just another prompting...

I need to document an experience I had last week. I need to remind myself that the Lord is always aware of me, of my children. We had my niece Annie in town for a week and 1/2 from PA. The kids were thrilled! We love Annie so much. I had the crazy thought that I would take all 6 kids up to Bridal Veil falls one day. In truth, it really wasn't bad. The older 4 kids are a breeze, and they help SO much with the younger 2. Everything really was great. After a short 5 minute walk, we were there. The kids love to roll up their shorts and wade in the pools at the bottom. The water is FREEZING, but they love it, so I allow it. :) Lizzy spent most of the time with Molly, carrying her around, moving her from rock to rock, and scaring me half to death. Those rocks are slick, and Molly ain't no lightweight. Lizzy did great though. I kept Margaret in the stroller the whole time. Life is just easier when your 1 year old is strapped in. I was just enjoying my kids enjoying themselves.

Then Lizzy slipped. Just a little. But enough to get her clothes soaking wet. She was really sad...and I was a little annoyed. It was mean of me. She needed me to hurry over to make sure she was alright, so I did. I left Margaret strapped in, on the flattest "boardwalk" type section of the path. I walked 20 feet to Lizzy and checked her out. Her face, her knees, her feet. All OK...just sad. As I was looking her over, I felt a very distinct prompting to check my baby. I turned my head...she wasn't there. She wasn't there! My world and my heart stopped in that moment. I kept spinning. Where was she? Once I turned all the way around, I saw her, heading off the backside of the trail, towards the steep drop-off...right into the semi-raging river. I screamed and I ran. I caught the stroller just as the 2 left wheels were leaving the trail and heading down. My heart was in my throat. I had caught her. 2 seconds more, and I wouldn't have. The stroller would have flipped on the rocks, and she would have been carried down the river.

After I breathed for a minute, I thought about what had just happened. She was on a flat bridge. How had she rolled? Why had no one seen her roll? One of the kids saw us all walking over to Lizzy and didn't want the baby to be left alone, so they moved her nearer to us...onto a slope...without the breaks. I had all sorts of emotions to deal with at that point. I've dealt with them. What I want to remember forever is that whispering...that urge. It came from the Lord. Of that I am sure. It came from Him and I am so grateful that I listened.