The Story of the Week (Maybe the Whole Entire Month)!!!
The Return of Katrina the Bear!!

Some of you have already heard this story, but I had to share it on my blog (and those of you who have heard it, knew it would get here didn't you?).

First, a little background . . . Katrina came to live with Delaney when she was in the first grade. She got it as a Valentine's Day gift and she immediately just fell in love with her. Named her Katrina and they were inseperable! Katrina has gone with us so many place that we got to calling her "Katrina the Traveling Bear." She's been on the top of the Sear's Tower in Chicago; she's been to the Alamo; she's been to the top of the tallest lighthouse in Georgia; she's been everywhere!!!

Well, about a year and a half ago, she came up missing. Delaney was absolutely heartbroken! We looked everywhere for her--we thought maybe she was lost at a slumber party or on a trip, but we never could find her. It got to where Delaney didn't even want me talking about Katrina, cause it made her cry.

Fast forward to yesterday . . . I was cleaning up the house trying to find stuff for our garage sale tomorrow. I decided to tackle the back bathroom, which had become more of a storage room than anything in the last six months or so (Gary, for some reason, decided that he wanted to have a second mirror and shower in the morning; imagine that. Lol!)

I was cleaning up and, lo and behold, there was Katrina!! I had even looked in there several times and never saw her before! She must have been in a box or a bag or something and fell out. Gary was still home, so I go racing downstairs to show him Katrina. He couldn't believe it either! Have to admit that I teared up and got very sentimental! I could not WAIT to see Delaney after school and show her what I found!

Sydney had seen Katrina, but I told her it was Delaney's secret surprise. But, wouldn't you know it? When we picked up Delaney from school, Syd started saying, "Lala's tey bear." But Delaney thought she said, "care bear," and thought I had bought her a Care Bear. When we got home I told her to go upstairs to see the "greatest surprise she could imagine." You would not believe how excited she was! Her eyes teared up and she just got the sweetest smile on her face. She was thrilled to have Katrina home!

(By the way: Katrina went to the softball game last night with us, and Delaney hugged her tight in bed last night. A happy, happy ending to this story!)

The pics above show Katrina in the pile of clothes when found, after she's been cleaned up and waiting for Delaney to come home, then Delaney with Katrina.

Yay!!!!