"BREAKing news" truly breaks...

This evening's very late blog is after a wonderful and productive day. A fantastic time with friends and our kiddos as they marched their last middle school band performance and then it happened. "Breaking News" and "Big Annoucement" about an Oswego County cold case.

BREAKing news breaks...
- a family's heart
- a family's hope
- the joy they experience as the phone starts to ring
- up whatever you are doing and life is on hold

One of my beloved cousins sends me a message to check on me, "Just saw the news, Heidi's picture was on it. Are you okay?" What? I am speechless. In a moments notice our moods and conversations change. Instead of promoting the discounted items for sale to benefit our music boosters, my hand shakes as I try to hit the correct memory button on my cell phone to call my parents.

Okay Lord, I don't know what this is but I need strength to stay calm and focused. Don't let me crumble right here in front of friends and strangers because it might be about Heidi. Lord let the tears subside until I am home. Help me to be strong. I can only do this in your strength. Thank you Jesus, Amen.

A phone call to and from my parents settles my stomach a bit yet there is this part of me that wants to bolt. I want to take Mary and have Ed drive us to my parents. If it was Heidi somone would call, right? Just this morning I wrote in my prayer journal for Heidi to be found and for others to see the love and healing of Jesus in her discovery then this...the breaking news.

Empty searches on the Internet reveal nothing about this big announcement yet phone calls and messages continue to inquire if it is about Heidi. The nearest we find is a respectful post by Debra Groom about a press conference tomorrow morning at 11 a.m.

My prayer is for whatever family will be hearing of their loved one's homicide in the near future, that they would trust God as their strength. If it is a missing person, may his or her family feel God's loving arms wrapped around them. I praise and thank God for answered prayers if it truly is one family's answers and I praise and thank Him for the diligence, respect, and dedication of all our law enforcement.

If it is Heidi I will praise Him too. Time will tell. You know I'll be watching the news tomorrow morning. I hope they air the press conference.

Your prayers are appreciated. Prayers for restful, sound, and sweet sleep tonight for all the families closing their eyes with "I wonder if it is ..." on their minds. Imagine how you might feel to see such a news teaser or read such a press release. What if? Only God knows...once again I go to sleep and wait. Pray for whatever family will face their worst/greatest fear/prayer answered.