Lost Child at Lagoon

Last night at Stake Lagoon day, we were standing in a long line for the Wild Kingdom Train. Paul saw someone he knew further up in the line and went to say "hello." I remember looking down to see Millie's empty stroller and thinking, "Oh, that's nice, Paul took Millie with him." When Paul came back about 5 minutes later, without Millie, we realized she had been gone for a while. When we began the search, I thought we'd find her in a matter of a minute or two. We had our neighbors helping us. But each time I met eyes with one of the others on the search team and saw that they hadn't found her, I began to worry more and more.

I had thoughts like "How far can a two-year-old go in just a few minutes? What can she do? Is she crying? Why can't we hear her? Would someone take her? Where's Millie?"

Then I began praying. I didn't want to panic, but I really began to worry. I prayed and prayed as I frantically looked for her. Paul was praying too. We met up at the Merry-go-Round where we had been earlier. As he searched to see if she was on there, I thought it was a waste of time. How would she get on there? But Paul's face lit up, "there she is!" She was sitting on a sleigh with a mother and children, going around and around, but with the expressionless face of a lost child.

How did she get on there? No clue! I doubt she waited in line. She probably got in through the exit.

We were just so grateful that we found her relatively quickly and that she was safe. We feel that Heavenly Father heard our prayers and inspired Paul to look on the Merry-go-round.

After finding Millie, we held her more closely, hugged her more often, and felt more gratitude for her. I guess losing (and finding) a child can be a good reminder of the treasure that you have.