a mysterious dissappearance

It seems that just when i least expect it, God never ceases to amaze me! As i'm sure you all know by now, i was a 'missing person'...

yesterday afternoon when i got home from work at about 3:30 I started some MUCH needed laundry <(which is why i didnt come help move -- yesterday was my only opportunity to attempt to get things done at home) > then went to my next-door neighbors house to bring them a Christmas present. They are great people, the Bryants, they just LOVE to talk. So i spent the afternoon with Rob and Carol while they shared story after story. I took nothing with me but my self and the gift--no phone, no purse, no coat, no keys, and no car. It soon got dark and after a while i figured that i'd been there maybe 2 hours. So after trying about my third attempt, i was able to break away and head home--i'd been noticing lots of car lights in my driveway but couldnt tell much from my spot on their couch. I laughed on my way to the door and told Rob and Carol that it was probably my search party, i was sure that Brad was wondering what we were doing for dinner. When i walked in the front door (which is unusual b/c the door knob is broken so we usually use the garage, but the door was shut) Anita, Randy (brad's mom and dad), and brad were inside--when they saw me they all looked ad if they'd seen a ghost, even Randy with his Mag-Lite flashlight in hand. Soon after i walked in, car lights came in my driveway and it was my mom and dad--and here i am wondering what's going on--not realizing that i was a 'missing person' for 4 hours. They had called Victoria, my friend Katie, Bath & Body Works, everywhere that they thought i could be--I was nowhere. When i saw mom, she confessed that a prayer chain had been started for me. I talked to my Nana on the phone and she was so shook up; crying so hard she could hardley speak. My brother, who was working 2nd shift at Carhartt, heard about the ordeal from Beau Padgett and called to check on things.

I always assumed that my family (by blood as well as marriage) and friends loved me, and i hoped they'd miss me if I were gone, but i have never had my assumptions materialize and become flesh and blood truth. I had NO idea how much i mean to those around me. I realized how TRULY lucky i am to have each one of you, and my family to boot. I guess its the brooding youngster deep within me who has always wondered what it would be like at my own funeral or memorial service--I got a glimpse of that last night. I cannot reitterate enough how pleasntly but utterly SURPRISED at the amount of care and concern and love that people have for me. What a blessing it was to get to see that at a time when i sure could use it, and no real harm or hurt was done. It also makes me so SO Very thankful for God's hand of protection on me and each one of you--How LUCKY and BLESSED we all are that we are not the young woman or man on the news who the nation is looking for and searching to solve their dissappearance. It has reminded me that bad things can happen, and that we are not invincible--what an awesome thing it is to have God's hand on our lives. THANK YOU GOD FOR PROTECTING US EVEN WHEN WE DONT REALIZE THAT YOU ARE!!!

thank you all for being a part of my life and allowing me to be a part of yours! You each mean so much to me! and thanks for making it this far in my novel-length post.... i know, quite uncharacteristic of me thus far in the life of our Wasabi Blog.

with love,
cody


<this is the more gramatically correct version :0 ) >