June 11 was Orem's Summerfest complete with carnival rides, a parade and fireworks. It is big stuff for Utah Valley and there are huge crowds. I was watching Luke and Ryan Andersen (nephews) on Friday while Marlo got her dance concert ready so I wasn't able to take the kids to any carnival rides on Friday. Saturday morning was so busy with soccer game/ dance concert/ errands that we didn't make it early enough to do the carnival rides. Next year, eh?
Rynell invited us over for a BBQ with all the fixings. Yum!! There was tons of great food. We headed over to see the parade where Rynell had saved us all some prime seating. There was a huge crowd so I kept an eye on my kids all the way there. We sat down and were enjoying our surroundings. After at least 10 minutes, I got up to take a picture of us. Just as I was about to snap a picture, I noticed Kallie wasn't around. I asked Koby and we all looked around to see if she was nearby. I realized I hadn't seen her at all and I knew she wouldn't walk off. She likes to be by her parents in a crowd. I started to get really worried. Koby, Rynell and I split up to look for her while Andy stayed with the rest of the kids. I grabbed Maren and went up and down the parade route, headed back to the house to see if she was there and then headed back to the parade spot. I remembered seeing Kallie right near our sitting spot as we had arrived earlier. I started really panicking by now. Koby ran up to the house and found me. Neither of us had found her yet. I told him to go get the police involved. The worst things were running in my head- kidnapping and worse. I remember very well being at Oremfest the year before and being surprised at how many weird and scary people there were. I even wished I was packing a concealed weapon. I started thinking those same thoughts, hoping Kallie hadn't been snatched up by a creep. I said so many prayers in my head. It is one of my worst, most horrible fears that a child of mine will be kidnapped or sexually abused. And I went into Social Work? Maybe that is part of my fear... I know those horrible things happen all the time!!
Anyhow, I headed back to our blankets and started to ask people around if they had seen a little girl. A couple came up to me and told me they had seen a little girl who was lost and another couple (with kids!) had taken her to the police trailer. Hallelujah! I knew it had to be Kallie and that she was probably alright. I ran towards the trailer and was told by the police that they had given her to her Aunt Rynell. I ran back and sure enough, she was snuggled in her daddy's arms. I was SO very thankful that Kallie was safe! I gave her hugs and kisses and took the picture I had wanted to take. Whew!!!
Rynell invited us over for a BBQ with all the fixings. Yum!! There was tons of great food. We headed over to see the parade where Rynell had saved us all some prime seating. There was a huge crowd so I kept an eye on my kids all the way there. We sat down and were enjoying our surroundings. After at least 10 minutes, I got up to take a picture of us. Just as I was about to snap a picture, I noticed Kallie wasn't around. I asked Koby and we all looked around to see if she was nearby. I realized I hadn't seen her at all and I knew she wouldn't walk off. She likes to be by her parents in a crowd. I started to get really worried. Koby, Rynell and I split up to look for her while Andy stayed with the rest of the kids. I grabbed Maren and went up and down the parade route, headed back to the house to see if she was there and then headed back to the parade spot. I remembered seeing Kallie right near our sitting spot as we had arrived earlier. I started really panicking by now. Koby ran up to the house and found me. Neither of us had found her yet. I told him to go get the police involved. The worst things were running in my head- kidnapping and worse. I remember very well being at Oremfest the year before and being surprised at how many weird and scary people there were. I even wished I was packing a concealed weapon. I started thinking those same thoughts, hoping Kallie hadn't been snatched up by a creep. I said so many prayers in my head. It is one of my worst, most horrible fears that a child of mine will be kidnapped or sexually abused. And I went into Social Work? Maybe that is part of my fear... I know those horrible things happen all the time!!
Anyhow, I headed back to our blankets and started to ask people around if they had seen a little girl. A couple came up to me and told me they had seen a little girl who was lost and another couple (with kids!) had taken her to the police trailer. Hallelujah! I knew it had to be Kallie and that she was probably alright. I ran towards the trailer and was told by the police that they had given her to her Aunt Rynell. I ran back and sure enough, she was snuggled in her daddy's arms. I was SO very thankful that Kallie was safe! I gave her hugs and kisses and took the picture I had wanted to take. Whew!!!
Rhett and Marlo and family joined us and we ended the evening with fireworks.
We went home and tucked our kids in bed and said prayers of thanksgiving.
Sometimes being a mom is hard!
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