Lost

Yesterday was a beautiful day, so much so that we had to read our pre-nap books outside on the front step.  Almost immediately our dog, Riley started barking.  Since we were outside, he wanted to be untied so I told Avery she could.  At some point, I had to abruptly take Amanda to bed because...well, let's just say she was ready.  Then it was Aiden, then Avery. 

Hours later, I remembered the dog.  The dog that we'd forgotten to tie back up.  The dog, who in his younger days was so trustworthy, but now in his old age he sneaks off any chance he gets.  So, once the kids woke up, we headed out on foot to find Riley.

We passed by neighbors and a particularly happy group of college kids who wished us a merry St. Patrick's Day.  I laughed and said, Umm...thanks.  Its a big holiday, huh?  To which the drunkest one of the bunch replied, It is to us college students.  Its the biggest @*%# holiday there is.  Ok, well, let me just move along with my three children.

We'd been out about 30 minutes when what began as a mildly desperate search to find the runaway dog turned into a frantic mission to find some of Avery's treasured possessions.  We were walking along fine when all of a sudden Avery says Where is my girl's head and body??  And my bunny??  Oh man, forget about the dog...I know we are not going home til those items are recovered.  She is immediately frazzled and positive its her sister's fault that they fell out because she gave Amanda a turn to push the stroller.

I talk her down and we do a quick 180 and heading back the way we came.  Mercifully, less than half a block away we recovered the missing body parts.

And the bunny!

At that point I called it quits and we headed back home.  Waiting for us at home was a notice on the front door that the animal control people had tried to return Riley but no one was home.  This morning I begrudgingly went to retrieve my retriever. 

What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.

Matthew 18:12-14