Ahh!

My husband bought me an amazing new camera for my birthday back in September. (Though I suppose the word "amazing" could describe both my husband and the camera. Thank you, Dearest). In my husband's usual style, he researched, phonecalled, hunted, and bought me the best camera he could find.

I love my new Canon. It takes incredible pictures and I am learning new things I can do with it all the time. Wow. I love it.

So you can imagine my horror when something terrible happened to it yesterday.

The boys and I were playing in the backyard. I set Noah down on the back deck, and Isaiah, on his own accord, came and sat down next to him. Then Joshua followed too. They sat their together playing happily, laughing and giggling away. And then, as most mother photographers will do, I ran for my camera.



Perfect photo op.



I ran inside, ran back out, and snapped a few pictures of ALL the boys smiling AT THE SAME TIME. Excuse the caps lock, but as those of you with 3+ children know (double this if they are 3 busy boys), this is quite the feat!

As the boys got restless, I reviewed the pictures on the camera, set the camera down on the back porch and went to push the boys on the swings. They rode the swings for quite some time, we laughed some more, talked, and sang. Yes, we sing while we're on the swings. And I'll tell you, it will be one of my lifetime favorite memories I'm sure.

Shortly thereafter we went inside for dinner, at which point I realized that I didn't have all the ingredients for the soup I was making for lunch with friends the following day. So as soon as we were done having devotions, I loaded the boys into the car for a quick trip to Wal-Mart.

By the time we made it home, it was not only raining but completely dark out. I got the boys ready for bed, brushed teeth, sang songs and kissed them one more time.

After I finished tidying up the house, I went to grab my camera and upload the picture I'd taken earlier.



Which is when the sudden shock and panic hit me-- my camera was not in the case. Where was it? Ahhh!!!!!! Hence the title of this post!

Oh no, oh no, oh no! I'd left it on the back porch. Surely it's been stolen, I thought. (while we live in a very safe neighborhood, parts of this city are really not so hot). My heart sank as I fumbled with the back door lock, opened the door, looked out and realized that the porch was not only soaked in rain, but my camera was NOT where I left it.

Double AHHHHH! You know that feeling that you get in your stomach when something terrible happens? It was happening big time. My NEW camera!! OH NO!!!

I quickly ran over to the swing set, hoping I'd left it there. Not there.

I scanned the porch again and again. Not there.


If my neighbors could have seen me running around like a mad woman they would have laughed. Or called the police. I'm sure I looked crazy.

I ran back inside and scanned the play room. Not there.

Then the kitchen, living room, dining room... not there.

OH NO!!

I think I was about to start crying when I saw my camera sitting on the mantle over the fire place. Safe and sound.The relief was overwhelming. Whew!! Safe and sound. Not stolen, not rained on, not lost, but safe and sound. Praise the Lord!

It reminded me of the parable of the lost coin in Luke 15:8-10:


⁸"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? ⁹And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' ¹⁰In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."


I know the context and the comparison don't quite measure up, but I was blessed to remember it nonetheless.