A Prayer for Nick

There is a young man from White Bear, MN who is missing. He is a West Point Academy Cadet. He had struggled in college and decided to join the military. He did such a superior job, his supervisors recommended he go to West Point, where he was in the top 50 of his Freshman class. By all accounts, a great kid, with a promising future when he came home for Christmas break. Here is the story

WHITE BEAR LAKE, Minn. (AP) - Investigators said they have "nothing to go on" in the disappearance of a West Point cadet who, his parents fear, was despondent over a drunk driving arrest the night before he went missing.

Parents and siblings of Nick Rossini, a 21-year-old stand-out first year cadet at the
military academy at home for Christmas break, haven't seen the young man since
he went to bed around 10:30 p.m. Saturday at his parents' house.
Since then, teams of searchers searched door to door and yard to yard in nearby
neighborhoods in this St. Paul suburb. The search was continuing Thursday,
though authorities said it might be scaled back some.

Late Friday night, Rossini damaged his mother's car in an accident and a short while later was cited by police in Crystal for drunk driving after a night of partying with
friends. His parents said Rossini was worried the arrest could affect his military future.

"Right now, we're holding out hope that he's out there somewhere, embarrassed by his actions over the weekend," said White Bear Lake Police Chief Lynne Bankes. "But we have nothing to go on. Rossini's parents, Mark and Pat Rossini, said there had been some tense exchanges over the arrest,but said their son hugged them before he went to bed. Family members think he must have left sometime between 2:30 a.m. and 5 a.m.
"We feel he left to clear his head, go for a jog," Mark Rossini said. "Somewhere he got a goofy idea, a plan, like 'I messed up and need to go find some space.' But this is all conjecture on our part."

Friends and family say it's not in Rossini's character to do something rash. A former star student and athlete at White Bear Lake High School, Rossini spent a year at St. John's University before deciding to enlist in the Army. He was spotted by West Point recruiters while still in basic training, and so far has maintained a 3.5 grade-point average at the elite academy - putting him in the top 50 of the 1,000-member freshman class.

There were no signs of struggle in the Rossini home. Authorities have walked the
shores and flown over three lakes near the Rossini home without finding signs of
a fall-through. Dogs haven't picked up any scents. And there's been no activity
in Rossini's financial accounts, e-mail or cell phone. "A 21-year-old man technically has the right to disappear," Bankes said. "But we want to know that he's safe."

Rossini has short blond hair, stands 6 feet, 1 inch and weighs
185 pounds. Anyone with information on his whereabouts can call White Bear Lake
Police at 651-429-8511.

The Rossinis said they've talked with West Point officials who said, while Nick might face disciplinary action for his drunken driving, that he's "not in trouble."
"Nick doesn't know West Point would take him back," his mother said. "And he doesn't know we're not mad at him. He's such an independent kid, and we just want him home."
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Nick is still missing.

We just want him home. It is a parents worse nightmare, a child gone missing.

The stoy has given me a new perspective in dealing with my own sons. It makes the issues and problems that we face with our kids seem so minuscule and insignificant. I can imagine Nick's parents saying to me.

"Does it really matter that your child is struggling with school? He is with you, you still have a chance."

It is easy to get wrapped up in the small stuff, messy rooms, late curfews. Don't miss an opportunity to hug your kids and tell them you love them. And most importantly, pray for Nick's safe return home.