5.2010 {Church Choir Scare}

Tyson and I both stayed after church for Ward choir this past Sunday. (In the past we usually take turns so Lydia can go home and nap.) Someone had said the opening prayer but we hadn't started singing yet. I was visiting with Sister Jensen, the Bishops wife about Primary business. After a few minutes I looked around and couldn't see Lydia. She was playing with Malachi (2 yrs...yellow umbrella boy.) Tyson and Barry Goepfert went to go look for the kids...meanwhile I kept chatting away. After a few minutes Tyson came back alone, "You haven't found them yet?" I shouted!!! I ditched off my heels, bolted off the stage, out of the chapel, Tyson went left and I went right. Sarah Hale told us that Malachi was able to open doors so we knew we had to look for them everywhere.

I went outside, down the East parking lot, nothing, I ran inside, checked all their hot spots, Nursery, drinking fountains, stairs by the stage, bathroom...nothing. Tyson checked the entire building inside and out (TWICE). Adrenaline was kicking in and we were running around searching as fast as we could. We disrupted every class the Spanish branch was holding and by this time the entire choir was helping us look.

I've had plenty of practice looking for lost children at the Treehouse Children's museum, with our radio system and all the staff we could find any kid in less than 2 minutes. I was hopeful with so many adults we'd find them quickly.

It had been 5 or 6 minutes by now and to Tyson & I it felt like an eternity.

I was over on the West side of the church outside now, I saw Tyson come around the corner on the lawn, we clamped eyes and both of us read each others thoughts.

Never before had I felt such an awful feeling. By now I was sure something horrible had happened. Every horrific idea blasted through our minds, she was run over by a car...kidnapped...etc.)

My panic state was increasing faster and more intensely with ever second that passed by and I was just about to lose it. I was standing next to Bill our organist, he knew I was about to hit my limit he began telling me, "It'll be ok Laura, we'll find them..we'll find them...."

Another 10 seconds went by...I had been praying like mad this whole time....and... finally someone hollered "WE FOUND THEM!"

Ahhhhhh I was so relieved! I still don't know who exactly found them, but they were safe in the tiny deacons room, door closed, lights off, drawing on the chalk board and to me that is all that mattered!

I hugged my baby so tight and kissed her 10 times over!

Tyson and I were very grateful but the rest of the day we were pretty shaken up about the situation. It was totally our fault for not keeping a better eye on her and luckily she was alright.

I never want to experience something like that again. It was maybe only .01 percent of what parents feel when their children are kidnapped or lost for real. I will definitely be a lot more cautious in the future... it only takes a glance away or a distracting conversation for them to get out of sight and in a dangerous predicament.

Sunday night drive to Lake Thunderbird.