05/05/2026
Pictured: Me, Derek, and his girlfriend, Chasiti -- the "after" pic. ❤️
I did something I always said I would never do. I jumped out of a plane.
And I didn’t do it for the thrill. I did it for my son.
After Derek's dad and I divorced, Derek and I went through a lot of change, and at times it felt like we lost the easy connection we once had.
Ultimately, we all decided it was best for Derek to primarily live with his dad and spend every other weekend with Rene, Emi, and me. While I knew it was the right decision for all of us, it broke my heart.
Since then, I’ve been really intentional about finding ways to reconnect with him.
Skydiving became one of those ways.
It was something he had dreamed about since he was little, so for his 18th birthday, I gifted us both a tandem jump. I was terrified, but I chose not to overthink it -- and to simply YOLO.
And when the moment came, I just jumped.
It ended up being one of the most meaningful experiences we’ve shared, and a memory I know we’ll carry forever.
I’m sharing the full story, what it taught me, and why I’m actually planning on doing it all over again on our blog.
https://emisgarden.com/blogs/news/lessons-in-skydiving
I’d love to hear from you! What is something you’ve been putting off because it scares you?
xoxo,
Lisa