Wednesday, December 29, 2010

So Thankful She Is Safe...

From the title of my post you might think I am talking about Havensong. I am actually referring to Tayler. She is 17 years old, but no less my baby. I have tried very hard to let her go bit by bit. I have been keenly aware that I can't keep her next to me forever. I didn't know how I was ever going to be okay with her leaving my side and just roaming around in this big world.  The thought of her growing up and away from me for any length of time worried me to no end. I think I have done pretty well...until tonight. I might be back at square one now for a while...

My friend, Brandy and I had just returned from Bellingham earlier this evening.We were home no more than fifteen minutes when we decided to go BACK into town. We thought we would go browse through the stores for baby bedding without any kids. Also, I needed detergent so I could scale Mt. Laundry tomorrow. As we were driving, I got that kind of call that every parent hates. It was Tayler and she sounded terrified. She asked me if I was anywhere near Walmart. She was quiet. Really quiet.

"DID YOU GET IN A WRECK?!!" I yelled.

Thoughts of her recent wreck came into my mind. Her climbing out of her smashed car and stepping over live wires that had fallen down around her after she hit a telephone pole. I felt total panic. But she was on the other end talking, so that meant she was alive. I heard her whimper and then she just full on started to cry.

"WHAT???" I wailed.

"A man tried grab me in the parking lot." she said, sobbing and taking deep breaths. It took a minute to sink in. I told Brandy to hurry. I just kept pointing in the direction of Wal-Mart. Tayler said she was inside, by  the make up aisle because that was the only place she had reception. Brandi parked out front and I ran inside. I called her name and saw her come around the corner. She didn't look like my independent, self assured, almost grown daughter. She looked like my baby girl. The one who needed me to sleep with her when she was afraid at night. I hugged her and closed my eyes, so thankful she was safe. And then I felt mad. I wanted to get a hold of that man who tried to harm my daughter, take him down, and yank his eyeballs right out of his head, and then rip him to shreds. I am sorry for the strong language...but that is exactly how I felt. I'm just stating the facts here.

It was a blur to her, but she somehow got away after he went for her and ran back inside the store. She said the man had earlier followed her for forty minutes while she shopped. She kept trying to lose him, but she couldn't shake him. He was peeking around corners at her and he waited while she paid. He purchased nothing. She was afraid to go outside so she tried to look for her friend's Mom who she had just seen. Not finding her, she decided to go out to her car which was only parked four spaces back. As she got to her car he tried to grab her. She remembers very little at this point. Hopefully the footage will show what happened.

(WHY HAVE I NOT TALKED TO HER RECENTLY ABOUT THIS KIND OF SITUATION????)

 Later an employee told me he had noticed Tayler leaving, and the man was right behind her. Tayler said she knew he had followed her out, and she was so afraid. She couldn't even scream. But she ran. And that saved her.

 We called the police and they were there in minutes. They took the description of him from Tayler. She said he was Eastern Indian, medium build, short black hair, with a large nose. She didn't remember any color of clothing. They said that Wal-Mart has the very best video surveillance and they would check it and have her come in and identify him tomorrow.

I decided to write this post as a little reminder to women out there. If you feel unsafe, do not disregard that feeling. Ask someone to walk you out to your car even if you are parked closely to the store.
Talk to your children and tell them to be SO CAREFUL.
Especially your girls!

I would like to say again how thankful I am that she is safe. Oh, I am so thankful. I am going to be smothering her a little lot more in the near future. But I think this scary experience will cause her to be more aware of her surroundings.

Did I mention I am thankful?
My girl is safely tucked into bed...
Thank You Lord...

13 comments:

  1. I am happy for you she is safe, i can relate, my youngest son almost got kidnapped twice, if it wasnt for God warning me and me listening I would have lost him forever. so Glad God is watching out for our kids. be blest.

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  2. I am so glad she is safe. How scary. I'm glad God was watching over your daughter. Praying they catch the guy.

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  3. Gosh Michelle! Can't believe I'm reading this, that is so scary. Thankful with you and thanks for the reminder.

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  4. I would be calling right now except that you may need the extra rest. No doubt that you lost sleep last night. What can I say? I'm Tayler's grandmother. She's safe now, but I'm still scared for her.
    "Thank you, my Father, for watching over my lamb. Please help the authorities catch the man and may he not hurt anyone in the meantime."

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  5. I'm so sorry this happened!! Very thankful your little girl is safe and you are right, we need to remind ourselves everyday that this world is not like it use to be. Bless you all!!

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  6. Thank you Mikki for sharing this~

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  7. Thank you guys.... it is a good wake up call for us all. BE CAREFUL! <3

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  8. Wow..that would be scary and Thanking the Lord that he protected her. Thoughts and prayers.

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  9. Self defense course, absolutely, and the sooner the better. It will help her process some of the feelings, and help her deal with her fear, as well as give her some tools to use in case anything (heaven forbid) like this should ever happen again.

    Apparently there was a reason you were supposed to stay instead of going to China, too, to be there for your other baby girl. I'm glad she's safe.

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  10. I am so thankful that Taylor is safe. And so thankful that she had you here to be with her. We will be praying for you both. Thanks for the reminder too.

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  11. Thank you for posting this. My Megan read it and it was a wake-up call for her.

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  12. I am glad God was watching over her....we take our "comfort" in this world for granted....The bible states it....times are going to get worse. Tell your daughter if she ever feels unsafe, don't walk alone...always ask for an escort..it may be embarrassing at first but it could save her life later.I had a car full of men follow me around town for over an hr. I was afraid to drive home, infear they would follow me..I finally called 911. I felt like an idiot BUT those internal warning bells were going off and I knew I was in danger. 4 squad cars ended up surrounding us. I was safe. That's what the police are for...teach her to use that to her advantage.

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  13. Thank you Lord for watching over Tayler, keep her safe in your arms always!

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