"Here honey," Alicia said.

Kira looked up with tears in her eyes and asked? "What is it Mommy?"

"It’s a light," Her mother answered, "we can put it in the window. Maybe Toby will see  it and come home."

Toby, is a two year old Cocker spaniel and the best friend eight year old Kira Martin

ever had. Toby had chased something into the snowy woods a few days earlier and

hadn’t come back. He was given to Kira by her father, Adam Martin. A Captain in

the United States Army, who at the moment was stationed in Iraq.

"Mommy, we have to keep looking for him. . .please!" Kira said urgently.

"I know sweetheart," Alicia said, "we will, first thing Tomorrow, but it’s too dark and

cold out tonight."

"That’s what I’m worried about." Kira sobbed.

"Listen sweetheart," Alicia said softly. "I promise, we’ll go out first thing in the

morning, without fail."

Alicia put the tiny candle shaped light on kira’s window sill and plugged it in. A little

spark of electricity and the light flickered to life. It shined bright for such a small

light. A warm orange glow filled the window and shined out into the cold snowy

night.

Kira sat in her little rocking chair, facing the window.

This would become a common sight around the Martin household.

For the next few weeks. Everyday, Kira and her mother would go

out searching for Toby. They would search the woods and all

around the neighborhood. At night Kira would sit in her rocking

chair, looking out into the night as the tiny, candle shaped

light reached as far as it could into the darkness.

Kira began having nightmares, she would wake up in the

middle of the night crying for Toby. One night Kira began

calling for her mother who was sitting in the living room watching TV.

Alicia ran to Kira’s bedroom, ‘Another nightmare’, she thought to herself.

When she opened the bedroom door she saw Kira leaning out the window.

"Kira!" Alicia screamed, then ran to the window.

Alicia managed to grab Kira around the waist and pull her

back in the room. As she pulled her in, she stepped on one of

Kira’s shoes and fell backward onto the bed and rolled onto the

floor. Kira rolled onto the floor on the other side of the bed.

Alicia ran around to that side of the bed and saw the most

remarkably wonderful sight. Kira was laying on the floor with

Toby standing on top of her, licking her face and neck. Kira was

laughing and crying at the same time.

"You came home." she cried. "Mommy, Toby came home!"

"Yes, he did honey," Alicia said, then she prayed a little

prayer of thanks.

Suddenly the doorbell rang.

"Goodness," Alicia said, "who could that be at this hour?"

She went running to the door, still smiling as she listened

to Kira and Toby playing on the floor in their bedroom. She

looked through the peephole in the door and saw two military

officers standing on the steps. Wrapping her robe tight around

her, she opened the door.

"Yes," she said nervously. "Can I help you?"

"Mrs. Martin?" the older officer asked.

"Yes, I’m Alicia Martin." she said hesitantly, "Wh...what

can I do for you?"

"Ma’am, may we come in for a moment?" He asked.

"Y...yes, please forgive me," Alicia said. "I know you must

be cold."

"Thank you ma’am," he said as they stepped into the house,

"Mrs. Martin, ma’am."

"What is it?" Alicia asked. "Please tell me."

Alicia was starting to shake, there could only be one reason

these men would be here so late.

"Ma’am, we regret to inform you..."

Alicia took a deep breath as the officer spoke, her eyes

began to fill with tears and her face tightened as she listened.

"... your husband, Captain Martin has been...

Alicia started whimpering, trying hard to stay calm. She

felt like all the energy was being draining from her.

"...listed as missing in action, ma’am."

Alicia felt her knees buckle. The officers grabbed hold of

her and helped her to the sofa.

"Ma’am, we’re going to sit you down on the sofa."

After sitting Alicia down, the younger officer said, "Mrs.

Martin, we are truly sorry to have to tell you your husband is

missing."

Another gasp was heard, this time it was Kira. She had come

into the living room where her mother and the two officers were.

The officers turned to see the little girl looking at them in

horror.

"No!" Kira cried, "no! Not my daddy, no!"

Alicia ran to Kira and wrapped her arms around her.

The younger officers knelt down beside Kira and her mother

and said, "I know this looks bad right now, but. . .he is only

listed as missing. We will find him."

Alicia and Kira held onto each other. Still kneeling on the

floor Alicia said, "Thank you, I know this must be a terribly

hard job for you to do."

"Yes ma’am," He said.

The older officer cleared his throat then asked, "Ma’am,

would you like us to stay for a moment?"

"No," she answered softly, "thank you for the offer, but I

need to talk to my daughter now."

"Yes ma’am, we’ll let ourselves out. Again, we are truly

sorry."

As he officers let themselves out, Alicia carried Kira back

to her bedroom then held her as she cried herself to sleep. Toby

jumped up on the bed and laid next to Kira.

Alicia stood looking at her sleeping daughter. As tears

flowed from her eyes she thought about her husband missing in

action in a country so far from home, she felt so helpless and

alone. Alicia knelt down beside Kira’s bed and began to pray, she

fell asleep as she cried and prayed for guidance.

The next few days went by so slowly, and even though Toby

had come home Kira’s happiness was put on hold. Neighbors and

friends consoled them the best they could and the pastor of the

church prayed with them and for them daily. But Alicia and Kira

were still in a state of shock, a numbness no one could

understand unless they had gone through it themselves.

One night, Kira heard her mother crying. She got out of

bed and with Toby following close behind went to her mother’s

bedroom. Kira peeked through the slightly opened door and saw her

mother sitting on the edge of her bed. She slowly pushed the door

open. Alicia looked up and wiped the tears form her eyes.

"Come in sweetheart." Alicia said.

Kira and Toby entered her mother’s room.

"Mommy." Kira said.

"Yes, dear." Alicia answered.

"I wanted to give you this."

Kira took her hand out from behind her and handed her mother

the tiny light she had given to Kira when Toby was lost.

"Maybe we can put it in your window, so daddy will find his

way home."

Alicia had to breath deep to keep from crying, then said,

"I think that would be a great idea sweetheart."

They took the little candle shaped light and placed it on

the window sill then plugged it in and again with a spark of

electricity the light flickered to life. Alicia sat down in the

rocking chair next to the window, Kira picked up Toby then

climbed up onto her mother’s lap. They quietly stared out the

window, the tiny light shined out into the dark night. Its warm

orange glow giving all the comfort it could to them.

"Mommy," Kira said as she stroked Toby’s fur. "Can we say a

prayer?"

"Of course sweetheart," Alicia said.

Kira closed her eyes and began to pray, "Dear Jesus, I know

you love us and I know you are watching over my Daddy wherever he

is tonight. I believe with all my heart he is coming home to us.

You brought Toby home safe and sound and I know you will do the

same for my Daddy. . ."

Alicia began to cry so hard that it shook all three of them

there in the rocking chair.

"It’s Ok Mommy," Kira said, then continued to pray. "Jesus,

I love you and I will never stop loving you, even if my Daddy is

hurt. But I know deep down in the pit of my stomach, I know he is