Lock down mode...

Tonight we are in an all out lock down mode.  We were at a swim meet all day and returned late this evening to find that one of my older daughter's gerbils (which she got for her birthday in August) escaped from her cage.  She is absolutely heartbroken and sobbing herself to sleep.  I realize that this really does sound so small in comparison to everything that people face...but to this special little girl of mine, it has crushed her heart.  We have searched and searched...but with a dog loose in the house all day as well, the odds are not in this gerbil's favor.  So as we are getting ready to go to bed, we placed several items around the house in hopes of still finding this gerbil.  But more importantly, we said a little prayer for the little girl whose feeling so very sad.