Claire woke up crying at 3:30 last night.
As I gave her the binky, I glanced over to see Grace sleeping,
but Grace wasn't in her bed.
I doubted my nighttime vision and checked again.
Still, she wasn't there.
So I looked on the floor by her bed and then all around her room.
No sign of Grace.
I had an empty feeling inside.
In disbelief, I woke up Paul.
We began searching the house.
Not in her room. Not in the hall.
Not in the bathroom or in Millie's room.
Not in the living room, or the kitchen.
We checked the sliding door--locked.
Not downstairs, in the garage, or out with the bunny.
All I could think of was Elizabeth Smart's abduction,
and how cute Grace is. Of course someone would want her!
She's adorable!
Then I walked back in to our bedroom
and turned on the light.
There she was!
Sprawled out on the floor, right by our bed.
What a relief!
I must have walked right by her twice!
As we got back in bed, we felt a huge sense of gratitude for our sweet Gracie. We felt for a few minutes how it would feel to lose her, and we want to do all we can to keep her safe and with us forever.
