Sarah Lough Photography

I’ve shared this story with lots of friends and family, but it occurred to me that I haven’t actually written it down. Also, You know when you have such good news that you want to shout it from your rooftop for all to hear? This is that type of GOOD NEWS. About a week ago, I was given something that I won’t soon forget. Something priceless. The story doesn’t begin so well, but that is where I need to start.

Rewind to a week ago Saturday, 4/2, aka my son Isaac’s 4th Birthday. Isaac could not decide (like most 4 year olds) where he wanted to go or what he wanted to do on his birthday. He finally chose Chuck E. Cheese for lunch, followed by a train ride at the Zoo. He didn’t want to see any animals, except zebras, but we MUST ride the train. So, off we went. We packed the car for a trip into St. Louis and were looking forward to a beautiful April day. This doesn’t happen very often; in fact, I can’t remember the last Saturday where we spent it off in St. Louis doing the things we love. Work or finances or both seem to get in the way, so this was a much anticipated day.

I drove to the I-44 exit, where we stopped for gas and drinks. I pumped gas, while my husband, Dave, went inside to get drinks. I played with the kids through the windows, acting like I was washing their faces, and hands and feet with the window washer. I can remember my Dad doing this and I still think it’s funny. I could not believe how gorgeous it was. A bit windy, but still bright blue skies and we didn’t even need jackets. (Something, as a mother of three, that I adore! Not having to drag around coats is a blessing!) We hopped back into the car and headed straight up I-44 to Chuck E for games and pizza. We got there an hour after they opened, so it was still quiet and pretty empty. I went to pay and discovered my wallet wasn’t in my bag. I thought, ‘O, it must be in the car after I pumped gas,’ and asked Dave for his wallet. We paid and had a great time. The pizza was good and the kids (and us, don’t tell) earned lots of tickets, got the little trinkets that they wanted; it was a great time.

Next up, Forest Park. If you don’t know, Dave and I were married there at the World’s Fair Pavilion, and it’s one of our most favorite places in St. Louis. I simply love Forest Park. I think it’s beautiful, and peaceful, and full of history. . . yeah, it’s great. Except on a Saturday afternoon where we have amazing weather, the traffic there is horrendous. The city decided to do ‘something about it’ and it went horribly wrong. We drove for an hour looking for a parking spot; it was nuts. While I drove, Dave asked, “Where is your wallet?” and started to look around the car. The thought came to me like it was something out of a movie, literally. All time stopped and a thought cloud popped out of my head and the movie played. I watched myself place my wallet on top of my car while pumping gas. I never put it in the car again. Gah! I pulled the car over and googled the phone number to the gas station. I was frantic. I asked if it had been turned in, and it had not. I was sure it was in the middle of the interstate, but Dave, being the amazing husband that he is, still checked the hood of our car. It still makes me laugh, but hey, it could happen, right?

I racked my brain for what was in my wallet; driver’s license, my debit card, my business debit card, Costco card, Cinema 1 Plus card, Panera card, my friend’s business cards, no cash, . . . that was it? I called our bank and cancelled my cards and figured go on with life and go to the Zoo. Afterall, we had driven all this way (and gas ain’t cheap), and we never get a day like this, so why fret? Finally we found a parking spot, and went on our way. The Zoo was packed, but we had a great time.  (I don’t think we’ve ever waited for more than 1 train to pass before we got our turn to ride, but that day we waited for the 5th train!) We ate ice cream and Isaac insisted on eating his own funnel cake. We saw the monkey’s and snakes and zebras and giraffe’s. It was perfect.

Driving home, the kids watched a movie and I still thought about where my wallet might be. Maybe in the trash since there wasn’t anything of use in it? Or on the overpass since it was so windy, it must not have made it that far? Or on the turn getting on the highway it must have flown off? On the highway somewhere? We stopped at the gas station and asked the attendants again if it had been turned in, and it hadn’t. I desperately checked the trash cans. They had been emptied already. We drove on the shoulder over the overpass, down the on-ramp, and all the way to Gray Summit. It was no where.

It wasn’t until we where almost a mile from home that I remembered a conversation at Target the day before. I never pay with cash. I never have it on me, but Friday, I did. I needed a dime and opened my change thingy in my wallet and saw my wedding ring. Jules has been robbing us of change for doing chores and I didn’t have any change. But I had my wedding ring, in my wallet. My Wedding Ring….In My Wallet! I intended to have it re-sized, but had not taken the time to go to the jewelers. I immediately started sobbing. I barely got out what was wrong to Dave. I could not believe it. Jules and Isaac kept asking what was wrong and while they didn’t understand how important my wedding ring was to me, they knew it had to be something horribly wrong for me to cry like I did. I called the gas station numerous times that night and asked for them to review their surveillance cameras. I went into crime-scene-TV-mode. Maybe someone picked it up and the license plate could be seen in the tape? Maybe they picked it up and threw it in the trash? Either way, I wanted that wallet back. Both times I was told they would have to look at it tomorrow. (I wasn’t going to hold my breath) I put the kids to bed and both Julianne & Isaac apologized for my lost wallet. They were just as devastated as I was.

The next day was Isaac’s birthday party with his friends and family. I tried to keep myself together, as to not ruin the day for him. It was hard. It felt like part of me was missing. The party was windy, . . . more like Chicago-windy. Everyone had a great time playing ball, eating hot dogs and cake (not together.) I’ll post pictures of all this soon. That evening as I put Julianne to bed, she once again apologized for my lost wallet & ring. She needed just as much peace about the situation as I did. I told her, “Jules, we’re just going to pray that God brings it back. And if He doesn’t, that’s OK, too. He knows best.” She looked at me and simply said, “Ok, Mommy.”

Monday morning, I got a call on my cell phone and I didn’t recognize the number. 636-583-something. I answered anyways and was greeted by, “Hello, Mrs. Loaf? (Everyone misprounounces my last name. It’s Lough. Like Dough, but with an L) I said, “This is Mrs. Lough.” She went on to say, “This is so-and so from The Franklin County Sheriff’s Department. Someone has turned in your wallet.” I can’t even describe the joy I felt. I asked if my ring was in the wallet, and she replied, “Yes!” I was shaking-crying-happy-tears and could not get to their office fast enough.

She handed me my wallet and ring, along with a note with the man’s name and phone number who had found and returned it; Bob, a 74-year-old man from Union. I called him that morning and he told me the story of how he found it. He wasn’t even suppose to be on that overpass, but his GPS had misdirected him and his wife, and he was turning around. My cards, receipts and EVEN MY RING, were strewn across the overpass of the Washington exit. I could not believe it! He told me, “Over my years, I’ve found lots of purses and wallets. And I’ve always returned them with everything in place. That’s what I’d want someone to do for me, if I lost mine.” He didn’t stop there. He took the time to GPS my old street address that was on my driver’s license. He drove into town, left a note on the door, waited for a call, and found out that I had moved. The address on my driver’s license was old. He talked the next day to a friend of his that was a police officer. His friend told him to turn it into the Franklin County Sheriff’s Dept. on Monday morning, and he did. The Dept. said that they couldn’t find me in their system, so they Google’d my name and found my photography and website! Is that not a great journey? Bob has 12 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild and I can’t wait to meet them all. Hopefully, he’ll take me up on my offer to photograph their family, as a thank you to him for returning my cherished ring.

I drove to Julianne’s school, with ring and wallet and hand and showed her what had been returned. She shouted, “Ahh! I prayed that God would bring it back and HE DID!”

I’m overwhelmed by the care of this man, the grace shown to me and the faith of my daughter. Simply Incredible! I am ever so thankful.