Anna goes missing.....

On Friday, I went to Ogden with my mom and sisters to run the Odgen Marathon relay. About an hour after leaving, I called Dan to see how things were going. He said that Anna was missing and he would call me later and hung up the phone. Of course, I was really upset. The thought of ever losing my curly-haired, brown-eyed girl was such a horrible thought to me.

I thought about some of the last moments I had spent with my "Anna Girly". She wanted me to read the Little Mermaid to her. I was busy changing Alex's diaper and packing up to spend the night in Ogden. She fell asleep in the rocking chair with her book whie she was waiting for me. She looked so cute curled up and I felt bad that I hadn't read to her. It was already time to go to school to pick up kids, so I had to carry her to the van asleep. When we got back home I put her in her bed, but she didn't stay asleep. I looked down at her and her hair was extra curly since it was a hot day. I kissed her cheek and told her that I loved her. She cried when I left, but I gave her a hug and told her I would come back. I love Anna, and all my kids beyond words to express it. Well, back to the story...sorry for the ramble.

I was about to call the police from my cell phone, but I decided to wait a few minutes all then call Dan back. Back at home, Dan asked a neighbor boy if he had seen Anna. He said that he had, and she was riding her pink plastic tricycle. Dan went down to the end of the street looking for her. Then a guy from our ward pulled up to tell him that he had seen Anna down a different street. He was driving home from work and he saw her but didn't notice her (does that make sense?). I'm not sure how much time elapsed, but he told Dan at church that the image of Anna on her bike came to his mind. She had made it all the way through our neighborhood, and then down 2200 W (the nearest real street near us). We live near 2600 W. She had also gone south a bit. She was still pedaling away when he got there. There is an open canal right next to the sidewalk.

I called Dan back, ready to call the police, and he had found her. I am so thankful.

I was so mad, I demanded an explanation how Dan could not notice she was gone. He had turned on Sleeping Beauty for her in our bedroom, and was resting while she watching. Rachel came up and had something to show Anna. So Anna went downstairs to Rachel's room. Rachel thought she came back upstairs, and Dan thought she was still down with Rachel. Anna can get the doors open unless the deadbolt is locked. She sneaks outside whenever she can if the deadbolt is left unlocked. The regular lock doesn't deter her at all. And she loves pedaling that plastic tricycle. She is quite athletic for a 2 year old. She is such a fearless child. It worries me so much. I hope that she has a lot of guardian angels watching out for her. We do our best to keep her safe. I am so thankful that this didn't end up one of those sad stories on the news.