Mom Reunited With Kids After 8-Month Search

Feb. 23, 2009 — -- When Utah mother Grace Bjarnson was reunited with her young son and daughter in Pennsylvania Friday, it marked the end of a heart-wrenching eight-month search for her children.

"I love you sweetheart. I'm sorry I'm crying. It's so good to see you," an emotional Bjarnson said to 4-year-old Daniel and 3-year-old Noel.

Bjarnson's saga began July 18, when her soon-to-be ex-husband, Dwayne Frederick Brown, failed to return the children after a scheduled visit. Bjarnson, who believes her estranged spouse has mental health problems, spent days — then weeks and months — fearing for her children's safety.

"It was really rough. Sometimes I had to take it day by day, sometimes minute-by-minute," Bjarnson said. "Even if you don't know when you're going to see your kids again [you] just hope that it's going to happen someday and you're going to be ready for them and you're going to have a happy place for them to return to and a strong place."

In December, Brown was caught trying to cross the Canadian border with forged documents, and law enforcement issued a warrant for his arrest. Photos of Daniel and Noel were sent to police departments across the country.

Two months later Lancaster, Pa., residents spotted a man walking along a road with two children who were underdressed for the bitter cold weather, and they called the police.

Authorities found the trio on U.S. 30 near Lancaster.