Me: I can't find my son! He ran off to chase our dog, and he hasn't come back. I can't find him anywhere!
It was the scariest night of my life. Brent held Webelos at our house so he could help the boys with a wood working project. With all of the kids coming in an out of the house it was bound to happen. Our dog, Sparky, bolted outside as soon as he got the opportunity.
Sparky acts like he is a prisoner of war. We adopted him last Christmas. He has been the best dog -- has never growled, snapped or bitten. Loves to cuddle. Rarely barks. However, if he sees the slightest opening of the door, he'll squeeze through and run for his life. He is FAST. And he doesn't stop.
So he ran out the door about 6:45. Blake is always the one to chase Sparky. He either brings him home, or comes back and tells us to get the car because he couldn't catch him. So he ran off to get Sparky, along with a few other cub scout friends.
About 10 minutes later, the friends came back. But Blake and Sparky didn't. They said that Blake had told them to go back to the house. (I was kind of grateful for this, as we were responsible for these cub scouts at our home!) But I worried because now Blake was by himself. Running in the dark. Trying to find our dog.
About 7:00 I figured I'd better go drive around and see I could find them. I knew he'd gone south in the neighborhood, so Hayley and I drove every street looking for them. Not a sign of them though. I had told the kids earlier that day to put a collar on Sparky, but they hadn't. My first worries were -- we won't see the dog again. There's no collar. No one will know who to call.
But after about 5 minutes, that fear changed. No longer was I concerned with the return of my dog.
WHERE WAS MY SON?!?
It was completely dark out. I couldn't find Blake anywhere. And this was not like him. He would normally return within a few minutes of chasing the dog. But now he'd been gone 20 minutes. Where was he?? Had he crossed Higley, a major street?
And the worst thoughts crossed my mind. What if a stranger had pulled up and offered to help Blake get the dog if he'd jump in his car?
I called Brent and finally all of the cubs had left our home. I dropped Hayley off at the house and told her to call if Blake came back. Brent went in the other car and started driving around. We still couldn't find him.
I began to panic. It had been almost 40 minutes. Where could he be? My prayers were getting louder and longer!
Heavenly Father -- YOU know where he is. Lead me to him. Where could he be? Please make sure he's safe. WHERE IS HE?
I drove in the next neighborhood over in Seville. Couldn't find him. I was asking people walking by if they'd seen him or the dog? No one had.
I then drove down Riggs road, past the fire house and towards our stake center. But then I thought, "He would never have gone down this way." So I turned the car around. I called Brent and said I thought it was time to call 911. We needed help finding him immediately. He thought we should wait, but I was in panic mode.
As I grabbed the phone to dial 911, I got an incoming call from Marcee. I knew she was out of town, and I didn't have time to talk to her, so I declined the call and hit 911.
It kept going through my mind -- I can't belive I'm having to make this call. It's the call every mom dreads. I just wanted Blake home safe and sound.
911: 911, What is your emergency?
Me: I can't find my son! He ran off to chase our dog, and he hasn't come back. I can't find him anywhere!
The 911 operator got a description of him and was so nice. She told me to go back to my house and meet an officer there. She said she had officers in the area looking for him. But I was a wreck and couldn't stop sobbing.
I pulled up to my house and the officer arrived. He asked if Blake could be inside. I told him no, that my daughter was there and would have called. He said that maybe he was hiding, and asked if he could go inside to check. I said that would be fine. In the back of my mind I was thinking - He's wondering if there is a crime scene inside!
As we were approaching the door, Hayley came outside. She asked why I hadn't been answering my phone. I told her no one had called! (I later realized that you don't get call waiting when on the phone with 911!)
Apparently Blake had followed Sparky through the neighborhood, down Riggs road, past the fire station and stake center, and into Greenfield Acres. He chased him halfway through that neighborhood before he finally had the thought to freeze like a statue. It was then Sparky came to him. He grabbed him, and then walked through the neighborhood to Marcee & Lance's home.
And he had run this whole way bare foot.
The call that had come through from Marcee was actually her home phone calling to tell me they had him. It was the answer to my prayer, but I hadn't answered it. It would have saved me quite a bit of grief. (I wonder how many times in my life other answers have come straight from heaven, but I haven't received the incoming call.)
But I was just overcome with relief to hear he was okay. Brent was headed over there to pick him up.
The officer said he'd stay and wait with me until he was safely home. Within about 5 minutes, he was back.
That one hour of not knowing where my son was was the scariest hour of my life. In that moment, nothing else mattered. I didn't care about anything except finding my son and making sure he was safe.
Brent pulled up with him, and he jumped out of the car, holding Sparky. I couldn't hug him tight enough.
"Why didn't you come home, Blake? You had us so worried!"
"I didn't want to lose the dog, mom! I had to catch him."
Sigh. We had a good long talk about how he is so much more important than any pet we'll ever have. We can get another dog if he's ever lost. And I set some rules about never ever being allowed to leave the neighborhood boundaries again.
I couldn't stop hugging him. He was freezing cold and his feet and calves were sore. I made a hot bath for him, and then told him he was sleeping with us that night.
I definitely had a long prayer of gratitude that night. For answered prayers. For Blake's safe return. For knowing that I have a loving Father in Heaven who guided him home and most likely protected him every step of the way.
My heart goes out to moms who don't have such a happy ending. I can't imagine losing a child. It's definitely given me more compassion than I've ever had. And it's given me the reminder of how if we have our family, nothing else matters.
