Hunter Wallace turned 11 years old Wednesday. How he celebratedhis birthday is a mystery to most family members.

Hunter and his three siblings — Garrett, Abbey and Kitty Claire– have been missing for almost two weeks.

They were picked up by their father, Earl “Mutt” Wallace, fromtheir mother Kristin’s house Feb. 22 for weekend visitation, butwere not returned to their mother that Sunday as ordered by thecourt.

Since their disappearance, family, friends and even strangershave pulled together for strength and hope that the children willsoon come back to the community where they grew up.

“Local pastors from all types of churches have come by andpeople have e-mailed from all over the world,” said KristinWallace, adding that it has been some comfort to the community toknow the children are safe.

The children’s normal lives were not the only ones put on holdtwo weeks ago. Their friends have also suffered greatly with heartsfull of questions wondering when they will get to see or play withthe Wallaces again.

Garrett’s sixth grade class at Lipsey Middle School, Hunter’sfifth grade class at Lipsey and Abbey’s first grade class at MamieMartin Elementary School all have at least one empty seat.

The students pass by those empty seats every day wondering ifmaybe they will be filled by their rightful occupants the nextday.

“Sometimes when I get on-line, some of their friends starte-mailing ‘Is this Garrett?’ or ‘Is this Hunter?’ and the studentshave sent numerous flowers and cards,” said Kristin while sittingat the kitchen table next to the refrigerator door filled withartwork and pictures of the children.

Their bedrooms have been left untouched, along with theirbackpacks full of school work and books. The children’s e-mails arefull of unopened messages from their friends.

Even strangers have noticed how the house on Second Street is nolonger filled with the sound of children’s laughter and games.

Kristin said she was most surprised and touched when twochildren who walk by the house every day on their way to and fromschool noticed the change.

“They stopped by one day and left a note that said they werepraying for them,” she said.

The children have also been missed in their variousextracurricular activities, such as Abbey’s dance class, Hunter’sart class, Garrett’s guitar lessons or the boys’ soccer andbaseball teams.

“Their friends need them,” said Kristin. “They’re a part of thecommunity.”

Every night the Wallace family waits for their return, ratherthan continuing the normal activities of eating dinner, doinghomework, laying out clothes for the next day and getting ready forbed.

The family prays every day for some type of communication fromthe children, whether it be a phone call, e-mail or a letter.

Five yellow bows are tied in front of the Wallace home in hopesfor the safe return of Mutt Wallace and his four children.

“We’re just going to leave the porch light on until they comehome,” said Joyce Linkey, the children’s grandmother.

The Wallace family appreciates the “overwhelming amount ofsupport from the community” and asks that people continue to pickfliers up at their home and e-mail them to friends across theUnited States.

Anyone with information about the missing children and theirfather may contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation at(601)684-2500.