OLIVIA'S SUNSET //

9 a.m.

I woke up this morning like any other and turned on the news.

This morning, however, there was an amber alert for a little girl named Olivia Jansen.

As I heard more details, my heart continuously sank.

//

10 a.m.

As time ticked by, I couldn’t stop thinking about this little baby girl.

A little girl missing. A father who woke up and his baby girl gone. Back door open. Last seen wearing pink and purple pajamas.

My absolute worst nightmare.

I couldn’t imagine waking up and one of my babies being gone.

I held my own babies tighter this morning. I cuddled with them a little bit longer. I didn’t want to put them down. I didn’t want them out of my sight.

//

Noon.

As time ticked by, I couldn’t stop thinking about this little baby girl.

Maybe because it was so close to home.

Maybe it was because she was only 3-years-old.

Maybe it was because Olivia was a name I had discussed days prior for my own baby.

Maybe it was because I have a baby girl about the same age, similar features. Big smile. Blonde hair. Blue eyes. Innocent and young.

Maybe it was because she was outside. Wandering. Alone. Barefoot. Hungry. Lost. Scared.

I prayed someone would find this little girl. Pick her up. Hold her in their arms. Tell her she was safe. Tell her she was heading home.

//

6:30 p.m.

As time ticked by, I couldn’t stop thinking about this little baby girl.

I was continuously tuning into the news hoping to hear she was found. Hoping to hear she was

alive. Hoping to hear she was reunited with her family.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the outcome. She was found. And in the worst possible way.

My heart sank for this little baby girl.

I cried for this little baby girl.

I became angry for this little baby girl.

//

8 p.m.

As time ticked by, I couldn’t stop thinking about this little baby girl.

As I played outside with my two babies tonight, I couldn’t help but notice the sunset - Olivia’s sunset.

Pink and purple. The last colors she was seen wearing.

And in that very moment I knew. I knew she was in Heaven.

I knew God had found this little girl. Picked her up. Held her in His arms. Told her she was safe. Told her she was home.

//

RIP little baby girl.