now that the cat's at least part way out of the bag... i can let some of you in on a little project i've been working on for quite some time.
i guess you could say it all started 2 years ago when jenn turned 18. we decided to do something special for her birthday... so, she and beth took the train to chicago... stayed in a lavish hotel (for peanuts, thanks to hotwire)... and saw 'wicked'. the only thing that could have made their time more perfect would have been if i had joined them! (at least that's my version)
few people know this, but as the curtain lifted there in that chicago theatre... jenn was so happy, she started to cry. and today she says that experience is when she began to allow her heart to dream of the possibility that she could one day be on-stage too.
dreaming is such an important thing for a person... no matter what their age. it comes easier for some more than others. but i think there are certain life stages when it's absolutely essential. and in my opinion... the senior year is one of them.
anyway... ever since jenn's eighteenth... ian's been dreaming of what we could do for his 18th.
he's been exploring different schools for aviation... and one of those schools is in florida. we'd heard it was a top of the line place for pilot training... so i decided i'd surprise him and plan a little getaway to orlando for his birthday... and mix in a visit to a school that he had only dreamt of attending.
but actually... that's the cover-up.
the real thing ian wants to do for his 18th is to go skydiving with his dad. which is what he's been dreaming about for the last 2 years. of course... one man's dream may be another man's nightmare!
after his 17th birthday... when i became sick... i'm sure he kind of put the dream on hold. he'd bring it up every now and then. but he knew that jumping out of a plane wasn't exactly on his dad's top ten list of things to think about between chemo treatments. however... secretly i hoped that no matter how things turned out with my health... that i'd be able to have the strength to pull the cord alongside the best son in the world.
and as my strength returned and i waited for the scan results... i determined that skydiving with ian would either be a great way to make a memory (if the results were bad)... or a great way to celebrate (if they were good).
so... tonight we told him that the flight we're boarding tomorrow morning (oops.. this morning!)... is not just taking us for a college visit. and you would not believe how excited he is.
of course, i, on the other hand am wondering what particular drug is responsible for lowering my defenses and getting me into this mess!
but the surprise isn't over yet.
in the morning he'll discover that 2 of his friends are joining us on the trip. he is going to flip out!
so think of us on ian's birthday this saturday around 10 or 11. that's when we'll be jumping at 18,000 for ian's 18th. if all goes well.
that's when the dream becomes a reality... and hopefully explodes into a lifetime of allowing God to lift his eyes beyond what seems possible or probable.
oh... and prayers would be greatly appreciated for his old man.
WHAT A BLAST!!!
WHAT A MEMORY!!!
and yes you are nuts.
love ya and happy bday "e" man. i was going to call you and sing to you on saturday.
bg
Posted by: beth | January 04, 2008 at 08:33 PM
I am hoping you sprung for the 18K ft. dive with DVD/still photos. On my 18th birthday I got...I can't remember. Good move dad.
Posted by: Rick Lingenfelter | January 05, 2008 at 10:32 AM
CHEMO BRAIN! IL-2 MOMENT! YOU ARE A CRAZY MAN! But much loved by your son I am sure! Have a most excellent time, I'm not sure how to pray about this one...hmmmm.
Janet Hurt
Posted by: Janet Hurt | January 05, 2008 at 04:44 PM
CHEMO BRAIN! IL-2 MOMENT! YOU ARE A CRAZY MAN! But much loved by your son I am sure! Have a most excellent time, I'm not sure how to pray about this one...hmmmm.
Janet Hurt
Posted by: Janet Hurt | January 05, 2008 at 04:45 PM
I am so looking forward to reading about this, and hopefully getting to see some pictures. I also want to know which drugs you took - Xanax or Valium - to get yourself out of that airplane? And did you leave any at home for Beth???
Posted by: Lois Lanham | January 05, 2008 at 07:26 PM
Wow, that is crazy, but your son will love it! Good Luck.
Posted by: RobynD | January 05, 2008 at 10:23 PM
You are crazy! However, your son will never forget this.
We have an ornament just like that that was on our tree again this year, wonder what we will be doing if we keep dreaming?
Happy New Year, Happy Birthday to Ian and love to all the Shafer's!
Sandie & Dave
Posted by: Dave & Sandie Murphy | January 07, 2008 at 02:42 PM
What amazes me the most is that in the photo, Ian's hair is perfectly in place and your glasses are seated snuggly on your nose!
Posted by: justin | January 08, 2008 at 04:22 PM