Ella is Found

The rain kept coming down and bouncing off Ella's porch.  She watched out the window from the back of her couch.  "Bored, bored, bored." she kept repeating over and over.  There was never anything to do when it rained. Her brothers and sisters were at school. Since Ella was only in Kindergarten she was home by lunch time. She ate her favorite food...macaroni and cheese for lunch. Now she was bored.  Her voice got louder, "BORED, BORED, BORED!" Was mama listening to her?

Her mama came into the room and tossed Ella's shoes on the couch. Ella got excited!
"Are we going somewhere?" she shouted.
Mama smiled at her little girl and said "Yes, Ella, I need to go to the store. Get your shoes and raincoat on."
"Yay!" Ella shouted.
Mama brushed Ella's long brown hair as Ella slipped her shoes on.
Finally, she was not going to be bored anymore.  What kind of excitement was she going to find at the store? Would her mama buy her a toy?

While Ella walked into the store holding her mama's hand she splashed in the puddles. Mama stopped and looked at Ella.  "Now Ella, what are the rules in the store?" she reminded Ella.
Ella proudly said, "If I am not going to ride in the cart then I have to hold on to the cart."
"And no walking off!" her mama included.
What do you think happened to Ella?

Ella was very tired.  She had walked around the store for a long time.  How could this happen?  Where was her mama?  All she wanted to do was look at the fishies. She only walked away for a minute. Now she couldn't find her mama!  She kept walking and walking and walking.  People looked so tall!  Finally Ella sat down on a bench in the store.  Being a very smart girl she tried to remember what she had learned about getting lost.  Because she certainly was lost!
What should Ella do?

She remembered!  Mama had told her to find someone who works at the store! So Ella stayed there for a few more minutes and looked around. It wasn't long before she saw a lady walking towards her. She was wearing a bright red shirt with a badge. A worker!
Ella waved to her and said, "Excuse me. I can't find my mama."
The lady had lots of red hair, a nice smile and freckles on her nose.
Bending down the she asked, "What is your name?"
Ella told her and together they walked to the front of the store. The nice lady with the red hair got on a telephone.
Ella heard her voice loudly say, "Could Ella's mom please come to register 3?"  Wow, Ella thought that was so cool!
Mama came to the front of the store smiling!  Ella ran and jumped into her mama's arms.  They were both so happy. They hugged and hugged.
"Thank you so much!" mama said to the red headed lady.
"You have a very brave daughter. She did the right thing." the lady smiled as she looked down at Ella.

Mama paid for her groceries and they drove home together. Happy. They smiled all the way home.

What should happen to Ella?

Ella and her mama talked when they got home.
Ella should have never walked away.  She didn't listen to her mama.
Because of her not listening they both were very afraid and sad.
Do you think her mama was mad?  Scared?  Sad?
Can you make a mad face? A scared face? A sad face? A happy face?

Ella's mama was also proud of her for remembering what to do when she was lost.
Do you know what to do if you get lost?

Mama's and Daddy's love their kids so much!  They like to see them happy! They like to see them safe! And they like to hug them and tickle them and tuck them in at night!  That's what makes happy faces!

Nighty night and sleepy good! Don't forget your prayers!