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Proverbs 13:12: Hope deferred makes the heart sick: but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

Tyson has been missing for 6 days as of today. If you've ever had an animal go missing, then you know... I have cried more in the last week than I have during the whole pregnancy. It is a draining effort not to worry and one I think I've been failing at most days. I've been trying to do things to keep my mind occupied - like painting, working on the furniture project we have going in the garage, cleaning, working, going shopping with my dad for my mom - anything - but as soon as I'm in a quiet place, which painting, working in the garage, cleaning all tend to be, I find myself staring at the wall just thinking ... My heart physically aches and I feel sick to my stomach all day long. I have to fight off thoughts of what could possibly have happened, be happening, going to happen to him ... We posted him on Craigslist and Petfinder, put up signs around the subdivision, called all the surrounding vets, I checked Animal Control in McKinney and left a sign with his picture on it there ... We are going to put individual flyers on doors in our subdivision. I emailed the lady that is the Community Manager for our HOA about putting something in the next newsletter and she responded back telling me not to flyer doors b/c it causes debris throughout the neighborhood. I wanted to respond back and say, 'We've lived here for 6 years in April, we pay our mortgage, we pay city taxes, we pay the astronomical city utilities and we pay our HOA dues every quarter to have a kiddie pool maintained (aka: giant training potty) that we have never/will never use and a lake stocked with fish that we have walked around less than 5 times. We're putting up signs.' ... But, I decided not to - respond - we are putting flyers on doors.

I called a prayer line last night for the first time in my life. We don't have people we can specifically go to for prayer anymore. I can ask people on Facebook to pray, but Idk who does and I wonder if anyone does. People say they do, but do they? Situations like this make me more cynical than usual - if that's possible. The lady on the prayer line, Sandra, prayed a nice prayer ... but, it was almost verbatim what I've been praying - out loud and in my heart and mind - since he first went missing. And it made me think, 'Does it make a difference to have someone else pray with you?' I know what the Bible says about praying together and where 2 or 3 are gathered and agreement in prayer ... so, I guess I answered my own question.

Matthew 18:19-20: "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

James 5:16: Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

1 Thessalonians 5:11: Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

If you're reading this, please take a minute to pray. I've been praying that God will send his angles to protect Tyson wherever he is, that He will put a hedge of protection around him and that He will bring him home safely, uninjured, healthy ... and for peace for Dustin and I in the meantime ...and, if he is with someone, we pray that he is being taken care of and that they will see our flyers or the Craigslist ad or something and return him ... if they've decided not to give him back, we pray that the Lord with turn their hearts ... and for faith and comfort for us.

As much as I don't like being this emotional about something, I like it even less seeing Dustin upset because he gets that way so rarely. Right now, we are having a difficult time encouraging one another because we are both so discouraged. When I talk to my friends or family, of course everyone brings up the pregnancy and to be happy about that. My head is so clouded with concern for Tyson, it's all I think about all day and all night until I am so drained, I go to bed and then as soon as my eyes are open in the morning, I'm laying there thinking, 'I wonder if he came home last night' ... the thought of never knowing ... there are lots of thoughts, like that, that I just have to not voice and try to not dwell on ... please pray for Tyson. He is part of our family. He is going to be 7 years old this coming May and we have had him since he was a sick kitten, found in a box with 2 other kittens behind a grocery store in Irving by a co-worker at the time ... he was sick when we adopted him, very young - probably not even weened yet - and he is part of our family.

Philippians 4:6-7: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

John 14:27: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you: not as the world gives, give I to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Numbers 6:24-26: "The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."

Proverbs 12:10: A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.