Adventures WorldRace SethBarnes Sponsorship Giving

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The reality of The World Race is breathing down our necks. In TEN days, we will be sitting somewhere in India about to embark on one of the craziest, most adventurous things we have ever done. (Maybe only second to marriageJ)

Usually when we begin to tell people about The World Race, their first question is, “How do you pack for a year?!” This too has baffled me at times, but as the launch date comes closer, I have a more pressing question that I am afraid to find the answer for. “How do I say goodbye to my mom, my two sisters, my supportive in-laws, my wonderfully huge Mexican family, and all our beautiful friends for an entire year?”

 
 
My mom and I, in some regards, grew up together. I was born when she was 18 years old and we have always had a relationship like the best of friends. Even after I was a married woman, my mom and I still talked on the phone 1-2 times each day. Usually, it is just enough to hear her voice or ask her the most trivial questions, and I feel like life is better. Also, since we decided to do the race, Justin and I have been living with my parents. So, our attachment has only become greater. She truly is a hero in my eyes and as I get older, I continually realize the sacrifices she made to love me and my sisters, usually as a single mom. However, I worry about leaving her. I worry that she won’t have someone to talk to when she is having a bad day. I worry that my sisters won’t treat her with love because they realize that she deserves the utmost respect. I worry that she will busy herself to distract from being sad. I worry about her health. I worry…

As far as my sisters are concerned, I fight the continually feeling of the oldest sister. I need to make sure they can function without me. I realize how ridiculous that sounds, but I feel like they need to check in daily and tell me what they are doing with their lives. My middle sister is a total 19 year old, and I fight the urge to want to plan her life for her. I want her to realize that there is a great big world that doesn’t revolve around music and text messaging. My baby sister is a 9 year old who thinks that she is 17. If I have any parting wisdom for her, it would be to stop trying to grow up so fast. I want both of my sisters to love my mom.

 

I once told someone that I feel like the glue that keeps my immediate family together. I realize that this is kind of self centered and I know they can survive without me, but I guess I worry about surviving without them. I want to be in their life and them in mine. Someone also told me that God provides glue in our absence. I pray for this. I pray that our absence deepens our love for each other. I pray that we draw closer to what God is doing in each other’s lives. I pray that the awesome group of people who have supported us will rise up to loving my family.

May God be with us all in our absences. And the next time we post a blog, may we be ready to embrace the challenge and change of this idea of The World Race. Oh, and we will be in India. J