What if it was in celebration of your friend’s 70th birthday? If you asked me a week ago, I surely would have said no. As it turns out, my sweet friend Carol was planning to go skydiving with her son to celebrate her 70th birthday. When he had to cancel at the last minute, Carol reached out to me on Friday, in search of a buddy for her adventure taking place on Saturday morning.
To give you a little insight into her story, Carol is married to the love of her life. They have led an extremely active life with their four children, until recently. Six years ago, her husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. He is now in the advanced stages of the illness. Carol sits by his bed with him, prays with him, and watches a video reel of their life with him on the television in his room. Her husband can’t speak. He can’t communicate at all, but she sits with him nonetheless. Most often you can find her there, loving him, alone.
Carol has been very strong and very brave. She is also determined to continue living her life, just as her husband would want her to, as a grand adventure. When she reached out to ask for a skydiving buddy, how could I say no? In my own mind, I had fear. I told myself when I became a mother, that I wouldn’t take crazy risks like I did when I was younger. It scared me to think of taking this risk with two precious little boys watching from below on the field, but in my heart I felt it was the right thing to do. It was what I wanted to do!
I don’t think it’s coincidence that I am smack dab in the middle of building the HeartStories community, including an app that is asking women to take risks, to be vulnerable and to support one another. That’s what it’s all about. Well, maybe not facing the fears of skydiving together, but facing other fears together.
Maybe you need a buddy to face doubt and uncertainty about things in your everyday life. Chances are, you probably already have her in your life somewhere, you may not have the daily connection to her that you need to enable you to comfortably reach out and say, “I need your support today. Will you be brave with me?”
These are all the kinds of things we are making possible for you through HeartStories. We are creating a way for you to stay connected to the women (10 or less) that you know would jump out of a plane for you, if you called them up on a random Friday and told them you needed them there.
All the details of the app we are developing can be found on our crowdfunding campaign page: http://www.moola-hoop.com/project/heartstories-an-app-to-replace-the-noise
If you value this app as a new tool and way to experience and enrich the most treasured friendships in your life, please support our campaign and help us spread the word.
Happy Birthday Carol!
Love,
Crystal
P.S. I couldn’t be happier that I was brave with Carol! That jump was the experience of a lifetime…for both of us.
17 Comments
Crystal Gornto
Thank you Grandma! I love you.
Grandma Hyde
Brave girl. It showed your supporting love for a friend. I’ve always thought you were adventureous and now I know it. Love and prayers for you always.
Crystal Gornto
That sounds like a plan to me!! 😉
Kim Welch
Incredible!! You are the risk taker in our family for sure! I must do it now!! Maybe a 40th birthday family jump!!!
Inspiring story! I love your love for Carol! Thank you for sharing!
Heather oathout
Crystal,
I am so amazed by you!!! God has given me the best sisters in the whole world and you are one of those blessings!!! I have learned so much from you in my life and continue to! I have prayed for you along this journey of Heartstories and continue too! God is going to do amazing things for women through you and all because you choose to sacrifice soooo much to follow what he put in your heart!!! Women all over the world will be touched and be able to feel more accepted and valued because of what you are doing here!!! I am so thankful for you and feel so blessed to call you my sister!!!! I love you!!!!!!!
Crystal Gornto
Thank you so much Heather! I really appreciate all of your support. I love you too!
Carol Hildebrand
Crystal
WOW! What a sweet story u wrote and I need to affirm u in that “things don’t just happened by chance” and alot of Gods timing took place for us to be buddies on the dive together!
Thanks for being the perfect “friendship responder”. It has encouraged me to do so for others!
I will treasure that dive with you!
Blessings
Carol
Crystal Gornto
Thank you Carol.
I don’t know about all the circumstances but, I’m glad it worked out the way it did! Thank you for asking me.
I will always treasure the dive with you too!
Linda Masteller
Crystal that is a wonderful story and very well written. Thank you for sharing.
Crystal Gornto
Thank you!
Michelle Meals
This is such an amazing story! I consider myself pretty brave but I think it would take a really great friend to convince me! Inspired to see you go through with it to celebrate someone you really care about.
Crystal Gornto
Thanks Michelle! She is a really special friend! She is the one who originally gave Scott my phone number and set us up!
Lauren
What an awesome story…thanks for sharing! A friend of mine wanted to go skydiving (at that same place) for her 40th birthday, so several of us did it with her, and it was a fantastic experience!
Crystal Gornto
Thanks Lauren! How funny. I guess that’s the new birthday party spot! It certainly isn’t something you want to try alone the first time.
Way to go for supporting her in that!
Amber McCue
Way to go, Crystal!!
I’ve been twice — The first time was an amazing experience!
Did you like it?
Crystal Gornto
I loved it! You’ll have to tell me about the second time!
More Blog Posts
to Love ...
Loving Porcupines (teenagers) and other salty people
Protect Your Plates
Exploring Friendship + Connection with Alison Lumbatis of Get Your Pretty On
Why You Need a Girls Getaway & What’s In Store
SEARCH OUR BLOG
BLOG CATEGORIES
Connect
About
Partner