Why are my edited, exported files going to my trash?

Never had this problem before...I always export my images twice, once in a larger size for printing and once for a size to share on social media.  I have saved export settings with folders titled "Gallery" and "SM".  The folders are created in the original file folder I have with the raw images on my external hard drive.  The files export to those folders.  I've tried exporting 3 times but when I go to that file folder they're aren't there.  Only the original raw images are there.  It seems like they're not exporting but when I try exporting again, LR says they're already there and asks if I want to overwrite them.  I tried searching for Gallery or SM in the search bar and they weren't showing up but I happened to look in my Mac's trash and they're in there.  They're not in any folders though, but the edited images are in the trash.  And I just restarted my computer and the images were all gone from LR.  I had to import them again and the edits are gone, ugh.  Does anyone know why this happening?  TIA