I want to start with apologizing about not getting another blog written in between training camp and launch! Time got away from me, and I just never sat down to get it done. So apologizes about that!
Next, as always, I am trying to be 100 percent completely honest with you all throughout this blog. Some parts of it may sound off or different from what I’ve told people in person, and I think that is because I get caught up in the moment when people are talking to me about my race experience and don’t stop to think how I actually feel. Also when I am typing exactly what I am feeling grammar and sentence struck sometimes get thrown out the window, so excuse all the mistakes throughout this or future blogs! Thanks! So with that being said, this blog contains my fathers, my sisters, and my own thoughts and feelings about launching on Monday the 9th. Here we go!
My Father: September 7th, we pulled out of the Hilton Atlanta Airport as Paige walked back into the hotel, not saying Good Bye, but “See ya in February”. I’m sad that I’m not going to see her in person until late February(if invited). I’m sad that she’s not going to get to cuddle with her pup. I’m going to miss her coming into our bedroom and laying down on the bed at night and talking about her day. I’m going to miss my morning phone calls from her just to say hi.
The level of sadness I feel is dwarfed by my level of excitement! I am excited to see how God will use Paige to spread his word. I am excited to hear and read how God has placed Paige situations to test her faith and love of God to ultimately strengthen both. I’m excited for the friends and relationships Paige will make over the next 9 months. I’m excited to strengthen my own trust in God as I completely turn her over to Him as she leaves for and continues this mission He has for her.
Will I miss her, yes. Is she in the best hands I could ask for, absolutely.
Remember, Jesus didn’t change the World all at once, he started with 12. Now, God’s chosen your team of 7 to continue His work!
Love you-
Dad
My Sister: When I truly think about Paige leaving, I start to tear up. I don’t tear up because I am sad, but because I am so excited to see what all God does with Paige. I know God has a lot of things planned for Paige. Things that will strengthen her faith and show others what faith is. And I am excited to hear and read about these experiences.
Well maybe I lied a little bit. I tear up because I am a little sad, but it’s more of a happy sad than sad sad. The sad comes from not seeing Paige, and the happy comes from the stuff above. Paige is my go-to person, and I won’t have 24/7 access anymore. But I have peace with God that Paige is exactly where He wants her to be. I know some days will be harder than others and I will be dying to tell Paige something but when that happens I just have to remind myself all the good she is doing right now.
People always ask me how I am dealing with being away from Paige for nine months. My simple answer is “well we were going to be separated anyway this year so I was sorta prepared.” This is just something going on in our life that I have to “suck up and deal with.” But I am choosing to deal with it in a happy way and think about all the fun experiences she, and I, will have on our new adventures.
So Paige, whenever you have a feeling of doubt, think about why God wants you on this trip and remember only good things come from God. So that must mean all bad things come from Satan. And with the power of prayer from your support system, you can defeat Satan and push those thoughts away. Have a blast during these next nine months. I will be studying extra for you since you decided to skip school. Oh and I will be praying for you each and every day.
Lots of love, Taitlyn
Mine: My first initial thought and feeling is not excitement which may come as a surprise. With full honesty, I am very nervous to leave and don’t really want to. My head is telling me “you technically have free will and can go home whenever you want and be comfortable again.” While my heart is telling me “God lead you to this and showed you it is the right place to be because of everyone who has surrounded you with love and everyone who made you get fully funded really fast. You are meant to be here.” Right now my heart is speaking up just a little bit louder than my head, so here I am trying my best to push through.
On and off while traveling to and at launch, I had such a pit in my stomach that I would feel sick when I tried to eat even though I knew I have to eat to get energy and be full. And I know deep down that all of these feelings of attack are from Satan but I sometimes forget to remind myself that. I actually had mostly forgotten this until I facetimed my sister Saturday night and she told me, “Just listen to the song ‘Not Today Satan’” and impersonated the grandma saying it at the very end of the song. (I would definitely suggest looking this up and listening to it if you haven’t heard it!)
So as I continue on my race, I am going to choose to remember this. It is going to be hard at first. And sometimes it’s hard to realize and accept that I am struggling with something, but I am working on that. I ask that you pray for strength and to feel the great love of God and reassurance that I am in the right place from Him.
As always, thank you for reading and supporting me! If you have any questions or comments feel free to drop them below or email me separately at [email protected] Please please reach out because I love staying in contact with all of you even if it takes me a little time to respond.
Next time I’ll post will be in Romania so be ready for that!
Lots of Love, Paige :):)
