My skydiving experience

I have ALWAYS wanted to go skydiving.  I always pictured it being the biggest rush you can get without being chased by angry bulls.  Bryan and I have been talking about it, but for the past three years we couldn't go through with it because of his health problems.  A few weeks ago, thinking this would be the perfect birthday present for me, he asked his doctor, and he cleared him to do it!  For past birthdays, we've done a lot of fun things like zip lining and parasailing.  But skydiving takes the cake.
When he told me what we're doing, I was in shock.  Nervous, thrilled.. I was speechless.  I gave him a hug and kiss, my dog Jazz joined in the happiness and jumped up and down with us.  I immediately looked up skydiving videos, and my heart began racing.  YIKES, what was I getting myself into???

May 1st, the day after my birthday, we drove up to Lake Wales to Jump Florida.  My mother-in-law Holly, sister-in-law Kelly, and my two nephews Alex and Aidan were there to cheer us on.  Well, make sure we land safely, anyway.  Alex, my buddy, was so upset I wanted to jump out of a plane.  He was begging me not to go, but I did my best to make sure he knew that this was safe and fun.  This company has a 100% safety record, and they make 20 jumps a day!!  The guys before us who jumped, had to be 60-70 years old, and I even heard one of them say "Check that off the list, Barb!"  I loved this.
Bryan and I got strapped and suited up.  My suit was incredibly long for me, being that I'm 5'1''.  So I looked ridiculous.  They said we were ready to go up.  I thought we had more time!!  AHH!!  I should have put some chapstick on and drank some water.  Even before we got in the plane, my mouth was so dry.  Oh well, no turning back now.  The plane ride seem to take incredibly long.  We kept going up, and up... and up, past the clouds, and kept going up.  11,000 feet up in the air, it was time to get strapped to my instructor and prepare for our jump.  I have to admit, I was a little nervous, but more so about my instructions.  I hope I wouldn't do anything wrong.  I made Bryan go first.  I screamed that I loved him, but I don't think he heard me.  When he jumped off the plane, I saw the big open doorway to the outside.  The instructor pushed me to the door, and I looked out.  THAT was when I got really nervous.  We were high, like REALLY high!!!  In my head, I thought "ok, maybe I don't want to do this" but I knew I'd regret it if I backed out.  I've gotten this far, and I knew it was all downhill from there.  (pardon the expression).  Before I knew it, we jumped and we fell head first.  The initial jump was the craziest feeling I've ever felt.  Almost like a roller coaster, but a million times crazier.  Nothing was holding us back.  We were falling from 11,000 feet in the sky.  After the jump, the fall wasn't scary.  It felt freeing and exciting, but not scary.  My mouth and teeth were so dry!!  I was getting the whole thing video taped, so I'm wondering how ridiculous I look..  leave it to me to be vain while falling out of the sky.  He opened up the parachute and I got my first deep breath.  WOW..  I mean WOW!!!!!  He asked me how I liked it, and you'll see my reaction in the video.
The experience was..  well, there's no way for me to describe it in one word.  It's something you have to experience for yourself.  I beg you to do it, if you haven't done it.  It's the best adventure I've ever done, and I can't wait to do it again one day. 
Bryan, this was the best birthday present ever.  Thank you so much for not only giving it to me, but doing it with me too!  You are the best husband I could ever ask for.  My heart overflows.

Kelly took some awesome pictures before and after.  This one was taken right before.  I'm being goofy, but I had no intention on looking THAT goofy.  Ew.

Bryan is the top right, and I'm the bottom left.

Bryan coming in for a landing!

My favorite picture.  When we both have made it safely on ground, I ran right up to my sweetheart and gave him the biggest hug.  I felt so close with him that we got to share this experience and live through it.  :)

I think our faces say it all.