Glimpse Of Motherhood

Today as we made our Mother's Day gifts at school, I got a glimpse of motherhood and realized how all mothers rock! I stamped over 75 handprints, I had a student pee his pants, I was followed and tapped on to get my attention, I tied shoelaces that I would end up tying again and at the end of the day I felt like I got nothing done. All I wanted was to come home and get in my pjs and just do nothing. Checking the mailbox before I got home, I thought, gosh today would be a great day to just get a letter from someone since I felt so alone and unappreciated. Nothing... Then I walked up to my apartment and sitting there was a little package. I don't know how my mom does it!!! My mom is truly the best mom ever!! She had sent me a package and in it was a framed picture of us two in Italy. I can't wait for that day I can make my daughter's day like my mom just did for me. Love her so much!!

We Don't Need Someone Else To Make The Jump

April 25, 2015

My dad came into town for my birthday. He came in on Friday night. I had told him earlier that week how it would be fun to go skydiving for my birthday. He responded with "I'd have to think long and hard about that". 

Thinking we weren't going skydiving I threw out other suggestions, but skydiving keep coming back into my mind. A few days before he came, I called my dad saying how I really, really wanted to go skydiving for my birthday. I had looked up the costs and where we could do it. It was all a go except my dad didn't really like the idea of jumping out of an airplane. He finally agreed that he would take me, but he wouldn't jump. Nothing was going to stop me from doing this. I would jump even if I didn't have someone to do it with.

The night before I jumped, I will admit I was a little scared. I not afraid of heights or even death, but something got to me. People around the world put this on their bucket lists and overcome their fears with someone. Many people skydiving with friends, siblings or a spouse. They jump out of a perfectly good plane to conquer the unknown questions that go through your mind. If you can jump together, you know you can conquer anything else the world throws at you. 

The night before I guess it came down to I was scared I would be doing this alone. Of course I would have a stranger strapped to me and I would be putting all my faith in that person to open the parachute, but that didn't scared me. It was that I wasn't doing it with a friend or boyfriend or whoever. I was doing this crazy thing by myself. When I gave my dad the idea I told him how here in Vegas I am trying to find my own independence. I'm not really dating and I am still trying to find friends. It's hard moving to a place where you don't know anyone. When I thought of the idea of skydiving the first thing that popped in my head was how fun would it be to do it with my boyfriend or husband someday. Then I thought, waiting for a man to come into my life isn't living at all! If I want to skydive, I should go skydiving. A part of being independent is to do the crazy and scary things that life throws at you. If you can do it alone, it will be some much easier to do them together. 

As my dad was arriving into town, he called saying how he needed to go to target or somewhere to get a sweatshirt. I asked him why and he said how he didn't bring one for skydiving and how it would be cold 15,000ft in the air. I responded that he probably wouldn't need one because it wouldn't be cold on the plane and he wasn't jumping so it didn't matter. Then there was a pause on the phone and out came oops! Then my dad explained how he changed his mind and how he was going to jump with me. What?! I was in shock! My fear turned into excitement. I wasn't doing it alone.  

On my birthday, we woke up early drove to Boulder City airport. It was a beautiful morning. The sun was rising and it was partly cloudy. It was a perfect day to make the jump. As we got to the airport we signed in and did a quick training before gearing up in our suits and harnesses. We were both excited! I meet my stranger that I would be strapped to and would be putting my full faith in. Geoffrey and I become friends really quickly because we had to trust each other. Our group of eight crammed into a tiny plane. Flying up to 15,000ft, Geoffrey kept asking me if I was ready. I was completely calm. I knew I could make this jump. I wasn't afraid. As the door opened and I was hanging outside of the plane I saw the Earth below me. We were so high up and all I could think was I can do this! Free falling was my favorite part. I was doing something many people dream about, I was flying. It was a short five minutes and we were back to the ground. 

That short five minutes taught me a lot. Even though I did have someone to jump with, my dad, I jumped by myself and for myself. We must remember WE DON'T NEED SOMEONE ELSE TO MAKE THE JUMP. Find your own happiness. Find who you truly are. We can't wait around forever for the "right" time to do something. NOW is the right time to go out and do something with your life. Live your life with no regrets; I know I do!