Lost Doj

On Valentine's Day 2010 we gave the Littles each a small stuffed animal.  Noah's was a little dog whom he named "Matthew".  Maddie named her bear "Duo" and thus began the Matthew/Duo friendship. 

Through the months more stuffed animals and dolls were added.  Maddie saved her money and bought a Georgia Dawg cheerleader doll she named Helen.  Helen and Matthew hit it off and every day Maddie and Noah played "Helen and Matthew".  And every night Helen and Matthew went soundly to sleep with Maddie and Noah.

We marked their birthdays on the calender and learned their family tree.  Noah was Matthew's grand-pa and Albert was Matthew's dad.  (Don't try to figure it out...just go with it.)  They even accompanied the kids to Florida on Sophie's Wish Trip.  You wouldn't believe (or maybe you would) the mischief Matthew, Duo and Helen could get into.  They've even gotten themselves stuck in a tree.

As you might have guessed, these little stuffed animals had become pretty important to our Littles.  So last week when they came inside and Noah announced he couldn't find Matthew, I was sad for him.  The last place Noah had his little pal was outside and we couldn't find him anywhere.  The next day Maddie made a "Lost Dog" poster.  Noah loved the idea and soon added his "Lost Doj" posters.  Then they borrowed tape and started putting the posters up on the porch, the electric pole, the mailbox, the garage, the driveway.  yes, the driveway got it's own poster.  Later when it was about to rain, I took the posters down.  My mommie's heart was sad. 

Maddie's poster "Lost Toy Dog  Have you seen him"

Noah's poster "Have you see Matthew  Break (heart)" ;(

Noah's poster- "I NEED MY DOJ" ;(

 This afternoon after school Noah and Maddie were playing outside.  I asked them what they were playing and they said, "Matthew and Helen".  "Oh, did one of the other animals get Matthew's name?"  "No!"  "How do you play Matthew and Helen without Matthew?"  "We pretend Matthew is on a trip", Noah answered.  

Right then I had an idea.  We have some woods behind our house and I wondered if the dogs had grabbed Matthew and run through the woods with him.  I asked Noah if he had looked in the woods.  "No.  Bears live there."  I told him it would be ok to go a little ways into the woods to look.  "About 70 inches?" Noah asked.  "Yes, just 70 inches."  I watched as he and Maddie very hesitantly stepped into the woods, looking out for bears.   I confess, I whispered a prayer that God would let them find that silly little dog that meant so much to them.

Not 5 minutes later I hear whooping and yelling!  I instantly thought "no way... really?"  Noah ran to me "Mommie!  Mommie!  We FOUND him!  We FOUND MATTHEW!" and held up a soaking wet stuffed dog.  I grabbed my camera and took a quick pic.  We danced and cheered and celebrated.

I see smiles on both of their faces.

After supper we watched Toy Story 3 as part of our "Matthew is found" celebration.  Noah said, "Andy lost his toys and found them just like I lost Matthew and found him!"  My mommie's heart rejoiced.

Sleep well.