The kids and I went to the ETC on campus to pick up something we had painted earlier in the day. Afterwards, Jonah wanted to go on a walk to "get some energy out." Sure.
We decided at Nussbaum that we would run a little around campus. I presented the plan before we began. We would run to the prayer chapel, to Wengatz, to Olson, and then back to our car in the Reade Center parking lot (for those of you not familiar with campus, our path led us on an approximate 600 meter circle, where we'd be visible to one another the whole time). Lydia was running more slowly, of course, so Jonah was ahead of us a bit.
At the prayer chapel, Jonah decided to run BEHIND Wengatz. I kicked myself that I didn't clarify he needed to stay IN FRONT of the dorms. Lydia and I ran behind Wengatz but didn't see him. We continued to Olson and still didn't see him. I was slightly panicked and remember saying things to Lydia like, "That boy!....Doggone it, Jonah!" You get the idea. I headed back toward the car, assuming that he was just really fast, constantly looking all around for the bright yellow boots he was wearing. In front of Nussbaum a nice student with a skateboard asked if I was looking for a little boy. The student informed me that he was hiding from me behind a tree in the field by the lake. So when he ran behind Wengatz, he decided to hide from me.
That was a mistake.
I ran back to my car and headed to the field by the lake. Jonah wasn't there but the boy with the skateboard was near the woods, obviously trying to find him. I drove back to Reade where my car had been parked, looking for his yellow boots running through campus. I could have seen him-- if he was there. He wasn't there.
It was time to include Mike. I went to Mike's office.
Up until this point, I was pretty composed, but I have a tendency to get emotional when I see Mike. "I've lost Jonah," I cried.
"You lost Jonah?"
"Yes."
I took Mike to the lake. He walked through the woods in his suit and tie, yelling his name. I circled campus a few more times. By this time, Mike saw two other men. Before they started looking for him, they encouraged us to call the campus police.
I knew he was okay. Jonah has tremendous courage. It will serve him well later in his life, but for right now, it makes life difficult! At this point, I wasn't worried about someone taking him, and I really wasn't worried that he'd get hurt. I was concerned about the great lengths everyone would have to go through to find him-- and where he'd go.
In the midst of looking, I took Lydia to a friend that lives close to campus; she was getting car sick (
what else is new?) . I didn't even ask my friend if she could watch her. I just said, "Jonah's lost. I need you to take Lydia" as I was getting her out of the van. I didn't take the time to look her in the eyes, but she understood. She sent out a text, asking for prayer. I love my friends.
When I returned to campus, it was obvious that the police called the facilities crew to help. Every transportation vehicle on campus was driving the loop-- golf carts, small pick up trucks, 16 passenger vans, etc.
Mike and I found each other again
(Did I mention that my cell phone was at home? After all, this was supposed to just be a quick trip to the ETC!) and then saw Jeff Wallace, Chief of Police. He had just said, "I think it's time to send out an all campus announcement" when Mike's phone rang.
A friend found Jonah.
Jonah was on the press box in the football stadium. He thought he could find me if he climbed to a lookout point.
I don't know the whole story. We probably never will. But he said he was in the woods by the lake, on the soccer field (which he may have mistaken for the practice football field) and the president's house. He had to climb a fence to get into the football stadium. I asked how high the fence was. "Eighty-four inches," was his reply. He knows he is 48" and the fence is probably twice as tall as he is. I thought that was a clever answer :)
We set his punishment and loved him.
I'm recovering. I'm about to recover with a big bowl of ice cream and my favorite night of television.
While Lydia was taking her bath I was reading a magazine. Here's what I read:
"God's grace is the foundation for everything we seek to accomplish in our homes and families. We must build our house on the foundation of grace. Let us be like the wise woman of Proverbs who builds and does not tear down her house.
When the laundry piles up and the dishes remain undone; when the children drive you crazy or disappear for the forty-third time, when the bills are past due and the mail stacks are high, remember that you are exactly where God wants you to be-- dependent upon His grace. Recognize the importance of His strength. Realize that God is at work giving you the grace you need. Step back from the circumstances of today and see God's long-term work in your life.
Someday we will know the reason for the difficulties, trials, weaknesses, and hardships. We will catch up on laundry, the children will grown into godly adults, and our husbands will receive a hot meal in a timely manner. In the meantime, as I receive grace for each day, [we don't need to exclaim, 'I've had it!'] I can exclaim, 'I have it!'"
