Aubrie is found

We lost Aubrie today. Or I thought we had. I already know this sounds silly and overprotective, but I wanted to remember today. Having a teenage girl is hard because they are so much darn smarter than their parents, who just don't know because they were in jr high 20+ years ago. She didn't show up at her usual time after school. When she was almost 1/2 hour late, I went looking for her. I drove to each bus stop I could think of that she might have gotten off. I went to some of her friends' houses, wanting to know that she had even made it to school that morning. I called her school. Still nothing. Having that feeling that you have lost your child or that she is in danger is one of the worst feelings ever. I started trying to remember what my last words were to her. I remembered asking her to be safe and that I loved her. I just wanted her back so badly. I said a prayer or two, to guide me to her. I called the house, but Dave still had not seen her. I didn't want to go home and just wait, I wanted to get to her if she needed me somewhere. She walks in the door at the same time almost everyday. I thought, even if she comes home and fights with her sisters, I don't care, I just miss her already. I knew if she had missed her bus, she would have called me. She wouldn't just take off. She had mentioned some crazy boys on her old bus, so I was worrying about that too. Finally while on the phone with Dave, while deciding who would go to her school and look, she walked in the door. Her three sisters ran up to her, of course embarrassing her with their affection. Dad wanted to ground her. I was just glad she was home. She had walked home a different route, lingering with some friends, and lost track of time. Kids just don't realize how much we love them and how often we are thinking of them. Even though my little girl has grown taller than me, taller than some men even, she is still my baby. And I can still pick her up! Aubrie I love you, but don't be late afterschool again!