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Guest Poster: Jaime Silvernail Talks About Paige Birgfeld

hint, it's related to a trip Paige took to Mexico), I am also scared for my friend. Jaime Silvernail, Paige's friend and the person who wrote this email, is scared for Paige because she is worried that the show might dredge up old memories and pain for Paige that she is still trying to heal from.
The_Kitchen_Guy
Silver Member
12,458
I received this touching piece about Paige, written by one of her close friends, via email earlier this week. With her permission, I am posting it here for all of you to see.Cheffers, I would like to introduce to you Jaime Silvernail, of Grand Junction and friend of Paige.
----------------
Some of you may remember my dear friend, Paige, who went missing almost a year ago. "Went missing" is the official way of putting it, but those who know her, know the true story is that she was abducted. The media jumped on her story, mainly because of the unknown aspects of her life that made for good TV drama.

Just to take care of that white elephant in the room, she is a single mom of 3 who worked several jobs to simply try and keep a roof over their head and food on the table after her ex-husband left HER up to her eyeballs in debt from all the times he refinanced the house...under her name. I want to clear the air about a few other things before going any further: the relationship between her second husband (father of all 3 kids) and her was an abusive one and like many abusive relationships, he had a hold on her that caused much strain even after she finally built her courage up enough to give him the boot. One example of the hold he had was using her credit for all the bills after he ruined his. If you have followed this story at all, you are aware that Paige lived in a million dollar home but the part you probably don't know is that she tried for over a year to sell the house to get out from under it. Even the best offer would have left her with a quarter million dollar debt from it. So here comes that revelation [which runs counter to] the seedy side the TV is focusing on. PAIGE IS BEAUTIFUL, and resorted back to a lifestyle she was familiar with to make ends meet. In her pre-mom/wife days, Paige was an exotic dancer, so she fell back on what was most lucrative. Paige became an escort. Now this job seems to be the most aired part of her life, but the fact is that Paige actually had 4 other jobs to try to make ends meet, and she would do other odd jobs when they became available if the hours worked around her kids. That's right, through all of this mess, Paige's main concern was being there for her kids, all the time. She was there when they woke up, took them to school, all their extra-curricular activities and made sure they had home cooked meals often. Now to those other jobs, the ones you probably won't hear about on TV. Paige was a Director with The Pampered Chef. That is an accomplishment to be proud of and she brought in as much as $5000 a month doing this work. Paige also sold Maya Wrap baby slings, helping her to be an advocate in an area near and dear to her heart, promoting breast feeding and close bonding with your children. Paige also worked as a mystery shopper, which helped to not only pay the bills, but put groceries on the table, get necessary car maintenance and pay for those occasional meals out [that] every single mom enjoys. But her pride and joy, job wise, was her baby Brain Dance. Paige worked with various local daycare centers teaching dance lessons to preschool age kids, in a way that was unique...think trying to pop bubbles with your toes as a way of learning to stretch for ballet. Smart, huh?! Now a few of these daycare centers were low income, and Paige didn't want these kids to miss out, so she bought the necessary tap shoes and leotards so the students could participate despite the struggles their families faced at home financially. Oh, on top of it all, she made all the costumes for the recitals and then kept them to use in class to dress up and act the part in the dance lessons. I wonder how many minutes of airtime this part of her story will get?So, why am I spewing all of this now, almost one year later? Well, one of the networks that had an interest in her story will be airing their "investigative show" this coming Tuesday, June 10. While I am excited that this will bring attention back to Paige's case, maybe pushing someone over the edge and finally getting them to break down and share what they know (possibly the one clue we need to find her) I have also seen some of the other shows and am leery to see how MY friend is portrayed. ABC aired a story on her last year, a few months after she disappeared and did a real smear job on her. Her true friends, the ones who have known her for years and in some cases, decades, as well as her family (you know, those who've known her all her life) were given but a few minutes to share their knowledge and thoughts on Paige while some local "hooker" was given twice the time to promote her business, oh sorry, to share her "knowledge" about how far Paige went for her clients. Hmmm...who's motives were truer, the people who love her, know her and were around her every day and knew the many aspects of her life? Or someone who heard through the grapevine that she "went all the way" who is in the same line of work, probably benefiting from her air time. So, needless to say, I am a little peeved at the way she's been portrayed. Oh, and those 24 hours networks? They did a real number on her, too. I had much respect for Gretta Van Sustren of Fox News until she cut the people she interviewed off so much that only her words and opinions came through on Paige. CBS Early Show did an okay job, but again, not a lot of POSITIVE on this missing mother of 3 came out.

So, CBS will be airing it's 48 Hours:Vanished show on Paige this Tuesday, June 10, and I am eager to see just how much of the interviews they show and whether they try to focus on the POSITIVE like the friends and family asked. I wonder how much of the hour long show will be devoted to her case at all.

If you view this show, please keep in mind that the networks are out for ratings far more that truth and fairness. I am open to questions and would much rather someone ask me than assume or make a judgment based on a TV show. Yes, I knew about her "other line of work". She was kind enough to offer for my family and I to stay with her while we looked for a home after my husband transferred out here from St Louis (even when we didn't know how long it would take). My husband had been out here for a few months while the rest of us remained in St Louis until some housing became available. Not wanting to see a family split up like that, she offered for us to move into her home while we continued our home search. For a few months we lived together, caring for each other's kids, working together to help each other out and with that came knowledge of all aspects of each other's lives. She didn't hide it though, the question just never came up. I didn't know the financial details of her life, how in debt she was or how much she had to bring in each month, I just knew she was struggling. Once I did know, I didn't judge. It's not my place. I haven't walked in her shoes. I am her friend and that doesn't change. I am there for my friends when they need me, isn't that what friendship is about?!

Also, keep praying!! Someone, somewhere knows something. We all want to see her brought home, no matter what condition. Her family needs closure and the perp who did this needs to be off the streets for sure.

--Jaime Silvernail
 
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Powerful message from her friend. Thank you (and Jaime) for posting.Paige is in our prayers.
 
Thanks so much Jaime for sharing this with us. It helps me better pray for her family and it will also help me look at the TV program objectively.

KG- thanks for sharing! :)
 
Thanks, KG.
My first thought when I received the email was also that Cheffers needed to see it.
 
Thanks for posting that. Gives us all the right perspective going into tonight's news report.
 
Thank you for sharing this KG.
 
WOW - Thanks KG and Jamie for such powerful words!
 
Thank you for sharing that....wow.
 
Thanks for sharing. I hope Jamie is right and that this time Paige as a person is portrayed.
 
  • #10
Thanks for sharing!
 
  • #11
thanks for sharing this....
 
  • #12
Thanks Jaime & KG. Life rolls on, while those who know and love Paige intimately long even more than we do for answers . How sweet to read the love that this friend has.
 
  • #13
Yup - as soon as I got this email, I started writing an email back to Suz asking if she would mind if I posted it here...then before I sent it, I figured I'd pop over here to see if KG had thought of it already and alas, he had :)
 
  • #14
Thank you.
 
  • #15
Thanks for sharing...how wonderful to hear the words of a true friend of Paige.
 
  • #16
I'm glad she wrote that. It portrays a very personal and REALISTIC part of her life. Everyone makes mistakes or does something that may not live up to our personal standards. Paige was put in a position that she didn't deserve as a mother, and today, her family is in a position they did not deserve. They all need justice and peace and some stability back in their lives, and lots of LOVE!I hope no matter what the media does, it can get SOMEONE to speak up with what they know and provide closure.I have to admit, almost 1 year later, I know the outcome is not good. What we know of Paige here, I KNOW a mother like her would not leave her kids for a year. So I pray that they find resolution, justice, and closure and the kids can grow up to lead healthy, happy lives despite what they've been put through and keep the good memories.
 
  • #17
Thanks KG for posting that.
 
  • #18
Paige has been on our church's prayer list for a year and at least once a week the staff prays over each name. I told them about the 48 Hours special, but was so glad to be able to forward this to them to get a glimpse of the Paige we knew before they watch 48 Hours.
 
  • #19
Wow, that was so powerful. I joined this site after Paige had already disappeared, so I didn't know the entire story. I hope that the show tonight remembers that Paige was a person, and doesn't just bring up the controversial things that may boost ratings more. Thanks for sharing.
 
  • #20
just makes me want to cry and then throw something...........

thanks for posting this KG
 
  • #21
:( I appreciate the insight this gave into her life. It just breaks my heart to know that she struggled so much. I pray for answers to come for those that loved and cared for her.
 
  • #22
Thank you, KG & Jaime for sharing this with us. It helps to have information that isn't misconstrued for a ratings boost. I continue to pray for Paige's return & pray for her family to continue to have the strength they need in this situation.
 
  • #24
Thank you KG & Jaime for sharing.
 
  • #25
Kitchen Diva said:
Thanks so much Jaime for sharing this with us. It helps me better pray for her family and it will also help me look at the TV program objectively.

KG- thanks for sharing! :)
I watched the TV program tonight and I agree-but this post helps quite a lot. Who is to say what any of us would do in Paige's shoes to take care of our family?
 
  • #26
chefliz said:
I watched the TV program tonight and I agree-but this post helps quite a lot. Who is to say what any of us would do in Paige's shoes to take care of our family?

I meant that knowing more about Paige helps me to better understand how to pray for her family and her children. Although I personally would not have chosen the path she chose for income- I have no judgements with how she lived her life- the letter that KG posted from Jaime was very helpful and insightful and made me at least feel like I got the opportunity to know Paige a little bit from someone who loved her and knew her, rather than from a news story.

I hope that you didn't misunderstand what I wrote, it was not meant to upset anyone. :)
 
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  • #27
Thanks for sharing that message, KG. I don't believe I'd make the same choices Paige made, but I've never been in her situation. What I do know is that her children's mommy is missing. As Carolyn told me at NC last year, this is now the children's story. People should be careful what they are writing on the lives of those little ones.Like Janet, I'm resigned to the reality that the news, when it comes, will most likely be sad. I just hope for answers for her loved ones.
 
  • #28
I don't think anyone of us could say how we would handle that situation if we were faced with it. She did what she felt she needed to do and the sad fact is alot of mothers probably do the same thing to support their familys because it is one way to earn a very high income. She is a beautiful woman and although I didn't know her, she seemed like a beautiful person on the inside as well. The whole story is just so sad and those poor children. Does anyone know if the grandparents get to see Paige's children?
 

1. Who is Paige Birgfeld?

Paige Birgfeld was a successful businesswoman and mother of three who went missing in 2007. She was also known for being an escort and had a side business selling household items through Pampered Chef.

2. What is the connection between Paige Birgfeld and Pampered Chef?

Paige Birgfeld was an independent consultant for Pampered Chef and sold their products as a side business. She was also known for hosting Pampered Chef parties in her home.

3. What happened to Paige Birgfeld?

Paige Birgfeld went missing in 2007 and her remains were found in 2012. She was believed to have been murdered by her ex-husband, who was later convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

4. How did Jaime Silvernail know Paige Birgfeld?

Jaime Silvernail was a close friend and coworker of Paige Birgfeld at Pampered Chef. They had worked together for several years and were also friends outside of work.

5. What is the purpose of this guest post by Jaime Silvernail?

The purpose of this guest post is to share personal insights and memories of Paige Birgfeld, as well as raise awareness for her case and honor her memory. It is also to highlight the impact she had on those around her and the legacy she left behind.

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