Scariest Moment of My Life

I've had some nerve racking moments in my life. High fever convulsions with Addison and that time I almost crashed the City truck into a gas pump, for example. But hands down, literally, tonight was the scariest moment of my life.

We had put the kids to bed and been in and out of their room several times already, answering multiple requests for chapstick (it is dry here, but I think Charlotte is addicted), when we heard Addison start to yell, "MOM! MOM!" And not just in his whiny, "the girls are crying and keeping me awake," voice, but the full on panic stricken scream that he usually reserves for being left all alone in the house and not knowing where I am. So I knew it was a serious situation (at least in his eyes) and started running to his room. I was thinking we probably shut the door all the way instead of leaving it open a crack, or he got his finger smashed or something like that.

It wasn't until I was actually pushing open his door that he screamed, "Mommy! I fell out my window!" And I looked at his bed and only saw his feet poking through the blinds.

When I got to the window, he was, no joke, hanging by his toes out of our second floor apartment window. I grabbed his ankles to keep him from falling and with herculean strength, Keith yanked him back inside and threw him onto the bed. At which point Addison and I both hugged each other and started sobbing hysterically.

After fixing the screen, bolting the window shut and vowing never again to put a bed next to a window, we offered a very tearful prayer of gratitude to our Heavenly Father that our little boy was safe. We pleaded with Heavenly Father that He would always watch out for Addison and not just protect him physically, but spiritually as well. And that we, as parents, would always be in tune to the Spirit that we might assist him in, or better yet, keep him from, any future trouble.

As I laid next to Addison until he was finally able to sleep, all of the dozens of possible outcomes to this scenario ran through my mind. Not a single one of them was good. I can't even imagine the agony of losing my child and I am so grateful that by some miracle his feet caught on the window ledge and that he had the strength to hold on until we arrived. I am so grateful that Keith and I ran as fast as we could and didn't let him "cry it out" like we do so many other times when we are tired of answering millions of bedtime requests. And mostly I am so grateful for a Heavenly Father that loves me and my children and watches over and protects us.