Just One Time Around

After a most relaxing, enjoyable and yummy lunch date with my friend Janet, I hit the road for what would be another crazy afternoon of family activities.  Audra had her first softball tournament game scheduled right after school, while the boys had basketball and soccer practices scheduled some distance away, later in the day. Wade and I compared schedules and decided on our attack - I would cover the softball game with the girls while he would pick up the boys and take them to their practices after school.

Driving toward the girls' school, ominous storm clouds followed and the wind picked up its pace. Storms were expected off and on all week, so the dark thunderheads were not a surprise. Still, everyone was hoping to get the game in before the rain came. Pulling into the school parking lot, I was surprised that Sierra was not in her usual spot to greet me, waiting impatiently for me to bring her water and a game-day snack. Such was our routine. Walking over to the field, setting up the chairs, I was struck that there was still no sign of Sierra.  Hmmm, I thought. It's not like her to be completely out of sight. After walking around the softball field area and checking with the folks there, I took off to look for her on the front side of the school. Not there. I checked the office while one of her classmates helped me by checking the lunch room and the library. Still, no Sierra.  

About now, the grayish black clouds began to leak large drops of cold water onto the world below. I put my hood up and walked a little faster. As I walked around the small, quiet campus looking desperately for my Sierra, I found myself dialoging with God. Please help me find her so I can relax, even though I know she's here. And, when I do find her, help me to not be angry with her.

It was such a strange, uncomfortable place for me to be.  I knew in my head, as all logic told me, that she was fine and safe on campus, just preoccupied someplace out of sight. But in my heart, raced all the images that I've seen on faces of parents who've lost children. Children who were there one minute and gone the next. It's easy, I think, when it's not your child who is missing. "Oh, she's here somewhere.  She'll show up."  Yes, that's what my mind was telling me, too, but it was my heart that couldn't rest until I saw her bright blue eyes and that familiar blond pony tail.

Finally, after some 30 minutes of searching, some of the girls on the team told me where they had last seen her, as school dismissed. One of the dads was over in that area kindly helping me look for her, so I called him on his cell. Minutes later, he called me back and it was her sweet voice on the other end. "Hi mom. Are you looking for me? I'm sorry, I was in one of the 7th grade classrooms doing homework with my friend."

Complete relief washed over me as the storm clouds let loose, drenching everyone beneath. Within minutes and with rain dripping from my face, I hugged my sweet Sierra with unspeakable joy in my heart. The game was rained out, so we gathered our soggy belongings and headed home. By the time we pulled into the driveway, both soccer and basketball had been rained out as well.  

As we ate dinner together, we talked about the important lessons we learned today while I gave tremendous thanks that my lost daughter was found.