hashtag #notskydiving.

 Me and my favorite skydiver, Flyboy.  He didn't want to be seen with me as I was wearing a Michigan shirt:)

Flyboy and I have the most unusual friendship story.  We met on Zoosk, a dating app that has a terrible habit of matching you with people that live too far away.  In this case, 4 hours away.  He lived in Yuma, I lived in Prescott.  I didn't notice that when I messaged him.  All I noticed was the Ohio State shirt he was wearing, and sent him this:

"You're probably still single because you're a buckeye."

 As also proven at the Fiesta Bowl, I might add....

We began chatting, and upon discovering our 4 hr apart distance, quickly settled into an easy friendship.  Eventually, months later we decided to meet; we had a great day in Phoenix but there was nary a spark.  Not even a single kiss passed between us, just the knowledge we had each gained a wonderful new confidant and friend.  By summer, any first date I went on I made sure my date knew that there were two men in my life:  my business partner Kyle and my BFF Flyboy (who, if he knew I was on said date, would text me repeatedly just to be annoying.)

His job in the military had involved skydiving; as a civilian he still worked in the air.  He had stopped counting jumps around 3500, and told me the most amazing skydiving tales.

I was thoroughly unimpressed.  I had no desire to ever skydive.

 I had just eaten a bug (accidentally, of course) but this is the face I'd make when skydiving was brought up.

I never, ever wanted to skydive.

Ever!

It wasn't fear--I inherently knew I'd be safe.  It was the fear of becoming fearful...that's something I've always dreaded.  Why put yourself in a position where you knew you'd be scared?!  It made no sense; I won't even watch a horror flick. So skydiving?  It looked cool-fun even-but no.

Not for me.

Flyboy continued pestering me about it from time to time, and one weekend at his place showed me hours of skydiving footage...which was, admittedly, cool. He jumped fairly regularly for work, and by fall I told him I would jump if I could tandem with him.  

Which I knew I couldn't, so it was a very safe thing to declare:)

Then in December, the Princess & I spent a day playing at Flagstaff Extreme's new zip line course.  I love ziplines, and have no fear of the heights.  Until we had to jump off a platform to the ground 40ft below...and I couldn't do it.

 Me hesitating.

I stood there, willing myself to jump, knowing my harness had me.

I could not do it.

If I couldn't do this, there was NO WAY I'd jump out of a plane, and told Flyboy so when I recounted the story.  He listened patiently as always.  "So what you're saying is, you're chicken," he replied.

I violently protested I was not, and reminded him I did eventually step off the platform.  "No, you let fear stop you from enjoying it.  You where a chicken," he retorted.

 Yeah well I might be chicken but your football team is named after a nut.  Really?!? (I may have lost a bet here...)

I told him I would jump out of a plane if he was at least in the plane and jumping at the same time.  Afterall, it was his voice of encouragement in my mind that actually got me to step off that platform...

Then I met the Buckeye, who with over 2000 civilian jumps clearly loved it.

Nope.  Definitely not gonna do it to impress him.

 

He's a Buckeye!! Why would I want to impress him?!? (May have lost another bet here...)

So I very happily wrote out my bucket list 23 days ago, and left off skydiving.  Hastagged it #notskydiving as I never planned on jumping.

Ever.

 

Rocks change things.

I didn't take a picture, but I remember the moment with clarity.  It was my second attempt at Camelback's summit via Cholla, and I had just traversed the second saddle.  I could see the back part of the mountain, and clearly could see where BASE jumping could occur.

I wanted to jump off of Camelback.

See, you go home and google it and stuff like this comes up and I desperately wanted to do it.

Yep-I couldn't jump out of tree a few months ago, and I want to jump off this rock....

Interestingly, the fact the Buckeye had done several BASE jumps off this mountain and had given up the sport after two near misses on said mountain was the catalyst that turned my attention elsewhere.

To skydiving.

The morning I climbed up Cholla, I was full of hope.  I had shut the door on an item from the past that had nagged me for some time, and felt a freedom I hadn't felt in ages.  I could conquer the world-I could jump off a mountain!  Except it would take years to get to the skill level needed, and I had no time, attention or desire to do so.  But skydive?  I could do that.

As I'm learning not to make rushed decisions, I mulled it over a few days.  I told both Flyboy and the Buckeye what I was thinking of.  One didn't think I'd ever do it. The other?  "Well, I am working in Eloy next week..."

 Can you say perfect?

I threw it out on Facebook, and my friend Denise could join me.  My children protested loudly, so I didn't tell them of my plans to jump until after.  Reservations were made, and my excitement level began to grow.

No fear.

No nerves.

Excitement.

I prayed a lot-the revelation that I make snap decisions to try and hold onto things weighed on me....I wanted to make sure I was doing this for the "right reasons."

I had no idea why I was doing it.  I just knew, that I knew, that I knew I was suppose to jump.

 Waiting for our lift...was it any coincidence we went up in OTTER 8?!?!?!? 😜😍😎

I also knew what shirt I needed to wear:

 Afterall, not a single buckeye was jumping with me😍

I pondered why I was doing it...and waited for nerves to hit.  Surely in the plane I'd be nervous or scared, right?

 Nope.  That look?  Quite honestly I look like I'm in love.

As I knelt down at the airplane door and saw the ground below, "thank you Jesus" escaped my lips.  Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.  I was thrilled, excited and full of a joy like no other.

There was no fear.

No nervousness.

And then I flew.

I was so glad I had something to hang onto!!! Lol!

Instantly, I was in love.  I've always been an adrenaline junkie, albeit the more cautious kind.  Roller coasters and fast cars hold tremendous appeal, as do zip lines and ropes courses high off the ground.  Freefall is flying, something I've dreamt of doing my entire life.  

 This smile never left my face.

And the Michigan shirt looks amazing, too😉

I don't remember looking down, I was looking at my cameraman, Mike. (Everyone needs a Wolverine cameraman like Mike.  He was amazing and I felt like a celebrity!) I had politely requested an altitude of 13,500 (snicker, snicker) and had been granted it, so my freefall was right around 8000ft.

I loved every second, decided I was struggling a wee bit to breathe, and the canopy opened.

 Amazing.  Simply amazing.

Then I really got to fly, holding the toggles and steering with my instructor.  My delight only lifted momentarily when I saw the ground quickly approaching, it was over too soon.

 

The canopy is charcoal, silver and red.  It is NOT scarlet and grey, as some have suggested.

 I think Monkey Lip was glad we had landed and I was no longer gibbering off his ears.

My favorite picture though?

 This.  My Flyboy took it, standing over 50 yards away.  The joy, so clearly seen on my face at that distance, can only come from one place.

God.

As the day went on, the euphoria of the jump didn't diminish.  I was tired when the adrenaline wore off, and was grateful to take a nap when I got home.  Waking, I drowsily relived the jump, amazed I had felt no fear.

No fear.

"For God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and a sound mind."

11 days before I got it in my head to skydive, after never having the desire and over a year of protesting I didn't want to.  That desire I knew was divinely inspired....now more than ever I knew.  To kneel at the door of the plane-the one moment I thought I'd dread-and have thanksgiving bubble forth?  To love that moment more than any other?

 

Transcends understanding.  Other versions use the word "surpass" or "passeth."

Man cannot understand why I felt no fear or nerves, as God's peace overcame it.

But I knew.

I knew from the moment I booked the jump God had a hand on it.  The overwhelming peace and knowing I was doing the right thing outweighed every concern, every fear.  There was no room for fear-for that promised peace that passeth all understanding had mounted up and was guarding my heart and mind.  

 Joy before the jump, while goofing off with Flyboy's hat.

Joy in the air, excited for the next step.

 

 Joy in the air, despite accidentally giving the O-H...

 Joy on the ground, asking if I could go again!

I knew on Camelback when I first conceived of the idea that it wasn't even my idea.  I know that heart stirring, when you feel the gentle nudge to do something you don't necessarily want to do.

Because you never wanted to do it.

And terrible fear of the unknown may be involved.

But when God asks...?

The lesson I so graciously learned?  I'm at a time of life when things are rather topsy-turvy.  A week ago Sunday I cried out in prayer, asking for peace.  I was directed to go skydiving.

 My God rocks.  Absolutely, positively, rocks.

I placed all my trust in Him, and had perfect peace jumping out of a perfectly good airplane.  Right now?  To many my life looks chaotic (although actually it's pretty placid) and at times I let the world's ideals fog mine.  Yet God calls us to trust in Him and His plan...not our own.

Today I've started on some bigger plans, setting aside the job search that caused the frustration and worry.  Why not trust God and really go after what He has placed before me, instead of taking matters into my own hands?

When I had the idea to skydive, I had no clue Flyboy would be in Eloy the next week, or that Denise would join me.  All I knew was the time was now, and I needed to go.  Not only was it wonderful, and the best jump possible, I got to share it with a friend in the air, and my best friend when I got on the ground.  Running across the field I could see his grin, the one I've only seen once before when I lost my bet and his Buckeyes beat my Wolverines.  

"Was I right?" He asked, as I wrapped my arms around him.  "You were more than right," I conceded.  "That was exactly what I needed!"

Life is "untraditional" right now.  My finances are fine, though, and the frustrations belong to building a company that IS at the top of my bucket list.  When I cried for answers, I had two immediate ones:  rent a place for yourself (ohhhhhh I love my cottage!!) and go skydiving.  I did both on faith.

And immediate received the peace passeth all understanding.  The jump will forever be a powerful reminder that when I thoroughly trusted Him, nothing could shake my peace.  

Nothing:)