Continued from page 3

A Family Once More

Thursday October 23, 2003 12:13 PM EDT

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THE HOMECOMING
LOIS: Finally, at approximately ten o'clock in the evening, we were able to head home. The first thing Elizabeth wanted to do was take a bath. I drew the biggest bubble bath I had ever made in my large Jacuzzi tub. The dirt, grime, and soot that sat at the bottom of the tub when she finished her bath was thick and muddy.

Around midnight, we all piled on my bed and Elizabeth asked if we could watch the tape of one of her favorite movies, The Trouble with Angels. I was certain that Elizabeth would be sleeping in our room that first night home. I couldn't imagine her wanting to go back to the bed from which she had been taken. However, when the movie ended, Elizabeth got up as if nothing had ever happened, and said she was tired and ready for bed. "Mom, don't worry. I'm going to be safe. I'm going to be here in the morning."

I will never forget those words.

ELIZABETH: IN HER OWN WORDS
I am so happy and thankful to be home with the people I love. I'm doing great. I owe a lot to my family and to the great friends that I have. I want to thank them for not giving up on me.

Through my experience, I have learned not to take anything for granted – not my life, my family, my safety, my health, my friends, or even my enemies. You have to live life every day knowing how precious God's gifts are.

If today were your last day on earth, would you have told the people you love that you love them? Would you have any regrets? Would you be able to die peacefully and without a grudge? I have learned that living in the moment means taking the time to do the things that are meaningful and important. Every day is a blessing. I feel so blessed to be back home, with my family and friends. I truly am the luckiest girl in the world!

Adapted from the book BRINGING ELIZABETH HOME: A Journey of Faith and Hope by Ed and Lois Smart with Laura Morton. Copyright © 2003. To be published by Doubleday, a division of Random House Inc. Reprinted with permission.



This is an excerpt of this week's PEOPLE cover story, available on newsstands Friday, Oct. 24.

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For more information about finding the missing, contact the organizations below.

• Laura Recovery Center
307 B-1 South Friendswood Drive
Friendswood, TX 77546
phone: [phone]
fax: [phone]
www.LRCF.org

• National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
Charles B. Wang International Children's Building
699 Prince Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-3175
phone: [phone]
fax: [phone]
hotline: (800) THE-LOST (800-843-5678)
www.missingkids.com

• America's Most Wanted
P.O. Box Crime TV
Washington, D.C. 20016-9126
(800) CRIME-TV
www.amw.com

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