lost

This morning was not a regular morning but I failed to see it. Our downstairs dog growled and barked at 5:30, waking me up. I could see nothing wrong in the yard so I went back to bed until the alarm rang. 6:30 came, and four dogs, three kids, and I went downstairs to start breakfast. The dogs went outside and kept barking. The downstairs dog had thrown up during the night, making a widespread mess, so I broke routine to clean the floor. Then we got back to the normal routine of feeding the dogs.

Sadie, Holly and Shekia did not come to their food bowls. I ran outside to see if the gate was open. I ran inside, told the kids to wake Brennan up, grabbed my keys and ran to the car. In my pajamas. With my hair sticking up all over my head. I found Shekia quickly and got her in the car. Sadie and Holly were just gone. For the next hour and a half, we drove around the neighborhood, stopping at home often to see if they found their way back. My heart was breaking. Imagine how my little ones felt, just joining a stable forever family last year? At 8:30 I took the kids home to eat breakfast. Everyone seemed to be holding it together. They were not acting out, which I was very thankful for. During my shower/cry I realized there was nothing else to do but pray and wait until the shelters opened. I prayed for Holly and Sadie. I prayed for our chihuahua who is severely attached to Holly. I prayed for my kids to not have to grieve the loss of those dogs. I prayed for guidance to show up at the right place at the right time today so I could bring Sadie and Holly home safely.

As I was drying off, the doorbell rang! Women who live 3-4 streets away had seen our dogs running and told me to follow them to where the dogs were last seen. Holly and Sadie were on the move, but they stopped in the middle of the road when they heard us calling them. I piled them in our small car on top of the children. The sight of the two women who had driven around our large neighborhood to find where we lived brought tears to my eyes. Okay, the truth is that I bawled like a baby. I was so relieved and grateful!

After getting Holly and Sadie home, we had a family celebration (hugs and dancing and some juice that I save for special occasions). Brennan hugged all of us again in the office of his high school. Wow, right?! On the way to the elementary school, the sun was shining through the clouds on the mountains. What a great opportunity to thank God again for keeping our dogs safe. We just wouldn't be the same without Holly and Sadie in our lives.

After I stop shaking and the adrenaline wears off, I am going to bake goodies for the dog-lovers who reunited us with our babies. We'll take cake and home-made thank you cards to them tonight.